Unheralded Kiwis Mako Thompson and Jared Edwards lead the Nexus Advisernet Bowra & O’Dea WA Open — but LIV Golf superstar Marc Leishman is poised to strike.
Leishman showed why he’s considered one of Australia’s greatest-ever players with some superbly controlled golf in the tougher afternoon conditions at Mount Lawley Golf Club.
His three-under-par 69 moved Leishman into T4th at -5 for the championship, just three off the pace, and he will start in the second-to-last group on Saturday.
While Leishman’s presence packed in the punters and captured the imaginations, 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, blitzed round in a course record-equalling 65 that featured seven birdies and no dropped shots. He’s in outright 2nd, 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 T16th 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.
Tour rookies Mako Thompson (left) and Jared Edwards lead the WA Open at halfway
Following on from his level-par opening round, Edwards’ seven-under-par 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. “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 his magnificent seven-under-par 65 on Thursday, Barron endured a frustrating day as the putts refused to drop and his faultless approach play of yesterday abandoned him.
Although he displayed some superb scrambling on the back nine to keep himself in the mix, Barron cut a disappointed figure as a closing bogey saw him sign off on a one-over 73.
Leishmania engulfs Mount Lawley
After shaking off some rust with an opening round of 70, headliner Leishman delivered some superbly controlled golf in testing, breezy conditions.
In front of record crowds at a WA Open, Leishman’s class told as he rattled in four birdies to offset a single bogey on the tricky par-three 17th.
A birdie on 18 left Leishman with a smile on his face and a whole lot of positive energy to take into Saturday’s third round, where he will be paired with Anthony Quayle and Cam John.
“That was as Sandbelt as I’ve ever seen. It was rock hard, it was difficult, but it was awesome,” said a beaming Leishman. “I love the golf course. It’s short, but it’s definitely gone up as one of my favourites.
“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 to a pin. I love that sort of golf and I think it really rewards good play and it definitely punishes bad play.”
Hundreds of spectators followed the Leishman/Doull/Harrison group this afternoon
Needless to say, Leishman has his eyes on the prize is targeting a title challenge over the weekend.
“Any tournament you play, your juices are going,” he added. “If you get to six-under or eight-under, you want to get further and further. So, same here.
“I’m enjoying my golf as much as I ever have and whether it’s the Western Australian Open or the US Open, I want to try and win it.”
Playing partner — and home-club favourite — Jordan Doull matched his esteemed colleague’s 69 with a swashbuckling round that featured seven birdies and four bogeys. He moves up to T8th at -3.
After outscoring Leishman by two strokes on day one, 17-year-old amateur Spencer Harrison had a more chastening day as he fell away to a four-over-par 76 to tumble down the standings.
He did enough to make the cut, however, and will vie for the Terry Gale Cup for Low Amateur with six others, including WA state teammates Josiah Edwards, Connor Fewkes and Adam Baillie.
Eighteen-year-old Gosnells GC member Edwards is the current leading amateur after adding a level-par 72 to his opening 69 to finish the day in T8th at -3 for the championship.
View the Round 2 leaderboard here.
Other talking points at a glance
- 14 WA golfers made the cut: Haydn Barron (-6); Josiah Edwards, Jordan Doull (-3); Connor Fewkes, Curtis Luck, Hayden Hopewell, Ryan Peake, Brett Rumford (-2); Adam Hatch, Connor McKinney (-1); Brady Watt, Spencer Harrison (E); Ollie Goss, Adam Baillie (+2)
- The cut fell at +2, with those missing out including Kirsten Rudgeley and past champions Stephen Leaney, Braden Becker, Daniel Fox, Deyen Lawson and Zach Murray
- Round 3 commences at 7.42am on Saturday morning
View full event information here.
The Nexus Advisernet Bowra & O’Dea WA Open at Mount Lawley Golf Club from October 16-19. Entry is free.
You can tune in to live coverage of the championship on Kayo over the closing two rounds
– Saturday, October 19: 1pm – 4pm (AWST)
– Sunday, October 20: 11am – 4pm (AWST)
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