Dougherty close to lead in NZ
Dougherty battled tough conditions at Gulf Harbour (Aus unless stated): S Strange
K Felton, J Moseley, Greg Chalmers
L James (Eng), M Fraser, M Long (NZ), N Dougherty (Eng), P Senior, C Parry, S Scahill (NZ), S Wakefield (Eng), M Purser (NZ)
Strange snatched a one-stroke lead over three fellow Australians on a bleak opening day at Gulf Harbour.Strange birdied three of the closing four holes north of Auckland to finish on four under par, ahead of Kim Felton, Greg Chalmers and Jarrod Moseley.Doughtery
is one of nine players tied for fourth, one stroke further back.In severe conditions only 28 of the 156 starters finished under par. Who do you think will win in Auckland? “We got a bit lucky (with the weather) I think,” said the 29-year-old Strange. “I had a birdie chance on 17 and had one on 18 and I knocked them in. “When I had a realistic birdie chance, I holed the putt.”Michael Campbell, playing on home soil for the first time since winning the 2005 US Open, finished with an even-par 71 after battling through the worst of the weather.”I’m pretty excited about the next three days because I know I am due for a win,” said Campbell.