Fiji, August 3: New Zealand’s Ben Campbell swept aside his closest rivals by firing a six-under-par 66 to surge to the top of the leaderboard with a four-shot cushion after the second round of the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways on Friday.

Campell held a share of the overnight lead after opening with a 67 at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course but showed his intent of breaking clear of the tight leaderboard when he charged towards the turn in 33 with three birdies.

He then moved further ahead by snaring four more birdies on holes 11, 12, 14 and 17 before dropping his only shot of the day on the closing 18 for a two-day total of 11-under-par 133.

Australia’s Andrew Dodt, who also opened with a 67 to share pole position after the first round, lost his advantage as he could only settle for a 70 to take second place.

China’s Wu Ashun meanwhile overcame his early tournament jitters by making his move with a 69 which was highlighted by an eagle three on 17 to stay six shots back of Campbell in tied-fifth place.

India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar made his Fijian debut count with another assured performance by signing for a 69 to share fifth place with Wu as well as the Australian trio of Nicholas Cullen, Steven Jeffress, Jake McLeod and New Zealand’s Nick Voke and Harry Bateman.

Thailand’s Poom Saksansin will meanwhile be hoping for favourable weather as he heads into the weekend round in tied-12 position.

Poom has never been a big fan of playing under blustery conditions and hopes the day’s benign conditions can set him up for another title charge as the weekend round beckons at the Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways, which being tri-sanctioned by the Asian Tour European Tour and ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia again.

Did you know?

• A mysterious illness kept Ben Campbell out of the game on and off for more than a year in 2017.
• After graduating from the Asian Tour Qualifying School in January with a tied-seventh finish, Campbell secured his first professional win at the New Zealand PGA Championship the following month in February this year.
• Andrew Dodt is a two-time Asian Tour winner. His last victory on the Tour came at the True Thailand Classic in Thailand in 2015.
• Dodt finished tied-35th at the Fiji International in 2017.
• Wu Ashun only managed to get to the tee box minutes before his tee off time on Thursday as his luggage and golf bag had earlier met with a delay.
• Despite the early hiccups, Wu posted an opening round of 70 which placed him in a share of eighth place after the first round.
• Wu is the second highest ranked Chinese player in the Official World Golf Rankings and is making his second appearance in Fiji.
• Gaganjeet Bhullar claimed his eighth Asian Tour title at the Macao Open last year to become the youngest player to win eight titles on the region’s premier Tour.
• He endured another missed opportunity for his ninth Asian Tour win at the Queen’s Cup last month.
• The Indian also came close at the Maekyung Open in Korea in May but settled for a share of second place after he was defeated in the play-off.

Players Quotes

Ben Campbell (Nzl) Second round 66 (-6), Total 133 (-11)

Yeah, I played really well out there. I got off to a nice start, which was good.  I didn’t hit really too many bad shots out there. The putter was feeling good, I chipped it well, and yeah, it was just keeping the ball in play, so I couldn’t complain much. I think this is one of the first few times I’ve ever played it in this kind of conditions.  The game plan actually changed a little bit as you were able to have a go at a few flags. I just feel a lot more comfortable out here. There’s obviously a long way to go there.  But winning any event would help in some way, whether it’s get your status or secure status or get you into other events and things like that.  But yeah, obviously I think the easy part is done, it’s the tough part now to keep going.

Andrew Dodt (Aus) Second round 70 (-2), Total 137 (-7)

I didn’t make a birdie on the back nine, which is a bit frustrating considering that the wind completely dropped and scoring was there to take advantage of. But I’m still in a good position and excited for the weekend. It was a different direction for the first nine holes, but when I put the pins in my yardage box this morning, I thought the pins were quite accessible, so I am quite surprised that no one did go low because it was there for the taking. I probably need to stay aggressive and keep attacking.  My nature is a little bit going into a bit of a shell and get a bit defensive, so I really need to keep the foot on the accelerator and keep being aggressive.  Ben’s obviously playing well, so he’s going to take a bit of catching, but I can only do my best.

Gaganjeet Bhullar (Ind) Second round 69 (-3), Total 139 (-5)

I had a shaky start to the round, I started with a bogey and then I had another bogey on three but I made a really good birdie on number two and a great par save on number four. I was struggling with my driving on the first three holes, but after that, I kind of got my momentum and swung the ball really well on the back nine.  And, you know, three-under, even though it’s not that great of a round, and there’s still 36 holes to go, I’m in a good position right now. There were tough conditions when we got started and it was not easy to hit the ball that close.  Despite the fact, I kept on telling myself to hit a lot of greens in regulation and kept the ball in play pretty much on the back nine.  I am enjoying my time in Fiji.  Every time I’m here, every third person is calling my surname, calling "bula, bula."  It’s very good. My wife is here and we both are enjoying ourselves, having a great time.

Wu Ashun (Chn) Second round 69 (-3), Total 139 (-5)

The conditions were very good today and I had enough time to warm up today, too.  Yesterday was a bit of a rush.  Today was way better and I had the time to warm up a little bit and the weather was better in the morning. Today I missed a couple birdie chances, but I’ll just go for it tomorrow and see what happens.

Poom Saksansin (Tha) Second round 68 (-4), Total 141 (-3)

I don’t know why I cannot play well in the wind. I hope the weather stay like how it was today. Otherwise I’ll be gone with the wind! I can control my ball better when there’s no wind. I’m also putting well. If the winds blows this weekend, I just have to pray to myself!

 Leading scores after round 2 of the Fiji International being played at the par 72, 6575 Metres Natadola Bay CGC course (am – denotes amateur):

133 – Ben Campbell (NZL) 67-66.

137 – Andrew Dodt (AUS) 67-70.

138 – Terry Pilkadaris (AUS) 70-68, Jarryd Felton (AUS) 67-71.

139 – Nick Voke (NZL) 71-68, Harry Bateman (NZL) 70-69, Ashun Wu (CHN) 70-69, Nicholas Cullen (AUS) 67-72, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 70-69, Steven Jeffress (AUS) 73-66, Jake McLeod (AUS) 72-67.

141 – Justin Harding (RSA) 74-67, Poom Saksansin (THA) 73-68, Travis Smyth (AUS) 71-70, Anthony Quayle (AUS) 75-66, Sam Lee (FIJ) 70-71, Matthew Griffin (AUS) 69-72, Darren Beck (AUS) 71-70, Maverick Antcliff (AUS) 69-72.

142 – Marcus Fraser (AUS) 73-69, Gavin Green (MAS) 72-70, James Marchesani (AUS) 72-70, Ernie Els (RSA) 72-70.

143 – Mark Brown (NZL) 75-68, Scott Strange (AUS) 74-69, Richard Green (AUS) 76-67, Rhein Gibson (AUS) 73-70, Andrew Martin (AUS) 72-71.

144 – Stephen Leaney (AUS) 69-75, Michael Hendry (NZL) 73-71, Matthew Perry (NZL) 73-71, Max McCardle (AUS) 73-71, Deyen Lawson (AUS) 73-71, Matthew Millar (AUS) 71-73, Dale Brandt-Richards (AUS) 72-72, Cameron John (AUS) 73-71.

145 – Damien Jordan (AUS) 75-70, Yanwei Liu (CHN) 74-71, Benjamin Clementson (AUS) 76-69, Jazz Janewattananond (THA) 77-68, Lucas Herbert (AUS) 70-75, Yikeun Chang (KOR) 72-73.

146 – Bowen Xiao (CHN) 74-72, Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) 72-74, Johannes Veerman (USA) 72-74, Aaron Pike (AUS) 73-73, Prom Meesawat (THA) 75-71, Daniel Gale (AUS) 76-70, Nick Flanagan (AUS) 74-72, Justin Walters (RSA) 70-76.

147 – Harrison Endycott (AUS) 75-72, Scott Vincent (ZIM) 76-71, Thitiphun Chuayprakong (THA) 75-72, James Nitties (AUS) 74-73, Ryan Chisnall (NZL) 74-73, Matt Stieger (AUS) 72-75, Kieran Muir (NZL) 72-75, Ajeetesh Sandhu (IND) 73-74, Soomin Lee (KOR) 77-70, Phachara Khongwatmai (THA) 79-68, Adam Blyth (AUS) 74-73, Jake Higginbottom (AUS) 74-73, John Catlin (USA) 75-72.

Selected scores

148 – Jason Norris (AUS) 72-76, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 76-72

*+4 (148) was the final cut, 71 players made the cut

Ends.