Golf: Johns has point to prove in strokeplay

By BOB PEARCE

Auckland golfer Chris Johns will have the chance to embarrass the national selectors when the North Island strokeplay championships are staged at Huapai this weekend.

Johns was bitterly disappointed to be dropped from the New Zealand Eisenhower team to contest the world championships in Germany this year despite finishing second in the recent national strokeplay at Christchurch.

He is the defending North Island champion and has the best stroke average among national contenders.

At Huapai he will be competing against two of the chosen Eisenhower team, Gareth Paddison (Manor Park) and Reon Sayer (Carterton). The other team members, Carl Brooking (Christchurch) and Richard Best (Golf City), will miss the tournament.

But most of the leading amateur golfers will be playing, including the new national matchplay champion, Eddie Burgess, and the surprise strokeplay winner, Tim Wilkinson (Golf City).

Huapai has been greatly improved by recent rain. There will be 36 holes on Saturday and Sunday, with play starting at 7.15am on Saturday.