Rep season is here, and for Canterbury’s golfers, that means one thing: the chance to test themselves against the very best across the country. For some, it’s a brand-new experience. For others, it’s a return to the red and black with years of battles under their belt. But whether it’s a first cap or a seventh, the theme is the same – pride, excitement, and a whole lot of competitive spirit.
For Alice Fry, pulling on the Canterbury colours for the first time is “really special. I’ve worked hard to get here and it’s awesome to be playing alongside such talented teammates. I’m proud to represent Canterbury.” She’s looking forward to travelling, testing herself on new courses, and seeing what the team can achieve together.
James Mordaunt is also in his first season and says he’s “grateful for the chance to compete against some of the best players in the country. It motivates me to push myself, see where I stand, and keep improving.” He’s already ticked off big events like the Canterbury Matchplay and Canterbury Strokeplay and is hungry for more.
At the other end of the spectrum is Yuki Miya, who first wore the Canterbury colours back in 2019. “This will be my seventh year repping Canterbury,” he says. “Definitely the NZ Interprovincial in Manawatu – it’s probably the week I most look forward to out of any event of the year.”
Mitch Redmayne sits somewhere in between – back for his second year and determined to make the most of it. “I feel very honoured to have this opportunity,” he says. “I’m most excited to test myself against some of New Zealand’s talented juniors at the Boys Interprovincials and hopefully be in contention to make some of the other Canterbury rep teams later this year.”
Behind the scenes, the routines and rituals are as varied as the players themselves. James makes sure to start his day with a good breakfast before stretching, chipping and putting, while Yuki sets his alarm up to four hours before a tee time to ensure he’s fully switched on. Alice always gives her Tiger Woods tee a high five and never forgets her SpongeBob ball, while Mitch prefers calming music in his warm-up – plus a non-negotiable stop at the toilet before tee time!
And while their favourite clubs differ – James is loyal to his putter, Alice swears by her driver, and Mitch is vibing with his 9-iron – they’re united in the biggest lesson golf has taught them: patience. “Golf is such a long game with plenty of ups and downs,” says James. “I just have to remind myself to stay patient, not get frustrated, and trust that the good shots will come.” Mitch agrees: “You never know what the next hole or shot is going to bring, so stay patient and don’t think about the score too much. But this is definitely still something I’m working on.”
As for the competition? The Canterbury reps are under no illusions. “Otago always has a strong team,” says James. “Auckland always puts out a strong team too,” adds Alice. But there’s a clear belief that if Canterbury plays its best golf, this team can take on anyone.
For some of us, rep season can feel like another world – but peel back the results sheets and you’ll find golfers who love the game just like the rest of us. They’ve got superstitions, routines, favourite clubs, and SpongeBob golf balls. Most of all, they’ve got pride – the pride of pulling on Canterbury colours and giving it everything they’ve got.
To read the player interviews in full > CLICK HERE
Or to catch all the Rep action via our live scoring >
Girls Rep Interclub competition – Golf New Zealand
Boys Rep https://www.waikatogolf.co.nz/Junior-Golf/live-scoring—junior-boys-inter-provincial-1
