The numbers and interest continue to rise in the annual Secondary School event with this year’s event seeing a maximum capacity field of 120 players taking part from 20 different schools. 36 teams did battle alongside around 16 individual players as the students looked to make their schools proud.
On the line in the team’s competition was the Phong Nguyen Memorial Trophy for the best-performing team alongside the two prized qualifying spots for the NZ Secondary Schools Championship event to be held this September in Wellington. The Whittaker putter was also on offer for the top individual player on the day.
The team’s event includes teams of three with the team’s two best player scores being used towards their team total. After some impressive play from many of the talented players in the field, it was the St Andrew’s College (STAC) team of Uny Shao, Ethan Lam, and James Walker who claimed the title with their team total of 135 (5 under par.) Shao led the STAC team with his 4 under round of 66 and combined nicely with teammate Ethan Lam who shot a 1 under round of 69.
The battle for second however and the second qualifying spot went right down to the wire! In the end, it was the St Bede’s College team of Cooper Moore, Lukas McDonald, and Jimmy Jackson who claimed the spot on countback with their team total of 141. Golf NZ National Academy member Moore carrying the team with his huge 8 under par round of 62 combining with his teammates best score of 79 was just enough to make it back-to-back years of qualification for St Bede’s.
The desperately unlucky third place team was Burnside High which consisted of Jonathan Fry, Junie Chang and James Mordaunt also finishing on 141. Mordaunt was the pick of the team with his 3 under par round 67 combining with Junie Chang’s 74. Back in fourth by just a single stroke was the defending Champions Cashmere High School who finished with a team total of 142.
| Team Results | School/Team | Player | Player | Player | Score |
| 1st Team Gross | St Andrews College – A | Uny Shao | Ethan Lam | James Walker | 135 |
| 2nd Team Gross | St Bede’s College – A | Cooper Moore | Lukas McDonald | Jimmy Jackson | 141 cb |
| 3rd Team Gross | Burnside High School – A | James Mordaunt | Junie Chang | Jonathan Fry | 141 |
| 4th Team Gross | Cashmere High School | Maadi Kirikiri | Louis Edwards | Etienne Collier | 142 |
Click HERE for the full team results.
In the Individual event, it was unsurprisingly the Cooper Moore round of 62 that deservedly claimed the “Whittaker Putter” trophy. The rest of Boy’s podium was filled by Uny Shao (66), and James Mordaunt (67) with Rangiora’s Shunsuke Nakamura finishing in 4th with his round of 68. Vanessa Lim of Rangi Ruru was the best-performing Girl with her 1-over round of 71, she followed by Rangiora High’s Lannie Inoue (74 cb), and Junie Chang (74.) Stableford prizes were also awarded in both the teams and individual events to recognise all levels of players that competed on the day.
| Individual Results | Name | School | Score |
| Best Individual Gross | Cooper Moore | St Bede’s College | 62 |
| 1st Girls/Boys Gross | Vanessa Lim | Rangi Ruru | 71 |
| 2nd Girls Gross | Lannie Inoue | Rangiora High | 74 |
| 2nd Boys Gross | Uny Shao | St Andrews College | 66 |
| 3rd Girls Gross | Junie Chang | Burnside High School | 74 |
| 3rd Boys Gross | James Mordaunt | Burnside High School | 67 |
| 4th Boys Gross | Shunsuke Nakamura | Rangiora High | 68 |
| 5th Boys Gross | Maadi Kirikiri | Cashmere High School | 68 |
| 6th Boys Gross | Ethan Lam | St Andrews College | 69 |
Click HERE for the full individual results.
Our thanks again to the Avondale Golf Club for hosting such an awesome event and allowing such a large field of youth golfers to play at a quality venue.
The event photo album can be viewed HERE.
