Golf: Restraint pays off for youngster

By BOB PEARCE

Big-hitting Ryan Leslie put the celebrations for his 21st birthday in November on hold because he was making his debut for North Harbour at the interprovincial tournament.

He showed similar restraint over New Year and it paid off with the best score at the first qualifying for the Holden New Zealand Open at Whitford Park yesterday.

Leslie, from the Peninsula Club, shot a four-under-par 67 and will proceed to the final qualifying at Manukau on January 12.

He faces a tough schedule over the next few days. Today he heads to Taupo in the North Harbour team for the under-23 championship, for which he will have a practice round tomorrow and then four rounds on Monday and Tuesday.

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday he will play in the 72-hole individual under-23 championship at Hastings before returning home a week on Sunday. The following day he will be one of around 70 professionals and amateurs chasing the last 30 places in the NZ Open, which begins at The Grange on January 15.

A total of 170 hopefuls teed off at Whitford Park yesterday for the 21 places in the next round.

One shot behind Leslie were Auckland masters player Richard Griffin (Howick) and Waikato representative Mark Purser (Hamilton). There was a playoff for the last two places among those on 72.

In Christchurch, where four qualified, Blenheim professional Garth Domigan shot five-under 67 at Russley to head the list. In Wellington, Craig McLeod from the Wellington Golf Club led the five qualifiers with three-under 69 at Wainuiomata.