KEY POINTS:
Wellington golfer Peter Spearman-Burn shot a course record 10-under 62 at Millbrook yesterday to head the final New Zealand Open qualifying stage by a remarkable seven shots.
The 18-year-old Miramar Club amateur had nine birdies and an eagle at the par-four 356m 15th hole when his wedge approach rested against the flag and dropped on a wind gust as he approached the hole.
Spearman-Burn's spectacular round lowered the course record, set by Phil Tataurangi in 2002, by two shots.
Spearman-Burn said he was "in the zone" and did not realise he was on a birdie sequence.
But his playing partner, Auckland's Todd Baek, was also able to celebrate. He holed in one with a six iron at the 172m par-three sixth hole.
Second qualifier was Australian professional Andrew Martin with a three-under 69 and young Aucklander Ben Wallace carded a 70 in third.
Fourteen players qualified for the tournament proper from a final field of 52, with three New Zealand professionals contesting a playoff for the sole final position.
Josh Geary, back from his first year on the Canadian tour, and Nelson club professional Dominic Barson both birdied the first hole (the par-five 18th) with Auckland's Marcus Wheelhouse being eliminated. On playing the 18th for a second time, Barson made par, but Geary birdied again with two putts, the second from 2m behind the hole.
- NZPA
