B18 SPORT Friday, November 23, 2012 THE PRESS,

GOLF SOFTBALL Casley targets Quieter pace world champs

Tony Smith the bone and my labrum was pretty torn up’’. The surgeon Black Sox captain Rhys had to ‘‘drill some anchors suits Brown Casley insists he will get over and sew it all back together’’. shoulder surgery in time to He thought he would only ll things going to Brown. He’s refreshed, lead the team’s bid to regain need arthroscopic surgery but plan, Fred physically and mentally, and their world men’s softball ‘‘they ended up opening my will be playing in it triggered a rekindling of his championship title in March. shoulder right up’’. Athe United States or Woodcock long-time partnership with The Hutt Valley stalwart Casley said he had ‘‘a bit of Japan in 2014. coach Mal Tongue. had an operation in Welling- time’’ before surgery to get his Despite earning almost $2 The pair had parted ways ton’s Southern Cross Hospital arm as strong as possible million in prizemoney in in 2009. a fortnight ago but he said he which he hoped would help three years on the European ‘‘Everything,’’ he replied to was already ‘‘lifting some his rehabilitation. Tour, Brown, the 2008 a question about the light weights’’ and expects to ‘‘I am targeting either the ‘‘I really enjoyed Europe significance of hooking up be back playing a month Brother Patrick [tournament] champion, has put a line but I didn’t tend to play well with Tongue again. before the tournament. or the Dean Schick [series] to through ’s most global there; I made most of my ‘‘I got myself into a bit of a Casley was confined to a be back. They’re in late- tour after plying his trade on money in the Asian events [he mess playing in Europe. I dugout role in the Black Sox’s January and early-February. it from 2009 until the end of won successive tournaments didn’t have any direction. internal tour which ended on I’m going to be working hard last year, playing almost 100 in India in 2008] so maybe it’s Starting again with him in Wednesday but he said there to get right.’’ tournaments and suffering time for a change,’’ said January fixed everything, but was no way he would miss the The captain isn’t the only from burnout. Brown, who signalled earlier also the people around me world championship tourna- Black Sox veteran on the Brown has had a quieter this year that he might try to now are excellent.’’ ment in from casualty list. schedule after losing his regain his European Tour He doesn’t like to use the March 1 to 10. Long-time catcher or European card last year and card. word ‘‘team’’ but Brown uses ‘‘The surgery was a little designated player Patrick now he is reaping the ‘‘It’s such a big schedule on Dean Eggers for management bit more extensive than we Shannon is recovering from a rewards. that tour that you feel you and David Galbraith for the anticipated. But the surgeon fractured wrist after he was The 37-year-old from should be playing every week mental side of things and said it went really well. It’s hit by a pitch during the is third on the but in hindsight I just got physical trainers in usually a six to nine-month North American season. PGA Tour of Australasia burnt out and didn’t work Auckland. recovery but he’s confident he Shannon is ready to order of merit with winnings hard enough in the off-weeks. They’ve all been ‘‘huge’’ for can put me through in three resume playing but Casley of A$114,000 (NZ$145,200) and ‘‘This year has just been so him. to four months with a pretty said Black Sox management ninth in OneAsia with different. When I’ve had Finishing off the year is extensive rehab programme. had asked him not to take the US$104,000 (NZ$127,500) – not weeks off, and I’ve had quite a crucial for Brown. After the ‘‘I’m already out of the diamond for another few bad considering he has few, I’ve worked really hard Open, there are sling and back into rehab weeks as a precaution. essentially halved his playing then buttoned off a bit ahead two A$1.25 million lifting some light weights, Meanwhile, Black Sox schedule this year and was of tournaments. tournaments in Australia (the which is fantastic and I only pitcher Penese Iosefo’s hopes able to base himself back in ‘‘I’ve played 12 or 13 Open and PGA had the operation two weeks of being fit for the Canterbury New Zealand. tournaments but every one of Championship) and finishing ago.’’ Red Sox’s National Fastpitch He has won recently, too, them has been good – it’s the high up the Australasian tour The 33-year-old outfielder Championship campaign will at the Tauranga Open on the right approach for me. order of merit brings with it said he had been ‘‘asympto- be known on Sunday. Charles Tour. ‘‘I will probably have a pop good rewards. matic’’ until a freak basepaths Iosefo, who had a car A similar schedule at both [Japan and the US] ‘‘For a reasonably small injury while playing for the accident in this beckons next year – though he next year but the ultimate tour, they have good New York Gremlins at the month, has two broken ribs may get the odd start in aim is PGA Tour. exemptions for next year, International Softball Con- and faces a race against time Europe – before he eyes ‘‘Even though I’m a little particularly if you finish in gress tournament in the to be ready for the NFC qualifying school for the bit older at 37, having another the top two, I think you get the United States in mid-August. tournament in Auckland next Japan Tour and the second- quieter year next year I don’t British Open and perhaps a ‘‘I was rounding second month. tier Web.com Tour in the US think will hurt my chances. If couple of World Golf base and I collided with a Four Canterbury Red next year, which provides an I work hard in the gym, it will Championship events. Handily placed: Mark Brown hits a shot during the first round of the at Clearwater Golf fielder, it seemed pretty Hawks players – infielders avenue to the PGA Tour. probably be a year or two ‘‘Finishing well on the Course in Christchurch yesterday. Photo: GETTY IMAGES innocuous. There wasn’t a lot Mikayla Werahiko and Cassie Depending on where he gained in the long term. I’ve Aussie money list, I’ll also get of pain but as soon as I went to Siataga, outfielder Robyn Hall finishes in the Australasian shown this year that I can still final stage Japan Tour school ‘‘I think in this game but as long as you keep you’re playing well.’’ throw a ball, I knew there was and pitcher-outfielder Lauren order of merit, he should have play well doing a shorter and US tour school next persistence is everything. It physically fresh and work ❏ Brown is handily placed something wrong so I went Sutherland – will play for the exemptions through to the schedule in Australia and year.’’ took me a long time to play hard, you can play for a long after the first round of the straight to the emergency New Zealand White Sox final stage of both tour Asia.’’ Brown is approaching 40 decently and win, well into time and I’m still enjoying it a New Zealand Open, achieving room.’’ selection in the second round schools. This week he said he Failure to keep his but shows no sign of packing my 30s. lot. an even-par 72 in tricky After returning to New of the Gilley’s Shield inter- hoped his future would lie European Tour cardmay have in a game that has brought ‘‘I’m not quite as old as ‘‘I love the competition and conditions at Clearwater Zealand, Casley discovered state competition in Adelaide there. been a blessing in disguise for him highs and lows. Cambo [] it’s a great lifestyle when yesterday. Fairfax NZ ‘‘the bicep tendon was torn off this weekend.

MOTORSPORT Kiwi quits Supercars SuperTourers’ series set to rumble at Ruapuna Spectators will be treated this The former national cham- the McElrea family. V8 Supercars rising star weekend to 20 V8 Super- Benjamin pions, fresh off last weekend’s It was a passion that took Shane van Gisbergen has Tourers at the Powerbuilt win over Wellington, will field him around the world work- announced he’s leaving the Tools Raceway at Ruapuna to Carrell a star-studded team for their ing on single seater race cars, motorsport championship at contest the Mike Pero Real David v Goliath battle against particularly in America. the age of 23. Estate 350. the TTL Hire Centre Glen He is respected throughout Rumours that the New The final endurance round Pitstop diary Eagles. the global motorsport com- Zealander was planning on boasts a top field of 40 drivers Also on the programme is munity for his work with walking away from the sport and co-drivers, including the Canterbury super saloon Swift race cars, particularly first emerged at last week- Greg Murphy and several part of the V8SuperTourer championship. in the Formula Atlantic class. end’s event at Winton in from V8 Supercars along with meeting, with the winner ❏ Currently under way in McLaren had an encyclo- Victoria. New Zealand’s best. receiving the South Canter- Southland is the annual Burt paedic knowledge of cars, Van Gisbergen’s decision Christchurch-born Scott bury Toyota Cup and a Munro Challenge. races and personnel, all comes just six months after he McLaughlan, 19, heads the cheque for $10,000. The Burt Munro Speedway drawn from his own experien- and sponsor SP Tools signed points table with 2995, well After two rounds, 2011 Spectacular at Oreti Park ces. new deals with Stone Broth- ahead of Nelson’s John McIn- series champion Paul Kelly tomorrow night will involve One of his last joys was to ers Racing (SBR) which would tyre on 2840. McLaughlan had and co-driver Daniel Gaunt over 65 competitors compet- see Ken Smith win the have kept him with the team a top round in Winton last (Porsche 997 GT3) are tied on ing in 60 races. Wigram Cup in a Swift DB4 at for a further three years. weekend when he took the 201 points with Rick Arm- One of the most hotly the John Hawkins Memorial A quiet personality who lead in the Dunlop Series, the strong/Matt Hamilton (997 contested classes will be the Invitation for Formula Atlan- has never been comfortable in feeder class for the Australian GT3). The second Inter- sidecars, with 20 local entries tics at the Wigram Revival the limelight, van Gisbergen V8 Supercars, with one round national Motorsport car of set to battle with several meeting last month. says his decision is a personal to go. Andrew Bagnall/Ant Peder- Christchurch combinations. A celebration of McLaren’s one and has nothing to do Practice for the event will sen (997 GT3) is only a single ❏ Christchurch’s Murray life will be held today at the with SBR’s switch to Erebus be tomorrow with two 175km point behind on 200. McLaren passed away late Linwood Rugby Club, 56 Motorsport-backed Mercedes races on Sunday. ❏ The high-flying Nelson last week after a brief illness. Kearneys Rd, at 10am. cars in 2013. ❏ Tomorrow afternoon sees Tigers Superstock team will Growing up in Ashburton, ‘‘I will be moving back the finale to the three-hour be on the prowl at AmPro he worked at the local Ford home to New Zealand,’’ van In action: V8 racer John McIntyre will race in Christchurch this weekend and hope to cut into Scott ASKO Appliances South Tools Woodford Glen Speed- dealership where he was ■ Benjamin Carrell is the online Gisbergen said. AAP McLaughlan’s series lead. Photo: DEAN KOZANIC/FAIRFAX NZ Island Endurance Series as way tomorrow night. introduced to motorsport by editor for nzmotorracing.co.nz