Pike Strikes Big Blow In Lake Title Tilt
Newcastle Herald
Saturday January 27, 2007
LARGER than life Queenslander Aaron Pike eagled the final hole yesterday to grab a share of the lead at six under after the second round of the Lake Macquarie Men's Amateur championship at Belmont.
Pike is gaining a reputation for sinking beers and burgers as easily as he does his putts and rocketed back into contention when he chipped in on the par-five ninth hole late yesterday afternoon.The 2005 Queensland Amateur champion fired a four-under-par 68 on Thursday to be two shots off the lead and was stuck in the same position for 17 holes yesterday until the thrilling finish.Pike shares the lead with Bonny Doon member Justin Roach, who shot 67 in the equal-best round of the day.Roach, 25, was one under par following a first-round 71 that involved a brilliant finish after he started badly to be four over after the front nine.Roach rattled home in five under par and backed that up with some consistent golf yesterday to post a bogey-free round."I went out in 32 and back in 35, so it was pleasing not to have to fight back from four over like Thursday," Roach said after his round yesterday. "I finished fourth here two years ago, but I was pretty much fourth the whole time, so to have a share of the lead is different, and hopefully I can have a good weekend."Bardwell Valley veteran Lester Peterson, who was the first-round leader last year after shooting 67 on the first day, also shares the lead.First-round leader Andrew McCormack scored one over yesterday to share fourth with Belmont boy Rudi Bezuidenhout, who had a par round of 72 yesterday.Sydney's James Carr equalled Roach when he shot a 67 in the afternoon."The wind hasn't been too bad yet," Roach said. "I thought the greens were pretty hard to read today, which troubled me more than the wind."A cast of former winners will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the prestigious Lake Macquarie event with a lunch tomorrow and round of golf on Monday.
© 2007 Newcastle Herald