Young golfers do well in NZ

Rising Cook Islands golf star Jojo Karati carved up the Whitford Park age group golf championships in New Zealand to share the under 16 category champion’s title with a New Zealand golfer.

Karati scored 77 – a 6-over par to be runner-up gross on the first day – and scored another fine 78 on the second day with a gross total of 155 which was enough to share the win of the under 16 category with Bradley Brown of the Manukau Golf Club.

Cook Islands team mate Tony Turua also displayed a fine golfing performance and after being 4 shots behind the leader on the first day with a gross 80 made a recovery comeback on day two with 76, a score of 5 over par which was enough to clinch the runner-up title in the under 16 division with a total gross of 156.

Other achievements during the tournament saw Leo Roa of Aitutaki place third in the stableford section while Tony Turua won the best stableford for division 2.

Final results on the second day of the Whitford age grade golf tournament were Leo Roa 83, Karika Karika 84, Teariki Smith 85, Tony Turua 76, Jojo Karati 78, Anna Howard 99, Rotana Howard 83.

The junior squad has returned to Rarotonga for more golf at the Rarotonga Golf Club including playing in the Business House tournament.

“I am proud of the achievement by our young juniors in both tournament and we need to sustain their aspiration to further enhance their development at a higher level,” says coach Ned Howard. William Howard, the 2009 Whitford champion, was unable to join the team as he was whisked away to the New Zealand Talent Development Squad training camp in North Harbour.

The team would like to acknowledge sponsors Air Rarotonga, Budget Rental, CI Golf Association, Nav Singh family, Glen Armstrong, Phil Urlich, Palm Grove, Rarotonga and Aitutaki Golf Club members, families in Auckland and all the junior parents for their great support.

Auckland junior teams have already shown great interest in holding a similar tournament here in Rarotonga and a draft plan will be tabled to the relevant bodies to implement this project.