Christchurch, 21 August 2026 – Christchurch Golf Club was buzzing with energy on Friday night as a record 150 guests, golfers, supporters, volunteers, and clubs from across the region gathered for the Canterbury Golf Awards Dinner New Zealand’s only dedicated awards evening for golf.
The prestigious event shone a spotlight on the 20252026 season, recognising not only standout performances on the course but also the dedication of the people and clubs who keep the game thriving at every level.
To see a record 150 guests come together from right across our clubs to celebrate this great game and the people who make it what it is was something really special,” said Canterbury Golf General Manager, Blair Minton. “From grassroots to elite level, golf in Canterbury is thriving thanks to the efforts of so many. We’re proud to bring the community together to recognise that.”
Celebrating Golfing Excellence
Among the night’s top honours were:
- Women’s Golfer of the Year – Junie Chang, Russley Golf Club
- Men’s Golfer of the Year – Cooper Moore, Clearwater Golf Club & Yuki Miya, Clearwater Golf Club (joint winners)
- Junior Girl Golfer of the Year – Vanessa Lim, Russley Golf Club
- Junior Boy Golfer of the Year – Etienne Collier, Avondale Golf Club
It was a big night for Junie Chang, who backed up her Junior Girl Golfer of the Year win from 2025 by stepping up into the Women’s Golfer of the Year category off the back of a season that included winning the Canterbury Match Play, representing Canterbury at NZ Interprovincial level, and claiming the 25/26 Order of Merit crown at the Tour Championship – she also picked up the Liz Douglas Trophy for the season’s lowest women’s stroke average.
The Men’s Golfer of the Year award moved to a new finalist format this year given the strength of the category, with four finalists – Ricky Kang, Cooper Moore, Sam McGill, and Yuki Miya – recognised on the night before Cooper Moore and Yuki Miya were announced as joint winners, each capping off standout years that included representative honours, professional event wins, and performances on the international stage. Sam McGill, one of the four finalists, also claimed the Vardon Trophy for the season’s lowest men’s stroke average.
The Eagles Golf Society Promising Junior awards went to Aisha Lee of Russley Golf Club (Girl) and Jack Ferguson of Clearwater Golf Club (Boy), recognising the next wave of talent coming through Canterbury’s junior pathway.
A Special Life Membership
One of the most special moments of the night was the presentation of a Canterbury Golf Life Membership to Debbie Scott, a long-serving Harewood Golf Club member whose contribution to the Canterbury women’s game spans more than a decade.
Since 2016 Debbie has selected and managed the Canterbury Women’s Masters team, served two years on the Canterbury Golf Executive Committee, chaired the Canterbury Women’s Committee for the past five years, and managed the Canterbury Women’s team for the last five years running – on top of receiving a Distinguished Service Award in 2023.
It’s a body of work built quietly, out of dedication to the game and the people in it, and one very much deserving of recognition at the highest-level Canterbury Golf can offer.
More Than Just Trophies
While the spotlight was on individual and team achievements, the evening also recognised the unsung heroes of the game – administrators, volunteers, and greenkeepers who dedicate countless hours behind the scenes, with this year’s awards shining a light on two of our country clubs in particular.
The Jim & Rita Townsend Trophy for Administrator of the Year went to Eleanor Youngman of Culverden Golf Club, who has served as Club Secretary for 31 years, and taken on catering, gardening, and clubhouse cleaning duties along the way. The Volunteer of the Year award went to Quentin Ashdowne of Everglades Country Golf Club, who has served as Club President since 2015 and remains a near-daily presence at the club, running rosters, covering shifts, and mentoring new greenkeeping apprentices. Garry Worsley was recognised for his services to greenkeeping, honoured by Avondale Golf Club for more than 20 years of dedicated, hands-on course maintenance, including rebuilding the club’s putting green and clubhouse surrounds virtually single-handed. Otis Holland of Harewood Golf Club took out Greenkeeper Trainee of the Year, capping an impressive rise from work-experience student to trusted hand entrusted with running the course while the Superintendent was on leave.
Two Service Awards were also presented on the night, to David Silk – who has run the Simon Cup for the past 14 years – and Canterbury Golf President Dion Kerr, recognised for his leadership of the Executive Committee since 2020 and, more recently, as Canterbury Golf’s first Clearwater-member President.
A New Award Takes Centre Stage
This year’s Awards Dinner introduced a brand-new category – Team of the Year – with the public invited to vote for their favourite among four finalists: the Russley Golf Club 2025 Pollock Cup team, the Harewood Golf Club 2025 Woodward Cup team, the Canterbury Boys 2025 NZ Interprovincial team, and the Ellesmere Golf Club 2026 Central Canterbury Shield team. After 609 votes cast over a two-week voting period, the inaugural Team of the Year award went to the Harewood Golf Club Woodward Cup team, who ended a 37-year wait for the Cup with wins over defending champions Clearwater and hosts Christchurch Golf Club.
Inspiration from the Best
The evening’s guest speaker was Phil Aickin, a three-time NZ Eisenhower Trophy representative, three-time Open Championship referee, and author of a history of golf in New Zealand, who shared stories and insights from his own journey in the game blending humour and wisdom that resonated with players, volunteers, and club members alike.
A Thriving Future for Canterbury Golf
The Awards Dinner capped off a successful season for Canterbury Golf, with participation, performance, and community support all on the rise. The evening served as a reminder that the region’s golfing strength lies not only in results but also in its culture of inclusivity, passion, and community spirit.
Full List of 2026 Winners
- Eagles Golf Society Promising Junior Girl of the Year – Aisha Lee, Russley Golf Club
- Eagles Golf Society Promising Junior Boy of the Year – Jack Ferguson, Clearwater Golf Club
- Junior Girl Golfer of the Year – Vanessa Lim, Russley Golf Club
- Junior Boy Golfer of the Year – Etienne Collier, Avondale Golf Club
- Greenkeeper Trainee of the Year – Otis Holland, Harewood Golf Club
- Services to Greenkeeping – Garry Worsley, Avondale Golf Club
- Vardon Trophy – Sam McGill, Clearwater Golf Club
- Liz Douglas Trophy – Junie Chang, Russley Golf Club
- Tom and Lyn Whitaker Trophy, Administrator of the Year – Eleanor Youngman, Culverden Golf Club
- Jim & Rita Townsend Trophy, Volunteer of the Year – Quentin Ashdowne, Everglades Country Golf Club
- Team of the Year – Harewood Golf Club, Woodward Cup team
- Service Award – David Silk, Russley Golf Club
- Service Award – Dion Kerr, Clearwater Golf Club
- Life Member – Debbie Scott, Harewood Golf Club
- Women’s Golfer of the Year – Junie Chang, Russley Golf Club
- Men’s Golfer of the Year – Cooper Moore, Clearwater Golf Club & Yuki Miya, Clearwater Golf Club (joint winners)
With its mix of celebration, recognition, and inspiration, the Canterbury Golf Awards Dinner was truly a night to remember – one that reflected the strength and spirit of golf across the region.
Bring on another year of success on and off the golf course!
