Rotorua's up and coming golfer James Tauariki, 14, is a possible "dark horse" for the 2017 Danny Lee Springfield Open. PHOTO/FILE
Rotorua's up and coming golfer James Tauariki, 14, is a possible "dark horse" for the 2017 Danny Lee Springfield Open. PHOTO/FILE
Up and coming Rotorua golfer James Tauariki is quietly confident of his chances at the 2017 Danny Lee Springfield Open.
The Bay of Plenty under-20 amateur representative looms as a possible dark horse in this weekend's men's open 54-hole event at Springfield Golf Club in Rotorua, which opens the 2017 amateur season in this part of the world.
The 14-year-old, one of nine locals in the 96-strong field, is aiming to make significant headway in the annual tournament which tees off on Saturday , after his debut finish in the middle of the pack last year.
James, a Springfield Golf Club member, said he was feeling confident and that playing consistently over the two days would be essential.
"I've been training very hard and for me this is a very important tournament because it's my home course," he said. "I'm hoping I will have an advantage because I know this course but it will be a very tight competition and it's a very narrow fairway that's hard to play on sometimes.
"I'm aiming for the win but I'll need to play very well over both days. My short game is looking very strong at the moment."
James Tauariki, 14, teeing off. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
But James, who has been playing since the age of 6, will have tough competition especially from frontrunner Charlie Hillier, of Te Puke, who is looking to defend his crown from last year.
The 19-year-old Kansas University Jayhawk is back in the Bay of Plenty over summer and knows what it takes to win the competition.
"The key is driving it in the fairway as it's a very tight course ... I think if I manage my game well and hit it to the right parts of the greens with the speed it usually plays," Hillier said.
"If I do these things well then I'll be right up there again."
Hillier, coached by New Zealand-based James Kupa, is halfway through his sophomore season at Kansas where he is proving to be a consistent contributor to his Jayhawk team.
He has contributed 17 of 18 counting rounds during tournaments and picked up a second-placed finish in October's Bayou City Collegiate Classic. Hillier has just once finished outside of the top 20.
Charlie Hillier is aiming to retain his crown in this weekend's Danny Lee Springfield Open. PHOTO/ FILE
Hillier won't be the only Jayhawk competing as teammate Daniel Hudson is also teeing it up this weekend. Playing off a plus-three handicap Hudson, who originates from Illinois, should be one of the players to watch.
There are several rising players who will want to add their names to the Springfield Golf Club's honours board. Hillier's brother Harry and fellow Bay of Plenty representatives Jordan Goulding and Joshua Rookes should be among the competition while Charlie Smail, Nathaniel Cassidy, Chris Charlton and Kurtis Cortesi should provide a Waikato challenge.
And Kevin Koong who holds last year's course record, Will Song and Johnny Tynan head an Auckland contingent.
In the women's competition a battle of former champions will commence with New Zealand representative Chantelle Cassidy and Auckland rep Brittany Dryland both entered.
Cassidy won the title in 2011 while Dryland is a two-time champion from 2013 and 2015. Both took part in the recent Women's Interprovincial Championship won by Auckland.
This year's field is arguably the strongest assembled for this event, which current PGA Tour professional Lee continues to support.
Rotorua's Danny Lee, New Zealand's highest ranked golfer, will be keeping a close eye on the 2017 Danny Lee Springfield Open results from his home base in Dallas, Texas. PHOTO/FILE
Lee's vision is for the tournament to provide an opportunity for young amateurs to test their game annually on the heavily tree-lined par 70 course where he honed his skills while growing up in Rotorua.
The event this year is also the first time it will be included amongst those contributing points to the prestigious World Amateur Golf Rankings which are sanctioned jointly by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and US Golf Association.
The rankings winner at the end of the year, following about 2500 events in 100 countries, receives the Mark McCormick Medal which was won by Danny Lee back in 2008 with fellow Kiwi Lydia Ko topping the women's standings in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
2017 Danny Lee Springfield Open
Where: Springfield Golf Club
When: Saturday 7.30am play gets under way (36 holes) / Sunday 8am play gets under way (final 18 holes)
