Golf: Tournament winner likely for Eisenhower

Tauranga golfer Josh Geary has virtually sealed his place in the national team with a record-breaking performance to win the Waikato Strokeplay championship in Hamilton yesterday.

Geary fired a tournament record 15-under 273 for the four rounds over the testing St Andrews course at Hamilton Golf Club. The 19-year-old finished a whopping 12 shots clear of second placed Brad Shilton, the Waikato player who is the sole remaining member of the team that last competed in the Eisenhower Trophy.

Geary, who won this year's North Island championship on the same course, was in outstanding form throughout the four official trials to select a three-man team to contest next month's world teams championships in Puerto Rico.

The young Mount Maunganui golfer placed second to Australian David Lutterus in the first trial, won the second at the Bay of Plenty Open and was fourth at the Auckland Strokeplay last week.

Shilton made the most of his chances with a superb third round of 66 to match Geary's storming form to finish on three-under 285, one shot ahead of New Zealand representative Jae An (Springfield, Rotorua).

His fellow Bay of Plenty team-mate Terry Hong (Springfield) finished two shots back on even 288 after the final round low score of four-under 68 in difficult, squally conditions.

Auckland golfer Travis O'Connell (The Grange) was fifth on 289, with Eisenhower prospect Riki Kauika (Wanganui) sharing sixth place and Waikato's Mathew Holten a shot behind.

Of the other main prospects for Eisenhower selection, Kevin Chin (Titirangi) finished in 12th place on 296, two shots ahead of Hawkes Bay golfer Doug Holloway in 16th place.

Geary repeated his first day 66 with another six-under effort in the morning, that featured two eagles, two birdies and 14 pars, and he turned three-under in the final round in the afternoon before making two bogeys and then incorrectly listing a birdie as a bogey for a further dropped shot.

Shilton was also in outstanding form in the morning with six birdies and 12 pars as he pressed late claims for Eisenhower honours.

The New Zealand team will be named today.