Iraqi golfer shut out

Iraqi Golf Federation head Laith Barnouti made it to Royal Wellington but the war-torn nation’s top player did not, as their AsiaPacific Amateur Championship debut was foiled by Immigration New Zealand.

Jordan-based refugee Amer Radee, 30, was confirmed in the field and his flights were booked by tournament organisers, but after two attempts to secure a visa he was denied last week and never boarded the plane.

Dr Barnouti, a renowned Sydney plastic surgeon, arrived at Royal Wellington for yesterday’s opening round to represent his nation which doesn’t have a single golf course but was granted Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation membership in January.

He did so with a heavy heart, lamenting Radee’s absence after he’d supported the visa application with an offer of a bond.

‘‘We were really trying to be participating in this event here today, we had a very good player, a refugee in Jordan who left due to war,’’ Barnouti said. ‘‘He had to make a living and as a 13-year-old he started working as a paid caddie and within a few weeks he picked up the golf clubs.’’

New Zealand Golf chief executive Dean Murphy confirmed it had supported Radee’s application, as did APGC chairman Dr David Cherry, an Australian.

In a statement, Immigration New Zealand area manager Marcelle Foley said: ‘‘INZ declined a visa for Mr Radee as we were not satisfied that he demonstrated sufficient reasons to depart New Zealand at the end of his stay. For privacy reasons we are unable to comment any further without a privacy waiver.’’