Whanganui golfer Tara Raj adds Manawatu Women's Open to growing list of titles

Teenage Whanganui golfer Tara Raj adds the Manawatu Women's Open to her growing list of titles.

Whanganui 15-year-old Tara Raj continues to hit the sweet spot and can now add the Manawatu Women's Open to her rapidly growing list of golfing scalps.

Fresh from victory in the Jennian Homes Charles Tour and Eagles U17 tournaments in Christchurch over the past fortnight, the four-time and current Whanganui Women's Open champion battled it out on Sunday with her old foe and fellow Manawatu Wanganui team mate Brydie Hodge to take the Manawatu title.

Hodge, from Levin, was the defending Manawatu Women's Open champion after beating Raj by seven strokes last year after shooting 151 for the two rounds. Raj shot 80 and 78 last season for a 158 total. On debut in the Manawatu Women's Open in 2016 Raj finished third with a 163 total.

On Sunday morning at the Manawatu Golf Club, Raj and Hodge both shot a 72 to be tied heading into the afternoon final round. Raj fared the better of the two, shooting a 74 compared with Hodge's 77 for a three shot victory.

Tara is playing some very good golf at the moment ... The New Zealand selectors must now be looking seriously at Tara for any upcoming junior international tournaments given her recent success.

Rhys Watkins

Manawatu Wanganui manager Rhys Watkins said he would be extremely surprised if Raj and Hodge were not first and second seeds for the region's team to play the Toro International at the Waitikiri course in Christchurch in the first week of December.

"Tara is playing some very good golf at the moment and it would make sense that she be No1 for Manawatu Wanganui in the Toro," Watkins said.

"And the New Zealand selectors must now be looking seriously at Tara for any upcoming junior international tournaments given her recent success."

The Manawatu Men's Open went to Masterton ace and New Zealand Eisenhower Cup player Kerry Mountcastle after a three-way playoff.

With Mountcastle, Kunaal Singh Whitford Park and Feilding's Liam Finlayson all shooting 145 over the two rounds, the competition went into sudden death playoff mode. Singh dropped out first after two extra holes, before Mountcastle and Finlayson both had shots at birdie two holes later. Mountcastle slotted his while Finlayson missed his.