Golf: Stumbling leaders let in Burgess

By BOB PEARCE

Tauranga golfer Eddie Burgess came from six shots off the pace to win the North Island championship at Whangarei yesterday with a final round of 68.

His 72-hole total of 286, two under par, gave him victory by one shot from Tim Wilkinson (Golf City, Palmerston North), who led by two shots with three holes to play.

Wilkinson had shared the lead with Ben Gallie (Otago) at the start of the final round but when Gallie started with a run of bogeys, Burgess - with a string of birdies - emerged as the most likely challenger.

With nine to play he was within two of the leader and he drew level with an eagle on the par-five 10th.

But he carved his second on the next hole into deep rough, lost the ball and recorded a double-bogey seven.

Wilkinson missed several birdie chances with poor putting but was still in command on the 16th tee. He caught a tree with his drive, then played a poor chip and a nervous putt for a double bogey.

He missed the green on the short 17th, chipped back and three-putted for a bogey. Burgess, playing in the group ahead, bogeyed the last but Wilkinson could do no better himself.

Wilkinson had been chasing a Tiger Woods-like treble. He won the national strokeplay title last year and the South Island championship this February. He put together rounds of 70, 71 and 70 before fading to 75.

Burgess is the reigning national matchplay champion and will defend that title at Mt Maunganui at the end of the month. He had rounds of 71,75, 72 and 68.

Level with Wilkinson on 287 were Glyn Delany (Nelson) and Andrew McNair, who was four under par for his last two rounds.