The Hamilton golfer Steven Alker had to cope without his regular caddie Shane McInnes for his last seven holes yesterday, but he remains well in contention at the halfway stage of the New Zealand Open in Arrowtown.
Midway through the second round yesterday, caddie McInnes had to pull out suffering from shin splints, but Alker soldiered on to post a second round 67.
Alker says the marshall who stepped in to caddie the remaining holes did okay, he just had to give him a few pointers but there weren't too many holes left.
Alker's one shot behind the American Jeff Gove who shot a tournament best 63, and the 36 year old Victorian Jason Norris.
Four other New Zealanders made the cut at one-under par - Josh Geary, who's in seventh equal, Grant Waite, David Smail and Michael Long.
