Golf: Juniors take on country's top Tigers

Four Northland golfers have qualified to compete at the national final of the Junior Tiger series in Manawatu next month.

The four golfers heading for the Manawatu Golf Club on April 17 are: Danielle Ngakuru (Northland), Tarrin Rous (Mangawhai), Taylor Wyatt-Logan (Whangaroa) and Julian Fowler (Northland).

Fifty-four golfers played in the qualifying competition on Sunday at the Bay of Islands' Kerikeri club.

Julian Fowler, winner of the Junior Tiger Northland Division 12-14 year boys was pleased to be heading to the final for a second time after competing in 2009.

"I'm looking forward to the chance to get to the national final again, I really enjoyed the Manawatu course last time so hopefully I can keep playing well and challenge for the title this year."

Northland Golf development manager Michael Macdonald said it was great to see so many young kids involved at the weekend.

"Bay of Islands' Kerikeri Golf Club and the wider community really got in behind the day and made it a great success."

Junior golfers from around the country were attempting to qualify for the Manawatu event at the weekend.

The young golfers were playing for the chance to travel to the United States to represent New Zealand in the World Junior Golf Championship.

Junior Tiger is a NZ Golf initiative designed to promote the game to young people as an affordable and accessible sport. Since the series was introduced in 2009 it has proven to be a very popular initiative.

New Zealand Golf High Performance co-ordinator Liz McKinnon said a number of players have gone on from Junior Tiger to achieve great things in golf.

"Lydia Ko, who was a national winner in 2009 and is now the World No. 1 Women's Amateur, is a great example."