Asian Tour: Hend keeps on rolling at New Zealand Open, makes most of calm conditions in Queenstown
- Scott Hend’s five-under-par 66 moves him to 12 under overall, two shots clear of the field at Millbrook Golf Resort
- Just four shots separate top 20, with Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho among large group at eight under
Scott Hend showed no signs of slowing down at the New Zealand Open on Friday, opening up a two-shot lead at the halfway stage in Queenstown.
The Australian’s five-under-par 66 moved him to 12 under overall, with overnight co-leader Matthew Griffin in a group of five at 10 under.
Almost-perfect conditions at Millbook Golf Resort mean the top 20 are separated by just four shots, with Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho among those on eight under after a second successive round of 67.
Hend began the day as he meant to go on, with a birdie at the par-4 first, and the only blemish on his card was a bogey two holes later.
“It’s not playing as difficult as it has in the past, honestly, because we haven’t had that 20-, 30-kilometre-an-hour wind out there,” the 50-year-old said.
“It’s just one of those things you’ve got to take advantage of when you can. You don’t know what’s going to happen on the weekend. Sunday could be a little bit dodgy, so we’ll just keep going.”