Four of New Zealand's top teenage golfers will test their form in the Auckland strokeplay championship at Maungakiekie from tomorrow in readiness for taking on Australia..
Wellingtonian Peter Spearman-Burn comes off an outstanding performance last week in the national school championships at Royal Wellington where he was the leading individual
and clinched victory for Wellington College by 22 shots.
The 16-year-old from the Miramar Club has been selected for the New Zealand under-19 team to play Australia in the Clare Higson Trophy at Hamilton Golf Club on September 26-27.
Three other members of the six-strong team, Gary-John Hill (Sherwood Park), Sam Shin (Gulf Harbour) and Ben Wallace (Auckland), will be playing at Maungakiekie. Missing will be Sean Riordan (Takaka) and Rotorua's Danny Lee, who has been competing in the US Amateur.
Australia has won the past five Clare Higson contests. Shin was New Zealand's best performer when the teams met at Titirangi two years ago.
Last year the Auckland strokeplay at The Grange was a launching pad for several professional careers. Winner Matt Holten, runner-up Kevin Chun and third-placed Doug Holloway have all joined the paid ranks.
The outstanding effort came from Grange member Travis O'Connell, who shot 62, equalling the long-standing course record established by former Australian and New Zealand Open champion Rodger Davis.
O'Connell is in the field with most leading Auckland and North Harbour representatives. The only former champion playing is Logan Scott (Waitakere), who won in 1998.
The Auckland selectors will choose a 10-man team to play Wellington at Taupo on September 2 and 3 at the end of the strokeplay. The field of 105 will play 18 holes tomorrow and Saturday, with the top 60 and ties playing 36 holes on Sunday.
