Auckland golfer Tae Koh secured the biggest win of his young career yesterday at the Australian Amateur Championship Final in Adelaide.
The 19-year-old from the Manukau Golf Club completed a dominant performance when he defeated West Australian Curtis Luck 6 and 5 at The Grange Golf Club.
The 2014 AustralianAmateur will be remembered as one of the hottest ever staged in the tournament's history that dates back to 1894. It will also be remembered as the time that Tae Koh came of age. "I am feeling great," said Koh shortly after his win. "This is a big championship to win and I am really proud of myself."
He held a dormie six advantage on the 31st hole and managed to two putt to secure the win.
"I left my first putt around four or five feet short. I held my composure and made the putt and when it went in I was pretty relieved really. I couldn't believe it. It was a great feeling with all of the guys around me. It is the biggest win [of my career].
"To win 6 and 5 was a pretty good effort I thought as it was pretty hard out there and it was a really tough match. I just played awesome and this is an awesome result for me."
Koh, who has never won a national title in NZ, became the first Kiwi golfer to win the Australian Amateur Championship since Michael Campbell won in 1992.
"Obviously he is a major champion and a great player and it would be great to follow in his footsteps with my career. It is an honour to win this event after him. This is my first time in Australia and it's a good one to win first up."