Golf: Heaven being courted to turn professional

Brad Heaven will have to achieve New Zealand golf's biggest individual amateur moment if he is to turn out in the Eisenhower Trophy campaign this year.

The University of Toledo senior is being courted by agents to turn professional as soon as he finishes schooling in Ohio in June.

That would rob New Zealand of arguably their best amateur, who looked a certainty for the three-man team to play in Puerto Rico this year.

"It seems there are many opportunities for me professionally as soon as I am done with college, as early as June, and there is pressure to turn pro and take advantage of sponsors' invites, both here in the US and Europe," 23-year-old Heaven said.

However, the former New Zealand junior who finished second in this year's New Zealand Open is hoping to remain amateur this year, but only if he can win some lofty silverware.

"My plan is to play amateur golf up until the end of summer here and then head to Europe for a crack at [qualifying] school. That would mean bypassing the Eisenhower unless I win the US Amateur, British Amateur or US Public Links," Heaven said.

If he wins any of those events, he would take advantage of the exemptions they provide to some majors next year and stay an amateur through this year, making him available for the Eisenhower campaign.

No Kiwi has won any of those championships before but New Zealand Golf operations manager Phil Aicken and national selectors are making plans to accommodate Heaven in the New Zealand team.

"We're thinking hard about when we name our team, we could name it with Brad in it and see if he remains an amateur or hold off naming it until August."

- NZPA