Golf: Hunt collects national under-19 title

By BOB PEARCE

Sam Hunt shot a final round of 67, a new course record, to win the national under-19 golf title at Muriwai yesterday.

Hunt's 54-hole total of 211, five under par, left him six strokes clear of his Rotorua clubmate Bradley Iles, with Andrew Henare, of Levin, a further three shots back.

Hunt, 17, is the national open strokeplay titleholder, but this is his first national junior title.

After an out-of-sorts second round of 75, Hunt started the final round four shots behind Iles.

With nine holes to play Hunt was one ahead and he rammed home his advantage with birdies on the 12th, 13th and 14th.

His 67 included seven birdies and he was unlucky to lip out on the last. He hit all but one green in regulation.

Hunt's busy schedule will take him to Shandon in the Hutt Valley in midweek to represent defending champions Rotorua Boys' High.

Next weekend he will be in Christchurch for the Shirley Open, and then in successive weeks he will be in Wairakei for the Southern Cross Cup, Hong Kong for the Open and China for the Asia-Pacific championship.

Muriwai provided ideal conditions for the AMP national juniors. The tournament produced 69s for Hunt, Iles and Napier's Doug Holloway, 70 for Henare, and 71s for Iles, Aaron Mahoney (Russley), Luke Cassidy (Hinehopu), Joe Higgins (Greenacres) and James Davis (North Shore).