Golf: James takes Anniversary contest by five

A string of fine performances marks Leighton James' emergence as a top amateur. Picture / Richard Robinson

Leighton James, who has emerged in the past few months as one of Auckland's leading amateur golfers, won the Anniversary tournament impressively by five shots at Akarana yesterday.

The 21-year-old from The Grange had a 54-hole total of 206, four under par, never surrendering the advantage he gained with an opening round of 65, a record for the new Akarana layout.

He slipped to 73 in his second round to be two ahead of national junior representative Sam Shin (Gulf Harbour) with local favourite, 14-year-old Seve Ha, a stroke further back.

James had 68 yesterday, a total matched by Steven Han (North Shore), who finished second; and Hogan Cho (The Grange), who chipped in on the last to snatch third, a stroke further back. Northlander Scott Wightman's 67, the best of the day, gave him a share of fourth place with Sang Jun Cho, from Helensville.

Beating Kevin Chun for the Auckland matchplay title last September marked James' emergence and he followed up with some fine performances at number one for the Auckland representative team. This year he has finished 13th and 11th in the national under-23 tournaments.

Yesterday he could not reproduce Saturday's form, but his short game came to the rescue as he recorded four birdies and a couple of bogeys.

Shin's challenge disappeared on the par-four 17th, where he found a bunker with his second and then took five putts for an eight and a final round of 78. Ha was also let down by his putter in the closing stages.

Han, a member of the North Harbour team that won the interprovincial title at Titirangi in November, was very consistent but Wightman started with a 68, finished with a 67 but ballooned to a 78 in the second round.