Classy Whanganui golfing talent Tara Raj is poised to claim the biggest prize of her career when she tees off in round one of the New Zealand Amateur Championship at Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary at 9.05am on Wednesday.
The women's field is full of champions and is destined to create a thrilling finish this week with Raj hoping to emulate her recent form on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour and claim the biggest amateur prize on offer.
After winning her first national title, the 15-year-old will look to add her name to the history books with both the men's and women's championships first played in 1893, making them two of the oldest national amateur golf championships in the world. Such history and prestige make this week one of the most anticipated in the New Zealand Golf calendar.
However, there are a handful of other class players in the field ready to stop her with defending champion Silvia Brunotti returning after her breakthrough win at the Russley Golf Club last year. She will be joined by the 2016 champion, Rose Zheng, who will look to repeat history and find the form that helped her ignite a dominant season two years ago.
Juliana Hung returns from her experience at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires and will certainly feature late in the week, while Vivian Lu, Darae Chung and Carmen Lim will all look to make their mark on the biggest stage.
