Noah off to world champs

Noah Novacek can hardly wait for August, when he will compete against some of the world's best junior golfers in North Carolina, in the United States. Photo by David Williams.
Noah Novacek can hardly wait for August, when he will compete against some of the world's best junior golfers in North Carolina, in the United States. Photo by David Williams.
A Queenstown junior golfer will compete against the world's best in the United States in August.

Noah Novacek (9) swept the Auckland series of US Kids Golf tournaments for his age group, winning seven of eight tournaments.

That earned him entry to the world junior champs in the United States - at which 2000 children from around the world are expected to play.

The tournament is being held at the Pinehurst course in North Carolina, where Kiwi pro Michael Campbell won the US Open in 2005.

Noah, who attends KingsView School, declares he wants to be in ''the top five in the world for my age group''.

''People from all over the world are coming to this tournament because it's the world champs. If you're an adult, it's like the Masters.''

Dad Shane Wairau said Noah, who won last year's under-9 New South Wales state champs, had improved immensely since regularly playing local club day competitions.

Since December, his handicap has dropped from 36 to 19.

He regularly breaks 100 on full-size courses, such as Queenstown Golf Club's Kelvin Heights course.

''He's competing against men and adults on full men's courses, so when he gets to those courses in Auckland he can just chew them up,'' Wairau said.

''Everything he got, he earned. There's no generosity in golf. You have to get the ball in the hole and you've got to do it yourself.''

Wakatipu Junior Golf Club co-ordinator Simon Boland said Noah was not overawed by spending five hours competing with people who can be 60 years older.

''He's very mature for his age; not just his golfing ability, but his whole golfing intellect and his demeanour.''

Boland added: ''He seems pretty focused and he just loves it.''

US Kids Golf New Zealand tournament director Pamela Saville said: ''As you can imagine, we are very excited to have such an amazing and talented young man representing New Zealand for us on the world stage in this very prestigious event.''

Noah has again qualified for a NZ children's team that plays Australia in May. 

Add a Comment