Taradale student Swanwick wins Australian golf title

Photo: Public domain

New Zealand teenager golfer Zack Swanwick has clinched the biggest title of his young career after winning the Australian junior amateur championship.

Swanwick, 17, from Napier Golf Club, began the final round with a three-shot lead and closed with a two-under par 70 to win by four shots. He was never headed on the final day.

For Taradale High School student Swanwick, the result is a springboard into a stint next year at the University of Florida on a golf scholarship.

Swanwick was threatened by Queenslander Kai Komulainen, playing in the same group, both boys making eagle at the par-five 13th hole to separate themselves.

At one point on the back nine the margin was just two shots, but the New Zealander proved steadier down the stretch, and when he saw a leaderboard on the 18th tee, he realised that he was four shots ahead of Komulainen.

A tee shot inside two-metres at the par-three 18th helped his nerves.

“That kind of sealed the deal,” he said.

“I was just out there having fun this week. If I’m not having fun, I get too stressed. So I think the key for me was that I was able to enjoy it and take in the nice weather.”

His scorecard of 72-67-65-70 were enough for an emphatic win from Western Australia’s Joseph Buttress, who flew home with a 69 to finish second at 10-under par, and Komulainen finished outright third at nine-under par.

– RNZ