Golf: Provinces get grip on top honours

North Harbour's Chris Johns will return to the international scene after being named in the New Zealand side to compete in the Four Nations Cup in Christchurch next month.

Johns, who won the Bledisloe Cup as leading amateur at the Holden New Zealand Open in January, is among a six-strong team to take part in the biennial tournament at the Christchurch Golf Club from April 1-3.

He will add considerable experience to a side that includes fellow North Harbour player James Davis, Waikato players Brad Shilton and Mathew Holten, Wellington's Brad Iles and Bay of Plenty's Mark Smith.

They will compete against Australia, Japan and Canada in the three-day event, which involves a round robin with foursomes in the morning and singles in the afternoon.

Johns, who won the New Zealand amateur championship in 1997 at Harewood in Christchurch, withdrew from the New Zealand Titleist Academy squad in 1999 because of work commitments, after competing in the Asia Pacific championship that year.

Shilton is the only surviving member of the New Zealand team that finished in a share of fifth place at the Eisenhower Trophy last year, after Eddie Lee and Tim Wilkinson turned professional.

Team-mate Holten was the leading individual in last week's SBS Invitational in Invercargill, and has been in outstanding form in recent months in a number of international tournaments.

Davis and Iles, who will make their debuts in the senior international team, competed for New Zealand in the Junior World Cup in Japan last year. Iles, a Rotorua Boys' High School graduate, won the South Island Amateur two weeks ago and will be in Australia this week to compete in the Riversdale Cup.

Smith, from Rotorua, forces his way into the side based on outstanding form as the leading individual, winning all games at No 1 when Bay of Plenty won the Tower Interprovincials last year, and was second leading individual behind Holten at the SBS Invitational, guiding Bay of Plenty to their second major team trophy.

His fellow Bay of Plenty representative, Sam Hunt, will join Hawkes Bay's Doug Holloway in a two-man New Zealand team to compete in the Copa Monterrey international in Mexico from April 3-6.

The tournament involves seven international teams with New Zealand accepting the invitation with an eye on next year's Eisenhower Trophy in nearby Puerto Rico.

The naming of Davis and Johns in the Four Nations team continues a great run of success for North Harbour golfers.

The youngest province had earlier provided two under-18 players, Joon Sang Chung (Redwood Park) and Richard Moors (Waitemata), for the New Zealand team to contest the Clare Higson Trophy against Australia at Royal Hobart from April 8-9.

They will also contest the Australian junior championships at Launceston from April 11-13.

The other players are Kevin Chun (Titirangi), James Gill (Cambridge), Aaron Leech (Manor Park) and Thomas Campbell (St Clair).

A change in the rules on professionalism has paved the way for Shilton and George Kinghorn from Bay of Plenty to make a quick return to the amateur ranks after failing to gain their professional cards in Australia.

Some years ago, anyone even talking about joining the paid ranks was in danger of losing amateur status. But the rules have gradually been relaxed to the point that up to last year, anyone playing in the final professional qualifying tournament faced only a three-month stand-down if he or she missed out.

Since September, even that has been dropped. A player who agrees in advance not to take any money from the qualifying event can carry on as an amateur despite missing a card.

The SBS tournament in Invercargill illustrated Bay of Plenty's current influence on amateur golf.

Not only did the Bay win with an eight-under-par total, they also had a part to play in other leading teams.

Holten, the leading individual while playing for Waikato, was a member of Rotorua Boys' High's world champion teams.

Wellington, who came third, included Iles and Andrew McNair, who both originated in the Bay.

After two rounds of the premier pennants for the Nobilo Trophy in North Harbour, Redwood Park lead with 19 points from Pupuke (17) and North Shore (15).

The third round is at Whangaparaoa on Sunday.

In Auckland, after three rounds of the Bissett Shield, The Grange lead with 33 points from Titirangi and Manukau on 29.

The fourth round, at Maunga on Sunday, features a clash between last year's champions, Auckland, and The Grange.

Former Auckland representative Polly King, winner of 12 Akarana club championships and many Maori titles has gained yet another trophy.

Now playing out of the Onewhero Club, King beat Faye Parton of Te Puke in the final of the national Veteran Challenge Cup at Ngaruawahia.

Two of New Zealand's US PGA Tour eligible players will line up in the Ford Championship at the Blue Monster Course at Doral in Miami.

Steve Alker and Craig Perks tee off today, shooting for a slice of the US$5 million ($8.9 million) purse.

The winner's cut? US$900,000.