When the top guy in your sport wins the United States Open, everything else is overshadowed. So we'll call the 18 holes for 2005 the Michael Campbell Classic and record the other shots that rang round our world.
1. Open and shut: The first NZ Open co-sanctioned with the European
tour was a success. Niclas Fasth won in a playoff, the cut came at four under, Steve Alker (=7th) and Stephen Scahill (21st) picked up good cheques and the Gulf Harbour weather was great. On the downside, Michael Campbell missed the cut and we're going to have to wait until November for the next Open. A birdie.
2. Up and running: You've got to hand it to Christchurch. The council backs the NZPGA championship and the event will be our only major professional tournament this summer. Peter O'Malley missed a tiddler in February on the last but won a playoff against fellow Aussie Stephen Bowditch, who has since earned a place on the USPGA tour. Another birdie.
3. Double trouble: Television viewers missed the conclusion of the playoffs at both the Open and the NZPGA. The cameras are paid to be there but overtime is presumably extra. A double-bogey.
4. Tasman triumph: Penny Newbrook showed the sort of steel in her final game that Aussies are usually known for as the Kiwis won the Tasman Cup at Titirangi in the women's international. What a birdie.
5. Teens are tops: Fourteen-year-old Sharon Ahn (left) from Northcote College smiled her way to victory in the women's national strokeplay championship at Titirangi. Retreat Australia Fair. Another birdie.
6. Future indicative: For once the locals shut out the Aussies in the men's Under-23 championships. Waikato took the team event at Taupo and Josh Geary won the individual title at Hastings. Par (for the course in the future, we hope).
7. Groundhog days: Only the venue changed as the men's national championships at Palmerston North followed a familiar pattern with the strokeplay (Michael Sim) and matchplay (Mitchell Brown) returning across the Tasman. Our bogey.
8. Red letter day: Auckland professional Richard Lee, best known up till now as the man who beat Campbell in the 1992 NZ amateur final, won the Thai Open on the Asian tour. The best red-headed Lee in world golf survived a playoff for his first big professional win. A birdie.
9. Marriage lines: Men's and women's golf finally signed their prenuptial to the rumbling of bodies in the LGU graveyard. Par.
10. Mooloo magic: David Smail won again in Japan and Waikato amateurs Mathew Holten and Mark Purser did New Zealand proud overseas. Holten won the Riversdale Cup in Australia and Purser was the team's top player as New Zealand finished second in the Asia Pacific championship. Birdie.
11. End-of-year blues: Australians finished first and second in the national women's matchplay championship. Bogey.
12. Harbour lights: North Harbour won the men's, women's and seniors' national teams championships. Birdie.
13. Treasured Iles: Brad Iles (right) recovered from his life-threatening injury to contribute greatly to national teams and then show his class with 25th place in his professional debut at the Australian PGA followed by sixth at the Australian Masters. Birdie.
14. Four down: Grant Waite, Tim Wilkinson, Michael Long and Steve Alker contested the final qualifying for the 2005 USPGA tour. Waite got within one shot but none qualified, leaving Craig Perks and Phil Tataurangi the only Kiwis with eligibility. Double bogey.
15. Three up: Brad Heaven and Kevin Chun finished equal 10th to qualify for Australian PGA cards. Franz Schwanner missed by a shot. Stephen Scahill survived requalification to hang on to his European card. Par.
16. Wedded bliss: Lynnette Brooky got married and then completed another successful season on the European tour with 96,379 ($167,000) in earnings and 18th place on the order of merit. Par.
17. Jafas roll: After being rubbished by a former chief executive of New Zealand Golf, Auckland men won the Southland Invitational, were semifinalists in the interprovincial with a completely different team and won the national mid-amateur title with their golfer of the year, Martin Tumata. The women were semifinalists in their interprovincial. Par.
18. Kia kaha: He's here to present the prizes and you can only admire the grace and style that has marked Campbell's reign as a champion.
Closing with an eagle for a four-under year.
Golf: And so to the 19th hole...
Michael Campbell at Pinehurst. Picture / Reuters
When the top guy in your sport wins the United States Open, everything else is overshadowed. So we'll call the 18 holes for 2005 the Michael Campbell Classic and record the other shots that rang round our world.
1. Open and shut: The first NZ Open co-sanctioned with the European
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