As Mark Purser's putt lipped out on Tauranga Golf Club's 18th hole yesterday, his dad Bryan winced a little, cursed under his breath, then shrugged his shoulders.
Top level sport is nothing new for Purser snr, a former New Zealand badminton representative and, like a handful of other parents following the
Carrus Tauranga Open, he's learned to take the good with the bad.
"As a parent, you ride your child's highs and lows. I've been a bit more experienced in that than most so it's a little easier to handle, though with golf you've probably got more lows than highs because it's a totally different game from badminton."
Other international sporting progeny stalking Tauranga's immaculate fairways yesterday included Ryan Fox and Mark Boe, sons of All Black first-fives Grant and John respectively.
Former Black Caps cricketer Stu Gillespie's son Nick is also in the field, along with Mount Maunganui's Brad Kendall, son of 1988 Eisenhower Trophy golfer Owen.
Fox, who recently made the semifinals of the New Zealand Amateur championships, had the best score of the bunch, shooting a three-under 67 in the glorious autumnal sunshine.
Professional Boe had a 69 and Gillespie, though struggling with a shoulder injury, closed out an even-par 70.
Purser's double-bogey mishap on the last dropped him out of the top 40 with a two-over 72, though the Hamilton golfer has already proved he's capable of going low on the course - he shot a 61 last year on his way to claiming his first professional title at the Carrus Tournament.
Bryan Purser, who won a Commonwealth Games bronze medal with his brother Richard at the 1978 games in Edmonton, is a handy golfer himself and isn't despondent his son isn't following in his footsteps.
"Mark had the choice when he was young to pursue the sport that I used to play and I didn't steer him in any direction - when he went to high school, he decided golf was going to be for him. We've just supported what he's wanted to do."
There is still strong family connection to badminton however - Mark Purser's cousin Craig Cooper is currently representing New Zealand at the Thomas Cup tournament in Indonesia.
Three players - Kevin Chun, Michael Hendry and Scott Johnson - shot 65s to lead the Carrus Open after the first day.
