Only one playoff hole was needed to find the Southland Stroke Play junior champion.
Gore Golf Club member Will Carson (14) birdied the hole and won the title over Oliver Piggot (16), of Greenacres Country Club.
The championship was played over two days at the Otautau Golf Club, Invercargill, earlier this month.
Playing off the white tees, Will said he started the first nine holes of the championship well, making par for each hole.
However, when it came to holes 10 to 18, his game did not go to plan.
“I’m just not that good on the back nine at that golf course.
“I find it tougher.”
He relied on technique to get distance, as his physical strength was still developing.
“I basically hit it further than most of the guys.”
Will, who plays on a 9-handicap, finished the 18 holes on 83, 11 over par.
On the second day, the players started on hole 10 and the same thing happened, but in reverse.
It was very hot, no-one was playing their best game and Will scored 88.
At the end of the 36 holes, Will and Oliver were tied and so the playoff started on the first hole.
“I wasn’t really nervous.”
In the playoff round, usually the competitors keep playing until there is a winner, but this time there was a quick result.
Will teed off and the shot went straight down the middle of the fairway.
He used a wedge to play it on to the green and landed it close to the hole.
He sunk the put to birdie the hole, but “sadly” Oliver took an extra shot, he said.
Winning the championship was “good”.
“I was exhausted after,” Will said.
