Golf: Canadian title gives Paddison a crack at stars

Wellington player Gareth Paddison can hardly believe he will be trading shots with some of the game's heavyweights next month.

Paddison yesterday earned an exemption into the Canadian Open by winning the Canadian amateur championship after a lopsided final in Toronto.

The Canadian Open in Montreal, a regular stopover on the US PGA Tour, was won last year by world No 1 Tiger Woods.

It is not known whether Woods will defend his title, won in stunning fashion last year when he finished two strokes ahead of New Zealand's Grant Waite after crushing a six-iron out of a fairway bunker to birdie the last hole.

Woods or no Woods, Paddison is thrilled at the prospect of teeing it up with some of the tour's headline acts.

"Hopefully Woods will be there to defend his title, but just to play a PGA Tour event is simply amazing," Paddison said after disposing of Canadian Graham Cooke 8 and 7 in the amateur championship final on the Credit Valley Golf and Country Club course.

The 21-year-old did not need to think twice about accepting the offer of an exemption for the Canadian Open, being held at Royal Montreal on September 6-9.

"A PGA Tour event ... there's no way I was going to turn that down, no matter what."

Paddison will have to arrange his own air ticket to Montreal but organisers will cover his accommodation costs.

The tall left-hander was hardly extended yesterday, terminating the 36-hole final on the 29th green.

Cooke, a 54-year-old golf course designer, had excelled in reaching his first national final since 1979.

Paddison was four shots under the card after five holes and had the title under lock and key when he led by five holes after 18.

It was then largely a mental battle as he refused to consider the title his until he had sunk his final putt, although with such a lead he had the luxury of being able to play conservatively.

"Even though I was five up I never took it for granted that I was going to win the trophy.

"He may be 54 but he'd beaten a number of very good players to get into the final."

Paddison was pleased with his form in Canada, where he helped a six-man New Zealand team finish third in the Four Nations Cup.

He then qualified second equal at the amateur championship, alongside team-mate Tim Wilkinson.

Paddison then strung together six successive matchplay wins, culminating in arguably his easiest contest yesterday.

On Sunday, he eliminated fellow left-hander Wilkinson, of Palmerston North, 2 up in their semifinal.

"I've found some sensational form over here, and I think the final was more or less a battle.

"To win six matches in a row has topped off a great two weeks over here.

"It's been one of the best fortnights of my life."

One of the best weeks of his life now awaits the young golfer in Montreal.

- NZPA