GOLF: Sore throat forces Shaw out of Open qualifying

Anendra singh
A throat infection has stymied Hawke's Bay amateur Blair Shaw's attempt today to move closer to securing a berth in the New Zealand Open Golf Championship early next month.
The 20-year-old Hastings Golf Club (Bridge Pa) player withdrew from today's pre-qualifying round at the Hutt Golf Club, in Wellington, where four players from a total of 30 from throughout the country (pro-rata) will make the final qualifying round at the Auckland Golf Club (Middlemore) on February 7.
"I have had a real bad throat infection since Tuesday night and its been getting worse rather than better," a hoarse and barely audible Shaw said from his home last night.
It was yet another cruel blow for the +1.2 handicapper who made the semifinals of the New Zealand amateur R and A Rosebowl bottom 32 playoffs in Dunedin in 2003 but withdrew from the tournament to have a growth cut out from his lower spine.
The 30 successful pre-qualifying golfers today will join a field of exempted players in the final qualifying round to snare the six remaining spots in the 2005 Holden-sponsored Open at the Whangaparaoa Peninsula venue.
The Gulf Harbour Country Club will host the 88th championship from February 10-13, boasting an elite field including nine former Open champions and top European professionals.
Former top Hawke's Bay amateur and Hastings Golf Club's British professional Richard Squire is among the golfers granted an exemption from today's round.
The 25-year-old Waipukurau-born golfer is back home holidaying with his farming parents in Ongaonga after earning a British PGA tour card in his debut season as a professional at the end of last year.
He is caddying at the Cape Kidnapper's Golf Course and trying to secure sponsorship deals before jetting back to England in early April.
"I've been playing well so fingers crossed. I don't see any reason why I shouldn't be able to make it into the Open but you can never tell what happens on the day," said Squire who has never played at the Gulf Harbour course.
Squire shot the lowest score (63) in the opening round of last year's Open.
Hawke's Bay's Phil Wedd, who caddied for former Hawke's Bay professional Michael Long in the Open in Auckland two years ago, will also be trying to make the cut today.
The 2003 National Interprovincial travelling reserve to Christchurch spent six months last year caddying in the United States after establishing some contacts while carrying golf bags at Cape Kidnappers.
Former Hastings club professional, James Morgan, now the professional at Taupo Golf Club, is also in contention today.
The other Hawke's Bay hopeful, current No 1 golfer in the region, Doug Holloway, will not play in the Open because he has opted to compete in a series of amateur tournaments in Australia.
Manukau Golf Club, North Shore Golf Club, and Christchurch Golf Club are the other pre-qualifying tournament venues today.