The defending Ford NSW Open champion dropped 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 also secured their places 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 late hiccups and challenges from the groups ahead.

Starting the second round with a three-shot lead over Conor McDade, Wood extended his advantage with a birdie at the par-4 second. He repeated the feat twice more on the front nine as he pulled further clear, aided by a return to an old favourite putter.

Helped by dropped shots from playing partners McDade, James Marchesani and Douglas Klein, Wood was proud of how he handled playing with a lead, with the two-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner 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’ve just got to focus on what you’ve got to do at the time and then, the old cliche, one shot at a time, give 100-per-cent effort to every shot. I think I did a pretty good job.”

That task became more challenging when the 35-year-old dropped his first shot in 29 holes at the par-4 11th after being fortunate to see his tee shot bounce back towards the fairway.

Wood found the front edge of the green with his second shot, before three-putting to give the chasing pack a sniff.

The hope experienced by his playing partners, as well as Provers and Bruyeres ahead making their move, was quickly extinguished as Wood birdied the 13th and 14th before changing strategy, with irons off the tee becoming 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 clubbing down late in the round.

Making pars at the 15th and 16th, Wood returned to driver at the par-5 17th as Bruyeres struck a brilliant second shot ahead to set up a short eagle putt, while Wood flared his drive into the trees on the right.

Bruyeres was 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.

“As I walked up to the 18th tee, 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 hit a good tee shot and get it on the green and then at least make two putts to have a chance to win.”

That scenario played out in real time as Bruyeres finished with a bogey before Wood closed with a par to seal a two-shot victory as he heads home to Queensland for a short break.

Also heading home from Coffs Harbour, Warren will return to Sydney with a start in his home state Open as he continues his comeback 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. I went back too hard, too quickly, so I kind of set myself back,” Warren said of his road to returning.

“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 of rounds in, shoot a couple of good scores, see some putts go in and get a spot in the NSW Open.”

Didone secured his spot in the Hunter Valley by keeping bogeys off his card for 36 holes, while Lamb fired matching rounds of 65 to earn another Ford NSW Open start at his home club, The Vintage.

“I 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.”