Golf: Youngsters compete for Open spots

Thirteen-year-old Seve Ha will be out to emulate Jae An when the final qualifying for next week's New Zealand Open takes place at Middlemore on Monday.

Rotorua youngster An raised eyebrows when he won a spot in the field at the 2002 Open at Paraparaumu Beach as a 13-year-old. Not only that, he made the cut in a remarkable performance.

Now Ha, from Akarana, is eyeing one of six spots on offer out of a field of 75 players.

Sam Shin, 15, who finished runner-up at the Junior British Open last year, is also aiming to get in the field at his home course, Gulf Harbour, next week.

The mix of professionals and amateurs include 30 who won through to the final stage from regional qualifying tournaments round the country and 35 players who were exempt until the Middlemore round.

Taranaki professional Grant Moorhead will be hoping to join Michael Campbell and Stephen Scahill, fellow members of the 1992 Eisenhower Trophy-winning side, in the Holden-sponsored Open.

The field also includes a number of top-ranked amateurs, including former internationals Brad Shilton from Waikato and Mark Smith, who is joined by his fellow winning Bay of Plenty interprovincial team-mate Terry Hong.

"There is definitely plenty of competition for the final spots in the field," tournament director Phil Aickin said.

"As a co-sanctioned event with Europe there are less spots available as of right, so more of our players have had to go through the qualifying process. However, there is a fantastic opportunity for those who make it through."

The final qualifying tees off at 7.30am at Middlemore.