2nd Round Horizons New Zealand PGA Championships
After the 2nd round of the Horizons New Zealand PGA Championships I have shot a score of 70 (-1) to be 6 under and T14th. 12 greens 28 putts. The weather today was absolutely perfect. Hardly a breath of wind.
Starting on the 10th I made an important up and down. Green in regulations on the next 2 holes making a 4m birdie on 12. At 13 I tried to layup off the tee and hit a double cross 2iron into the trees left and really did well to not have a double bogey making a 3m putt.
Simple birdie at the par 5 14th although having 9iron in for my 2nd I missed judged my swing speed coming up just shy of the green. What is usually a par 5 on 15 otherwise stated par 4 just for this event I clipped the trees on the right and had 200m to the pin. Off the pine needles I did not strike the ball as I had hoped to. Ending in a bunker with 30m still to go not making up and down, walking away with bogey.
Hitting the next 5 greens in a row I could only roll in the shortest of them all at 1m on the 2nd. The longest was 7m so it was disappointing on this stretch to not sink more. Next best chance was 4m. Great up and down on 3 holing a 3m putt after being in the trees off the tee to keep the momentum. Simple par at 4 having another chance at birdie from 5m.
Today I had revenged the par 5 5th with a birdie making a good sand save although I did have 6iron in hand for 2. I left the hole with thoughts of what could have been with a great strike. Solid par at the index one 6th but it was the next 3 holes that left a sour taste in the mouth finishing.
Reaching greenside for 2 at the par 5 7th I was 1m off the edge of the green and a 12m putt and walked away with Par missing a 1.5m putt for my birdie. Up and down save at 8 holing a 4m down hiller before ending up too far in the left rough on the last. Chipping a 6iron for my recovery to 55m. Pitch to 4m where I missed the par chance.
Hurt, hurt and more hurt. Nonetheless I am still in a solid position. Over the next 2 rounds I am feeling a low one and a solid finish. My game is feeling extremely solid. Thanks everyone for the comments on my 1st round score. It was a bugger I could not back it up today.
