Halberg Award crowns Campbell's greatest golfing year

Michael Campbell and wife Julie at the Halberg awards. Picture / Richard Robinson

Michael Campbell's greatest golfing year had the perfect finale when he won New Zealand sport's top honour last night.

Campbell won the Halberg Award as the country's finest sporting achiever of 2005 at a black-tie dinner in Manukau City.

The Wellington golfer won the US Open at Pinehurst No 2 course in North Carolina in June, and followed that with victory in the world matchplay championship at Wentworth, England.

The only other New Zealander to win one of golf's four majors is Sir Bob Charles, at the British Open in 1963.

Campbell, also named Sportsman of the Year, won the supreme honour at the Say When-sponsored awards ahead of the other two category winners, world mountain running champion Kate McIlroy and coxless pair world champions Nathan Twaddle and George Bridgewater.

The Coach of the Year, who is not eligible for the Halberg Award, was rowing maestro Dick Tonks, who oversaw a stunning haul of four gold medals at the world championships in Gifu, Japan, in August.

He pipped All Blacks coach Graham Henry, Kiwis coach Brian McClennan and Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken.

But it was Campbell's night, as he received his award from last year's overall winner, cyclist Sarah Ulmer.

He was the pre-event favourite and this was the second time he had won the supreme award.

He was part of the Eisenhower Trophy world amateur title winners of 1993. He joins Yvette Williams (1950 and 1952), Charles (1954 and 1963), Peter Snell (1960 and 1964), the rowing eight (1971 and 1972), John Walker (1975 and 1976), Ivan Mauger (1977 and 1979), Sir Richard Hadlee (1980 and 1986), Philippa Baker (1991 and 1994) and the only three-time winner, Rob Waddell (1998, 1999 and 2000), as a multiple overall champion.

Campbell enjoyed a purple patch in the second half of the year.

He bookended his two outstanding achievements by finishing equal fifth at the British Open and equal fourth at the US PGA championship.

His world ranking, which had plummeted into the 80s, shot up to the teens, and Campbell is today ranked No 14.

McIlroy triumphed in the world champs in her own backyard, Wellington in September, as did men's finalist Jonathan Wyatt, making it a double gold weekend for New Zealand.

Coach and former New Zealand rowing selector Fred Strachan from Otago received the Lifetime Achievement Award.


The winners

Halberg Supreme Award: Michael Campbell (golf).

Sportsman of the Year: Michael Campbell. Finalists: Daniel Carter (rugby), Mahe Drysdale (rowing), Jonathan Wyatt (mountain running).

Sportswoman of the Year: Kate McIlroy (mountain running). Finalists: Irene van Dyk (netball), Valerie Vili (athletics), Sam Warriner (triathlon).

Sports team of the Year: George Bridgewater and Nathan Twaddle (rowing). Finalists: All Blacks (rugby), Caroline and Georgina Evers Swindell (rowing), Juliette Haigh and Nicky Coles (rowing).

Coach of the Year: Dick Tonks (rowing). Finalists: Graham Henry (All Blacks), Brian McClennan (Kiwis), Ruth Aitken (Silver Ferns).