An initiative by Michael Smith from Golf Otago has led to 12 boys and four girls playing in the finals of the Greg Turner Junior Tour event in Arrowtown this weekend.
Seventy-two juniors have competed in several events last year and the top 16 get to compete this weekend for $3200 worth of vouchers which can be used to buy equipment or coaching.
But Smith has added another dimension to the final playoff, having enlisted the services of Otago's leading golfers to play beside these juniors.
They include 2003 New Zealand Open winner Mahal Pearce, former amateur champion Ben Gallie, Otago No 1 Brent McEwan, golf director at the Hills Craig Palmer and Smith himself, who is a current Otago representative.
Two players have mustered a number of points during the series and it would be a surprise if anyone else but Thomas Forbes, with 72.3 points, or Thomas Facer, with 71.2, points took the major prize.
Laura Hoskin is the best of the girls, in sixth place with 38.5 points.
The course management skills of the junior golfers will be tested with 18 holes on The Hills course this afternoon and the final round at Millbrook tomorrow morning.
