Jesse and Brooke Hamilton proudly display their country banner at the Junior World Golf Championships held in Galloway, Ireland
Golf
St Cuthbert’s College competes in the Auckland Inter-Collegiate and Stroke Play Championship tournaments held in Term 1 each Year. The Year 7 and 8 teams play in the Central Zone Golf tournament held in Term 4.
A new initiative in 2005 was to introduce a Junior Golf Development Programme. This programme is open to all Year 6 to Year 8 girls. It is a five week coaching programme, enabling the girls to learn the rudimentaries of golf, golf etiquette and the rules of golf. Susan Farron, a PGA professional, is in charge of the programme.
Kath Godber: Sports Coordinator
Phone: 09 5204159 ext.7962
Email: kath.godber@stcuthberts.school.nz
International Golf Success
Y12 student, Jesse Hamilton, is the first New Zealand golfer to win the World Masters of Junior Golf tournament in the 15-17 year old age division. She played in sweltering conditions in Las Vegas at the Palms Course of Angel Park Golf Club in July. Jesse won her age group by one stroke with rounds of 79, 73 and 69.
She has shown her potential many times before, including back in 2009 when, as a 14 year old, she represented Auckland at the Toro Interprovincial which she won after a sudden death match, taking the title at The Grange.
Jesse has also been named a member of the Srixon Development Squad which New Zealand Golf works closely with and is a key component in the talent development pathway of golf.
Younger sister
Brooke Hamilton, Y9, also played incredibly well, finishing third in the girls’ 13-14 year old division. Brooke came away with rounds of 76, 77 and 73.
New Zealand Golf Talent and Coach Development Manager, Gregg Thorpe, said both girls should be proud and encouraged by their performance at this competition, which showed that they can be successful in an international level.
College Ties August 2011Jesse Hamilton-Teeing Off
Jesse Hamilton's amateur golf career has been a hole-in-one so far. This year the Y10 student came 11th equal in the girls 13-14 years division at the Callaway Junior Golf World Championships in El Cajon, San Diego.
Nine New Zealander's competed at the world championships but Jesse was one of only two who made the final rounds of their divisions.
Prior to this she was attending The First Tee's inaugural PLAYers Advanced Academy in Richmond, Virginia. Of the 25 selected for the academy she was the only candidate selected to attend from outside USA.
Jesse, who remembers "hitting a ball around the lawn" when she was only two, says winning a chipping competition for five year olds and under at Chamberlain Park in Auckland, under the guidance of the 'golf lady' Gillian Bannan, was what started her passion for the sport.
She was handed the 'My Tee' trophy and appeared in 'The Golf Show' on TV. She is a member of the Maungakiekie Golf Club and has been in The First Tee of NZ academy since she was eight.
Her achievements in America came after a string of successes. Already this year she won the NZ Maori U19 girls' championship, she came eighth at the NZ women's amateur stroke play championships, second equal in the Waikato Womens Open, and seventh equal in the North Harbour Women's 54 Hole Classic, and she won all three of her matches for the Auckland Senior Squad in a Senior Provincial Quadrangular Representative Tournament earlier in June.
Larissa Eruera - Golfing success
The 2006 golf season was Larissa Eruera’s fairway to success after she was awarded the Junior Maori Sportswoman of the Year award at the National Maori sports awards recently.
A 14-year-old St Cuthbert’s College student, Larissa last year won: The New Zealand Maori Under 19 Championships at Ngaruawahia and The Under 15 division at the New Zealand Women’s Age Group Championships in Morrinsville, finishing fifth overall. Larissa also won her age group at the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Golf tournament in Cromwell, finishing second overall. 2006 started off with a bang for Larissa after being named the Under 14 Australian Junior Golf Champion.
This year Larissa has represented New Zealand across the ditch on several occasions including the MasterCard Jnior Masters where she finished third.
Larissa is an Endeavour Scholar at St Cuthbert’s College and this is her 5th year at the College.
In 2008 Larissa was awarded a scholarship to Arizona University where she is now studying.