Webex Players Series: Mountcastle storms to top of the leaderboard

Another day, another course record at Willunga as New Zealander Kerry Mountcastle stormed to the top the leaderboard of the Webex players Series event in South Australia.

Another day, another course record at Willunga as New Zealander Kerry Mountcastle stormed to the top the leaderboard of the Webex players Series event in South Australia alongside a fellow Kiwi, Jake Meenhorst.

A day after Sydneysider Christopher Fan went on a birdie blitz, Mountcastle, 29, equalled his feat, bouncing back from a double-bogey on his fourth hole to reel off nine birdies in his next 14 holes to card a brilliant seven-under 63,

Mountcastle, a regular visitor for the Australian summer who has just one win as a professional, at last year’s Gippsland Super 6s event, was joined on nine-under by fellow Kiwi, and world No.2492, Meenhorst.

The 25-year-0ld , who played college golf at Tennessee but has only played 10 events that hand out world ranking points, and has never won, also had nine second round birdies in his six-under 64 to put his name up in lights and one-shot ahead of Andrew Campbell and opening round leader Fan.

“Finally hit a few good golf shots,” said Mountcastle, who has finished tied 33rd and tied 35th the past two weeks.

Kerry Mountcastle tees off on the 18th hole during the Webex Players Series event at Willunga.

“I’ve been close the last couple of weeks. Hit some good shots but then followed up with some really bad ones.

“Just haven’t been able to get anything going but managed to capitalise on those good golf shots today.”

Meenhorst, playing with limited exemptions, made the cut at last week’s WA Open and now finds himself in a share of the lead in his fourth start for the season.

“It was kind of a little monkey on the back, missing some cuts out here,” Meenhorst said.

“Once I got the first one, I feel like I kind of belong out here now.

“It’s been pretty awesome posting some good numbers this week.”

The leaderboard was full of red figures on day two of the event with 43 players shooting under par rounds to create a bunched leaderboard with 13 players all within four shots of the lead, all looking for their share of the $200,000 prize.

After blitzing the Willunga layout on the opening day to take a two-shot lead after his own course-record equalling 63, Sydneysider Fan had a more measured second round.

The world No.2273 has half as many as his eight round one birdies, and a couple more bogeys, in his one-under 69, which left him a shot behind the leaders going into the weekend.

Another Kiwi, Hanee Song, was one of only two female players to make the cut at the mixed-gender event, and she finds herself seven shots off the lead at two-under, with Amelia Mehmet-Grohn a shot further back.

Originally published as Webex Players Series: Mountcastle storms to top of the leaderboard