Brad Kendall stays relaxed despite shaky start

His game's in top shape - it's Canterbury's natural oddities that have been giving reigning New Zealand strokeplay champion Brad Kendall the most grief since he arrived in Christchurch at the weekend.
Kendall arrived in Christchurch to be greeted by Saturday's magnitude 5.3 aftershock and since then has had to cope with the icy blast lashing the South Island then brought a dusting of snow to the Port Hills.
"She's bloody cold right now, a bit of snow around, and the earthquake was my first - all quite exciting really, although probably not for the locals," the Mt Maunganui amateur said yesterday as he headed out for a practise round with Bay of Plenty teammate Sam Davis (Tauranga), who he will also partner in today's foursomes.
The national amateur is being held at Russley, which was largely unaffected by February's devastating quake. Four rounds of strokeplay starting tomorrow is followed by matchplay for the top 32 qualifiers, with the 36-hole final next Tuesday.
Kendall won the strokeplay title last year at Bridge Pa by a shot from Aussie Matt Jager on 10-under par before succumbing to Jager in the matchplay final.
The 19-year-old apprentice electrician is trying to take a relaxed mindset into this week's tournament, with proof 12 months ago that anything can happen if he gets on a hot streak.
"I'm hitting it not too bad right now - (coach) Jay (Carter) has got my swing coming along and most of my time has been spent on my short game, on the greens and around the greens.
"I'm not looking at the next four days as defending my title, just trying to go out there and treat it as another tournament. That's probably the best way to approach it to stay relaxed."
Kendall said his experience last year, where he played the final in front of a big gallery, would be beneficial.
His New Zealand teammates Ryan Fox, Ben Campbell and Mathew Perry would be the ones to watch this week in Christchurch. Fox is full of confidence after his 11-stroke win in the North Island strokeplay while world No6 Campbell is chasing the jewel in New Zealand amateur golf's crown.
The 19-year-old Masterton-raised Melbourne-based phenom carries compelling form into the national amateur, with a series of headline results across the Tasman vindicating his decision to relocate to Melbourne two months ago. This year alone Campbell has tied for fourth at the Lake Macquarie Amateur, finished sixth equal at the Tasmanian Open and shared fourth place at the Riversdale Cup.
Such form brands him the player to watch in what is likely to be his last appearance in the New Zealand amateur championships before a planned switch to the professional ranks this year.
Auckland teenagers and New Zealand teammates Cecilia Cho and Lydia Ko should dominate the women's competition.
Cho, 16, is ranked second in the world and Ko, 13, third, and Cho will be highly motivated as she seeks a third consecutive national championships title.
Bay of Plenty aspirants
Men: Hayden Beard, Brad Kendall (Mt Maunganui), Sam Davis (Tauranga), James Hamilton (Omanu), Ruel Pedersen (Mangakino), William Howard, Victor Janin, Landyn Edwards (Rotorua).
Women: Saini Skudder, Grace Senior, Rotana Howard (Rotorua).