The Canterbury Age Group Championships and Teams event was held over 36 holes at Clearwater Golf Club played in conjunction with the Faldo Series event. The field of 60 players enjoyed the opportunity to play the championship course which was in superb condition for the event. This is one of the largest fields in recent years with the event being supported by Aorangi Golf who provided the opportunity for seven junior players to travel up to gain experience from the event and well as several entries from North Island players who were also competing in the Faldo Series event.
It was impressive to see seven players under the age of 12 who competed in the event sustaining the full 36 holes with excellent scoring. Eight year old Ethan Lam (Everglades) played exceptional golf to win the Golf Foundation Cup for the best net score for girls and boys under 13 with net rounds of 67 and 64. What is equally as remarkable is that this was won on a countback from 12 year old Weedons member Joseph Hall, great scoring from two talented up and coming juniors.
Hiroki Miya set the pace in the morning's round with a four under 68 from the blue tees with Dominic Brettkelly only one shot back. Miya played steady golf in the afternoon to record a second sub par round of 71 to win the title from Brettkelly by six shots. In the Under 16 section it was younger brother Hayato Miya who stole the show, after starting with a round of 81, Miya found his form in the afternoon to equal his older brother's score to also post a round of 71 which was good enough to win the title from Tiaki Ogilvie on 155 and Mitchell Berry on 156.
Not to be out done by his older brothers Yuki Miya had a good day with rounds of 80 and 82 from the white tees to win by the Under 13 section from Hayden Lam by six shots.
Kaiapoi's Amelia Garvey won the Under 19 section in a closely fought contest with Juliana Hung who finished just one shot back. The Salver for the best Girls net was won by Jasmine Clancy with net scores of 66 and 68.
The Canterbury Teams Championship is also played in conjunction with the event with 12 teams representing eight different clubs with the best three scores counting from the four person team. The Russley team which included Hiroki Miya, Ben Baker, Dominic Brettkelly and Hayato Miya successfully defended the U19 Gross Team title. The young Everglades team of Hugo Reid, Kyle Manson, Hayden Lam and Ethan Lam had an excellent score to win the Canterbury U19 Net Teams title by six shots from the Weedons Team of Nathan Hall, Joseph Hall, Deanna Matthews and Jack Ryder. The teams event takes into account the difference of course ratings between the different tees used for boys and girls.
Click here to view the results.
Our thanks go to the Clearwater Golf Club for hosting the event and assisting in making it a very successful day.
