Sam Hunt has made his mark on courses around the world, but as BOB PEARCE finds out, he still knows what is important.
Older boys were not impressed when Sam Hunt began playing golf as a primary school boy in Rotorua.
The slight, blond 10-year-old was no infant prodigy on the course,
but he had one quality which has endured to make him a national champion six years later - a fierce work ethic.
Hunt still has that boyish look, but he is wise beyond his years and it was no real surprise when on Wednesday he added the national strokeplay title at Mt Maunganui to the foursomes he had won with his Rotorua Boys' High team-mate Brad Iles three days before.
Unlike many who have made their mark on New Zealand golf courses, Hunt does not come from a fanatical golfing family. His parents, Dennis and Anne-Marie, are great supporters and Dennis did get down to a 12 handicap before knee problems sidelined him.
"I started playing when we went as a family to play on the nine-hole course at Rotorua and I really got hooked," Sam says.
"I practised every day, but it took a year before I broke 100. All the older boys were beating me."
Anne-Marie learned the game along with her younger son until he began to beat her and she stepped back to become driver and supporter.
Each day after school either mum or dad would drive Sam to the Rotorua or Springfield clubs for a couple of hours of practice.
The hard work soon paid off and when he went to Rotorua Boys' High, he joined the school golf team as a third former.
Last year the team of Hunt, Iles and Mathew Holten won the world collegiate championships in Ireland, with Hunt the leading individual scorer.
They were coached by Rotorua professional Paul Hartstone, who guided Hunt from his earliest days.
He still practises for two or three hours every school day and all day during the holidays. And mum and dad still do the driving - he hasn't had time to get a licence.
But he does make time for his studies. He passed three school certificate subjects in the fourth form and five in the fifth. Despite a heavy playing schedule, he intends to keep up with his books.
It will be a test of his concentration. This month he was in Australia for the Clare Higson Trophy where he had three wins and a half in a New Zealand loss.
Rotorua Boys' are off to defend their title in England next week, and in June, Hunt, Iles and Holten will join Christchurch golfer Eddie Lee at the world junior teams' championship in Japan.
Hartstone has left Rotorua and professional Geoff Smart, now based in Wellington, exchanges videos with Hunt to keep his swing on song.
But the hard work is done on the practice range and in the converted garage under the Hunt house, where he can swing in front of mirrors when it's too wet to play outside.
From his relatively light frame he generates surprising power and length off the tee and he has a young man's putting touch. But the key statistic is the greens he hits in regulation figures - the mark of a good pro.
Professional golf is his ambition. But he wants to finish his studies first. An American university is one option, but the recently announced Prime Minister's scholarships could provide a home-based alternative.
He was an avid watcher when the World Cup was played at Gulf Harbour and he pre-qualified for the New Zealand Open this year and shot 75 and 70 to miss the cut by only two shots.
He has already qualified for automatic entry in next year's event.
Mike Alexander, a Bay of Plenty-based member of the New Zealand Golf Association Board, has watched Hunt's career over the years.
"I think we should treasure him," he says. "He has no ego. He just soaks up everything and he's a great team man.
"I think he's something special, like Bob Charles, Frank Nobilo or Michael Campbell."
Sam Hunt has made his mark on courses around the world, but as Bob Pearce finds out, he still knows what is important.
Older boys were not impressed when Sam Hunt began playing golf as a primary school boy in Rotorua.
The slight, blond 10-year-old was no infant prodigy on the course, but he had one quality which has endured to make him a national champion six years later - a fierce work ethic.
Hunt still has that boyish look, but he is wise beyond his years and it was no real surprise when on Wednesday he added the national strokeplay title at Mt Maunganui to the foursomes he had won with his Rotorua Boys' High team-mate Brad Iles three days before.
Unlike many who have made their mark on New Zealand golf courses, Hunt does not come from a fanatical golfing family. His parents, Dennis and Anne-Marie, are great supporters and Dennis did get down to a 12 handicap before knee problems sidelined him.
"I started playing when we went as a family to play on the nine-hole course at Rotorua and I really got hooked," Sam says.
"I practised every day, but it took a year before I broke 100. All the older boys were beating me."
Anne-Marie learned the game along with her younger son until he began to beat her and she stepped back to become driver and supporter.
Each day after school either mum or dad would drive Sam to the Rotorua or Springfield clubs for a couple of hours of practice.
The hard work soon paid off and when he went to Rotorua Boys' High, he joined the school golf team as a third former.
Last year the team of Hunt, Iles and Mathew Holten won the world collegiate championships in Ireland, with Hunt the leading individual scorer.
They were coached by Rotorua professional Paul Hartstone, who guided Hunt from his earliest days.
He still practises for two or three hours every school day and all day during the holidays. And mum and dad still do the driving - he hasn't had time to get a licence.
But he does make time for his studies. He passed three school certificate subjects in the fourth form and five in the fifth. Despite a heavy playing schedule, he intends to keep up with his books.
It will be a test of his concentration. This month he was in Australia for the Clare Higson Trophy where he had three wins and a half in a New Zealand loss.
Rotorua Boys' are off to defend their title in England next week, and in June, Hunt, Iles and Holten will join Christchurch golfer Eddie Lee at the world junior teams' championship in Japan.
Hartstone has left Rotorua and professional Geoff Smart, now based in Wellington, exchanges videos with Hunt to keep his swing on song.
But the hard work is done on the practice range and in the converted garage under the Hunt house, where he can swing in front of mirrors when it's too wet to play outside.
From his relatively light frame he generates surprising power and length off the tee and he has a young man's putting touch. But the key statistic is the greens he hits in regulation figures - the mark of a good pro.
Professional golf is his ambition. But he wants to finish his studies first. An American university is one option, but the recently announced Prime Minister's scholarships could provide a home-based alternative.
He was an avid watcher when the World Cup was played at Gulf Harbour and he pre-qualified for the New Zealand Open this year and shot 75 and 70 to miss the cut by only two shots.
He has already qualified for automatic entry in next year's event.
Mike Alexander, a Bay of Plenty-based member of the New Zealand Golf Association Board, has watched Hunt's career over the years.
"I think we should treasure him," he says. "He has no ego. He just soaks up everything and he's a great team man.
"I think he's something special, like Bob Charles, Frank Nobilo or Michael Campbell."
Sam Hunt has made his mark on courses around the world, but as BOB PEARCE finds out, he still knows what is important.
Older boys were not impressed when Sam Hunt began playing golf as a primary school boy in Rotorua.
The slight, blond 10-year-old was no infant prodigy on the course,
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