Golf pro debut on hold

Ace Masterton golfer Ben Campbell will turn professional next year, the only question is when.
Campbell, 19, was initially intending to leave the amateur ranks early in 2011 but says that "very probably" won't happen until September-October at the earliest.
He will still test himself against the professionals in the intervening months though, with a busy schedule set to take in some of the big-money tournaments in Australia, Europe and, of course, New Zealand.
On the face of it, Campbell has achieved some hugely impressive results over the past year, including beating the pros by five shots in the Tauranga Open, placing fourth at the Asian Amateur in Japan and then chalking up fourth best score at the world's top amateur tourney, the Eisenhower Trophy, in Buenos Aires last month.
But he admits there have been too many events in which he has put himself in a winning position only to finish in the minor placings for him to feel he is quite ready to take on the professionals on a regular basis.
"Frankly, it's been frustrating to so often get close but not close enough, it tells me there is still work to do before I become a fulltime pro. I need to get that winning feeling back, that's the priority right now."
Reflecting on the Eisenhower tourney where he spearheaded a New Zealand team which achieved this country's best placing for nearly two decades by finishing fourth the word "frustrating" again comes into the conversation when Campbell is asked to assess his own performance.
He ended the first of what was to be three rounds -one being washed out - in fifth place after returning a two-under 69 highlighted by a brilliant eagle on the 17th. But there were also hiccups, with three shots being dropped in five holes on the last nine.
By the end of the second round Campbell had moved to second equal on the individual scoreboard, with a 70 leaving him just three shots off the pace. He went into the third and final round determined to make a bold bid for the No1 spot.
Unfortunately, however, those hopes were dashed by what he admits was "pretty average" putting and a 75 left him in fourth-equal position, five shots behind top top-placed individual, Joachim Hansen of Denmark.
"Honestly I couldn't buy a putt and it cost me big time, "Campbell said. "From tee to green I was actually striking the ball better than I had all tournament, but I just couldn't get it in the hole."
That wasn't the first time his putting has been the weakness in his game and he is working hard alongside his coaches - Melbourne-based Marty Joyce and Andre White of Palmerston North - to make the necessary changes to his technique.
"There's nothing hugely wrong, it's just a matter of tweaking things here and there and staying patient , that's the key."
There was one satisfying aspect of his Eisenhower effort for Campbell, though, and that related to his brief stint earlier this year on a golfing scholarship at Texas A and M University. It was meant to last three years but was ended by Campbell after just 10 weeks.
A personality conflict with the university's head golf coach was the main reason behind that decision, with Campbell unhappy at not being able to utilise his own training routines and also a selection process which saw him ranked below lesser-credentialed players. Two of his university teammates actually played in the Eisenhower and Campbell admits to taking personal delight in bettering their scores by 15 and 21 shots.
"It was nice to let the scores do the talking." he said.
The return of Campbell to his homeland was understandably welcomed by the selectors of the Wellington senior men's side, who were quick to name him as their No1 player for the national inter-provincials at Paraparaumu early next month, and he is keen to literally make every post a winner there.
"Top team and top individual, that's got to be the aim," he said.
Before heading to the nationals, however, Campbell is hoping for a repeat of last year, when he was the leading amateur in the Australian Open.
He will leave in about a fortnight to contest qualifying rounds for that event.
Australia will see a lot of Campbell in 2011, as he intends to base himself in Melbourne and play in the metropolitan pennants competition.