The national under-19 Maori golf tournament, which teed off at Lakeview in Rotorua yesterday, is more than just a competitive outing, says organiser George Brown.
"It helps us build numbers for our [open] tournament but it also helps these guys develop friendships so when they go away to other agegroup events, they have some friends to stay with and they can just relax and get into the competition," Brown said.
The tournament started in 2004 at Katikati. Forty-three players are taking part in the annual 72-hole tournament which finishes tomorrow.
Te Teko's Luke Robinson shot the lowest round on the opening day, carding a two over par 74 to lead Lakeview local Houston Te Puni and Tokoroa's Nathaniel Cassidy by one shot.
Poverty Bay representative William Brown shot 76 to be nicely poised heading into Thursday's 36 holes, as did Bay of Plenty junior representatives Jordan Golding, of Omanu, and Howard Maxwell, of Opotiki.
In the girls' section, Titahi Bay's Te Rongopai Clay fired 75 to head Northland's Racheal Williams by four, with Brooke Kingi (Kaingaroa Forest) and Erikah Waiariki (Taupo) one and two shots further back respectively.
