KEY POINTS:
Brad Bonnington gave himself an early 21st birthday present when he won the Auckland Anniversary golf tournament at Akarana yesterday.
The burly Northlander started the final day of the 54-hole tournament with a two-shot lead and blitzed the field with a two-under-par 68 to win by six shots from Simon Brownlee.
The left-handed Bonnington, a Northland representative who plays at Maungakiekie while studying architecture in Auckland, had rounds of 70, 68, 68 for a four-under total of 206. He had four birdies in his round yesterday and showed a deft touch in scrambling pars when he strayed offline. He is part of a talented sporting family. His father Bernie, mother Angela and sister Sjanna have all been Northland representatives and he is the nephew of Waitangi professional Alex.
Defending champ and local hero Van Wright shot 67 yesterday to be two shots adrift of Brownlee, with Jonathon Ratcliffe (Akarana), Kevin Budden (Waitemata) and Kwan Ook Kong (Gulf Harbour). Doug Millington (Paroa) finished with a share of seventh place. Veteran Tony Treen finished equal ninth.