Liam Finlayson – Holding Your Nerve!

Liam Finlayson

Liam Finlayson seemed preordained for success in golf. He lives next door to the Feilding Golf Club where his father is the club professional.

Liam first held a club when he was three and played nine holes aged five. Presently he spends between 20 and 30 hours a week practicing and playing. He has reduced his handicap to two.

“I guess you could say I have been around golf all of my life. Dad has really encouraged me and I enjoy it. In golf there is nowhere to hide,” Finlayson says.

At the recent Super 8 tournament in New Plymouth, Palmerston North Boys’ High School was in danger of hiding into oblivion.

In the four-man, three round, tourney, Palmerston North trailed hosts New Plymouth Boys’ High School by four shots. A link course is susceptible to harsh winds, but Finlayson says conditions were claim heading into the final round.

“It was a fairly normal course with regulation greens. The wind blows in off the sea, but it wasn’t too bad. Everybody had to dig in and be consistent  if we were to have a chance.”

Palmerston North remained steady. Across the three rounds Palmerston North shoot, 225, 226 and 226. New Plymouth dived in the final round amassing 250. That score promoted Napier Boys’ High School to second and saw New Plymouth regulated 20 shots behind the winners.

“It’s always a bit nervous relying on other players to perform, but you have to have faith and play your best,” Finlayson says.

Finlayson was the best preformed individual at the event. He beat Napier’s Gabriel Whincop by one shot while teammate Greg Shaw was four shots further back.

“It was great to win the individual title. There are a lot of good players and it’s one of my best achievements at school”

Finlayson finished second in the open field at the Hastings Open and was involved in the Palmerston North team that finished 7th at Nationals last year.
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The Year 13 students intents to keep working hard and desires a career as a professional one day.

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