Golf: Auckland golfer bolter for Australian Open

Travis O'Connell is the surprise New Zealand name in the Australian Open field, the Auckland teenager having barged through as top qualifier in one of three final qualifying events.

The 19-year-old amateur from The Grange shot 68 to finish top in the event at the St Michael's Golf Course.

He won a spot in the final qualifying round through making the last 16 at the Australian amateur championships in Adelaide in March.

Nine New Zealanders are in the field for the A$1.5 million ($1.65 million) event starting at The Australian Golf Club tomorrow, with O'Connell and fellow final qualifiers Tony Christie and New South Wales-based Martin Pettigrew joining the six Kiwis already confirmed as starters - Michael Campbell, Phil Tataurangi, Richard Best, Mahal Pearce, Gareth Paddison and teenage Eisenhower Trophy representative Kevin Chun.

The long-driving O'Connell should relish the 6610m, par-71 layout.

"The harder it gets the more focused he becomes. I think he'll handle it. He's very self-confident," The Grange professional Dennis Sullivan said.

* Top New Zealand amateur Josh Geary has been dropped from a team to play in Argentina after a disciplinary breach.

Geary, already in hot water for causing damage to a sponsor's tent at the Taranaki Open, was reported by a volunteer for using bad language in the hearing of the spectators at last week's interprovincial tournament in Napier.

Chief executive of New Zealand Golf Larry Graham said Geary would be replaced by Doug Holloway, of Hawkes Bay, who would join Waikato's Mark Purser in the team to Argentina.

After a series of incidents recently, New Zealand Golf has made it clear that it will not tolerate bad behaviour from its representatives.

Graham said Geary had expressed regret.

"I want to apologise to anyone who was upset as a result of the language I used," Geary said. "I let myself down by my lack of etiquette on the course and I accept that my behaviour was irresponsible."

Last month he was fifth individual at the world amateur championships in Puerto Rico. His team, Bay of Plenty, won the interprovincial title.