Masters sparks dream for electrician

Kerry Mountcastle’s boss could hardly say no when he requested five weeks off work.

The Masterton electrician had a good excuse: his chase for a golden ticket into The Masters and Open Championship in his own backyard.

Mountcastle’s buildup to the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Wellington from October 26-29 - which carries amateur golf’s ultimate prize - gets serious in the 72-hole Wellington Strokeplay at Shandon this weekend.

He’s not expecting miracles in the 72-hole tournament after working 10-hour days, but he’ll soon down tools to test drive life as a full-time golfer for the next month.

‘‘We have been very busy at work which has put a halt to things.

I work 7.30 till 5 or 6 and getting out and practising has been quite hard. I’ve not been getting any time on the course,’’ Mountcastle said.

‘‘[My boss was] very understanding … he said do it while you’re young and have an opportunity.’’

Mountcastle, 22, earned his spot in the APAC by being eighthhighest New Zealander on the world rankings when the 10 local spots were confirmed last month. The APAC winner receives automatic entry to Augusta and Carnoustie next year.

He soared up the list with a third placing against the pros in the Taranaki Open last October after being the 54-hole leader, then was runnerup to Mark Hutson in the New Zealand Strokeplay at Hastings in March.

In between he was part of Wellington’s national interprovincial victory and his team-mate Ben Slaven got the credit for his hot streak.

‘‘I’d won a couple of tournaments early in the year which builds up the confidence. Then I played the Wellington Strokeplay [last year] and played pretty average and a mate said something that made a little change to my swing and I started hitting the ball quite well. I went to Taranaki full of confidence and went with it.’’

He’ll return to Taranaki for the Charles Tour event on October 12 as his final APAC leadup still carrying the self-belief from a year previous.

‘‘It was huge. I know that I can do it now, and if I get into a position I can do it again.

‘‘Hopefully by the time I’ve played a few tournaments, and the two Charles Tour events, I will have full faith in my game and come into this flying.’’

A small field for the women’s event is headed by Wellington No 1 Gabrielle Palado who is chasing three in a row in the absence of USbased Julianne Alvarez who is back in New Zealand but saving herself for next week’s New Zealand Women’s Open in Auckland.

The 2014 champion Brydie Hodge is among four ManawatuWhanganui women’s reps making the trip down State Highway 1.