KEY POINTS:
It's a case of third time lucky for two young golfers when the New Zealand Amateur Championships begin on the Kapiti Coast today.
Hastings golfer Nick Gillespie and Christchurch's Dana Kim, in just their third visits to the sport's major amateur events, will be the favourites in this
historic occasion, with men playing alongside women for the first time.
Gillespie, 20, was runner-up last year to Danny Lee, beaten 7 and 5 in the final but nonetheless delighted to make the last group in just his second visit to the championship.
Similarly Kim, 18, a semifinalist, was beaten by international Dasom Lee in their last amateur in December 2006 in her second appearance.
Both have risen rapidly up the ranks. Gillespie, formerly from Wanganui, is one of only two men in the elite Titleist Academy alongside Danny Lee, who is not defending his title after he was selected for the Asia Pacific team to contest the Sir Michael Bonallack Trophy against Europe in Spain this week.
Gillespie won the North Island Amateur last year and was runner-up to Danny Lee in the Amateur and also in the Bledisloe Cup as leading amateur at the New Zealand Open at The Hills.
He has tasted international action, including making the semifinals of the New South Wales Open this year.
"I have not won any big tournaments yet but there's been some solid progress," Gillespie said.
And also at stake is a place in the New Zealand team to contest the Eisenhower Trophy in Adelaide this year.
"I try not to think about the Eisenhower. It's in the back of the mind but I try not to think about it too much or it will take over.
"I am just trying to focus on playing solid. If I play well then the Eisenhower will take care of itself."
Without Danny Lee, the Amateur should be a closely fought affair, with a number of leading prospects including South Island champion Jared Pender, fellow Tauranga player Kevin Smith, who was in good form at the Australian Amateur, and fellow internationals Peter Spearman-Burn (Wellington) and the Auckland trio of Leighton James, Travis O'Connell and Ben Wallace.
Other strong candidates include Takaka's Sean Riordan, under-23 champion Ben Campbell (Masterton), Waikato's Aaron Leech and Auckland's Ryan Fox.
Kim has been working to improve her strength which has been paying dividends in her driving and short game.
She leapt into prominence when finishing runner-up by just one shot in the Riversdale Cup in Melbourne and then romped home in the North Island Amateur by 12 shots in Whakatane last month.
"When I got into the New Zealand squad last year I made up my mind to work much harder.
"I put in a lot of time on my short game and on my strength, which helped my driving. That has made a big difference to my game this year."
Kim has now finished school and is spending five to six hours a day on the golf course.
- NZPA