Golf: Fifth-placed Campbell best of Kiwis at Heineken

MELBOURNE - New Zealand No 1 Michael Campbell wanted to do a "Richard Lee" so he could make a charge at Ernie Els on the final day of the Heineken Classic golf tournament in Melbourne today.

Campbell was referring to Lee's course record of 62 set on Friday but he had to settle for a round of 3-under-69 and fifth place.

"I wanted to shoot a very low score today, Richard Lee proved that it could be done but it wasn't to be," Campbell said.

"I can walk away from this event and still be pretty proud of myself."

After starting the day at 8-under Campbell finished the tournament 11-under-par six shots adrift of South African's Els but only one shot behind the three men at equal second -- Australian's Peter Fowler and Peter O'Malley and Englishman David Howell.

Campbell's only blemish was a bogey when a short approach on the par four, sixth hole left him a ten metre putt from the bottom tier.

He posted two birdies on the outward nine and another on the 10th but had to wait until the 17th for his fourth of the day.

The cool wind picked up in the afternoon and made life more difficult for the leaders.

"I was struggling with my game to be honest," Campbell said.

"I knew I wasn't swinging well enough to win."

"It was close but not good enough this week. El's start from day one was a great score and it's pretty hard to beat him when he's playing so well."

Campbell had been shooting for his third consecutive Heineken Classic trophy.

Campbell, who's wife Julie is expecting their third child, is also looking forward to seeing his coach Jonathon Yarwood in Florida before playing the World Match Play Championship at La Costa in the United States.

Lee was New Zealand's other main hope today. He and Campbell had started at 8-under and when Lee was still 9-under-par after six holes he was lying equal fourth.

However, he had four bogeys on the day and three of them came in a disaster stretch from 11 to 13 when the wind was slowing and he quickly plunged to six-under.

He held on bravely after that to finish six-under after topsy turvy rounds of 75, 62, 71 and 74 for a share of 14th place.

"I'm happy with what I've done this week but pretty disappointed to shoot two over in the last round.

"I didn't feel any pressure today. I got rid of it all yesterday."

It was his best finish and only his second European PGA sanctioned event and he got a kick out of rubbing shoulders with great players like Els on the practice range this morning.

"Normally I'm watching them on TV," he said.

Lee will play the rest of the Australasian tour and has also qualified for six starts on the Japanese tour. He said he might also attempt to later qualify for the European and United States Tour Schools.

Lee is looking forward to next week's event in Sydney using the modified stableford system.

The next best of the six New Zealanders in action on the final day were 18-year-old Eddie Lee, last year's Heineken runner up, David Smail, and Greg Turner.

They all shared 19th place at five-under par.

Eddie Lee finished with a 2-under-70, Smail got to 7-under after 11 holes but posted a 3-under-69 as did Turner.

Steven Scahill finished 56th for a final round of 73.

- NZPA