Golf: Holzer in top form

Logan Holzer has been a member of The Grange Golf Club for 10 years and yesterday he chose the perfect day to shoot his best score on the Papatoetoe course.

The 22-year-old Auckland No 1 fired a seven-under 63 to lead the 16 players who advance from pre-qualifying in Auckland to the main qualifying for the New Zealand Open at Waikanae on Monday.

Holzer's round equaled the course record for the present layout, set by Zimbabwean Nick Price on his way to winning the Open in 1992.

Holzer had two birdies on the first nine and stormed home with five more on the second half.

The only other player from the field of more than 100 to break par was Rotorua 14-year-old Jae An, who had a 69.

He was one clear of his Bay of Plenty team-mate Andrew McNair (Omanu), Chris Saunoa (The Grange) and Glenn Millin (Te Awamutu).

On 71 were the Auckland Anniversary champion, Kevin Chun (Titirangi), Jimmy Chung (Redwood Park) and Troy Ropiha from the Te Ngutu Club in South Taranaki.

The final eight qualifiers, including former national representative Mike Barltrop, all had 72.

Rotorua golfer Nick Davey headed the pre-qualifiers from Christchurch with a two-under 70 at Shirley.

The pre-qualifiers from Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington will join those exempt from pre-qualifying at Waikanae on Monday to compete for the final 18 places in the NZ Open at Paraparaumu from January 10 and the chance to compete against Tiger Woods.

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