Golf: Strong finish earns Harry Bateman title

Josh Geary blasts out of a bunker on the 18th at Mount Maunganui. Photo/John Borren.

Harry Bateman of Masterton topped off a few days of excellent golf with a three-shot win at the Coombes Johnston BMW Mount Maunganui Pro-Am yesterday.

It was the fourth pro-am played in the series in a week.

Bateman started his round on the 13th hole which he birdied, dropped a shot on the next, then went under the card again on the par-five 15th hole. He made four more birdies over the rest of the round, two of them in his last three holes, to lock up the event.

Bateman surprisingly shot the only score in the 60s despite the excellent condition the course was in.

"I thought I might have had a putt on the last to win it and I missed it. But I still won by three shots, which was pretty surprising. I thought there would be a few 60s out there," he said.

"I have been playing pretty well all week. I had a really good chance to win at (Fairview) and then I blew it on the last couple of holes, so it was nice to finish strongly today."

The double bogey/bogey finish at Fairview was a shock for the affable young pro. It affected his performance over two days at Matarangi on Sunday and Monday.

"At Matarangi I didn't put it out of my mind but I am over it now and was just glad to win. The greens at the Mount were a little bit slower, but the course was in mint condition otherwise. I love coming over here to play."

Tied in second place were Dominic Barson of New Plymouth and Jon Bevitt from Auckland on 70.

Barson's round was encouraging, in that it moved him into 10th position on the Mondiale PGA Order of Merit which could bring some extra benefits in 2014.

Josh Geary (71) and Jared Pender (71) were the best of the local golfers.

This being the final pro-am event for the year, Richard Lee had an unassailable lead and won back the trophy he held in 2011.