CHRIS Wood didn’t play his best golf at times during the second round of the North Coast Open Regional Qualifier at Coffs Harbour Golf Club, but it didn’t matter.
He did enough on the first day to claim the historic title by two shots from Blake Proverbs and William Bruyeres.
The defending Ford NSW Open champion dropped just one shot over 36-holes 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,” Wood said.
“I didn’t feel like I played great, but I just managed myself around the course.”
The victory came with a few late hiccups and challenges from the groups ahead.
On the opening day Wood set the East Lakes layout at Coffs Harbour alight shooting 10 birdies to record an incredibly low 60 in the first round.
Despite being three shots better than the course record held by Anthony Quayle, the low round will not earn him a place in the Coffs Harbour Golf Club’s historic record books due to preferred lies being in place through the event.
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 in his round played last 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.
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