Cool Campbell keeps calm in testing contest

Pushing the panic button was not an option for 16-year-old Masterton golfer Ben Campbell in his opening singles match for the New Zealand junior men's team against trans-Tasman rivals Australia at the Miramar course in Wellington last Friday
Australian No.1 Daniel Nisbet had Campbell in the precarious position of four down with four holes to play, thereby needing to win or square just one more hole to secure the victory.
?f ever there was a moment where Campbell's fighting qualities were being put to the test this was it and he responded brilliantly, winning each of the remaining four holes to share the honours.
For Campbell conceding defeat was the last thing on his mind.He had been striking the ball as well as ever from tee to green but an indifferent putting effort had allowed Nisbet to grab his advantage.
"I still gave myself a chance of levelling things up, all I was thinking was finish with four birdies and it could happen,"Campbell said.
"I didn't really feel the pressure,I was just concentrating on doing the best I could and not worrying about anything else."
Well, Campbell didn't quite manage the four birdies he was hoping for but his two birdies and two pars were good enough to make up the leeway, a key result in a match which was eventually to be drawn 5-5, a scoreline which allowed New Zealand to retain the Clare Higson Trophy.
Campbell's second singles match was another close affair.
Up against Australia's No.2 player Bryden MacPherson they went hole for hole virtually all the way through but it was Campbell who hit the front at the appropriate time, nailing a one-up win at the very last hole.
Here too Campbell was delighted with the length and accuracy obtained with his woods and irons but frustrated to some degree with his putter.
"I missed some putts I should have got, it wasn't that there was anything wrong with the greens, it was just me," he said with typical honesty.
Campbell also paired with New Zealand No.1 Peter Spearman-Burn in the foursomes and there they were beaten by Nisbet and Brendon Smith 4 and 3.
"We didn't play too badly but we didn't make enough birdies"was Campbell's explanation for that loss.
Overall, however, it was an excellent debut for Campbell at this level and one which did not go unnoticed by New Zealand Golf's high performance manager David Graham who signalled him out for special mention, labelling the current New Zealand under-23 stroke play title holder as a "real exciting talent".
Campbell's next major assignment comes later this month when he travels to Perth to contest the Australian Junior Masters stroke play championship, an event which is for players aged 18 years and under.Last year he finished 12th, this time he is aiming for the top five.