Room-mates Kade McBride and Jake McLeod have produced course record-equalling rounds of eight-under this morning to throw down the challenge as the afternoon groups head out in the second round of the Play Today NSW Open at Rich River Golf Club.
McBride’s nine birdies started at the par five 1st, but he quickly gave it back on the tough par four 4th, playing back into the morning wind. The remainder of his round is the stuff of dreams, eight birdies from the sixth hole to finish clubhouse leader at -13.
McLeod, who is sharing a hotel with McBride this week, shot a flawless 63, despite admitting afterwards that he “never felt that comfortable” during the round.
“I never felt that comfortable today with my hitting, but my short game and putting were a lot better,” said the 28-year-old Queenslander.
Today it “was a lack of confidence in where it was going,” he laughed. “I drove it really well on the practice days, but today it felt like my body wasn’t moving well.”
Asked to explain the secret to his and McBride’s success today, McLeod put it down to a late night McFlurry from the Macca’s 2km down the road.
“We’ve been going out for dinner each night which is great, but we do a little stop by in the drive-thru at Macca’s on the way home,” he said.
“I think that’s the key to success at the minute.”
McBride was waiting for McLeod after his round, and they planned to head straight down for another sugary treat.
“We’re getting another one this arvo,” he laughed.
The course record was matched an hour later by 21-year-old West Australian Connor McKinney, who threw in an eagle on the par-5 11th alongside seven birdies to equal McBride and McLeod with an eight-under 63.
Overnight leader Dylan Perry recovered from a pair of bogeys at the start of his round (holes two and three), and a disastrous double-bogey on the driveable 17th to shoot four-under for the day to sit two back of McBride at -11.
The Novocastrian scored eight birdies in his round.
Other notable scores this morning include a brace of seven-under rounds from Connor McKinney (-9), Darren Beck (-8) and Victorian Tom Power Horan, who went one better than his opening round. The 27-year-old two time Gippsland Super 6 winner holds a share of the lead at -13.
