International momentum lost
QUEENSTOWN professional James Anstiss was in some good form and just getting started before youknowwhat intervened.
Anstiss (24) did not waste any time getting to his next port of call after the NZ Open last month but he also did not linger when he decided to come back to
New Zealand because of Covid19.
Once the NZ border closed, he decided to head home from the United States.
‘‘When I heard that and the fact we were going into lockdown in a few days, I made a quick decision to fly back home next day,’’ he said.
Anstiss had made a promising start to the year, tying for 24th in Queenstown at the NZ Open, and was set to head to Mexico for the Latin American Tour.
“After the NZ Open finished on the Sunday I flew to Auckland then on to Mexico next day for the first event on the PGA Latin America Tour, the Estrella del Mar Open. The scoring was red hot that week with the cut at seven under, being the lowest ever on that tour.”
Anstiss comfortably made the cut and played well with 67,67,68,71 to finish 15 under, in a tie for 35th. The winner scored an amazing 29 under.
“Following that I flew to the US
SYDNEY: The NRL will work with other state governments after a letter from NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller cleared it to resume its season on May 28.
The letter, obtained by AAP, says the league is able to restart in NSW provided it creates a safe work space for players, coaches and officials.
Critically, the letter also notes to compete in the Coke Dr Pepper Open , an All Pro Tour event in Alexandria, Louisiana. It was played on two courses, Bayou and Oakwing. I scored 67, 71 to make the cut on 6 under. We then got the news the Players Champs had been cancelled plus PGA events for the next four weeks, meaning no more Latin American Tour. However, the All Pro Tour were determined to finish their event and I scored 67, 66 to finish on 17 under and in a tie for 11th.
“My plan was to play the next week on the All Pro Tour before heading to Argentina for three events in April on the LA tour. However, the APT event was cancelled so suddenly there was nothing to play in. I hung around in Louisiana for a few days playing golf with some of my old teammates from my college days before the NZ border closure news ended that.”
Anstiss is now back in Queenstown and, like all of us, making the best of his time in lockdown.
‘‘I have now been home three weeks and have set up a makedo driving range in my garage, hitting balls off a range mat into a few blankets. I am really looking forward to getting back out to the golf course and hoping the world can get back to some normality soon and hopefully we can play some tournaments later in the year.” — additional reporting by Steve Hepburn that matches must be played behind closed doors, and venues must be large enough to allow for safe social distancing.
‘‘In addition, the competition organisers must comply with all the existing state and federal work, health and safety requirements and ensure that a safe workplace is maintained for all participants,’’ the letter reads.
‘‘In summary, subject to the