Gusting winds of up to 60 km per hour played havoc with the Mercedes Championships leaderboard yesterday evening when the average second-round score climbed to 75.

Australia's Stuart Appleby, chasing a record-equalling third victory in a row at the Kapalua Resort, ended a gruelling day on lighting-fast greens one shot clear of the elite winners-only field after grinding out a one-under-par 72.

While the big-hitting Australian led the way with a 36-hole aggregate of three-under 143, Americans Jason Gore (80) and Brad Faxon (78) languished 17 strokes behind.

Worst performance came from Sweden's Carl Pettersson, with a 12-over 85, and the scoring average was the highest in the tournament's history since the event moved to Kapalua in 1999.

Jim Furyk, winner of the 2001 Mercedes Championships, has a holiday home on the course and had rarely seen the undulating Plantation Course buffeted by such strong winds.

"Without a major storm blowing through, I haven't seen them much stronger," the 2003 US Open champion told reporters. "The wind was tough and it really made it difficult to get the iron shots close. It was also very difficult putting.

"A lot of times, the greens are perched up on top of some slopes and you're exposed to the wind," added Furyk, who ended the day in a four-way tie for second place after carding a 72.

US Open champion Michael Campbell, level with Furyk after returning a matching 72, said conditions at the PGA Tour's season-opening event reminded him of the British Open.

"It's pretty close to an Open," the New Zealander said.  "It's very similar condition-wise with the hard greens, firm greens and the wind conditions. It's good practice for the Open."

Appleby, who was two strokes clear of the chasing pack