ben Patston (Otago) carded a one over par 72 yesterday to take the lead in the national left-handed golf championships which continues on the Chisholm Links today and tomorrow.
Two rounds of 72 were good enough to give Patston a four-shot lead at the halfway stage, ahead of Island Park's Mike Wray, who finished 5 over par on 76 yesterday.
In the seniors' event, David Fraser (Alexandra) carded 73 to take a resounding 12-shot lead with two rounds to play.
Only strong winds on the seaside links land course could help the opposition claw back such a large margin but Fraser, who has played most of his golf on the Chisholm course, is renowned for scoring in windy conditions.
Patston started from the 13th tee and quickly went sub par with birdies on the 15th and 16th holes.
He went 3 under birdieing the second hole, but lost the initiative with bogeys at four, nine, 10 and 12 to finish 1 over.
Fraser started on the difficult par 3 seventh hole and bogeyed his first three holes.
He birdied the par 3 10th and par 5 11th but then lost ground with another trio of consecutive bogeys at 12, 13 and 15.
Fraser made a strong finish birdieing 16, 18 and then the par 4 third to finish on 73.
