Late double bogey drops Barnes into for New Zealand PGA lead

3/6/2009

Australia's Kurt Barnes dropped two strokes on his 17th hole Friday to fall into a three-way tie for the lead after the second round of the New Zealand PGA Championship.

The event is co-sanctioned by the Nationwide Tour and the Australasian Tour

The long-hitting Barnes, the first-round leader after a 64, finished with a 71 to match New Zealand left-hander Gareth Paddison (68) and American Josh Teater (68) at 9 under on the Bob Charles-designed Clearwater course.

Barnes took a two-stroke lead to the par-4 eighth, but hit his tee shot into the tall grass and was forced to take a penalty stroke because of an unplayable lie. His next shot plugged into the hazard that guards the right side of the green. Barnes then slashed it from the mud and onto the green, and two-putted for a 6.

Australia's Peter O'Malley (67) and American Steve Friesen (67) were 8 under. O'Malley won in 2002 and 2005.

Danny Lee, the New Zealand amateur who won Johnnie Walker Classic last month, was 6 under after a 67. The 18-year-old Lee, also the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, plans to turn pro after the Masters. Born in South Korea, he moved to New Zealand at age 8.

Leaderboard – Round 2:

1. Gareth Paddison                       NZL  67 68 135 - 9
    Josh Teater                             USA  67 68 135 - 9
    Kurt Barnes                             AUS  64 71 135 - 9
4. Steve Friesen                           USA  69 67 136 - 8
    Peter O´Malley                         AUS  69 67 136 - 8
6. David Branshaw                        USA  66 71 137 - 7
    Michael Sim                             AUS  71 66 137 - 7
    Craig Bowden                           USA  69 68 137 - 7
    Kevin Johnson                          USA  70 67 137 - 7
    Matthew Griffin                         AUS  69 68 137 - 7
    Josh Geary                               NZL  72 65 137 - 7
    Michael Wright                         AUS  71 66 137 - 7

Source: NZPGA