Tara climbs the golfing ladder

Whanganui 14-year-old Tara Raj has finished among the leaders in the New Zealand Age Group Women's Golf Championships in Hawkes Bay.

Classy Whanganui golfer Tara Raj has finished in the New Zealand top 10 after a long week in Hawkes Bay at the NZ Age Group Women's Championships.

Fourteen-year-old Raj finished seventh overall and second in the U15 division after confusion reigned on the leaderboard.

Father Dilan Raj said the leaderboard had his daughter leading the charge in the U15 competition, but a playing partner was adamant the leaderboard was incorrect, a call proven right when prizes were dished out.

"We are not sure what happened, but Tara did end up second, but one point," Dilan Raj said.

The tournament attracted three of South Korea's leading amateurs and Ayean Cho, who is world No36 amateur and made the LPGA cut was the winner with a total of 208 for the three round 54-hole competition (68,71,69).

The multiple Wanganui women's open winner and current titleholder had rounds of 75,76,77 fo a 228 total to finish seventh in the overall U19 section. However, when the South Korean contingient taken out of the equation Raj was the fourt Kiwi woman home.

"She learned a lot playing with the older girls and was stoked with how she's progressing, but a bit disappointed not winning the NZ U15 title by just one shot."