Canadian golfer recalls ‘nerves’

Press, 17 March 1987, Page 52

Canadian golfer recalls ‘nerves’

By

GARY BIRKETT

When the Canadian amateur golfer, Jack Kay junior, stood on the first tee at Augusta last year at the United States Masters he thought he was going to embarrass himself in front of 20,000 spectators and a huge television audience by missing the ball completely. It would be fair to say Kay was a little overawed by the situation. He was invited to play in the tournament after making the semi-finals of the United States amateur championship in 1985. Kay, who is in Christ-

church for the inaugural Pacific amateur teams’ championship, recalled that his nervousness started when he was paired to play the first day with the golfing legend, Tom Watson. “I didn’t get much sleep the night before. When I got on the tee I thought I would miss the ball completely.” The- red-headed Kay managed to get his drive away, however, and eventually recorded a par on the first hole. “When I got to the fourth tee I was 1-up on Watson with par/birdie/ par. I told my caddy it

was all go but I started to struggle after that.” Kay carded a first round 80 improved to shoot a par 72 on the second day when paired with Hal Sutton. He missed the cut by 2 strokes but did well enough to receive an invitation to the Colonial Invitation a short time later. Kay was in the Canadian team which won the Eisenhower Trophy for the world amateur teams’ championship in Venezuela last October. He had a distinguished college career in the United States, making the All American second

team in his senior year, and plans to make the natural progression to the professional ranks in September. Kay, aged 22, is on his first trip to New Zealand and after a practice round with his three team mates yesterday said the Waitikiri course was in good shape. “The greens were beautiful, just super. They had good speed and should get faster.” The international competition begins tomorrow and involves New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Kay said all the players were on friendly

terms after becoming acquainted in Venezuela last year. “We know them well and probably got on best with them socially during that tournament.” Kay plans to stay in Christchurch after the event to play in the New Zealand championships. He has been practising in recent months at the golf course in the Bahamas, where his father is club professional, and feels relaxed about his game. “My short game and putting are going well so I’m really looking forward to the next few months.”