Andrew Green was the toast of New Zealand golf and especially of the Shandon club in Wellington after claiming the national match-play final at the Coringa Country Club in Christchurch today.

Green, 22, overcame defending champion Mitchell Brown, from the Bankstown club in New South Wales, 1 up, in the 36-hole final, the same margin as last year when Brown downed countryman, Andrew Dodt, at Hokowhitu in Palmerston North.

His victory was the first by a New Zealander in the match-play championship since 2001, the first by a Wellington amateur since John Durry prevailed at Paraparaumu Beach in 1979 and the first ever by a Shandon golfer.

Durry, a long-time Wellington selector, phoned Green last night with words of encouragement, telling him to "be yourself, see the shots then play them."

For most of the 36 holes Green did just that, playing many precise approaches and putting with confidence for the most part. It was extremely on the back nine with Green having a 4 up lead after 25 holes whittled back to 1 up after 30.

But he matched Brown, runner-up in the Australian amateur a fortnight ago, shot for shot on the last six holes and when Brown was in trouble off the last tee, Green played a superb wedge to 4m below the hole and had the luxury of two putts to stay 1 up and take the title.

A Wellington representative for the last six years, Green has been a consistent performer without taking centre stage. His main wins were the Wellington under 23 and stroke-play titles last and in his five previous attempts at the New Zealand championship he had failed to make the top 32 cut.

"I'm really, really happy and relieved it's over. I knew I was against a world-class player and had underdog status, but I concentrated on what I had to do and not what he was doing," Green said.

Green, the 22nd qualifier and conqueror of New Zealand internationals Mark Smith and Mark Purser before eliminating Australian amateur champion Tim Stewart in the semi-finals, said he knew Brown would come back and was pumped up for the arm-wrestle over the last six holes.

"I hit a few errants shots and had a few putts sit on the edge near the end, but he missed a few chances and that's golf," Green said.

Both players produced some stunning play and Green was 5-under at the end with Brown four-under.

The 13th hole might be unlucky for some but not for Green who took the lead there for the first time and never surrendered it. He started the second 18 holes 1 up and had four birdies in the first five holes to go 4 up after 23.

Typical of the Australian sporting psyche, Brown came back strongly, but Green held firm and earned his place in New Zealand golf history .

Source - NZGA
Photo - Photosport

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