• PNG Open Showdown
• Play under way

PNG Open Showdown

It is a jam packed leaderboard after the second round of the 2010 South Pacific Export Papua New Guinea Open. With 21 players within four shots of the lead, the golfing public of Port Moresby will be in for a treat as the professionals strive to be PNG’s national open champion. After his win last week at the Coca Cola Morobe Open, Heath Reed wasn’t able to keep his run of sub par rounds going, carding a one over round of 73 to be in sixth place heading to the weekend. Leading the way is QLD Sunshine Tour rookie Leigh Deagan and Queenslander Matt Ballard. Deagon who in was the leading trainee in Australian in both 2008 and 2009, talked about his start to this year’s PNG Open. “This is my first time to PNG and I am really enjoying the cultural experience. It is different playing golf in PNG than it is back in Melbourne, but I have tried to be really patient over the first two rounds, take my chances when they come and hopefully I can keep it going over the weekend.”  Matt Ballard is not only 13 time winner on the QLD Sunshine Tour he also won the 2007 Desert Mountain Classic in the US, in addition to the 2008 New Caledonian Open. Lurking just one behind the leaders though is defending champion Michael Wright who, along with Jason King, carded a second round 69 to record the lowest round of the tournament. Wright is looking to be the first person in history to record back to back victories at the PNG Open, and he talked about the golf course. “The rough is getting thicker the longer the tournament goes on, so hitting the fairway is going to be a must on the weekend.” Commonly known as ‘moving day’, round three may be more important here at the PNG Open than ever before. Not only will the winner take home close to $20,000AUS in prizemoney, the winner also receives an exemption in to the Asia Pacific Championship, a Japanese Tour Event worth more than $1.7 million dollars.

Play under way

Play is underway in the 2010 South Pacific Export Papua New Guinea Open. Warm conditions have greated all players early on day one with the tournament turning into a battle of the fittest if the humid weather continues.

New Zealander Doug Holloway has taken the early lead in round one carding a one under par round of 71 to lead a large pack of players. Holloway, who won the 2008 Rookie of the Year Award is looking for his first four round victory on the QLD Sunshine Tour and after previously finishing runner up in the Morobe Open, Doug is looking to go one better in the 2010 South Pacific Export PNG Open.