Golf: Croudis caps brilliant year

The golden run continues for Duncan Croudis (Otago), this time in international competition.

Croudis had a three-under-par final round of 69 to finish second in the 17-year-old division in the Aaron Baddeley International Junior Championship which finished on the Dragon Lake course in Guangzhou, China, yesterday.

With earlier rounds of 76, 74 and 73, Croudis saved his best for last during his international debut as a member of the New Zealand Under-19 men's team.

Otago Club professional Shelley Duncan coaches Croudis and was delighted with his performance this week.

Duncan is familiar with the Dragon Lake course, having coached the New Zealand team to victory on the same venue last year.

"It is very hilly, with some hundred-metre drops off some teeing grounds, and it has plenty of water and bunkers to catch stray shots," she said.

"The greens are very large and undulating and they are very grainy, which is something new that Duncan had to cope with.

"His performance has shown me that he is capable of stepping up to the next level of international golf.

His success does not surprise me, as he has a great mental approach to the game and is a very good team player," she said.

It caps a sensational year for Croudis, with his win in the New Zealand Under-19 championship, the Otago Champion-of-champions, The Otago Golf Club senior title, selection in all Otago five-man teams and winning all of the Otago age-group titles.

Ben Campbell (Masterton) finished three under on 285 to place second in the 18-year-old section and fourth overall.

Players from Chinese Taipei and Korea dominated the tournament, with Lee Jaeh Yeok (15) taking overall honours with a sensational 13 under par 275 total.

Croudis returns to New Zealand later today and will travel to Palmerston North to play at No 2 for Otago in the national interprovincial men's teams championship on the Manawatu golf course.

He will miss the first two rounds and, with the possibility of jet-lag, may sit on the sideline for a little longer.

His place will be taken by another Otago Boys High School golfer, Thomas Facer (16), who will make his debut at No 5, while Andrew Hobbs, Mitch Bosley and Michael Minty will all move up the order.