From agony to delight for Ben Campbell in NZ PGA

Ben Campbell with his trophy after winning the New Zealand PGA in Palmerston North. PHOTO: Elizabeth Witton

Last year it was agonising defeat in a playoff. This year it was a delightful  two-shot win.
That was the scenario for Wairarapa golfer Ben Campbell who won the New Zealand PGA Championship at the Manawatu Golf Club in Palmerston North last month.
In the same tournament the previous year Campbell lost to Jarryd Felton of Australia in a playoff. That was bad enough but it got worse just a week later when he suffered another playoff loss, this time in the New Zealand Open near Queenstown.
Campbell, 26, was still coming to terms with his NZ PGA win when speaking soon afterwards.
“I was close a couple of times last year. I suppose it hasn’t really sunk in yet,’’ Campbell said.
“My game has been feeling really good lately so it’s nice to get the win, especially around here with family and friends around.’’
Campbell, who used to live directly across the road from the first tee at the Masterton Golf Club, said a change to his putting technique had helped.
“I changed my putting about two weeks ago and I was quite surprised how well it held up this week. I missed a short one on the front nine today but I knew exactly what I had done and I took some time out to re-set and ultimately holed some good ones coming in.’’
In the final round Campbell gained the outright lead on the 14th hole and his confidence with the putter continued.
“There was a nice one on 15, it was weird. I was standing over the putt and I just knew that I was going to hole that one.”
Campbell had a share of the lead after first and third rounds with scores of 64, 66, 67 and 69 for a total of 18-under 266.
Windy conditions prevailed on the last day but Campbell said that did not faze him.
“I was actually really happy when I woke up this morning and saw how windy it was. I thought it would suit my game and I thought anyone would struggle to go really low out there.
“I felt pretty calm out there the whole time. I learned from last year, especially at the (New Zealand) Open, so I didn’t get nervous. It was nice to put myself in position and get across the line.”
It was a line he crossed with his mother Jan Wyeth caddying for him.
“Mum caddied for me in a couple of pro-ams earlier in the year and we won both of them. So I thought it is close to home, she can get on the bag and we managed to get across the line again. Maybe mum is the lucky charm.
“I also had a lot of mates from Wellington come up and family travel here so it was pretty special to get the win in front of them.”
This was Campbell’s first victory as a professional but also closes a chapter on his career that was marred by mysterious injuries which limited his playing schedule in 2015 and 2016.
“It was a pretty tough time; I spent a lot of money and was told a few times that I would never play golf again,”  Campbell added.
“I saw so many doctors trying to figure out what was wrong and I just kept not taking no for an answer. I stuck at it and saw light at the end of the tunnel.
“I have worked really hard to get where I am. Through my injury I pretty much had to start at rock bottom again so it’s a pretty sweet feeling to get the win and get the monkey off my back.”
Deyen Lawson and Ash Hall, both from Victoria, finished equal second with contrasting final rounds. Lawson’s final 18 holes was even par while Hall  had six-under 65.
For his win Campbell collected $A17,022. to put him 15th on the  PGA Tour of Australasia order of merit.
Other New Zealanders in the tournament included Nick Voke and David Smail who finished in a tie for seventh while Tim Wilkinson ended in a tie for 13th at 11 under.