19 Aug 2017

Sport: NZ golfer shares lead at Fiji International.

7:28 am on 19 August 2017
New Zealand's Daniel Pearce leads after the opening round at Natadola Bay.

New Zealand's Daniel Pearce leads after the opening round at Natadola Bay. Photo: PGA of Australia

Four golfers are in a share of the lead at the halfway point at the Fiji International.

First round leader Daniel Pearce from New Zealand went round the Natadola Bay course in one under par 71 to move to 7 under for the tournament.

"It's always nice to be on top. I can't complain about how things went today," said Pearce, whose round included five birdies, two bogeys and a double," he said.

Pearce has been joined at the summit by Australians Jason Norris and Scott Hend and Gavin Green from Malaysia, and is feeling good going into the weekend.

"I feel like you've still got to play pretty good out there, especially with the wind. It's definitely going to benefit you if you're a good ball striker."

"So, you get a pretty good advantage if you're hitting the ball well and controlling your ball well in the wind," he said.

Two-time major winner Angel Cabrera of Argentina moved into a share of 12th place at 3 under par, after shooting a second round 69, while another former Masters champion, Canada's Mike Weir, is 1 under par going into the weekend.

Local hero Vijay Singh is also six shots behind the leaders, in a tie for 28th, following an even par round that mixed two birdies and two bogeys.

Vijay Singh is hoping it's fourth time lucky at the 2017 Fiji International.

Vijay Singh is hoping it's fourth time lucky at the 2017 Fiji International. Photo: PGA of Australia

The only other Fijian to make the cut was fellow pro Sam Lee, who equalled the best round the day with a 6 under 66 to surge back to even par.

Dinesh Chand missed the weekend by one stroke after a second round two over par while amateur Apenisa Koroicure finished at the foot of the leaderboard after a second round 89, to end his debut appearance on 37 over par.

Gavin Green

Gavin Green Photo: PGA of Australia.