Golf: Oliver, 9, lands dream trip

When Oliver Gudsell heard a radio advert about the Junior Tiger golf competition, he turned the radio up so loud his mum would get the message he wanted to enter.

The 9-year-old from Te Puke has recently taken up the game and was quickly bitten by the golf bug.

He says he had a great time at the Junior Tiger day held at Te Puke Golf Club as part of a nationwide event.

But what Oliver did not know was that his name - and all the other 1500 young players aspiring to become Tiger Woods - was put in a golf bag for a draw to win a trip for two to Disneyland.

The draw was made at the national finals of the Junior Tiger held at Manawatu Golf Club last Sunday and Oliver's name was drawn out.

The Bethlehem College pupil was overwhelmed when he heard the news.

"I was pretty surprised there were so many names in the bag and when I heard the news I was thinking, 'oh my gosh'," Oliver said.

"I like playing golf. It is my second favourite sport after tennis and I wanted to play (in the Junior Tiger). I looked it up on the website after I heard the radio."

Oliver is taking his father Mike to Disneyland with him - some time in July around his 10th birthday.

Mike says he is looking forward to spending some quality time with his son, as he works Monday to Friday in Christchurch as part of the rebuilding team.

The Junior Tiger concept, which has been a great success since it was introduced in 2009, is geared to get more kids playing golf at both a competitive and participant level.

The most obvious success story has been teen sensation Lydia Ko.

Three years ago Ko won the 12-14 age division of the Junior Tiger final as a 12-year-old and is now the World No1 amateur.