Landyn Edwards will continue to play through the pain caused by a dodgy left shoulder with a mind of its own, hopeful he can sidestep the surgeon's scalpel that will bring a premature end to a season that's just hotting up.
Edwards, 20, has been named in a six-strong Bay of
Plenty senior team for tomorrow's Bay-Harbour representative clash at Hamilton's St Andrews and has been following a rigorous programme of strengthening and physiotherapy in a bid to arrest the progressive decline in his shoulder and keep playing.
The Rotorua player, recently returned from the British Amateur Championship in northwest England where he put up a strong showing, had been lined up for surgery to tighten ligaments and stop his shoulder from constantly wriggling out of its socket.
The injury was degenerative as the result of wear and tear, although an incident where Edwards and his mountain bike parted ways in the Whakarewarewa forest late last year hadn't helped.
A six-week treatment and strengthening programme mapped by Tauranga physio Bryce Hamer would hopefully remedy his shoulder issues, Edwards said.
"Surgery's an option and has been talked about, but it depends on what happens in the next six weeks. An operation means six to eight months on the sidelines which I don't want, so hopefully these workouts will make things better."
Remarkably the problems, where Edwards' left shoulder partially pops out without warning while he's swinging the golf club, have worsened this year and caused him significant grief during his self-funded month in the UK. His performance, particularly at the British Amateur at the Hesketh and Hillside Golf Clubs, suggests he was in tip-top shape.
Edwards made it through three rounds of matchplay before bowing out, losing on the 19th hole to Switzerland's s Marc Dobias, after qualifying 10th from 288 starters in 36 holes of strokeplay that included a 68 in his first round.
"It was great to put myself in contention in the strokeplay and matchplay, although I got a bit unlucky in the last few holes of strokeplay (including losing a ball in the rough on the 17th) and had a few big numbers.
"I chipped and putted well the whole tourney, despite not hitting it that great, although the putter went in the last round of matchplay at the wrong time, just as the guy I was playing peeled off some good shots."
It was a strange sensation, he said, when his leading shoulder decided to do its own thing. "It's not ideal when it pops halfway out and then back in again and it's a really crazy feeling - the shoulder feels funny for about half an hour afterwards. It's been happening for two years and I've taught myself to play through it."
Edwards is part of a strong Bay line-up for tomorrow's medal matchplay duel with North Harbour's best at the neutral St Andrews layout, with the provincial selectors sensibly widening their base and creating pressure for positions as they whittle down to six players for December's interprovincial in Gisborne.
James Hamilton is just back from the UK and hasn't been picked, with his younger brother Craig still in Europe, as is former Wanganui rep Tyler Lock who is now studying in Rotorua and has signalled his intention to play for Bay of Plenty. Omokoroa's Andrew Stewart is back in the fold after a three-month hiatus in Perth.
Bay of Plenty team for Bay Harbour on Sunday:
Masters: Blair Murdock, Terry Cochrane, Jason Madden, Kerry Smith, Paul Fox, Tom Slaven.
Seniors: Brad Kendall, Andrew Stewart, Landyn Edwards, Sam Davis, Hayden Beard, Victor Janin.
Under-19: William Howard, David Feeney, Jordan Golding, William Newman, Ben Shanly, Howard Maxwell.
Under-16: Jen Hwang, Harry Middleton.
Landyn Edwards will continue to play through the pain caused by a dodgy left shoulder with a mind of its own, hopeful he can sidestep the surgeon's scalpel that will bring a premature end to a season that's just hotting up.
Edwards, 20, has been named in a six-strong Bay of
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