There's sibling rivalry but yesterday's New Zealand women's Amateur final at Mount Maunganui took it to the extreme as Titirangi 19-year-old Munchin Keh was taking all the way to the 36th hole by her younger sister Wenyung before sealing her win with a 1-metre birdie putt.
With two sisters contestingthe matchplay title for the first time in the 119-year history of the event, Munchin looked good for the win at 3up with three holes to play.
But the decider, which was all square after morning's 18 holes, became extra special as 15-year-old Wenyung won the 34th and 35th holes, making a great putt on the par-three 17th from 2m to take the match to the last hole.
Munchin delivered the knockout blow, hitting her approach to 1m from the left-hand rough 150m out to 1m.
Wenyung hit her approach to 10m and then drained the birdie putt to force her older sister to make her downhill putt.
The two sisters are great friends but for the duration of the 36 hole final they didn't talk to each other, with former New Zealand champion Owen Kendall caddying for Wenyung and his wife, Pip, hauling Munchin's bag as their parents, who'd driven down from Auckland on Saturday, also kept their distance.
"On the course we are competitors, afterwards we'll be sisters and friends," Munchin said. "It means a lot to me to be the New Zealand Amateur champion, it is my best achievement and something that I will look back on and be really happy about."
Munchin said keeping to herself helped her keep her focus.
"I was trying to ignore what she is thinking and how she is going. It was hard to do since I know her so well and when she hits a bad shot I would feel for her and want to talk to her but then I had to remember that she was the opposition. It was a nerve-wracking standing on the 18th tee [playing the 36th hole]. I was in a bad lie and then I came up with one of the best shots I have ever hit. It is something that I will always remember. I just said to myself 'Okay I have to put mine in' and I did my job."
