Golf: McCall squeaks in for chance at rare double

Southland No 1 Vaughan McCall remains on track to be the first golfer in 24 years to win both the New Zealand Stroke Play and the New Zealand Amateur titles in the same year. But only just. The New Zealand Stroke Play Champion saved his best to last with an approach shot to 30cm to withstand a superb comeback from Canterbury rep Jordan Bakermans to progress to the quarter-finals at the Mt Maunganui Golf Club. Bakermans, who last week won the South Island Under 19 title, forced the No 2 seed McCall to come up with his best with his stroke play. "Both matches were a real grind today right from the word go," said the 20-year-old McCall from the Gore Golf Club. "Jordan put a huge amount of pressure on me this afternoon. I was three up with four holes to play and he went birdie, birdie and I missed a couple of short putts which made the game interesting. "I missed a short one on the second-to-last hole and coming down the last I made sure I didn't have to putt it when I put it to a foot to win the match." Australian Ryan McCarthy, who was the No 1 seed after playing superbly in qualifying, staged a fine comeback of his own against compatriot Brady Watt but it was too little too late with the Western Australian holding on for a 1-up win. The top side of the draw sees Harry Bateman (13), Peter Lee (21), Tae Koh (9) and Watt looking to make the final. The other side sees Brad Hayward (19), Tom Brockelsby (22), Sam An (7) and McCall (2). Today McCall squares off in the quarter-final with another NZ rep An who won the Grant Clements trophy at the Mount in February.