Southland’s junior golfers will play for regional honours at this weekend’s Southland Junior Strokeplay Championships at Otautau Golf Course, and it’s a competition not only targeted at the region’s top young golfers.
While the 36-hole and 18-hole championships are set to be highly competitive, a nine-hole event has been added to the itinerary to give less experienced golfers a taste of tournament competition.
The 36-hole and 18-hole championships have attracted quality fields. Otautau local Sam McCracken, 16, is set to be one to watch amongst the 36-hole field – having hit his first hole in one recently at Tuatapere.
Golf Southland golf development manager Jenna Gainford was looking forward to seeing Southland’s top junior golfers in action, and expected a high standard from the promising talent that would line up in Sunday’s championships.
The nine-hole event was designed to get young golfers playing in a competitive environment, Gainford said.
“They might not be ready for long-course competition, but it’s still getting them out there and getting them used to playing in a tournament and it’s introducing them to what a tournament is like,” she said.
Golf Southland is looking to offer more competitive opportunities to young golfers, and offering three options at the Southland Junior Strokeplay Championships was one way to get more young players into competitive golf.
Gainford ran a nine-hole after-school competition earlier this year, which was well-received by players throughout the region, and will re-start the competition in Term 4.
“The nine-hole series is really for all youngsters,” she said.
“But, with junior memberships being so reasonable in Southland we would encourage youngsters to take out memberships and reap the benefits such as opportunity for competitive golf and coaching assistance.”
Late entries to Sunday’s Southland Junior Strokeplay Championships will be taken until 4pm on Saturday.
To register please contact Golf Southland Golf Development Manager Jenna Gainford on 0274888037 by 4pm Saturday September 24.
Sunday’s championships tee off at 8.30am at Otautau Golf Course.