The Rotorua Boys' High School golf team leave for England tomorrow to defend their World Collegiate Championship title.
Last year, in Ireland, the team of Sam Hunt, Bradley Iles, Matthew Holten and Jordan Rangihika won the championship by a massive 28 shots, while Hunt grabbed the individual title.
Tomorrow they head off
again, minus Rangihika, but joined by schoolmates Jae An, Dean Johnson and Luke Cassidy.
This time everyone knows who they are, where they're going and what they are capable of.
"It's been totally different. It's a new experience for them. They all now have to cope with the attention they receive from the public and media," said Boys' High golf master Ian Woon.
He is in no doubts that the side can put all the media attention into perspective and get on with the job of winning the tournament in Berkshire, England, on May 14-15.
No stone has been left unturned in the preparation for the trip with team members taking responsibility for many of the daily tasks they will encounter including meals, washing, practice arrangements, equipment maintenance, measuring the course and schoolwork.
All of last year's trio have been in good form on the course while the trip for Johnston (four handicap), An (plus one) and Cassidy (five) is to introduce them to the world's premier collegiate tournament.
"We're taking a couple of young guys to blood them. Hopefully we can continue some sort of dynasty," Woon said.
Twelve months ago Hunt went away as the least performed member of the team but reveled in the golfing environment and returned the individual champion.
Last week, he beat the cream of Australasian amateurs as he took out the New Zealand amateur strokeplay title in Mount Maunganui while Iles and Holten qualified alongside him for the matchplay championship.
Hunt is not daunted by returning to England as the favourites and is quietly confident that his side can live up to the expectations.
"We're going to go over there and we'll give it our best shot," he said.
The team flies out tomorrow and will play practice rounds on several heathland courses to help prepare them for the championship at Berkshire Golf Club on May 14-15.
- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)
