MEIKLE: How are you and where are you, Raph?
Anderson: I’m good. I just got back home actually after playing the Wānaka junior open.
Oh, mate, I wish I could, but you’ve got to support the club.
How did you play?
Really good. Yeah, I shot 1-under and it was, like, 60kmh winds. I was pretty stoked. But I’m going to have a big rest now.
Are you still fizzing about what happened at the New Zealand interprovincial over the past week?
Man, I’m buzzing, yeah. It’s probably the best thing I’ve achieved in golf — doing that with the team. It was so much fun, and such a great week. Especially that playoff — that was the coolest moment I’ve ever felt. It was pretty sick.
You were initially a reserve for the week before getting promoted. Did you have any big aims for the tournament?
To be honest with you, I just wanted to have fun out there and just play how I normally do. I knew I had the game. Playing in the NZ Amateur gave me a lot of confidence, just knowing that I’m good enough to beat anyone, really. I was never really nervous for the week. Just big excitement.
How did you enjoy being part of a team with experienced guys like Duncan Croudis and Ben Patston?
It was awesome. The team atmosphere was so good. Everything that I could have wanted it to be. I think that’s what got us through so far — we were so tight. I think that was something that really pushed everyone to play well. It was really cool.
Otago played so well to make the final. And the entire week came down to you having to do a playoff. How were you feeling when the playoff started?
I was trying to imagine that I was just at home and playing a normal round. But I was pretty pumped up. I didn’t really know what to think. When Mahal [Pearce, manager] said it was me in the playoff, I’m like, ‘so how does that work? Why is No 5 in the playoff?’ I was fizzing. Parker [Aluesi, reserve] came up to me as I was walking to the tee. He’s like, ‘at the start of the week, if you had this opportunity, you would have taken it with two hands, wouldn’t you?’ And I was like, ‘yeah, I would have’. That was a real good thing for him to say. I realised it was something I did want, and that hopefully I could get it done for the team. But it was a big fight.
Five extra holes, lots of pressure — but you seemed to be enjoying it.
Man, it was so much fun. That’s what I play golf for, and practise for, is those moments. It’s pretty satisfying to play how good I did in the playoff, even though I didn’t get the job done. The thing I was happy with was that I didn’t give it to him. I made some clutch putts to keep it going. Yeah, I don’t feel like I did anything wrong for the team.
The Otago lads are very keen to win this tournament for the first time since 1982. Keen to get your hands on the trophy next year?
Absolutely, especially since next year is at Balmacewen. That’s the one to win — at home. I feel like next year we could be pretty unstoppable. It’s going to be pretty hard to beat us at Balmac.
When do you even turn 15, Raph?
I turn 15 on December 27, so pretty soon.
You’re at school?
I do online schooling. It’s called the Crimson Academy. I’m doing a US diploma. I had to do some schoolwork throughout the week at golf, which was pretty annoying. I was at Mount Aspiring up until year 9 but we changed over this year. Crimson has been really good because I can go away with golf and I can still do my schoolwork and not be super behind.
Have you always lived in Wānaka?
I lived in Auckland until I was about 11. We’re from the North Shore but we moved down here four years ago.
I take it you’re pretty serious about golf.
Oh, 100%, yeah. There’s a simulator place about a minute from my house, and I’m either there or at the golf course every day. If there’s any time in the day where I have free time, I’m at the golf course.
What are your future plans?
I’m hoping to get a scholarship to a US college. I’ve already got some connections through a guy here from the States who’s got connections into Stanford University, so that’s pretty big. Doing the US diploma will hopefully make it a lot easier to get into a good college.
Has being so young created any obstacles for you when you are playing at these senior tournaments?
Not at all, really. When I was younger, I definitely got intimidated, but I’ve got pretty good at just blocking it out and doing my own thing. I think, if anything, it’s a big advantage to me. I mean, I don’t think anyone wants to lose to a 14-year-old.
Do you follow the game at the top level? You got any golfers you sort of admire?
I love Rory McIlroy. I really love watching Rory. I’m also a big fan of Bryson DeChambeau. But I like watching all the YouTube stuff on golf, and any live tournament. I’m kind of rooting for Daniel Hillier for next year’s New Zealand Open. I reckon he can get it done.
