Home club hero Hayden McCallum survived a four-putt green in his final round to win the Auckland Anniversary golf tournament at Akarana yesterday by two shots.
The 20-year-old, playing the course where he grew up and where his grandmother has been a member for almost half a century, shot rounds
of 66, 69 and 76 for a one-over total of 211.
Sharing second place were Fraser Wilkin (Royal Auckland), who closed with a 70, and Logan Scott (Waitakere), who had 76.
McCallum began the last round in windy conditions with a two-shot margin over Scott and after nine holes appeared to be cruising with a four-shot lead, despite a bogey on the ninth.
The par-five 10th, where he had three putts from close range in his second round, this time cost him four putts and a seven. But his putting saved him two holes later when he duffed two chips but sank an eight-metre putt to save par as Scott birdied to reduce the lead to one shot.
The crucial hole was the 172m par-three 16th. Scott was safely on the green with his tee-shot while McCallum hooked his three-iron under a bush.
He played a restricted-swing chip to three metres and sank the putt, while Scott three-putted to fall two behind.
Wilkin had finished when McCallum negotiated the final hole before a gallery of cheering members with his two-shot margin intact.
"I putted pretty well, if they'd take that 10th green out of the course," said McCallum.
"To get down for par on the 16th was the key after I'd hooked my tee-shot and then he three-putted."
McCallum missed half of last season after breaking a rib playing indoor soccer and then rebreaking it when he came back to golf too soon.
He reckons his soccer career is over for now.
Scott's equal second was familiar territory. He had finished runner-up twice before.
