Queenstown pair seeking Australia title
TWO Queenstown golfers will line up in the Australian Open today, hoping to repeat what happened 12 months ago.
James Anstiss and Ben Campbell will take part in the Open, which is being played at the Lakes Golf Club, south of Sydney.
For Anstiss, the start is his first in such a prestigious tournament, and the continuation of some progress up the golfing ladder in a professional career which is now a year old.
Campbell will be hoping for at least a repeat of last year, when he finished tied for 15th.
Anstiss qualifies for the Open after winning at last year’s qualifying school, and also by being a member of the Australasian Tour.
Anstiss said yesterday the course would be particularly tough, but he felt it would nevertheless suit his game.
‘‘It is long and it is going to be particularly windy and I don’t mind that as I like playing in the wind. I’ve played it a few times and gone OK,’’ he said.
Anstiss said he was excited to be playing in such a top event as the Australian Open, and was hoping to do well.
He had just returned from Europe when he tried to qualify for the European Tour.
In the first stage of qualifying in Fleesensee in Germany, he finished fifthequal, which allowed him to go through to the next stage.
In the next stage at Desert Springs Golf Club in Almeria, Spain, he had a 76 in his first round and could not recover, eventually finishing on two under after four rounds, well off qualifying.
Anstiss said it was disappointing to miss at the second stage and not go to the final qualifying round, but it had been a good learning experience.
His aim this week was modest — to play four good rounds and play his own game. It was important to stay patient on the course and it was vital to get in a good position on the greens.
Anstiss tasted success last month when he won the Hare wood Open in Christchurch, his first professional win.
The win was by a convincing four shots and was very enjoyable, he said.
He had been a professional for a year now, and said after playing golf at a collegiate level in the United States it was pretty much what he expected.
He said the biggest lesson was about being at your best all the time for playing, both on and off the course.
The 23yearold will have to return to the Australasian Tour qualifying school as he searches for his card to stay on the tour next year.
He is set to play in the Australian PGA on the Gold Coast at the end of this month.
He will play with two Australians, Mitchell Brown and Tim Hart today, starting at 10.30am (NZ time).
Campbell, who could not be contacted yesterday, is set to start at 1.55pm (NZ time) with two Australians, Jason Norris and Adam Bland.
The two New Zealanders should be inspired by last year’s winner Cameron Davis.
Davis was ranked outside the world’s top 1000 at the start of last year’s Open and given little chance.
But he came home in a seven underpar 64 to win the Open.