Tuesday, November 21, 2017
CODY Cooper was untouchable at the annual Auckland Motocross Championships on Sunday. Photo Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
- A record in seventh consecutive win
Ross McCullough
OPOTIKI’S young golf star Tyla Kingi won her seventh consecutive Bay of Plenty Women’s Champion of Champions title at the Ohope International Golf Club last week.
Proud mother and Kingi’s caddy Jacqueline Hayes said the achievement was the most consecutive wins in the history of the event.
Former New Zealand representative Penny Smith, nee Newbrook, of Rotorua, was the previous record-holder with six consecutive wins.
The champion of champions, played over 36 holes, involves the best women’s club golfers from the Bay of Plenty and Thames Valley regions.
The conditions for golf at the testing links course proved ideal for Kingi, who was always in control out in front of the full field.
In round one, 18-year-old Kingi, who became a mother just four months ago, shot a 1-under 71, following that up in the final round with a 4-over 76.
Playing with three other Bay of Plenty representatives during the tournament, Kingi finished up 3-over for the two rounds, and was a resounding seven-shots clear of anyone else, to easily take the win.
Hayes said her daughter’s performance at the event was remarkable, if a little unexpected, especially as Kingi had suffered some recent health issues, and with her baby boy Haize requiring special care, which meant Kingi had gone into last week’s tournament quite exhausted.
Past New Zealand Women’s Amateur Champion Jenny Smith, who has run the champion of champions event for several years, said it was “awesome” to see the girl from Opotiki come out on top once more, taking her record.
She said she had visited Kingi at the Opotiki Golf Club on several occasions “helping her out a bit” and was impressed with her progress.
Smith said considering that Kingi had not been able to represent the Bay of Plenty in recent times because of her health issues, her achievement last week was impressive.
“If she can just turn up and win after such a long time out, there’s every chance she can return.
“You never know, but she has great family support.”
To add icing to the cake, Kingi, together with Jascoe Ngaia and Hayley Roach from the Opotiki club won the rosebowl with a combined total score at the tournament of 128.