Bonnington takes top spot

THEY are big shoes to fill, but Wellsford golfer Brad Bonnington feels he can fit into them quite comfortably.
The 21-year-old, selected for the eight-man Garrard Shield tournament this weekend at St Andrews Golf Course in Hamilton, has been
shuffled  up the ranks to compete as Northland's No1 player  after top amateur golfer Gary John Hill's move to Auckland to play for Titirangi
Golf Club.
"Once Gary left, it left a big hole in the team ... but everyone has been out  practising and fighting for positions.
"For the last couple of years I have been playing at No 2 or 3 and will play No 1 this year - but I am up for it," he said.
Having finished university for the year, the architecture student has had some free time to hit the course and get plenty of practice in ahead of the annual Garrard Shield.
His form has been impressive  - he won the Wellsford Senior Club Championship Matchplay on Saturday and two weeks ago, played his first game for Northland as the No1 player, at the Northern Quadrangular teams tournament in Pakuranga against  Taranaki, Waikato and Auckland.
"It was a big step up. But I have been playing senior rep golf for Northland for a few years now - I just have to deal with it, and play well."
The Garrard Shield  was a tough competition where top players from Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Waikato and Northland  went head to head over two days of golf and where the Northland team  would be challenged, Bonnington said.
"We've been told to get out there and practice and if everyone has been doing that, then we should be able to beat the other teams."
Joining Bonnington to play for Northland is Kaitaia's Brett Dormer No2, Waipu's Tony Mayo, Robin Morgan from Waiotira, Kaitaia's Sean Masters, Mitchell Hunt from Waipu, Northland Golf Club's Michael McDonald and Shane Cole.
Fourteen-year-old Masters will step up into the senior arena for the first time at the tournament.
Convener of selectors Bob Shirley felt the promising teenager would handle it well as he was already hitting better scores than many senior players at his club.
Teammate Bonnington also saw the potential in the youngster.
"Sean has been playing really well and has grown up a lot over the past year.
"He will definitely pull his weight in this side."
Mayo's return to the side this year will add some experience to the youthful side, Bonnington added.
The team head into round-robin matchplay on Saturday at the challenging St Andrews course.
 The Northland senior five-man team to play at the Toro Men's Interprovincial tournament next month will be selected at the tournament's conclusion on Sunday.
"I'm hoping to put in a really good performance this weekend to stamp a claim in the team," Bonnington said.
The last junior event of the year, the Ralph Cup Under-19s tournament, will run at the same time as the Garrard Shield at St Andrews.
Northland's four-man side includes Northland Golf Club's Lee Neumann, Whangarei's Komene Neho and Chris Alexander along with Waipu's Chase McKeown.