Peter Smith T10 with two rounds to play in
 New Zealand Open

NEWS RELEASE

Australian Matt Griffin and Japan’s Hideto Tanihara looked set to lead into the weekend until rookie tour pro Deyen Lawson stormed home to tie them after two rounds at the BMW ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open.
Playing at The Hills today, Griffin reeled off two eagles, four birdies and just one bogey to post 7-under 65 in the morning to be 8-under the card.
Meanwhile over at Millbrook Resort, also in the morning, Hideto Tanihara, an 11 time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, fired 5-under the card to join Griffin on top of the leaderboard.
With the afternoon field failing to ignite and no challengers moving into contention it looked like it would be Griffin and Tanihara leading into the weekend.
But Victorian Deyen Lawson had other ideas, charging home with three birdies on his closing three holes to fire 7-under 65 and join the top of the table.
Lawson, who completed his PGA Traineeship last year, isn’t overawed on the big stage, using the beauty of Queenstown to distract him from what’s at stake.
Sitting two shots behind the leading trio is New Zealand’s great hope, Steven Alker. It’s been 13 years since a Kiwi has won their National Open but Alker isn’t feeling any pressure.  He fired 5-under 67 playing The Hills this morning.
The second round cut was made at even par with 61 Professionals making the weekend rounds. 
Aberdeenshire man Peter Smith, at 56 the oldest player in the field, beat the cut comfortably and is tied 10th on 139 (70-69) with two rounds to play.
Smith, a former New Zealand club pros champion and winner of the British PGA seniors title in 2011, is also a former Northern Open champion. He has divided his golfing career between Scotland, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

CLICK HERE