Hillier swinging his way to success

Photo by BW Media

Year 12 Aotea College golfer Daniel Hillier is the 2015 New Zealand Amateur Men’s golf champion.  

Sixteen year old Daniel won the tournament at the famous Titirangi course in Auckland last month, beating St Peter’s College, Cambridge 17-year old Sam Vincent in the matchplay final to take the title. With a combined aged of 33, Daniel and Sam both have bright futures.

Both golfers have both been selected to represent New Zealand at the Toyota World Junior Teams Championship in Japan between 16-18 June. 

College Sport Media caught up with Daniel for a chat this week about his golfing success.

College Sport Media: How old were you when you took the game up?

Daniel Hillier: Ever since I could walk I’ve been hitting practice golf clubs around the house. When my dad used to go out and play club cricket he used to take me down with him and I’d have a plastic golf set that I’d be whacking around the boundary. The first time I went on to a golf course was the day before I turned five.

CSM:  What’s your practice routine leading up to a tournament?

DH: If I have a tournament I’m preparing for I’ll spent about 30 hours on the golf course the week leading up to it, mainly working on my short game. So I’m not tiring myself out too much. Then as I get further away from any tournaments I start working more on my long game just to sharpen that up.  During the summer, I typically spend two-three hours on the course after school, then I come home and I have golf related exercises to do as well.

CSM: Do you play other sports, or are you a fulltime golfer now?

DH: I used to play football and cricket for Aotea College, and I was a Wellington age-grade cricket representative as well. But unfortunately I had to stop playing those sports due to a labral tear on my left hip. I went to a specialist and he said that I could either get surgery to change the whole structure of my hip or I could give football an cricket up and just focus on my golf – so that pretty much made my decision for me that  golf was my sport.

CSM: It paid off for you when you won the New Zealand Amateur tournament!

DH: Yes, that was special that week, especially since my Manor Park Golf Club clubmate Julianne Alvarez also won the women’s section. We both share the same coach, Kevin Smith, so I’m really grateful for his help.

CSM: Was that the first time you had played at that golf course?

DH: Yes, I had never played there before so I was pretty surprised at how well I did!

CSM: The tournament consisted of two qualifying rounds of strokeplay and then top 32 were then entered into the matchplay draw. What were some of the highlights?

DH:  I think I qualified about 20th.  I played James Eng from Auckland first, then Ryan Chisnall from Tasman in the second round. Ryan was in good form leading up to that, so I went out thinking I have nothing to lose and whatever happens, happens and I managed to birdie the last four holes to beat him on the last hole. I then beat Australian Austin Bautista, who is apparently turning professional at the end of this year. That took me to the semi-final against Josh Munn, who is seeded number one in New Zealand at the moment. Defeating Josh took me into the final against Sam Vincent, who beat me at the inter-provincials at Hamilton last December and so I thought right I am not letting that happen again and I managed to beat him 6 and 5!

CSM: Prior to that you finished third in a tournament in Australia?

DH: Yes, the week before I managed to finish third at the Australian Boys’ Amateur tournament in Adelaide - so that was a good couple of weeks for me. The Kooyonga course there was a nice golf course, similar to Titirangi.

CSM: If you could jump on a plane tomorrow and play any course in the world where would you go?

DH: There’s a lot of awesome courses around the world! But I’d say Augusta or St Andrew’s would be two of the golf courses that I’d to play.

CSM: Your dream is to be a touring golfer – have you met any professional golfers and what advice have they given you?

DH: Yes that’s definitely my goal. We had a New Zealand Development camp in Cambridge last July and we had Mark Brown come in and have a really positive chat to us about what being a professional is like and how we can go about achieving our goal.

CSM: Who’s your favourite golfer?

DH: I would have to say [recent US Masters winner] Jordan Spieth, he’s been on fire lately. All parts of his game are just immaculate at the moment.

CSM: Have you have hit a hole in one?

DH: Yes, I played in a Halberg Charity Day tournament at Paraparaumu and I was playing with National Eagles Secretary, the National Eagles President and the Wellington Eagles President and on the second hole of the day I managed to put a 6-iron in the bottom of the cup!

CSM: What’s the lowest score you have ever shot in a tournament round?

DH: In a tournament round I have shot 7 under – that was at the Royal Wellington course at the College Sport Wellington tournament last year.

CSM: After you return from Japan in June you’ll be preparing for some tournaments near home?

DH: Yes, after Japan I will have a short break before the Wellington representative matches begin around August and carry on through to December. I will also be preparing for the New Zealan U19s at Shandon Golf Club [in Petone] in September. So with this tournament being held at a local golf club it will be a good opportunity for me to try and win another national title. 

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