GOLF: Sebastian puts in marathon effort | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

Having completed 18 holes yesterday morning golfer Sebastian Knoll wanted to sit down in a shady spot because his feet were killing him.

"Toughen up," would be the chorus from the sporty types because two rounds of golf over two days is par for the course for any amateur wanting to make the strokeplay cut today in the Lion Foundation New Zealand Men's Amateur Championship at the Hastings Golf Club.

But, you see, the Whangaparoa Golf Club scratch handicapper had by yesterday clocked up more than a half-marathon, something that doesn't tally on his scorecard when playing off the blue tees of the 6281m course at Bridge Pa.

That's because Knoll on Tuesday, the first day of competition, got up at 4.30am, wolfed down a bowl of muesli and set off 30 minutes later on foot from the Sleeping Giants Backpackers in Davis St, Hastings, for the course.

Lugging his golf bag, the 20-year-old cut a track via Heretaunga St, turning left along Maraekakaho Rd before turning right at the Pakipaki Rd roundabout.

"I stopped at the BP service station [at Stortford Lodge] to ask for directions because I didn't know where the golf course was," he told Hawke's Bay Today yesterday, massaging his calf muscles while putting his feet up in the clubrooms after an unflattering round of 15-over 87.

"A greenkeeper gave me a ride in his car to the club when he spotted me near the roundabout.

"My mother had researched on Google Maps and told me it was about 8km from the backpackers."

Hastings club professional Ross Morpeth was gobsmacked when he drove to the clubhouse to find an early bird on course before the sun rose on a day the tee-off times were delayed to around 9am because of fog.

After a second night at the backpackers, Knoll, with sports bag slung over one shoulder and the golf bag on the other, got a ride from Mr Morpeth near York Rd.

But he has now taken up an offer to stay with the Morpeths, last night enjoying a "juicy steak" courtesy of Ross' wife, Eleanor.

"How's that for passion? I think that's just great," Mr Morpeth said. "He isn't fazed at all even after that bad round."

Club general manager Ken Dungey said in all the years he had worked at the course, he hadn't heard of anyone else having walked for a round from the city.

So did all the walking take its toll on Knoll, who also endured a bus journey from Kaukapakapa, near Helensville, in Auckland, on Monday?

"I'm a young, fit man," the Massey University student said. "My feet are sore but my father used to say that if you think about something then it'll be sore so I just put it out of my mind."

Originally from South Africa - his family moved here when he was 11 - Knoll took up golf after becoming disillusioned with North Harbour age-group representative cricket.

"I took up golf seriously only last year and I'd like to make a living out of it," the former bowler said. As for now, he has to card a sub-par round to make today's cut for the nine-day championship.