Teenage Napier Golfer – recent handicap +3.3
Great way to finish my junior (Under 16) career by winning the North Island Under 16s played at Centennial Course – Taupo Golf Club. Really happy with with the result, always things to work on but to win by 6 shots over some world class players, couldn’t be happier. Looking forward to competing in the Under 19 division later this year
Awesome to get out of town and play some junior golf. BOP age groups, partly taking the place of the NZ age groups without Auckland and North shore.
The weather was terrible, I’ve never seen greens so wet. But BOP golf was amazing, they were out with squeegies clearing greens before and during the first 2 rounds.
The event was played at 3 different courses.
The first round was at Springfield, considering the weather I was happy with my 2 under and a 2 shot lead. Next day we were at Lake View, I had a great start to my round and after a hour or so rain delay and a suggestion of calling it a day due to flooded greens I finished with a 6 under 66. Stoked.
Final round at Rotorua GC, clear sky’s fast greens, bogey free 6 under 64 to finish a good few days.
14 under par, winning margin was 17 shots. Happy days!
You still gotta have some fun with your golf!!
2021 NZ Interprovincials in Ashburton.
Bit of added pressure on me this week. I had the honour of being named captain of our team and I also had to sit my English exam while I was down there.
What a week, my moto for the last 6 months didn’t change for this week , a heap of mongrel, a little arrogance, patience and fun. The team moral was great, and well battled and faught our way through the round robin stages and getting a half against Otago we make the semis by .5 of a game. The closest of nargins. Our semi was against top ranked #1 Waikato. Our boys came out on fire winning the match 4/1. Wow…we’re in the final…….against …Taranaki.
It’s a amazing feeling playing finals. The pressure, nerves, you gotta love it. Our final didn’t start well, Taranaki’s #4 and #5 had good leads after 9 holes and we were beaten 3/2. Congratulations Taranaki.
As a individual perspective, throughout the tournament I started racking up wins, and as I was playing #2 they were against really good players. At the end of pool play I was unbeaten. I win my semi final match and performed well again in the final to win that match also.
Jeff Hewitt, 3/2 W
James Tauriki, 1 up W
Matt Mclean, 3/2 W
Tyler Mclean, 5/4 W
Ryan Bellamy, 2up W
Jordan Woodall, 3/2 W
Cameron Harlock, 1up W.
15 years old and unbeaten. I missed one match as I had to sit my English exam, but I’d like to think I would have won that match as well? Very proud of our week. Great team, great culture, great result, great support. ?
Played off Blue Tees with David, Ben and Wayne. Fabulous course and didn’t play great but enjoyed the challenges and immaculate course. Look forward to next trip to Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary. Few pics.
Really exciting week knowing I’m playing Number Two for the HB Men’s Shand Cup squad being played at Masterton GC. It was a big step up with added pressure, but exciting all the same. I had 3 tough matches, first up was Manuwatu/Whanganui. I was behind for most of the match but executed well and took my chances in the last 4 holes to come away with a 2 up win and 5 under the card.
Taranaki was next, I got beaten 4/3 by a guy who had 18 putts in his 15 holes. I fought hard getting a couple back but he was too good on the day. I was 2 under par.
Wellington was next, was a real tough match against the favourite team. I started slow and was down early but stayed patient and came back from 2 down with four to go. On the last hole I hit 2 great shots to have a tap in eagle and win 2 up. I didn’t have my best stuff this weekend but took a lot of confidence from my battles. Two wins from three matches and I beat some of NZ top provincial men with my B game, gives me confidence for sure.
Greenwood cup time again. Oct 16/17 at Karamu GC. Always exciting, Matchplay battles against my provinces best amateur golfers. First up I was up against Mako Thompson, a current NZ men’s squad member and current HB number 1. Put in the hard yards during the week with one goal in mind, to beat him. It was a tough match, walking down the last, 1 up, 5 under the card which I later learnt matches the course record. My par beat his bogey. Over the moon with a 2up win. Finished the weekend with 2 more wins so really really happy.
Final weekend of Greenwood cup. Up against the big boys and still in with a chance of winning.
Eased into the weekend with a 7/6 win in my first match.
Really turned in on in my second match against Brad T who I haven’t beaten yet. Over came that issue, 8 birdies in 12 holes for another 7/6 victory. Very happy with day one.
Started a bit slow on day two. 3 down after 8 but came back nicely to win 3/2. Final match against HB legend Stu Duff. Got up early in the match and ended up winning 3/2. Unfortunately our team didn’t get the result, we ended up taking 3rd place but lots of positives to take from our season. .
Very happy to go through the two weekends with 7 from 7 wins. I was awarded the Bretherton Buist Cup for player of tournament.
New Zealand Junior Interprovincials in Cambridge.
Always one of my favorite tournaments.
This is my first year playing #1 in the under 19 division so pretty excited to battle the “big boys”.
First match was against Waikato. I ended up halving the match. I didn’t play to my standards so I wasn’t happy .
I took that motivation into my next 2 matches and won 7/5 and 6/5 . I shot between 4 -5 under par so much happier.
Looking forward to 3 more matches when the tournament was called off due to covid 19.
We traveled back to Taupo and played a “friendly” against Man/Wang. Another win, 1 up, shot 4 under par in tough conditions.
Dissapointed that the tournament was canceled but mostly happy with my form.
Very excited, Club champs final time. Was a bit worried it would be called off as we’ve had heavy rain all week. The weather behaved itself for most of the day, we had 2 or 3 down pours but it could have been worse.
Really Cool to be up against Bruce Middlemiss. NGC legend who’s won 7 titles.
It was a good tight match for the first 15 holes but after the first found was completed, I had a 3 up lead. It was great to see the supporters come out for our second round. About 30 spectators supporting the men and woman’s finals. I built on my lead early in the second round and was 7 up after 27 holes. A nice birdy on the 28th and a par on 29th and it was all over. What a great feeling. Big thanks to Andrew Henare for all your help this week.
Qualified in first place with rounds of 70 and 69. I’m happy with that.
31 July 21 – First matchplay round. Finished the match on the 11th hole. Won 8/7. 4 birdies and a single bogey. Moved the ball both ways and had really good control. Always work-ons but happy with the way I played.
12 Sept 21 – Second matchplay round. Up against my mate Luke Winter. Great to be back at it after Covid lockdown. Started well winning the first hole with a birdie and didn’t let up the whole match. 6 birdies, 2 bogeys and a walk off eagle to finish the match 7/6. Very happy with my day.
Oct 2nd 21 – Semi final time for NGC senior club champs.
Sporting a new Titilest driver as I cracked my old Callaway driver during the week. Wasn’t to sure how I’d go off the tee. 7 birdies and 1 bogey. Won the match 7/6.
Really happy with how I played. Can’t wait for the final.
Played at Pōrangahau GC over 27 holes and I hit the ball great but struggled with the putter to shoot 72 – 37 and was leading after 18 and went on to win.