Golf: Prodigy basks in the limelight

By DAVID LEGGAT

Australian Adam Groom clinched the Bledisloe Cup as top amateur at the New Zealand Open, but the bulk of the attention still focused on 13-year-old Rotorua prodigy Jae An.

While Groom was producing a superb four-under 67 to finish in fifth place at seven-under 277, An, for the first time in the week, was finding out the tough side of professional golf.

Having carded rounds of 71, 74 and 71 on the first three days, An got caught up in the blustery, draining winds at Paraparaumu Beach yesterday and shot a 79 to finish at 11-over 295.

But the point was never about what An scored; it was the fact that he was there at all.

He showed he has prodigious talent by finishing second in the first round of qualifying in Auckland, then topped the final qualifying at Waikanae on Monday with a course-record 65.

"It's been awesome for a 13-year-old to be exposed to something like this," said his coach, Rotorua professional Brent Billington. "Look at the calibre of players here, such as Tiger Woods and Craig Parry. You could wait a lifetime for something like that."

Billington said An had no pre-determined objective during the tournament - "he just thinks on a day-to-day scenario" - and had learned a lot.

An believed the biggest part of the week was "learning about how the professionals play; to see great players like Tiger and Michael Campbell, and be in the same field as them."

He did not get to meet Woods - "I did get 10 feet away" - but Woods saw him, albeit for just two shots.

Quipped the world No 1: "I wasn't that big at 13; he's bigger than I am now. Hopefully he just enjoys playing, and goes on and stays competitive."

Of the other three amateurs to make the cut, Remuera's Brad Heaven finished in a tie for 10th at three under after a one-over 72 yesterday.

Five years ago, Heaven, then aged 15, created history as the youngest winner of the Bledisloe Cup, and on Saturday he thrust himself into contention for a second title with a splendid 67.

However, bogeys at the first, fourth and ninth holes undid him as Groom, a Sydney pro shop worker, showed the sort of class that suggests his days of sweeping out the locker room will be coming to an end sooner rather than later.

Palmerston North player Tim Wilkinson tied for 17th on one under after an even-par finish yesterday, and the other amateur, Richard Hislop, of Wellington, finished bottom of the field at 13-over 297.

Leaderboard

Full coverage: NZ Golf Open 2002

Quick guide to the Open

The course

The players

Past winners

Timetable

Tickets

Off the course: news related to the NZ Open