Golf: Top amateur shrugs off testing trip with big win

16-year-old Seve Ha secured a half point for his Auckland team after winning the crucial final hole. Photo / Photosport

Danny Lee scaled the heights as he finished top amateur at the New Zealand Open on Sunday, but he had a roller-coaster ride before he helped Bay of Plenty to a win in the interprovincial golf championships at Mt Maunganui yesterday.

The 17-year-old endured a tortuous journey back from Queenstown, flying to Rotorua and then falling asleep in a car supposedly taking him to Te Puke. He woke up to find himself at Wairakei and did not make it to his motel in Mt Maunganui until after midnight.

His mind was probably still in the Southern Alps as his Southland opponent, Cody Harper, birdied four of the first seven holes to be five up. Lee then turned the tables completely with four birdies of his own to win 2 and 1.

That turnaround was vital as the favourites had lost one match with Jared Pender falling to Liam Balneaves and Mark Smith getting a half when Matthew Tautari holed a sand wedge on the last. Kevin Smith was the Bay's other winner.

The upset on the first day was Auckland's half with highly-rated Wellington. Some had written off the Aucklanders because of the absence of some of their leading players.

But Ben Kendall dispelled any negative thoughts with a 5 and 4 victory over the erratic Shaun Richards and No 1 Van Wright was too steady for Perry Hayman, winning 2 and 1.

Auckland's hopes were pinned on 16-year-old Seve Ha, who came to the last hole one down to Peter Spearman-Burn, who last week set a course record at Millbrook.

The Wellingtonian found the trees with his drive and never recovered as Ha won the hole with a par to allow Auckland to share the points.

Northland beat Manawatu-Wanganui in the morning and gave defending champion's Waikato a fright in the afternoon. Alvin Rapana and Dale Clarke won for Northland and Mathew Bluett and Aaron Leech replied for Waikato. The result hung on the top match between Northland's Gary-John Hill and Richard Wright.

They came to the last all square but Hill's second shot landed in a divot and he was unable to match Wright's par.

North Harbour, who like Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Canterbury and Tasman played only once, beat Poverty Bay. Of those who played twice, Wellington and Taranaki both had a win and a half.