Golf: Holzer wins after roller-coaster ride

By BOB PEARCE

Logan Holzer had a roller-coaster ride before he won his first Auckland provincial strokeplay title by one shot at Pakuranga yesterday.

The Auckland No 1 had a three-under final round of 69 for a six-under total of 282, one ahead of Richard Squire (Hastings) and George Kinghorn (Tauranga).

After 36 holes, Holzer (The Grange) appeared to have the championship in safe-keeping. After an opening 71, he had blitzed the field with a course-best 64 to take a five-shot lead.

But yesterday morning some early putting troubles saw him lose his rhythm and slump to a 78, and starting the final round one behind Squire and level with Kinghorn.

With seven holes to play, the three were level. Holzer missed a birdie putt of less than a metre on the 13th, but got his nose in front with an eagle on the next.

With two holes remaining they were level again after Holzer had tree trouble. He sealed the win on the 17th with a four-metre birdie putt.

Squire closed with a 71 and Kinghorn with a 70.

Guy Penrose (Cambridge) had a final round of 67 to finish fourth, with the experienced Martin Tumata (Onewhero) and Chris Johns (Omaha Beach) one shot further back. The two New Zealand representatives in the field, Mark Smith (Springfield) and Brad Shilton (Te Awamutu), had a useful workout before their appearance at the Nomura Cup tournament in Port Douglas, Australia, next week.

Smith was in equal 12th place with a total of 293, five over par. Shilton was one shot further back.

New Zealand junior representative Kevin Chun (Titirangi) recovered from a slow start with two 68s yesterday to finish seventh.

Holzer's 64 will not count as a course record because the clean-and-place rule was in force after heavy rain on the 5984m course. But it was a remarkable bogey-free effort, made up of six birdies and an eagle.

It was Holzer's best competitive round, displacing the seven-under 63 he shot on his home course a couple of years ago.

He will lead the Auckland team in their annual fixture against Wellington at Wairakei next weekend. The team, in playing order, is: Logan Holzer (The Grange), Franz Schwanner (Manukau), Kevin Chun (Titirangi), Albert Kim (Whitford Park), Travis O'Connell (The Grange), Ross Valentine (Remuera), Hemi Broughton (Manukau), Brent Fabish (Akarana), Chris Saunoa (The Grange), Trevor Marshall (Maungakiekie). Reserve: Michael Bowman (The Grange).