Golf: Taradale Intermediate schoolboy Zac Swanwick scoops Eagles society award

Sports editor·Hawkes Bay Today·

15 Sep, 2018 02:00 AM3 mins to read

Sir Brian Lochore (in black) with Eagle society president Allen Connor (left), golfer of the year Zac Swanwick and golf selector David Lawrence. Photo/John McHardy

A Napier intermediate schoolboy, Zac Swanwick, has been named the Eagles Society of Hawke's Bay Golfer of the Year.

Swanwick was "very proud" to receive the honour from the society president Allen Connor which came with a $500 prize money on Thursday night.

The 12-year-old Taradale Intermediate pupil's stellar success, incrementally achieved from a tender age, was acknowledged at the end of the annual Eagles Society's golf tournament to help raise funds for the Halberg Disabled Sport Foundation.

Swanwick had just returned from his exploits at the annual Aims Games at the on the par-72 Mt Maunganui Golf Club course in Tauranga to finish tied equal first but second on a countback on Thursday.

He had gnawed back a 10-stroke gulf from the opening round of the four-round tournament that hosted 10,500 intermediate pupils.

The second-year Taradale Intermediate pupil, who is headed for Taradale High School next year, felt his driving was the key and irons were pretty hot, too.

And the short game?

"Aww, not too good," says Swanwick who had dashed back with his parents from the games in time for his presentation that night.

Eagles Society junior golf co-ordinator and Bay representative selector David Lawrence says Swanwick was the youngest player to have been part of a winning Greenwood Cup club men's provincial pennants competition here.

"He was 11 then so the kid has won the North Island under-13 [boys'] championship, the New Zealand [boys'] under-13s and third in the South Island [boys'] under-13s," says Lawrence.

Swanwick has been playing championship pennants, which is off the stick, since he was 9.

"That is incredible. There's no player like him in Hawke's Bay so he's showing a lot of promise."

Lawrence says Golf Hawke's Bay is intending to invest in the talented Napier Ross Shield rugby player.

"We see him as having potential but he'll have to make up his mind on whether he wants to play rugby or golf so we'll support him which ever way he goes.

"If it's going to be golf we'll put the money and time into him for coaching, equipment or whatever he needs it for such as travel or accommodation."

Lawrence says in the next two years the youngster will easily clock up 10,000km so he'll require help and Golf HB will step up.

Napier club resident golf professional Andrew Henare was made a society member. The Bay tourney raised $360,000 in a drive to break the national $5 million mark this year.