Well played Dan, congratulations Taylor and Brydie

New Zealand Age Group Championship: Gill and Hodge claim titles in Taupo

Northland golfer Taylor Gill has won his first national title in style today when he birdied the final four holes at the Taupo Golf Club to claim the New Zealand Under 19 Championship.

The 16-year-old from the Bay of Islands Golf Club fired a three-under par 69 in the final round to claim the trophy by three shots from Bay of Plenty golfer Henry Spring (73) with Waikato rep Denzel Ieremia (73) a further shot back in third place.

Gill, who had opened with rounds of 71 and 73 to be in a share of fifth place, one stroke back from the leading quartet, was impressive under pressure as he delivered the dream run that stirred memories of South African Charl Schwartzel’s finish to win the 2011 US Masters. 

“This means a lot to me,” he said. “I am ecstatic to win my first national title and, to do it the way I did, makes it even better.”

Gill said the key to his performance was sticking to his game plan and not getting ahead of himself.

He opted to hit three wood from the tee on 15, 16 and 17 and hit “quality iron shots” to give himself birdie opportunities.

“My putter really lit up during that stretch of holes, I was holing everything from around 20 feet. It was a great feeling to see them all go in the hole.”

Gill went from feeling great to feeling the nerves on the 18^th hole as he tried to close it out.

He delivered a shot that was worthy of being crowned the champion – a rescue to the long par three to around six feet (2m) – and he coolly sank the birdie chance to applause from the gallery around the final green. It was an emotional moment for the youngster.

“I have a lot of people to thank who have helped get me here,” he said. “The support of Golf Northland has been fantastic. I have put a lot of hard work into my game and a result like today makes it all worthwhile.” 

Gill’s performance is even more impressive considering his record in 2014 is hardly startling.

He has played in six events this year with his best result, before today, an eighth place at the North Island Under 19 Championship at Hamilton at the start of the year.

But he turned that around in spectacular style when he claimed the NZ Under 19 title and followed in the footsteps of some Australasian legends.

The NZ Age Groups Championship is a national junior title which has been won by many of the best players from both sides of the Tasman.

The names on the NZ U19 trophy, the likes of Greg Turner (1981), Michael Campbell (1987), Michael Long (1988), Adam Scott (1996), Steven Bowditch (2000) and Jason Day (2004) illustrate that it is a stepping stone event on the golf pathway.

“To follow those sorts of players is a real honour and I am looking forward to what will happen next with my golf game,” Gill said. 

Women’s Report: Hodge claims memorable come from behind win

Taranaki rep Brydie Hodge never stopped believing that she could win the New Zealand Under 19 title.

The 18-year-old from the Levin Golf Club, who began the final round six shots back from Canterbury golfer Hillary O’Connor, had a conversation last night with her Dad that strengthened her resolve.

“I always knew it wasn’t impossible,” said the younger sister of New Zealand rep Tyler Hodge.

“I was talking to Dad last night and he said it was three bad shots of hers and three good shots of mine. After five holes I was only one shot back so I put my foot down on the accelerator and got there in the end.”

Hodge was clinical today with her chance to win. She carded a bogey-free three-under par 69 in the final round as she won by three shots from fellow Taranaki rep Holly Winter (75), with Shanteal Ligaliga (76) claiming third place.

The expected charge from the seasoned Auckland reps Wenyung Keh (75) and Joanna Kim (75) never materialised as the performance of Hodge was unflappable. 

She played the outward nine holes in two-under par to put the pressure on O’Connor who showed signs of early nerves when she dropped four shots in her opening four holes.

Hodge came home in one-under par and the title never looked like it was in doubt.

“I definitely didn’t know what the score was going down 18 I just knew I needed to do the best I could possible I just made heaps of pars and three birdies so yeah it all went to plan. I was pretty relieved when I had won.”

She said the Tauhara course was playing a lot like her home course, Levin, and that helped her feel comfortable.

“I left a lot of shots just short of the green so I could chip it up nice and close.”

She followed in the footsteps of brother Tyler who claimed the NZ Age Group title two years ago at the Waipu Golf Club and was the first Kiwi to hold both the NZ amd Australian U19 titles.

It is believed to be the first time that a brother – sister combination has won the NZ Under 19 titles and that honour wasn’t lost on Hodge.

“It’s an awesome tradition to have,” she said. “If I can keep following in his footsteps I’ll definitely be happy but yeah it means a lot to do the whole two family thing.”

Hodge has been encouraged this performance and in 2015 she wants to broaden her horizons by traveling to the US and seeing how her game compares on the international stage.

But for now it is a chance to celebrate a fine come-from-behind win and a moment where she added a rare piece of family history to the annals of New Zealand Golf. 

New Zealand Age Group Championship Final Scores – Taupo GC (Par 72):

Men (Centennial GC):

213 Taylor Gill (Bay of Islands Kerikeri Incorporated) 71 73 69

216 Henry Spring (Whakatane) 70 73 73

217 Denzel Ieremia (St. Andrews of Hamilton (Hamilton)) 74 70 73, Daniel Hillier (Manor Park) 76 67 74

218 Mark Hutson (North Shore) 72 73 73, Sam Vincent (Lochiel) 70 73 75

219 Kadin Neho (Whangarei) 66 78 75

220 Sam Reese (Peninsula) 76 69 75, Wesley Jeon (Whitford Park) 72 71 77

221 Tadhg Campbell (Muriwai) 78 73 70, Sungwoo Han (Queenstown) 76 71 74

222 Dominic Brettkelly (Hororata) 75 74 73, Charlie Hillier (Te Puke) 72 75 75, Harry Hillier (Te Puke) 71 76 75

224 Christian Nitsche (Whangarei) 74 78 72, Samson Kim (Nelson Inc.) 71 79 74, Bailey Smith (Mt Maunganui) 74 73 77, Matthew McLean (Harewood) 70 77 77, Fletcher Broderick (New Plymouth Inc.) 74 71 79

225 Keiran Brook (Whitford Park) 80 74 71, Jake Meenhorst (Huapai) 75 75 75, Josh Sedgwick (Manawatu) 72 76 77

226 Andrew Drummond (Greenacres) 79 75 72, Kevin Koong (Huapai) 75 76 75

227 Matthew Morris (St. Andrews of Hamilton (Hamilton)) 77 75 75, Keanau Howe (Springfield) 80 72 75

228 Michael Birchall (Manawatu) 78 76 74, Chang-Gi Lee (North Shore) 77 74 77, Bayley Waudby (St. Andrews of Hamilton (Hamilton)) 75 76 77, Matty Tiplady (Maungakiekie) 75 75 78

230 Jordan Loof (Akarana) 75 83 72, Rhys Harold (Palmerston North) 79 76 75, Charlie Smail (Walton) 76 78 76, Mason Lee (The Grange) 77 75 78

231 Dallas Williams (Wairoa) 76 82 73, Brayden Mazey (Royal Wellington) 77 79 75, Jared Edwards (The Grange) 74 82 75, Jarron Pittams (Te Ngutu) 78 77 76, Inia Logan (Cromwell) 77 78 76, Jason Yoo (Waitikiri) 75 79 77, Julian Fowler (Northland) 78 75 78

232 Tyler King (Omokoroa) 80 78 74, Connor McFadzien (Russley) 79 79 74, Brady Bernard (Paraparaumu Beach) 79 76 77, Jake McLachlan (Temuka) 76 79 77, Jake Hallinan (Weedons Country Club) 80 75 77, Marcel Boet (Christchurch) 81 73 78

233 Joe Tiplady (Maungakiekie) 81 77 75, Ethan Jones (Manaia) 79 78 76, David Van Drimmelen (Manor Park) 77 79 77, Michael Li (North Shore) 75 81 77, Wyatt Amerson (Mt Maunganui) 74 79 80

234 Braden Keown (Waipu) 81 76 77, Hamish Wise (Lochiel) 79 77 78, Connell Kilpatrick (Russley) 75 80 79, Thomas Hardy (Coringa Inc.) 76 77 81, Nicholas Quantock-Holmes (Manawatu) 75 78 81, Ben Bowmar (Whangarei) 76 76 82, Jayden Hunter (Feilding) 70 81 83

235 Liam Finlayson (Feilding) 77 80 78, Benjamin Joseph (Inglewood) 77 79 79, James Hydes (Peninsula) 79 75 81, Jordan Woodall (Cambridge) 78 75 82

236 Daniel Dexter (Royal Wellington) 80 78 78, Cameron Leigh (Tirau) 78 79 79, Willy (T587) Eady (Royal Auckland) 80 77 79, Kingsley Wright (Whakatane) 78 77 81, Ruben Clinton (Tauranga) 77 77 82

237 Tom Parker (Russley) 78 78 81, Manaaki McColl (Remuera) 70 86 81

238 Austin Hamilton (Kaiapoi) 77 79 82

240 Keegan Wiltshier (Omanu) 73 85 82, Sul (Banaba) Im (Remuera) 80 76 84

241 Jed Toomey (Russley) 78 80 83, Riley King (Boulcott's Farm Heritage) 78 77 86

242 Nick Hanna (Greenacres) 76 82 84

Women (Tauhara GC):

219 Brydie Hodge (Levin Inc.) 76 74 69

221 Holly Winter (Fitzroy) 74 72 75

222 Shantael Lucy Ligaliga (Aviation Country Club of NZ) 72 74 76

223 Wenyung Keh (Pakuranga) 76 72 75

224 Joanna Kim (The Grange) 74 75 75, Hillary O'Connor (Russley) 69 75 80

225 Brooke Hamilton (St. Andrews of Hamilton (Hamilton)) 75 77 73, Momoka Kobori (Rangiora) 75 77 73

226 Celeste McLean (Manaia) 77 78 71, Brooke Kingi (Whangaroa) 77 78 71, Alanna Campbell (Omanu) 75 80 71

227 Siyi Keh (Pakuranga) 79 79 69, Focus Jonglikit (Narrows) 77 73 77

228 Esmeralda Pafal Ligaliga (Aviation Country Club of NZ) 73 79 76

229 Amelia Garvey (Kaiapoi) 77 74 78

230 Jocelynn Katu (Aviation Country Club of NZ) 85 72 73, Gabrielle Palado (Manor Park) 77 78 75, Bohyun Vyan Park (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 77 77 76, Juliana Hung (Russley) 76 76 78, Krystal Hu (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 81 71 78, Rose Zheng (Pakuranga) 76 75 79

233 Ela (Aj) Grimwood (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 78 76 79

234 Jessie Ji (Howick) 78 79 77

235 Yena Chang (Akarana) 77 77 81

239 Anushka Jephson (Huapai) 83 78 78

240 Zeta Rose Syme (Cambridge) 76 83 81

241 Katie Pryce-Jones (Peninsula) 84 80 77, Olivia Dempster (Remuera) 81 79 81, Sam-Maree Brown (Masterton) 81 79 81, Soktaera Sean (Northland) 78 81 82

244 Jessica Huang (Pakuranga) 82 81 81

245 Shani White (North Shore) 83 84 78

246 Glenn Hayward (Paraparaumu Beach) 83 86 77, Tyla Winter (Te Ngutu) 79 82 85, Shanice Croft-Kemp (Whangarei) 78 81 87

248 Jodae Ngaheu (Tauranga) 81 80 87

252 Bridget Connolly (Waitemata) 86 83 83

254 Tineka Kumeroa (Manaia) 81 88 85, Tara Raj (Wanganui) 84 83 87

255 Jodi MacAlister (Northern Wairoa) 88 83 84, Carmen Lim (Manukau) 87 84 84

258 Annabel Evans (Port Chalmers) 87 86 85

259 Emmalee Morrell (Tauranga) 85 87 87

265 Silvia Brunotti (North Shore) 87 90 88

266 Soktaerodh Sean (Northland) 84 96 86

289 Brylee Winter (Manaia) 99 94 96

294 Sara McDonald (Drummond) 95 101 98