Raj cruises to Ricoh Wanganui Open title

Ricoh Wanganui Golf Open winners Tane North, Tara Raj, Junior Tatana, and Stu Thornton from main sponsor Ricoh.

Thirteen-year-old Tara Raj dominated the women's division on her way to back-to-back Ricoh Wanganui Golf Open titles on Sunday.

It was Raj's second title with rounds of 77 and 79 leaving her 20 shots clear of runner up Tania Hook over the two rounds.

The 36-hole event was played at the Belmont Golf Course and attracted 77 entrants.
Raj is off to the New Zealand under-19 tournament in Nelson this weekend and is happy with how her game is progressing.

"This year's been pretty good," she said. "I've got lots of help from my coach. I'm just trying to get a bit more distance and trying to get a bit more strength."

She enjoyed the support she received on her home course on Sunday.

"There was lots of support from all the club members. They would watch me from across the course and they would all come and watch a couple of holes. It felt really good."

Meanwhile, Lilly Griffin topped the net scores (gross minus handicap) on 149 with Wanganui's Carron Thompson in second on 153.

There two men's divisions with Tane North and Junior Tatana sharing the division one title, unable to be separated in playoffs before darkness fell.

The pair also tied with Regan Cording at the end of the 36 holes, with Cording dropping off after the first playoff hole to finish second.

Colin Whettan and Mike Arnott finished first and second, respectively, in the division one net.

In the men's division two Keith Johnson claimed the top prize with Michael Tafilipepe second.

Michael Fagen and Kory Eynon were the top two in the division two net scores.