Neho grabs victory

Northland amateur stalwart Brad Bonnington had nothing but praise for Kadin Neho after the teenager snatched victory away from him in the Harvey World Travel 54-hole Open on Sunday.
It was Neho's second successive victory after winning the Northern Wairoa Open by 19 shots last weekend. Bonnington said the youngster is the leading light of a fresh bunch of emerging talent who are set to strengthen the ranks of Northland golf.
"He's a great talent, he doesn't make many mistakes for such a young guy. Nothing really seems to bother him, so that's great for Northland golf to see such a young talent coming through," Bonnington, 23, said.
"He's not the only one coming through at the moment, I was talking to [Northland junior selector] Jack Winwood over the weekend and he said the under-19 team is looking really strong this year and there's a strong possibility some of them might come up to the senior team."
Bonnington has been a regular member of the Northland inter-provincial side since first gaining selection in 2004 as a 16-year-old and knows a thing or two about the game.
"I played with Kadin all weekend and he was solid for most of it. Although he missed a few little putts on the final round, he didn't let that get to him, which is pretty good for a 15-year-old. I just hope he sticks to it," he said.
Bonnington didn't roll over and make it easy for Neho on his home course. The nephew of former New Zealand amateur representative, Alex Bonnington, hasn't spent much time practicising as he gets to grips with a new job but still grabbed the lead off Neho with five holes to play on Sunday.
"Then I made a couple of mistakes - bogeying the 16th and 17th - but Kadin held his nerve and in the end he got there by one shot, which is a real credit to him."
Neho finished the tournament one shot clear of Bonnington with a four-over total of 211, with another up and comer Luke Brown, from the Pines Golf Club, in a tie for third place with Kerikeri's Alex Neeley on 217.
Bonnington is likely to again lead the Northland team in the inter-provincials this year, after last year's No 1 Scott Wightman turned professional, and is looking forward to getting some more time out on the course as the representative season draws nearer.
"I'm hoping to get time to see my coach shortly and sort a few issues out with my own swing and get back into it," he said.
The first Northland representative teams will be named shortly for the 18-challenge against North Harbour at Mangawhai on July 10. There will be a men's and women's senior, junior and masters' teams with a U16 boys' team as well.