KEY POINTS:
When the world's best amateur golfers gathered in Paris in 1994 for the Eisenhower Trophy, Wellington teenager Mark Brown finished as fourth individual. One shot behind him was a Stanford University student called Tiger Woods.
They both turned professional two years later. Woods never looked back, but Brown must often have hankered for those in the golfing limelight.
This year, in a rousing sporting comeback, he has realised some of the potential he showed as a young amateur. His achievement pales in comparison with Woods' world dominance but it should serve as encouragement for all those battlers who still have golfing dreams.
Brown learned the game at the Shandon Club in the Hutt Valley and, after linking with coach Mal Tongue, he was twice top amateur in the NZ Open and seventh overall in 1995.
When he turned pro, he topped the qualifying tournament for the Australasian tour. But, despite occasional successes in Fiji and Canada, the glittering prizes never materialised. He was more often trying to qualify for the NZ Open than chasing the title.
Four years ago, he gave up chasing glory and took a job as junior development officer for the Wellington Golf Association.
He still had the talent and Tongue was still his coach and the combination decided on another shot at tournament golf. He qualified for the Asian tour at the end of last year and began 2007 competing under armed guard in the Pakistan Open in Karachi.
He received a huge confidence boost in February when he finished sixth equal in the NZPGA tournament at Clearwater, banking a cheque for US$19,579 ($25,896), which helped to fund his travels in Asia.
There were good finishes in Indonesia, India, Brunei and Korea and an US$89,066 reward for finishing eighth in the Singapore Open, where he beat Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Nick O'Hern and KJ Choi.
He finished the season with a tie for fourth place in the Volvo Masters of Asia that took his Asian earnings to US$191,356 and 15th place on the order of merit. At the start of the year, he had no world ranking. He finished at 334.
So what was the secret of his success at the age of 32? Who better to ask than Tongue, who admits Brown's play in Paris in 1994 gave his own coaching career a boost.
"As a golf coach, you can teach many things but you can't teach self-belief and that was what Brownie lacked," said Tongue.
"I'll tell you a story. Five years ago at the PGA, he came to the practice range and hid himself away from the good players.
"In Singapore this year, there was one gap at the range between VJ Singh and Lee Westwood. Mark Brown went straight there.
"He deserved every success he's had. He's got integrity, loyalty and honesty and you don't always see that in professional sport."
Brown started the season aiming to retain his playing rights in Asia. He modestly describes his comeback as "steady". Here's hoping 2008 sees that Parisian promise fully realised.
