Two young Canadian golfers will play in the national under-23 and under-19 championships thanks to an initiative from one of the inspirational figures in Maori golf.
Aucklander Vic Pirihi, executive director of the Ngaki Tamariki Charitable Trust for the past 12 years, has taken top young Maori golfers to Canada
to play in a tournament at the Glencoe Golf and Country Club in Calgary.
In 2004 Wellingtonian Brenden Stuart beat fellow Kiwi Brad Iles in a playoff to become the first New Zealander to win the event, which always draws a strong amateur field.
This month the trust is hosting Calgary 18-year-olds Daniel Pow and Brett Wilson, who will play in the under-23 tournament at Hastings from Thursday and the under-19 event at the Manukorihi Club near Waitara in Taranaki from January 18.
Pirihi, whose mentoring of Maori golfers stretches back to Michael Campbell, will have squads of 14 at both events. The trust has introduced an incentive scheme to ensure there are no easy riders.
All Maori players entering major national and provincial championships are eligible for refunds of their entry fees, travel and accommodation on a sliding scale linked to performance.
Those who finish in the top three will get 100 per cent refunds. Top-10 finishers get 75 per cent and those in the top-15 can claim 50 per cent.
Chairman of the trust, whose motto is "A Maori Initiative for All New Zealanders", is retired judge Mick Brown.
The national under-23 teams event starts at Taupo today. Teams from the Australian states and New Zealand provinces compete.
