Golf: Extra day benefits strokeplay

Auckland breaks with tradition today to stage its men's strokeplay championship over three days at The Grange course in Papatoetoe.

The 72-hole event, which draws top amateurs from throughout the country, has in the past been played over Saturday and Sunday with no cut at halfway.

But the chief executive of Auckland Golf, Peter Seagar, said the two-day format had limited fields to around 84 and many players were being shut out. This time 111 entries have been accepted and there will be a cut to the top 60 and ties for the 36 holes on Sunday.

Seagar was a little worried when entries were slow to come in, but after a last-minute rush he has had to turn down about a dozen late entries.

Several older players are in the field, allaying fears that the Friday start would limit entries to young players with no work commitments.

Among the favourites will be the Waikato pair of Mathew Holten and Mark Purser, who will join Brad Iles and Josh Geary to represent New Zealand in the Asia Pacific championship for the Nomura Cup in Japan next month. Iles and Geary, who have been competing in North America, will miss the Auckland event.

Aucklander Kevin Chun and Wanganui's Riki Kauika, who were Eisenhower Trophy representatives last year, will be playing as will the well-performed Doug Holloway from Hawkes Bay and Travis O'Connell from the host club.

Among the older players are the national mid-amateur champion, Martin Tumata (Onewhero), and a previous winner of that title, Dean Sipson (Peninsula).

Last year the Auckland championship was staged at Titirangi, where Huapai's Bevan Dennison won comfortably from a strong field. Dennison has since turned professional.

The tournament doubles as an Auckland trial, and a team will be selected to play Wellington in Taupo on September 3 and 4.

The top 16 on Sunday will be eligible for the Auckland matchplay championship at Middlemore on September 10 and 11.

Auckland's hopes of a strong showing in the national interprovincial tournament at Titirangi in November may be compromised by the unavailability of some of their top players.

Logan Holzer, who has been one of the leading players for the past few seasons, is resting a back injury while O'Connell and Chun may be away trying to qualify for the Australian Open.

While the stars were away chasing Tiger in the NEC Invitational, a little-known American, Vaughn Taylor, was creating his own bit of history at the regular USPGA tournament at Reno.

The 29-year-old, from Augusta, Georgia, won with a record 21-under, including 25 birdies with at least one on 13 of the 18 holes.

Remarkably, Taylor in only his second year on the tour was recording his second win in the tournament.