Off the tee: Play makes Dana's day

American pro Dana Quigley, who finished second in the season-opening Champions Tour event in Hawaii this week, believes you need to be out on the course competing to keep your golf game sharp.

He is living proof of that philosophy. At the MasterCard Championship in Hawaii, the 56-year-old was competing in the 233rd consecutive event for which he has been eligible.

The former club pro says: "You can build a swing and create a repeating action on the range, but you do not learn how to play without being on the course. That is an absolute must."

Quigley started playing as a caddie in his native Rhode Island, competed while at college, but won only US$92,298 after turning professional. His best finish on the USPGA tour was sixth in the Greater Milwaukee Open in 1980.

But even as a club professional he kept his game sharp and four days after turning 50 he made the field for the PGA Seniors Championship as a Monday qualifier.

He then won the Northville Island Classic as a qualifier and has never looked back - or stopped competing. He has won eight times on the Champions Tour and with the US$161,000 cheque for second in Hawaii has amassed earnings of US$9,233,584 in the past six years.

Since he began his tournament streak of 233 events at the Bank Boston Classic on August 3, 1997, Quigley has played 714 rounds in competition, recorded 2668 birdies, had 20,345 putts and played 50,254 shots.

The recipe clearly works. He had rounds of 67, 65 and 65 to finish 19 under par in Hawaii, only to be beaten on the last hole when Fuzzy Zoeller sank a long putt to finish one better.

Quigley plays golf nearly every day, even when there is no tournament.

* * *

A place in the field at next year's New Zealand Open is on offer to the winner of next month's New Zealand Mid-Amateur Championship at the Hamilton Golf Club.

The Mid-Amateur was held for the first time last year, open to golfers over 30. Former professional Dean Sipson won the inaugural event to earn his place in the recent New Zealand Open at The Grange in Auckland. He made the cut to enjoy four rounds alongside the best players in Australasia.

This year's tournament will be at St Andrews in Hamilton from February 12-14.

The United States has encouraged players in this age group for a long time. While New Zealand had a very young team at Vancouver when they won the world amateur championship in 1992, the American team included Allen Doyle and Jay Sigel, who these days are winners on the over-50 professional tour.

* * *

Andrew Park, who won the North Island under-19 tournament at Maungakiekie last week, is not eligible for New Zealand selection as he has represented South Korea in junior teams.

The 17-year-old won the New Zealand under-23 title last year but then shifted to Korea, where he is ranked fourth junior.

Park qualified for the New Zealand Open this year and intends to return here in November to try to make that field again.

* * *

Aussie pro Andrew Buckle made a quick flight back across the Tasman after finishing equal fifth at the Open at The Grange.

The journey paid off when he tied for first in the special qualifying event for the British Open staged at Kingston Heath.

The four places on offer for the tournament at Royal Troon went to Buckle, Adam Le Vesconte, Brendan Jones and Englishman Matthew Hazelden.