Teen Compton Pikari wins South Island Stroke Play
-- photo Waikato Golf Association
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (Feb. 25, 2012) --Compton Pikari hopes he gets a mention in school assembly this week at St Peters College in Cambridge. The 16-year-old won his first senior national title when he shot a two-under-par 70 at the Christchurch Golf Club to beat defending champion Vaughan McCall (71) to claim the South Island Stroke Play.
Pikari, a Waikato rep, who won three junior titles coming into the event including the North Island Under 19s, continued his good form in the opening nine holes when he made the turn at four-under.
It was a stretch of golf that put the title beyond doubt. He wobbled a bit coming home with successive bogeys on 14 and 15 but it didn’t matter as he held on for a comfortable win.
Pikari was as relieved as he was excited about claiming his first senior title. “I hit it solid the whole round really,” said Pikari. “I was pretty happy with how I putted. I felt really in control today I dropped a few shots coming home but that is ok I got the job done. I am flying home tonight and I have school tomorrow, the guys at school will think this is pretty cool and I hope I get a mention in assembly tomorrow, that’d be awesome.”
Pikari has been working hard for the past two and half months with his coach Reon Sayer at the New Zealand Golf Academy at St Peters in Cambridge.
“It is just good to know that all of my hard work is paying off. I have been working hard on all parts of my game and I feel like I am really improving. Reon will be stoked with this.”
Pikari will play in the SBS Invitational in Invercargill next week before making his international debut when he represents New Zealand in the Junior Tasman Cup. He has shown that he is up to the challenge as he outshone a field of top quality amateurs including New Zealand No.1 Ben Campbell, McCall, Daniel Pearce, Blair Riordan and Mathew Perry. He takes confidence from beating that field.
“Yeah there was pressure there but I just tried to focus on my own game and what I could control and it worked. I went through the process rather than focus on the outcome and that helped. I think this shows that age doesn’t really matter too much. If you are good enough you can compete with the older guys and I am looking forward to kicking on from here and trying to beat them again.
“I have a goal to be part of the Srixon Development Squad and represent New Zealand this year. I am looking forward to backing this up at the SBS and then the Trans Tasman Cup.”
ABOUT THE
Southland Stroke Play
The field will be made up of 144 players which
will
include a maximum of 30 female players.
The Championship will be played over 72 holes.
The leading 60 male players and 15 female
players after 36 holes, and any tied for those
positions, will qualify for the final
two rounds.
View Complete Tournament Information