Whanganui teenager Tara Raj chalked up her second major win in matter of days after claiming the Eagles U17 Girls Championship by 12 shots in Christchurch on Wednesday. Photo / BW Media
Whanganui teenager Tara Raj chalked up her second major win in matter of days after claiming the Eagles U17 Girls Championship by 12 shots in Christchurch on Wednesday. Photo / BW Media
Teenage Whanganui golfing sensation Tara Raj has struck again winning the coveted Eagles U17 Girls Championship in Christchurch just days after her Jennian Homes Charles Tour victory.
The 15-year-old shot a two-under 70 and a four-under 68 on Tuesday and followed that up with a three-under 69 for a 12shot win on Wednesday at the Waimairi Beach course near Christchurch.
Raj finished the tournament on 207, 12 shots less than her nearest rival, Wakatipu junior Danielle Bailey and 22 shots clear of third placed mary Chen from Remuera.
On Sunday Raj clung on to claim her first Jennian Homes Charles Tour victory. Raj won the Open Ladies title at the Harewood Open in Christchurch by just one stroke with a combined seven over par score of 295, following a strong final day challenge from Caryn Khoo (Pakuranga) with 296 and Yoonjeong Huh (Gulf Harbour) on 298.
Proud father Dilan Raj said he believed his daughter had an epiphany during the Ricoh Wanganui Open in August when she was four shots down after a rather ordinary morning session and bounced back to claim her fourth win in her hometown event.
She got a caddy in the afternoon and started playing well. That caddy was her sister, Kyra Garrett, who inspired Raj to take up golf when she was seven or eight years old, along with sister Dana Garrett and mum Arlene.
"Kyra really brought my confidence up and I could tell that she believed in me, so that made me believe in myself," Raj said at the time.
Dilan Raj said that was his daughter's light bulb moment and she has gone from strength to strength since.
