Wightman has sights on pro career after win in classic

Northland golf officials' decision to recruit Scott Wightman to lead in their senior interprovincial team was vindicated after he won the 54-hole City of Whangarei Classic over the weekend at Sherwood Park.
Despite not having played on the course for six years, Wightman was more relieved than elated to finish his round on top after he struggled on the course yesterday carding a three-over 73.
"It wasn't the prettiest round I've ever played but it's still good to get away with an ugly win to be honest," he said.
He was more pleased with his form on Saturday when he scored an even par 70 before struggling a little on the back nine to record a 74 in the afternoon's round.
"I just finished badly really, the wind got up and made it a bit tougher and I bogeyed the last three holes but apart from that I had a pretty good day especially in the first round," he said.
Former Northland No1 Gary-John Hill led by two shots overnight, but he had a shocker yesterday, with an eight-over 78, including a double bogey on the par-4 13th. Wightman kept on top of his own problems to finish with a total of 217 to beat Hill by three shots.
Wightman said he may have been a little lucky that the former Northland player had an off-day.
"Gary-John struggled a little bit but he's a quality player so it's only a minor glitch for him," he said.
Northland juniors Lee Neumann and Chase McKeown were third equal a further two shots back, with Kaitaia veteran Bob Shirley in fifth.
Wightman hasn't played in the classic since 2005 - the last time he played for Northland at the national men's interprovincial tournament - but his return to Northland could be a brief one.
"I'm looking at turning professional at the end of the year and I've moved back to Mangawhai [from Auckland] to build up for that really," he said
He will try to qualify for the Australian PGA tour and is trying to get as much top-level competition as possible before that - hence his return to play for Northland, where he will play at No1 at this year's interprovincials.
The Northland team to play in this week's quadrangular tournament in Ngaruawahia was named after the classic.
The team is Scott Wightman (Mangawhai), Brett Dormer (Kaitaia), Brad Bonnington (Wellsford), Lee Neuman (Northland), Gene Wintle (Waipu), Michael McDonald (Northland), Chase McKeown (Waipu), Martin Duff (Pines). Junior team: Sean Masters (Kaitaia), Kadin Neho (Whangarei), Luke Brown (Pines), Zac Wilson (Sherwood Park).