Golf: Windblown Howard finishes top qualifier after countback

Taupo's Tina Howard topped the qualifiers for the New Zealand amateur women's championship in New Plymouth yesterday.

Howard was tied with fellow New Zealand representative Anita Boon (North Harbour) at five-over 149.

She claimed the top qualifying spot on a countback.

The pair, who shared the first-round lead with Australians Carlie Butler and Nikki Campbell, proved the strongest as the westerly winds battered the coastal Ngamotu course in the afternoon.

The Kiwi internationals followed the morning 73 with four-over 76s to finish one shot ahead of Campbell.

Butler and 1999 national amateur champion Wendy Hawkes, who briefly grabbed a share of the lead during the afternoon round, were another shot back.

A further two shots back were Australian Amanda Kingman and national under-21 champion Penny Newbrook (Rotorua) on 153, nine over.

It was a major improvement for the talented Newbrook, who missed qualifying in Auckland last year.

All players found the freshening winds a challenge on the back nine. Many hit three woods and drivers off the tee on the par-three 12th in the afternoon after using six-irons in the morning.

Howard managed a final hole birdie after a double bogey on the 12th. Boon's round was blemished by a triple bogey when she went out of bounds on the 11th.

Defending champion Butler struggled in the winds, scoring seven bogeys. Her compatriot Campbell had an eventful afternoon in her four-over 77 that included two birdies, an eagle, four bogeys, a double bogey and triple bogey.

There were no major upsets to find the top 32 qualifying spots for matchplay, which starts today.