Unheralded Kiwis Mako Thompson [pictured] and Jared Edwards lead the Nexus Advisernet Bowra & O’Dea WA Open – but the tournament’s biggest drawcard, Marc Leishman, is poised to strike this weekend.
Leishman showed why he’s considered one of Australia’s best players of the past 20 years with some superbly controlled golf in the tougher afternoon conditions at Mount Lawley Golf Club.
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A three-under-par 69 moved Leishman into T-4 at five-under for the championship, just three shots off the pace, and he will start in the second-to-last group on Saturday.
Leishman said earlier in the week that he thought Mount Lawley would deliver the preparation he wanted for this year’s Australian Open on the Melbourne Sandbelt’s famed Royal Melbourne Composite course and that’s exactly what the Perth course delivered – firm greens and strong afternoon breezes that made them even firmer.
“That was as Sandbelt as I’ve ever seen,” the 41-year-old said. “That was rock hard. It was difficult, but it was awesome. It was so much fun to have to work shots left-to-right or right-to-left and land them on a hill to get them [close] to a pin.
“I love that sort of golf and I think it really rewards good play and it definitely punishes bad play.”
While Leishman’s presence packed in the punters and captured the imagination, the day belonged to Thompson and Edwards, who made light of their rookie status on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia to annex the top two spots on the leaderboard.
Thompson was a model of consistency as he carded a second consecutive 68 to take the outright lead at eight-under for the championship.
Edwards, meanwhile, produced a course record-equalling 65 that featured seven birdies and no dropped shots. He’s in outright second, just a shot back.
“I got off to a nice start. Took advantage of no wind and the softer greens, so it was a nice way to kickstart the day,” said Thompson, whose best finish on tour to date was T-16 at the PNG Open in August.
With the likes of Leishman prominently placed in the chasing pack, Thompson says he’s taking nothing for granting heading into the weekend.
“It’s still only halfway. There’s lots of golf to go, so just [stick to the] same sort of plan as we’ve had the first two days and whatever comes my way will happen,” he added.
Following on from his level-par opening round, Edwards’ 65 saw him rocket up the standings, with the 27-year-old admitting that the course conditions at Mount Lawley suited him perfectly.
“It’s sort of like the best of the Sandbelt rolled into one golf course,” he said. “You’ve got to be real smart and even if you leave yourself 20-25 feet pin-high, the greens are so pure you’ve got a chance of making them.
“Firm and fast and strategic golf is what I’ve always based my game around. It plays into my strengths, just being able to plot around the golf course and sprinkle in a few birdies here and there.”
The reward for their days’ work is being paired together in the final group on Saturday with WA’s Haydn Barron, who struggled for consistency today but remains very much in contention at six-under-par.
After outscoring playing partner Leishman by two strokes on day one, 17-year-old WA amateur Spencer Harrison had a more chastening day as he fell away to a four-over-par 76 to tumble down the standings.
