The Waikato Region Inter-Collegiate Championships were held at the Hamilton Golf Club. Thirty players from various Waikato high schools took part in the 18 hole strokeplay event where the best 3 out of 4 scores count towards an aggregate team total.

The two main golf schools in the Waikato, St Peters and Hamilton Boys High were once again looking to push their claim for the title. St Peters were the defending champs but had lost two of their first team players from last year. Boys high on the other hand had a rebuilding year last year and were looking to once again contend at the top. The dark horses in the equation were the Te Awamutu team lead by the Waikato Secondary School Matchplay Champ Sam Towers, the St Johns team led by the strong performing Ethan Price (Waikato Development #1 Player) and the team from Rototuna Junior High School which boasted the #1 Waikato Women's player in Zahraa Bester along with Nicolas Pierry who had earlier in the year finished 8th at the Waikato Secondary Schools Matchplay Champs.

During the round the managers were frantically checking in with their payers to get an idea of how the event was unfolding. At the Halfway point there were warning signs for the defending champs with two of their team struggling at 6 and 9 over par. The Boys High team on the other hand had two players at par or slightly better. Te Awamutu were struggling with Sam several over par and the other two members of their team unable to contribute stellar rounds for their team total. With only three players available for Te AWamutu they needed all their starts to align for a result. The St Johns team could still sniff glory at the halfway stage. Their team captain Ethan Price was cruising along at 1 under par and just needed two of his three reamining teammates to contribute. 

As the teams started to finish their rounds and the scores started to seep in. The scores for the early runners all added up to a grandstand finish. St Peters, Boys High and St johns were all close with their remaining players to come in. Unfortunately for St Johns they had one good score and several just off the pace meaning they fell out of contention. St Peters had posted two decent scores  of 77 and 76 (adjusted for the girls course from 78) and were relying on their 4th player to deliver in the final group. Boys High had Dominic Letford leading the tournament with a one over par 73, Waikato Junior Boys #1 Logan Madden with a four over par 76, paired with another 76 from Anthony East to make a respectable and tough to beat total of 225. The final group approached the 18th green and as the hole progressed it was evident that St Peters could not go back to back. Hamilton Boys high would be crowned the 2019 Waikato Region Inter-Collegiate Champions. 

For a full look at the results please click here

Article added: Wednesday 15 May 2019