Rookie pro keeps swinging

Two days after joining the play-for-pay ranks for the first time, in-form Bay of Plenty golfer James Hamilton was doing what any self-respecting rookie golf pro would - he was back on the fairway.

Not for Hamilton a few days of rest and self-congratulation, although it must be noted it was a casual knock-around at Omanu with a group of mates - and he was copping plenty for talking on his phone while they played.

Hamilton and his former Bay of Plenty amateur teammate Ben Taylor (both were part of the team that won the interprovincial title in Nelson in 2008) graduated to the professional ranks by finishing in the top 10 at New Zealand PGA Q-School in Taupo.

Taylor, a year after missing out by a solitary shot and six months after knee surgery, finished in fifth place with consistent rounds of 76, 72 and 74, one shot clear of Hamilton (Omanu), who was on the cut line after opening rounds of 76 and 75 before an even-par final round of 72 lifted him to sixth.

Omokoroa's Kieran Muir, who secured his pro ticket 12 months ago, held off a strong finish from Peninsula's Thomas Lannie to take medal honours. Lannie's final round two-under par 70 was the best on the last day but Muir triumphed by a shot, adding a 73 to his earlier rounds of 71 and 70.

Muir finished 26th on the PGA's order of merit last year and had to head back to Q-School to requalify. He and Lannie were the only golfers under par.

Hamilton and Taylor's graduation from the amateur ranks was a double triumph over adversity.

Hamilton had struggled for the better part of 16 months with ulcerative colitis, a rare type of inflammatory bowel disease that saw him lose 20kg and killed his hopes 12 months ago of advancing.

Battling thick rough and a couple of days of patchy weather and coming out on top proved what he was capable of when he was in good physical shape.

"Just reflecting on the past few days it's probably made me realise just how sick I was last year and how much it did affect me and my plans to turn pro," Hamilton said.

"At the time I blamed my poor showing [he was second-last, 24-over par] on me playing bad golf, so to go out there this time feeling good was awesome."

There were nerves but Hamilton was able to contain them, even after he finished the first 36 holes seven-over par, putting him in danger of a repeat disappointment.

"I slept all right [after day one], even though I was tied 12th, I guess because I should have been no more than one or two over par apart from a load of missed putts.

"There were a bunch of us together and I knew on Friday I needed 72 or better, but even then I didn't feel any pressure, putting it in perspective and telling myself it would happen if it was meant to.

"If not then there was a good amateur season coming up."

Hamilton will play as much as possible this year before giving the Australasian PGA Q-School another crack in December, with the big picture featuring a whirl in either Europe or the United States.

Muir's win at Q-School gives him full PGA status and a couple of starts in limited-player tournaments in the next few months. It's also given him a springboard into 2012 after missing the cut at the Aussie qualifier last month and falling just outside the top 25 in NZ who got automatic renewal.

The news wasn't as good for Tauranga pro Jared Pender, who was 59th from 70 starters to miss out on qualifying for the US$16 million ($20.1 million) OneAsia tour during the final stage of qualifying in Malaysia.

Pender shot rounds of 75, 71, 77 and 74 for a 13-over par total, with even par or better qualifying. None of the seven Kiwis made the grade but all have full playing rights across the Tasman.