Golf: James: Don't call me an Aussie

Leighton James. Picture / Richard Robinson

Leighton James is not too impressed when people tell him he sounds like an Aussie. He might be happier if they said he played like one.

In his never-say-die victory in the South Island championship in Dunedin last weekend, the 21-year-old Aucklander showed the kind of reaction to pressure that characterises many Australian sporting triumphs.

James shot a final-round two-under 69 then watched as leaders James Gill and Troy Ropiha crumbled over the last three holes, leaving him the winner by one shot.

Born and raised in Auckland, James is a Kiwi despite that transtasman twang. The family moved to the Gold Coast for five years when he was 11 and traces of the accent still linger.

He started playing golf at Robina Woods and Paradise Springs on the Gold Coast and was playing off five when he joined first Akarana and then The Grange, where he is still a member.

James never played for Auckland as a junior but made an impressive entry into the tournament scene in 2004 when he was second to clubmate Logan Holzer in the Auckland Anniversary tournament at Akarana - only his second senior event.

A few weeks later, he finished tied second with Kevin Chun at the North Island tournament in Hamilton, where he was beaten only by another New Zealander, Josh Geary. Last season James was No 1 in the Auckland team that made the semifinals of the national interprovincial tournament at Titirangi and won the Auckland matchplay title, beating Chun in the final.

He began this year winning the Anniversary tournament. His victory on the Balmacewen course at the weekend was a further step up. He had rounds of 68, 70, 70 and 69 to finish seven under. So what has brought his game to this level?

"Everything's improved," he says. "My ball-striking's a bit better so that my bad shots are not as bad, and I've now got the technique in my short game to recover when I'm off line.

"One of my goals this year was to have four rounds under par, and I achieved that in Dunedin. I've been working with Stuart Reese to improve my swing so that the ball goes consistently where I want it."

James is an avid practiser, averaging 30 hours a week around his part-time job. He receives no financial support from NZ Golf and relies on the job to pay for his golf while living at home. He is hopeful that his good form will continue into the national and North Island championships and aims to catch the eye of national squads selectors.

"I lost the North Island in 2004 over the last nine holes, and I was determined to have a sub-par final nine this time. I knew if I hung in there, they might drop some shots.

"I was three under for the back nine, but I didn't really know what the position was as I watched them finish.

"When James [Gill] missed a putt, somebody said there'd be a playoff so I went to the bathroom to prepare myself. It was a real surprise when [tournament director] Phil Aickin checked the cards and said I'd won."

The stark details were that James was four shots behind Gill and two behind Ropiha with three holes to play. He had two birdies and a par, while Ropiha had two pars and a bogey and Gill a par, a bogey and a double-bogey.

And Leighton James is definitely not an Aussie.

Sixteen-year-old North Harbour golfer Yeon Song Kim has continued her great run of form by finishing runner-up at the Queensland strokeplay championship. Kim finished with a 72-hole total of one-over 297.

This month she won the New Zealand women's strokeplay title at Muriwai.

Another Aucklander, Dasom Lee from the Pakuranga Club, finished fourth in Queensland, two behind Kim. Both are in the Junior Tasman Cup team who take on Australia at the Hutt Club in April.