Tasman golfer Andrew Drummond. Photo: Jacob Page

Drummond keen to make home advantage count

0
1647

Richmond golfer Andrew Drummond has come a long way from the seven-year-old who took his driver to the tee of a 97m par three.

The Greenacres club member and former Waimea College pupil has a fifth and final chance to win the New Zealand Under-19 golf title, on home turf at the Nelson Golf Club against 155 other players, this week.

“I’m certainly going there to win, having played it five times, I’ll be keen to give it my best shot. There couldn’t be a bigger advantage out there than playing a national championship on your home course.”

The 18-year-old’s best finish came last year when he managed 12th.

Andrew currently works three part-time jobs in an effort to make his long term goal of being a golfer, a reality.

He works at Action Indoor Sports, is the media and communications advisor for Tasman Golf and is a tiler.

When he is not playing golf, he likes to play the stock market.

“I like to stay busy,” he says. “Some people struggle to face their day, but for me, life is about getting as much as I can out of my 24 hours.

“I want this [golf] to be the full McCoy – world No 1 one day is the aim.”

He says his friendship with top Tasman amateur Ryan Chisnall has helped prepare him for what he needs to do to make his golfing dreams a reality.

Andrew’s family all play golf and his first memory is on the tee of Redstone Golf Course past Wakefield.

“I hit a full driver as best as I could and got my first birdie.

“Golf teaches you so many life lessons, about forming good life relationships and how to carry yourself on the course.”

Other Tasman golfers taking part include Sam Nichols, Mitchell Newport, Harry Kim, Kameran Clarke, Josh Simpson, Matt Grimes, Tom Zohrab, David Zohrab and Connor Winter. Nelson’s Eve Clarke and Lizzie Neale are included in the Under-19 girls field which plays at Greenacres.