Teens ready to write new chapter in Tairāwhiti golf

Taking on the big boys . . . Marcus Gray (left) and Zach Rolls are in the six-man Tairāwhiti team competing at the national interprovincial on the Paraparaumu Beach and Waikanae courses next week. Gray, who turns 15 at the end of the month, said he was “nervous” but looking forward to it. Rolls, 18, said he was “excited”. Both are Gisborne Boys’ High School students — this was the last year for Rolls — and both are left-handers, a rarity for Tairāwhiti at this level. Picture by Paul Rickard

National interprovincial “veteran” William Brown knows exactly what rookie Marcus Gray is feeling as he counts down to the biggest moment so far in his rising career.

Brown was just 16 years old when he made his debut at the annual teams’ matchplay tournament in Palmerston North in 2009.

Gray, a month short of his 15th birthday, will not only follow in Brown’s footsteps in Wellington at the 2023 edition next week, Brown will be alongside him.

Gray and fellow Gisborne Boys’ High School student Zach Rolls, 18, face a baptism of fire as debutants in the six-man Tairāwhiti team for the week-long tournament being held at the Paraparaumu Beach and Waikanae courses.

The pair, both left-handers, are listed at No.4 (Rolls) and No.5 (Gray) in the team, but it is almost certain that reserve Shayde Skudder will be No.5 for the opening round against Manawatū Wanganui at Paraparaumu Beach on Tuesday.

The team, playing under the Tairāwhiti banner for the first time, are Brown (team captain), Daniel Collier — also in his first national interprovincial — Hukanui Brown, Rolls, Gray and Skudder.

Both Rolls and Gray were on a pathway to this level, but it is a bit earlier than expected — particularly for Gray, who only got into the game seriously at the start of last year.

The opportunity has come about with the unavailability of the likes of representative regulars Pete Kerekere (working overseas) and Andrew Higham, who continues his recovery from serious injuries suffered in a car accident earlier in the year.

They are huge losses but as the saying goes, as one door closes . . .

“It’s huge, absolutely huge,” long-time rep team manager Dave Keown said of the youngsters’ selection.

“We’ve brought in two young players we want to blood . . . so they have got some experience at this level.

“The plan is to have Shayde play in every game so he slides into No.5 and we can alternate Marcus and Zach.”

Skudder made his national interprovincial debut last year but as captain of the Poverty Bay Heartland Championship rugby squad has plenty of experience at the higher level of national sport.

“Shayde is a tremendous leader and he’s got a big ticker. He knows that going out there and teeing off first (players tee off from five to one) is a major position . . . and he learned so much from last year.”

Keown said there were no expectations being put on Rolls or Gray. He expects them to go out and try their best and whatever happens, happens. But he does have expectations of Brown and with good reason.

Brown has played in every national inteprovincial since his 2009 debut — a winning one in a team victory against Northland.

In racking up his 15th national interprovincial, 30-year-old Brown will have played in the tournament for half of his life.

“Willie is an anchor,” Keown said. “If he can get everything on track at Paraparaumu, he will have his fair share of wins at No.1 against the best players in the country. “

His performance in 2021 — when he won five out of six matches at No.2 or No.3 — could be used as inspiration.

Hukanui Brown also has a vital role to play individually and as a team man.

“Huks is our man in the middle,” Keown said.

Playing in between Collier and Rolls means he should be in regular contact with them throughout play and provide a settling influence if needed.

Keown is confident Collier will step up and only become a better player from the experience.

“He’s a great striker of the ball and has all-round ability . . . this will only benefit Dan’s game — that’s for sure.”

The national interprovincials are being hosted by Paraparaumu Beach and Waikanae, although all but one of Tairāwhiti’s clashes are on Paraparaumu.

Keown knows both courses well and will be impressing on the Tairāwhiti team three elements he sees as key to success.

“Position, location and game plan. Paraparam has the ability to chew you up and spit you out. Both courses will feature pins that you just don’t attack . . . you go for the middle of the green, rather than attacking because if you get it wrong by a couple of feet, you’ll end up where elephants go to die.”

Tairāwhiti, under the association’s former name Poverty Bay-East Coast, finished 11th out of the 15 provinces last year, including two team wins.

If they were offered that again, they would probably take it, but Keown says they will go in with the same aim as other years.

“Our goal is always to improve and keep on improving.”

Long-time representative servant Higham, while not there in person, will inspire them from afar as he faces every-day battles on the road to recovery.

“I know that Shade, Huks and Willie will miss their mate dearly. We’ll be trying our hearts out for Andy. We’ll use him as incentive, encouragement  . . . TP Strong 4 Andy  (the TP standing for his home club Te Puia Hot Springs) will be alive and well down there.

“We are going to use it as a catchcry.”

Tairāwhiti draw —

Tuesday (at Paraparaumu Beach): Round 1  v Manawatu Wanganui;  Round 2 v Taranaki.

Wednesday (at Waikanae): Round 3 bye; Round 4 v Bay of Plenty.

Thursday (at Paraparaumu Beach):  Round 5 v Tasman.

Friday (at Paraparaumu Beach): Round 6 v Otago; Round 7 v Northland.

Semifinals and finals on Saturday.