College sport: Short career - long hitter

For someone so young, Larissa Eruera is achieving a lot. The 13-year-old St Cuthberts year 9 student is already the New Zealand senior Maori golf champ and on a handicap of 1.

The Maori victory at Gisborne last year, her first major win, was a highlight of her short career so far.

"There was a lot of competition. I had to play my best golf ever. It was my biggest win." She is the youngest player to take the title and came in three under the card.

She is also the New Zealand Maori under-19 champion, an Auckland rep, and the senior women's club champ at the Aviation Golf Club.

Last year Eruera won the junior girls New Zealand Long Drive championship with a hit of 201.7m, and that after playing the sport for only five years.

"I hit longer in qualifying - 223 something metres. I might try again this year. If I make the finals, it's in Millbrook," she said.

Her goals are to get into a New Zealand team and perhaps gain a golf scholarship in the United States.

Eruera started playing at age 8.

She is in the Auckland women's elite development squad alongside other top teenage prospects Natasha Krishna, 16, who attends St Kentigern and Tania Tare from Auckland Girls Grammar.

Tomorrow Eruera will take part in the New Zealand amateur stroke play championships at Titirangi.

"I'm playing it mainly for experience. I'll be one of the youngest. I'm hoping to do as well as I can."

Waka ama

Ninety-four teams from 24 Auckland secondary schools competed over a 400m course at Orakei Basin in the annual regatta. Edgewater College were the division one victors with a time of 1 minute 21 seconds, .01s ahead of Rutherford College and Auckland Girls Grammar. The division one boys final was a showdown of the four fastest teams of the day, but James Cook proved that practice pays off with their 1m 11s, .65s ahead of Kelston Boys and third place Hoani Waititi Marae.

The mixed race was taken out by a very strong Rutherford High crew ahead of a Kelston/Auckland Girls Grammar combination and Onehunga.

Teams will now be polishing their technique and fitness for the New Zealand school championships being held in Rotoruaon April 7 to 9.

Swimming

Starn Simpson from Westlake Boys was the big winner at the New Zealand age group champs in Christchurch.

The 13-year-old dominated the breaststroke with 50m and 100m wins. He won the 100m in 1m 10.85s, breaking the 10-year-old mark.

Simpson also won the 200m breaststroke gold and the 400m freestyle gold as well as a silver in the 50m and 200m freestyle and a bronze in the 200m individual medley.

Softball

St Peters and Kelston are the two boys schools representing the Auckland region at next week's schools champs starting on Monday at the Hataitai ball park in Wellington. Auckland Girls Grammar and Penrose High are the girls reps.

* Results

TENNIS

AUCKLAND

Boys, senior A1: Westlake bt King's 5-4, St Kentigern (1) bt Auckland Grammar 7-2, St Kentigern (2) bt M Albert 7-2.

Points: King's 25, Westlake 24, St Kents (1) 24, Auckland 14, St Kents (2) 10, Mt Albert 2.

Intermediate A1: St Kentigern (1) bt Auckland Grammar 5-4, King's (1) bt Westlake 6-3, St Kentigern (2) bt Kings (2) 7-2.

Points: St Kents (1) 29, Auckland Grammar 24, King's (1) 19, Westlake 12, St Kents (2) 11, King's (2) 3

Junior A1: Auckland Grammar bt Kings (1) 6-3, St Kentigern (2) bt King's (2) 7-2.

Points: Auckland 26, King's (1) 22, St Kents (1) 17, St Kents (2) 12, Westlake 6, King (2) 5.

Girls, senior A1: St Kentigern bt Baradene 8-1, St Cuthberts bt. Diocesan 9-0, Epsom Girls bt King's 5-4

Points: St Cuthberts 33, St Kents 30, Dio 16, EGGS 10, King's 6, Baradene 4.

Intermediate A1: Epsom bt Baradene 5-4, Diocesan bt St Cuthberts 5-4, Rangitoto bt Macleans 9-0.

Points: Rangitoto 28, St Cuthbert's 18, Baradene 16, Dio 16, Epsom Girls 14, Macleans 7.

Junior A1: Baradene (1) bt Epsom 9-0, St Cuthberts bt Diocesan (1) 5-4, Baradene (2) bt Diocesan (2) 5-4.

Points: Baradene 33, St Cuthberts 26, Diocesan (1) 22, Baradene (2) 11, Diocesan (2) 7, Epsom Girls 0.

* * *

WAKA AMA
(Orakei Basin)

Finals.-

Division one girls: Edgewater 1m 21.01s, 1, Rutherford 1m 23.51s, 2, Auckland Girls Grammar 1m 26.19s, 3. Boys, James Cook 1m 11.65s, 1, Kelston Boys 1m 13.66s, 2, Hoani Waititi 1m 21.98s, 3.

Mixed: Rutherford 1m 17.01s, 1, Kelston/AGGS 1m 18.05s, 2, Onehunga 1m 19.22s, 3.