Golf: Former NZ Maori champ to tee off in US PGA tournament

1.00pm

Former Bay of Plenty golfing representative Jason Laing won a start in a US PGA Tour event yesterday.

The 32-year-old finished first equal in qualifying to grab one of four available spots in this weekend's US$5 million ($8 million) Shell Houston Open, won by Fred Couples last year.

Fellow New Zealanders Grant Waite and Craig Perks are also listed to take part in the tournament which starts on Friday (NZ time).

Laing's wife Dana relayed the news of her husband's golfing career breakthrough from the United States to her excited mother-in-law, Barbara Laing.

"God we're excited. I was crying when Dana rang, she was screaming down the phone with Jason on the mobile," his proud mother said yesterday.

Laing, a former national Maori champion, left New Zealand three years ago and has been playing on the American minor Hooters and Tight Lies tours since turning professional more than a year ago.

Laing and his wife have settled in Dallas, Texas, where he spent a year greenkeeping at the Mesquiet golf course.

"Between then and now I hadn't had much luck although I was quite happy with my rounds at qualifying school. My scores just weren't quite low enough to break through... But I learned a lot and put it to good use this year," he said.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)