Golf: Rotorua teenager Tauariki completes six rounds in 12 hours

Rotorua Boys' High School student James Tauariki said he was tired afterwards but pleased with his performance. Photo / Stephen Parker

James Tauariki has played a lot of golf in his time, but on Saturday he took on a unique challenge.

The 15-year-old Rotorua Boys' High School student played golf for 12 hours straight, at Springfield Golf Course, to raise money to play a tournament in Australia.

Those willing to donate to the cause were asked to sponsor James per hole and per birdie made. In the 12 hours, he completed six 18-hole rounds and made 23 birdies.

His scores for each round were 75, 73, 73, 68, 69 and, remarkably, he fought off fatigue in the last round of a long day to equal the course record of 62. Nine of his 23 birdies came in the final round.

James said he was feeling a bit tired afterwards, but was pleased with what he had achieved.

"It was pretty good. At the time I just wanted it to be over, but afterwards it was pretty cool to know I had [equalled the course record]. I haven't gotten close before.

"Pretty much coming up to the last four holes of the last round is when I started feeling it, I was quite surprised. One of my mates came round and he played heaps of holes with me as well," he said.

The money raised on Saturday will go towards flights and accommodation for the Australian Amateur Boys Golf Tournament in Queensland in July - James' first overseas tournament.