Golf: Late surge gives team NZ's best finish since 1996

KUALA LUMPUR - A late last-day surge saw New Zealand belatedly reveal their true colours to tie for fifth at the world amateur teams championships here yesterday.

In a share of sixth overnight, Tim Wilkinson, Eddie Lee and Brad Shilton collectively played their best golf of the event on the homeward nine holes, which enabled them to finish in red figures for the Eisenhower Trophy tournament.

They entered the clubhouse in a share of third at one-under the card after Wilkinson's third successive three-under-par 69, Lee toughed out a bad patch to shoot 71 while Shilton's non-counting 72 was his best return of the 63-nation event.

The round of four-under 140 left them on 575 for the championships, seven strokes behind eventual champions the United States. They were even at the turn and picked up four shots on the closing nine, where their games were in sync for the first time at the Saujana Golf and Country Club.

"We finished how we meant to start and we know we could have done a little better," national coach Mal Tongue said after Wilkinson slotted a three-foot birdie putt on the last to complete New Zealand's challenge.

It was New Zealand's best finish since 1996, when they also ended equal fifth.

"We gutsed it out all week and showed a lot of pride in the fern, which is what it is all about. We have to be really proud of ourselves," Tongue said.

Lee had looked to be in for a repeat of Saturday's disastrous nine-over 81,

but he knuckled down to post three successive birdies from the ninth, got another at 13 and sunk a 12-footer at 16 for his fourth on the back nine.

Lee, 18, confirmed this was his last amateur event before joining the Asian PGA's Davidoff Tour. His first professional start is in the BMW Asian Open in Taiwan in three weeks.

Wilkinson, the team anchor here, who finished as the fourth leading individual, recorded five birdies and two bogeys in another impressive performance before he pursues a pro career in Europe.

He struck all 14 fairways yesterday and was on the green in regulation 14 times over the complete round. He has qualified for the second stage of the European Tour qualifying school, and Tongue has no doubts the left-hander will flourish in the pro ranks.

"Tim Wilkinson is going to be a superstar. He's probably the best player I've had in an Eisenhower team, just from his composure and professionalism," said Tongue, who has guided New Zealand's Eisenhower teams since 1996.

Shilton did not lack for courage, sinking several pressure putts yesterday to maintain the team's momentum.

New Zealand entered the last day 10 shots adrift of overnight leaders France and seven behind the US.

- NZPA