Chris Wood didn’t play his best golf at times during the second round of the North Coast Open Regional Qualifier, but he did enough to claim the historic title by two shots from Blake Provers and William Bruyeres.
The defending champion of the Ford NSW Open dropping just one shot over 36-holes at Coffs Harbour Golf Club to finish at 14-under-par, while Corey Lamb, Aiden Didone and Justin Warren secured their place at The Vintage in November.
“I feel quite lucky to be standing here the way I played. I didn’t feel like I played great, but I just managed myself around the course,” Wood said in the aftermath of a victory that came with a few hiccups late and challenges from the groups ahead.
Starting the second round with a three-shot lead over Conor McDade, Wood extended his advantage at the par-4 second with birdie, a feat he repeated twice more on the front nine as he pulled further away, powered by a return to an old favourite putter.
Aided by dropped shots from playing partners McDade, James Marchesani and Douglas Klein, Wood was proud of how he navigated playing with a lead, with the two-time winner on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia looking unflappable early on Tuesday.
“I don’t think it’s ever easy,” Wood said of starting the day well in front.
“I think you just got to focus on what you’ve got to do at the time and then, the old cliché, one shot at a time, give 100 per cent effort to every shot.
“I think I did a pretty good job.”
That job came with additional pressure when the 35-year-old dropped his first shot in 29 holes at the par-4 11th after being fortunate to bounce back toward the fairway from the tee.
Wood finding the front edge of the green with his second before three-putting to give the chasing pack a sniff.
The hope experienced by his playing partners, and Proverbs and Bruyeres ahead making their move, quickly extinguished as Wood birdied 13 and 14 before changing strategy, with irons off the tee a common theme late in the round.
“I honestly didn’t strike the ball as well today off the tee. I knew what holes to par, what holes to birdie, and what was a good score,” Wood said of his clubbing down late in the round.
Making pars at 15 and 16, Wood returned to driver at the par-5 17th as Bruyeres struck a brilliant second shot ahead to set up a short eagle putt as Wood flared his drive right into the trees.
Bruyeres unable to convert as the leader laid up and made a nervy par, fully aware of how things stood as he attempted to join an honour roll featuring major winners Gary Player and Kel Nagle.
“I checked my phone late in the round a few times,” Wood said.
“I did, as I walked up to 18th tee box, I had a look at the score. I saw that I was one in front, but I was sort of fortunate enough to see where Will’s tee shot on 18 finished, and I thought that would be a great par if he did it from there.
“I knew that I had to have a good tee shot and get it on the green and then just at least make two putts to have a chance to win.”
That scenario playing out in real time as Bruyeres ended with a dropped shot before Wood closed with a par to walk away a two-shot winner as he heads home to Queensland for a short break.
Similarly headed home from Coffs Harbour, Warren will return to Sydney with a start at his home state Open as he continues his return from foot surgery.
“It was pretty tough there, it wasn’t the end of the world. It was a minor surgery, just a bit of a stuff-up on my part, in my rehab and recovery, just went back too hard too quickly, so I kind of set myself back,” Warren said of his road back.
“I didn’t walk 18 holes until I think it was just a week before Christmas, and then a few weeks later I was out playing a tournament, so it was a rough start to the year,
“Still getting the rust out, but it’s nice to drive up here, get a couple rounds in, shoot a couple good scores, see some putts go in and get a spot in the NSW Open.”
Didone securing his spot in the Hunter Valley by keeping bogeys off his scorecard for 36 holes, while Lamb fired matching rounds of 65 to claim another Ford NSW Open start at his home club of The Vintage.
“Didn’t really get off to a good start last year, so hopefully I can get off to a good start and put up a bit more of a fight this year,” Lamb said.
“I think I’ll know what to do this year, hopefully.”
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