The Tasman boys golf team underlined their burgeoning talent and potential with a strong showing at the 2027 Junior U19 Inter Provincial Championships.
Staged at the Cambridge Golf Club from 28 September 28 to 2 October 2, the seven-strong Tasman side finished in the top eight, beating four districts, including big guns Canterbury and Otago, and halving with another. Tasman were the only team to beat Canterbury, eventual winners of the event.
The team comprised Elijah Barney, Kobe Hart, Max Short, Spencer Gregg, Hunter Wong, Harry MacNeill and Josh Abrahams.
Although day one began badly off course for Tasman, they recovered to score a notable victory.
After two flight cancellations, 12 hours sitting at Wellington airport then having to fly into Auckland and travel to Cambridge the team did not get to bed until 1.30am. Fortunately, the draw was reshuffled to give Tasman a bye on the first morning.
This meant they opened their campaign against defending champs Canterbury in the afternoon, a daunting assignment. However, the Tasman lads pulled of a superb 4-2 win.
Both Spencer and Max played well but went down to tough opponents, before Harry notched the team’s first win with a 5/4 victory. Then it was up to Elijah, Kobe and Hunter who all claimed exciting wins. Kobe birdied the 18th from the adjacent fairway to win his match, Hunter stumped his tee shot to four feet on the 17th to prevail and Elijah came up with a brilliant up and down on the 17th to clinch the deal.
First up on day two was Manawatu/Wanganui, the match ending in a 3-3 tie, wins going to Hunter, Elijah and Harry.
In the afternoon Tasman went down 4-2 to North Harbour, Harry and Kobe picking up Tasman’s points.
The following day Tasman rebounded in style, beating Otago 3.5-2.5. The lads fought hard under intense pressure. Elijah was two down with three to play and won, Kobe was dormie two and claimed a half while Harry and Hunter had superb wins to help the team notch a second notable victory over South Island opposition.
They backed it up with their third victory, a 5-1 effort against Northland the next day. Harry, Hunter, Spencer, Kobe and Elijah picked up wins, giving the side a mathematical chance of making the final if they beat Hawke’s Bay in the afternoon.
However, this was not to be, Tasman losing 5-1 in a tie that was far closer than the final score line suggested. Kobe and Harry picked up halves while Josh, Spencer and Elijah were only eclipsed in the final two holes.
On the final day Tasman took on hosts Waikato in the play-off or seventh and eighth. The tie finished 3-3, Harry, Hunter and Kobe notching Tasman’s points. The tournament rules meant Elijah at No 1 had to play the 18th again, eventually succumbing to a birdie on the third playoff hole.
Harry had a top tournament, being Tasman’s best player and one of the event’s top five players, who went through the event undefeated with six wins and a half.
Team management said, “The event was highly successful with all seven Tasman players taking another big step in their development … the team finishing three places higher than 2025.
“We have virtually the same team next year so are looking forward to the 2027 event.”
