Golf: Country's top juniors to compete at St Clair

Fifty-one junior players will converge on the St Clair golf course on Monday to compete in the Eagles boys and girls championship over three rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The field comprises three juniors from each of the provinces as well as 11 invited players from the local area.

Annabel Evans, Terry Kim and Cam Botting will represent the Otago region after qualifying at the intercollegiate final at Balclutha in March.

The boys event began in 1981 and was played over 72 holes on the Miramar golf course in Wellington.

Three years later, the girls event was started and continued at Miramar until 1988, when it moved to Paraparaumu Beach, before rotating around the country.

This is the only second time the event has been played in Otago.

The Taieri club hosted the 2008 national final.

The list of past winners of the event is an indicator of players who have gone on to perform well in amateur golf and includes six of New Zealand's most successful professionals in Glen Goldfinch (1982), Craig Perks (1983), Mark Lane (1984), 2005 United States Open winner Michael Campbell (1986), Tony Christie (1987) and Richard Lee (1990).

Balmacewen professional Shelley Duncan won the first girls national final in 1984 on the Miramar course.

She remains the sole Otago player to succeed in the tournament in more than 30 years.

Add a Comment