Golf: Birdie barrage confirms Sayer as NZ's best

By BOB PEARCE

Reon Sayer confirmed his status as New Zealand's top amateur golfer when he fired three birdies in a row at a vital stage to win the Omanu Classic yesterday.

The Carterton player birdied the 13th, 14th and 15th holes of his final round and parred his way in to win by one shot from Richard Best (Golf City), with Kent Skellern (Springfield) a shot further back.

Sayer's final round of two-under-par 70 gave him a 72-hole total of 275 and victory in the first major amateur event of the millennium.

He had begun the final round with a two-shot lead over Best, whose third-round 66 had equalled the course record.

But with nine holes to play his margin was only one over Best, Skellern and Matthew Jupp (Mt Maunganui).

Best, playing four groups ahead of Sayer, set the standard by birdieing the 15th, 16th and 18th for a round of 69 and a 12-under total of 276.

Skellern and Jupp both drew level with Sayer but could not improve. He reacted with his three-birdie burst which sealed his third victory in the event.

"It got quite tight towards the end and I was really pleased I turned it on when I had to," said Sayer. "The 20-footer I got on the 14th was the longest putt I made all week so I think evened things out."

Sayer was pleased with his form after easing his way into the tournament with a mixture of practice and surfing at Mt Maunganui - no worries about injury on his board despite what happened to professional Michael Long in Perth.

"Life's too short to worry about things like that and I'm sure Michael would agree with me."

He is too old for the under-23 teams event in Taupo this week and will take the opportunity to hone his game ready for the New Zealand Open at Paraparaumu.

He won the Bledisloe Cup as top amateur last time and is determined to put up a stern defence of his title.