Canterrbury Golf Development Trust Chair Maryanne Marlow pictured with the Champions
The third Faldo Series Asia New Zealand Championship has been completed and a new New Zealand Champion has been found in the form of 16 year old Hiroki Miya.
After an unseasonal weather bomb caused the cancellation of the first round of the tournament Hiroki posted a skillfully crafted 69, featuring 4 birdies and a single bogey, in the afternoon round to set the pace. Only one other player managed a par or better round which was testimony to the extreme wind conditions, often gusting over 40kph.
On the positive side the winds helped the course dry quickly and round two on December 13th was played in near perfect conditions for most players.
Hiroki was again steady and posted a solid score or 74 for a two round total of 143 giving him a three shot win over second placed Jordan Woodall who deservedly claimed the U18 boys title by following his opening par round with a 74 also.
In the U21 boys grade a battle emerged between three players and the result was finally decided on the final green. Oscar Cadenhead, who won the 2015 New Zealand title, prevailed with a two round total of 150 (73/77) after Andrew Drummond made a double bogey 6 on the last to give up his 1 shot lead and claim the silver medal.
The girls competition was contested in one grade with most of the participants having just returned to Christchurch after representing the Canterbury province.in the New Zealand Women's Toro Interprovincial tournament. New Zealand Golf's High Performance Academy member Amelia Garvey finished a strong year with a two round total of 156 after the challenge from last years Faldo Series Asia New Zealand Champion Juliana Hung was undone by an un characteristic double bogey on the 14th hole. Amelia's final nine holes were played in level par whilst Juliana could only manage 40 shots. Whilst only an unofficial entrant in the tournament the nine year old Jeong Hyun Lee finished only 1 shot behind Amelia and was awarded the silver medal to commemerate her amazing achievement.
Once again the event is extremely thankful for the vision and support of the Canterbury Golf Development Trust.
New Zealand age grade winners will travel to Laguna Lang Co Resort near Danang in Vietnam for the Asian Finals contested against 19 other nations in March 2017.
