The Otago Golf Team narrowly missed out on National honours at the Junior Interprovincial Golf Championships held in Cambridge, Waikato last week. 

King’s High School student, Kairangi Koni was in the six-man team and the only Dunedin based member, with the other boys hailing from the strong golfing Wakatipu region. Kairangi played all 6 matches, contributing four wins, one draw and only one loss (to the 2023 NZ U16 Boys Golf Champion, and NZ Open Qualifier – Ryan Xie).

The Otago team put up a great fight winning their Pool and then taking the strongly favoured Auckland side to the final hole, with the team scores at 2.5 each. A missed lip out gave the Auckland team the extra point 3.5 to 2.5 to defend their title and reign victors once again.

Results

• Otago Vs Southland/Aorangi, Otago won 6-0
• Otago Vs Hawkes Bay, Otago won 4-2
• Otago Vs Manawatu/Wanganui, Otago won 5.5-0.5
• Otago Vs North Harbour, Otago won 3.5-2.5
• Otago Vs Canterbury, Otago won 3.5-2.5
• Otago Vs Auckland, Otago lost 2.5-3.5

Nevertheless, a great result for Kairangi and the Otago Team.

Picture: Back L to R: Phil Bungard (Coach/Mentor), Ricky Kang, Kairangi Koni, Josh Harris

Parker Aluesi (Golf Otago/Mentor), Noah Novacek, Nico Chiefetz, Jan Ebbinge