New Zealand amateur representative Ben Campbell held off the challenge from more experienced golf professionals to win the Tauranga Open yesterday.
The Masterton 18-year-old fired a 66 to finish on 19-under-par to become the first amateur in more than two years to win a Charles Tour event.
Campbell is only
the second amateur to win the Tauranga Open, following Josh Geary who won five years ago.
He finished five shots ahead of North Harbour professional Michael Hendry, last year's winner who had the compensation of claiming the top prizemoney cheque.
It was an excellent week for the amateurs with fellow-international Ryan Fox finishing third on 13-under par after firing a four-under 66.
The big mover on the final day was local professional Jared Pender, who fired a seven-under 63 on Saturday and 64 yesterday to finish fourth on 12-under after just making the 36-hole cut.
Of other local amateurs, James Hamilton of Omanu was seventh and Kieran Muir of Omokoroa and Nick Meyer of Mt Maunganui shared ninth.
Campbell, who beat Danny Lee to win the national under-23 title two years ago, said this victory was just as sweet.
"It means a lot to win this. I came in feeling that my game was not quite there but my short game was great all week," said Campbell, who finished runner-up in the Australian Amateur earlier in the month.
"I learned in that final that the winner Matt Jager had a short game that was much better than mine. So that is pretty much what I have concentrated on since and it paid dividends this week. The chipping and putting was really good.
"If I missed a green I felt quite confident with my ability to get it up and down and really attack the flag with my chipping."
Campbell will head to Europe to compete in a number of high profile events including the British and Scottish Amateurs.
- NZPA
