Ambitious young Rotorua golfer set for 12-hour marathon

Rotorua Boys' High School student James Tauariki is planning a 12-hour golf marathon to raise money to play in Australia. Photo / Stephen Parker

Rotorua Boys' High School student James Tauariki will attempt a marathon this weekend. With a twist.

The 15-year-old will attempt to play golf continuously, from dusk to dawn, at Springfield Golf Course on Saturday to raise money to play in Australia.

In 2012, then 10-year-old James featured in the Rotorua Daily Post talking about his budding passion for golf and how, as a 6-year-old, he began mucking around with a golf club, hitting balls around the family's Ngakuru farm.

In the years since that article his love of the game has not diminished, it has continued to grow and he still dreams of going professional.

To be the best, you have to play against the best and the money James raises this weekend will go towards flights and accommodation for the Australian Amateur Boys Golf Tournament in Queensland in July - his first overseas tournament.

"It will be a good experience, there will probably be some good golfers there. I practise and play almost every day," James said.

Sponsorship for the fundraiser can be made per hole and by birdie made. He said he estimated he could complete six rounds in the 12 hours and he was aiming for 30 birdies.

James and his Rotorua Boys' teammates enjoyed success recently, coming from 11 shots behind Tauranga Boys' College to win the New Zealand Secondary Schools Super 8 Golf Tournament.

The teams will resume their battle later this month at the Bay of Plenty Secondary School Golf Tournament where they will vie for a spot at the nationals.

When James is not on the golf course he can be found on the rodeo circuit - following in the footsteps of dad Tama and his older brothers.

While it is hard to imagine two more different sports, he said there were some similarities.

"You have to have control, hand-eye co-ordination and the mental game is pretty tough in both."

James' mother Aroha said he was mad about golf.

"He's always on YouTube watching any golf, if it's on TV he's watching it, he's always outside at the farm practising, hitting balls for miles.

"He really just started with a plastic golf club at home, then his dad cut an old golf club down to fit him. All the kids had that opportunity but he just ran with it," she said.

If James' passion for golf was not already evident during the interview for this article, it became clear when asked if he could get a golf ball for the photo and he just happened to have one in the pocket of his school shorts, which he had been carrying around all day.

To donate to his fundraiser go to www.facebook.com/donate/17431810985646.