In favorable conditions on softened soil here in the nation’s capital following 13mm of precipitation the evening before, Chris Wood took the front foot halfway into the PNG Open, flourishing on the course for the second round with more birdies.
Like a projectile out of a canon, Wood was out of the gates with two birdies in his first three holes, with a bogey at the par-3 second in between.
That blemish would be the only one on Wood’s scorecard for the day as he closed the front nine with back-to-back birdies at the consecutive par-5s to turn in 34.
“I think the front nine is definitely the more scoring nine, helps with the three par-5s. If you can, sort of turn between three- and four-under, definitely sets up a good round on the back nine.”
The Aussie was right, scoring 3 more birdies for a six under 66 and the lead alone at nine-under-par through 36 holes. First round co-leader Lachlan Barker his nearest pursuer with two shots adrift.
Wood’s good play came on the back of a putter that has been working well on the tricky Royal Port Moresby greens. Wood was proud of the day, stating that he had played better than the day before adding that the greens were challenging.
The cut fell at 16-over-par, with 59 players making the weekend.