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Duncan Croudis.
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.
