GOLF - Stray shots mean Northland golfers absent

In the end the hopes of some tangible Northland representation at the New Zealand Golf Open starting in Queenstown tomorrow was sunk by the cruel reality of two stray shots.
Alex Tait, the former Northland provincial captain was the closest of three Northlanders hoping to qualify for the NZ Open championship at the final qualifying tournament on the Millbrook course yesterday.
But Tait missed the qualifying cut by just two strokes. He had a sympathetic ear to chew off over a quite ale at the 19th hole last night, because his former Northland team-mate Dale Clarke only missed the cut by three strokes.
Tait hit 76 and Clarke 77. The other Northlander in the field, teenager Gary-John Hill found the blustery conditions a bit too much, and blew out to score 88.
They all had to doff their caps to Wellington golfer Peter Spearman-Burn though.
Spearman-Burn shot a course record 10-under 62 to head the final New Zealand Open qualifying stage by a remarkable seven shots.
The 18-year-old Miramar club amateur had nine birdies and an eagle at the par-four 356m 15th hole when his wedge approach rested against the flag and dropped on a wind gust as Spearman-Burn approached the hole.
His only blemish was at the 11th, his second hole, when he three-putted.
Spearman-Burn's spectacular round lowered the course record, set by Phil Tataurangi in 2002, by two shots.
Spearman-Burn said he was "in the zone" and did not realise he was on a birdie sequence.
But his playing partner, Auckland's Todd Baek, was also able to celebrate.
He holed in one with a six iron at the 172m par-three sixth hole.
Second qualifier was Australian professional Andrew Martin with a three-under 69 and while young Aucklander Ben Wallace carded a 70 in third.
Fourteen players qualified for the tournament proper from a final field of 52, with three New Zealand professionals contesting a play-off for the sole final position.
Josh Geary, back from his first year on the Canadian tour, and Nelson club professional Dominic Barson both birdied the first hole (the par-five 18th) with Auckland's Marcus Wheelhouse being eliminated.
On playing the 18th for a second time, Barson made par, but Geary birdied again with two putts, the second from 2m behind the hole.