Mako Thompson extends lead at Super 6s in Palmerston North
Mako Thompson has extended his lead to four shots after the second round at the New Zealand Super 6s at the Manawatu¯ Golf Club in Palmerston North.
After opening with a sevenunder 64 on Thursday, he backed that up with a five-under 66 yesterday to lead by four shots heading into the weekend.
Despite turning upwith a different golf game to what he did on Thursday, he said he’s enjoying being back on the golf course in a tournament.
‘‘Golf’s a funny game. I felt a little uneasy this morning, and I was struggling on the range and on the course early in my round, but I managed to putt the lights out there, whichwas great. Long may that continue.’’
He began his round with a par at the first before making two birdies in a row at the second and third. He made another at the eighth to make the turn at three under and, at the time, had a commanding lead.
The Golf New Zealand National Academy member made four more birdies on the back, alongside a couple of dropped shots, to keep his nose in front.
Thompson has been close to winning on the Charles Tour before, coming up just shy at the Pegasus Open last year.
Althoughwinning is the ultimate goal, the first order of business is ensuring he is in the top 24 to make the Super 6medalmatch play portion of the event.
‘‘Obviously it’d be a dream come true to be able to lift the trophy on Sunday afternoon, especially as it’s the first event of 2021 for me.
‘‘The goal is to make the 24 first and then it’s anyone’s game, so we’ll see what happens.’’
Sitting in second place are Josh Geary and Dongwoo Kang at eight under par.
Geary shot a second round seven-under 64 to catapult himself up the leaderboard after shooting a one-under round on Thursday.
He said it was aweird day where not a lot clicked early, but he managed to make a barrage of birdies in the middle of his round.
He birdied the first and then made pars all the way until the seventh, where hemade birdie. This appeared to kick him into gear. Geary then made birdies at the eighth, 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, and 17th holes, with his only blemish coming at the 15th to sign for the round of the day.
‘‘It was aweird day. I thought I was playing well enough to shoot a good score and it wasn’t happening, so I was getting a little frustrated. Then it all clicked in the middle there.
‘‘Overall, it was a good day.’’ Geary is hoping this tournament will give him momentum.
‘‘It’s been a little while since we’ve had a solid stretch of golf so hopefully the form continues.
‘‘I was going to try and get over to Qatar and Kenya for a couple of events, but the quarantine hotels are all booked out until June or July or something like that, so it’s unlikely I’ll be travelling anytime soon.’’
A shot further back of Geary and Kang is the leading female Darae Chung, who madewaves in this event last year after beating Michael Hendry in the Super 6 medal match play.
Chung shot a flawless six-under round yesterday to find herself again in contention.
‘‘I had no bogeys, which is always a great achievement. I made plenty of putts and kept my calm and hit plenty of good shots. I’m really happy.
‘‘Maybe it’s because I only live two hours away or something, I’m not sure. There seems to be something that clicks between me and this golf course.’’
Lining up against the males and the professionals isn’t something she shies away from.
Chung says it’s a great indication to see where her game is at.
‘‘It’s always great to be on their level and compete against the professionals. It’s great being a female in this field and knowing that I can competewith these guys on a similar sort of level.’’
Play begins at 8.30 today morning for round three. Scoreboard
130 Mako Thompson (Maraenui) 64 66
134 Josh Geary (PGA New Zealand) 70 64, Dongwoo Kang (PGA New Zealand) 67 67
135 Darae Chung (Shandon) 70 65, Tae Koh (Windross Farm Golf Course) 68 67
136 Kazuma Kobori (Rangiora) 69 67, Tyler Hodge (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 68 68, Caryn Khoo (Whitford Park) 67 69, David Klein (PGA New Zealand) 67 69, Kerry Mountcastle (Masterton) 66 70.