29 Jan 2010

Gates leads, Tataurangi best of locals at NZ Open

7:27 pm on 29 January 2010

The American golfer Robert Gates has moved from a share of first place to the outright lead after day two of the New Zealand Open in Arrowtown.

Gates's five under par 67 at The Hills has him one shot ahead of Australian Andrew Dodt at 12 under par while Phil Tataurangi's the biggest mover of the New Zealanders.

He's up to seventh equal, five shots back after carding a 68, seven under in a group of seven.

Tataurangi says it's been a long hard road coming back from injury in the last few years but he thinks his golf's been improving more than his scorecards have been showing.

David Smail's fallen the furthest of the New Zealand contingent - from a tie for first place, Smail bogeyed his last two holes to blow out to two over for the day and 23rd equal with a 74.

Josh Geary and another New Zealander, Bradley Iles, are in a big group on six under in 14th equal after a 69 and a 67 respectively.