Kauika, Raj hold form in the wind
The early money was right, with Riki Kauika retaining the Wanganui Golf Club’s senior men’s championship on Saturday. In cold and very windy conditions, Kauika had too many guns for young Fergus Smith, winning the 36-hole final 4 and 3.
At one stage, the former Eisenhower Trophy representative was four up until Smith clawed his way back winning the fifth and sixth holes in the afternoon round when Kauika strayed off the tees. Smith should have made more inroads on the par three 7th and the par five 8th but his putter went cold.
In the end, it was Kauika’s short game and experience on the big stage that told the story.
Sera Raj continued the family tradition, picking up the top women’s honours beating Carron Thompson in the final of the silver division. Her victory emulates the success of older sister Tara.