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Academy merges with Men's Programme
From June 2010, the Junior academy has merged with the new Men's Programme. 2010 members are Tyler Hodge, Trent Munn, Kaylin Huwyler, Angus Findlay, Hamish Harding, Jeff Handcock, Jack Leenards and Matthew Burroughs.

Challenge Cup
The charge of the junior brigade continued as recent senior rep debutant Tyler Hodge made it two 14 year olds in a row to win an open order of merit event, shooting 73 and 71 at Rangitikei Golf course to beat home a strong field of senior, masters and junior players. One comment heard from a past representative player back trialing for the masters teams rings true "at 16 its almost time to retire!" Following on the back of an impressive national junior championship where he finished 7th overall and 2nd in the under 15 category, Hodge has now sent a message to the selectors regarding the upcoming Toro Interprovincial in December. At second on the order of merit with only the Wanganui Open to go, he is in an automatic selection position which would surely make him the youngest player at the event.

Trent Munn claims the Lyle and Scott Hokowhitu Open
Academy member Trent Munn showed everyone how to golf the ball when he walked away with the Lyle and Scott trophy for 2009. Recording a career low 69 in the morning he held a 1 shot lead over current senior rep Stu Smith and 2 shots over fellow academy member Dan Newlands. An afternoon 75 was good enough to win as his challengers failed to peg back the difference. His reward for a fine tournament and eventual 6th place on the Order of Merit is automatic selection in the senior rep team to play Welligton on August 9th.
The remaining academy players also went well with all 8 inside the top 21. Angus Findlay and Tyler Hodge 9th, Kaylin Huwyler 13th, Jack Leenards 14th, Daniel Newlands and Isaac Durie 17th, Adam Wallace 21st.

Lachie McDonald 3rd at Otaki Open
The Academy competed in the Otaki Open for its last preparation event prior to the Lyle and Scott OOM event which starts up the 2009 MWGA Representative season. Lachie McDonald was the top academy player, recording 73 and 70 for 3rd place behind run away winner Shaun Richards with 67, 69. Other players continued their impressive form with Tyler Hodge and Angus Findlay tied for 11th on a 148 total. At 14 and 15 years of age, these two golfers are starting to chase down the top senior players and before long they will be lifting these trophies at prizegiving. The remaining players in the academy showed they are starting to peak at the right time with a host of low single round scores (unfortunately paired with a bigger one!) We wish all the acadmey members the best fro the remainder of their seasons.

Munn wins GHB Open

The Junior Academy along with Josh Munn travelled to Bridge Pa for a warm up event prior to the commencement of the 2009 Representative season.
The players performed exceptionally well against a star studded field of NZ representatives and Hawkes Bay rep players fresh of a victory against Wellington. The group all but swept the prize table much to the displeasure of the locals!
Josh shot rounds of 73 and 70, rolling in a great 15 foot birdie on the last to beat Hawkes Bay number 2, Pieter Zwart by a shot. Josh's brother Trent had a great 72 in the afternoon to record a 150 total which was matched by Tyler Hodge (76,74), closely followed by Angus Findlay (74,78) and Lachie McDonald (78,74).

The group travel to Otaki next week to compete against Wellingtons best before teeing it up at Manawatu for the third OOM event of the season, the Lyle and Scott. (The teams to play Wellington will be named at the conclusion of this event)

The 2009 Academy is: Lachie McDonald (Marton), Tyler Hodge (Levin), Angus Findlay (Manawatu), Daniel Newlands (Castlecliff), Jack Leenards (Manawatu), Trent Munn (Manawatu), Kaylin Huwyler (Tawhero), Isaac Durie (Palmerston North), Adam Wallace (Levin).

Players receive assistance to take lessons with their personal coaches, attendance at the District Coaching School run by NZ Golf and two funded trips to out of district one day tournaments.

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