Golf: Phoenix offers chance for Wilkinson to rise

Tim Wilkinson is a golfer in search of a tour to play on, but when he gets the chance, he makes the most of it.

The 26-year-old lefthander from Palmerston North has been a professional for just 18 months, but he has already challenged for victory in a Nationwide Tour event and made the cut on the full US PGA tour.

But until he can earn a regular place on one of the world's professional circuits, he will have trouble realising his full potential.

"I know I've got the ability to do it. It's just a matter of getting a tour card," he said. "I play well when I get into tournaments."

Evidence of this has come during two excursions to the United States this year. He joined the dozens of hopefuls who tee up in Monday qualifying for maybe a couple of places in tournaments on the Nationwide and US PGA tours.

At his second attempt, in June, he made the field for the Knoxville Open, a Nationwide event, and, with nine holes to play, he was tied for the lead.

"I dropped a couple of shots on the second half and ended up seventh, but I could have won it," he said.

Last month he was back in the States and Monday-qualified for the Buick Championship, a Connecticut tournament on the main US PGA tour. Again he showed he could foot it with the big boys as he made the cut and finished 27th, thanks to a final round of 64.

That was worth US$29,820 ($45,000) and, with the Knoxville cheque of US$15,318, gave Wilkinson a good return on his American sorties.

But perhaps more important will be his trip to Phoenix, Arizona, next month to play in the first stage of the three-stage qualifying for the US PGA tour.

Wilkinson has been braving the chill of spring in the Manawatu this week, preparing for the $40,000 Olex Taranaki Open next week, where the professionals will play alongside some of the country's top amateurs, including our Eisenhower Trophy team.

Two years ago, Wilkinson played in the New Zealand team that finished fifth at that world amateur contest in Malaysia.

He never played the Taranaki Open as an amateur, but likes the Ngamotu course, where in 2001 he played number one for the Manawatu team at the interprovincial championships and won all his matches.

Among the 30 pros playing at New Plymouth will be locally based Grant Moorhead, who has New Zealand's best Eisenhower record. He was in the team who finished second in 1990 at Christchurch and was also one of the foursome who won two years later in Vancouver.

Aucklander Brad Heaven, who finished second as an amateur in this year's New Zealand Open, has passed the first test in his bid for a European professional card.

He finished equal 22nd and last of the qualifiers from the first stage of qualifying at Carden Park in England.

The second and third stages of qualifying are held in Spain in November.


In A bid to boost the number of women golfers in the area, North Harbour will run a series of clinics at various courses and driving ranges from late next month.

The women golfers will be taught by local men and women professionals.

The clinics will run for one hour for six weeks, either in the day or the evening, culminating in a nine-hole fun day at the Lakes Golf Course on December 12.