Golf: Heaven makes solid start

New Zealand golfer Brad Heaven made an encouraging start in his bid to gain a PGA Tour playing card in the United States today.

Heaven shot a two-under-par 70 to be tied for 13th in a first stage qualifying tournament at Kinderlou Forest in Georgia.

Compatriot Josh Geary opened with a 73 to share 40th place in the 71-strong field, eight shots behind the leader, American Jay McLuen.

They need to be among the top 23 plus ties at the end of the 72-hole strokeplay event to advance to the second stage of qualifying at six venues starting on November 18.

The third and final stage is a six-round tournament at West Palm Beach in Florida which starts on December 2.

Heaven, who finished second as an 23-year-old amateur at the 2004 New Zealand Open in Auckland, turned professional later that same year after completing his collegiate studies in the US.

He has since plied his trade on the Canadian Tour and on mini tours in the US.

Geary has also been playing the Canadian Tour this year after his plans to compete on the second tier Nationwide Tour in the US fell through.

- NZPA