Golfers have edge: Bolton

 GOLFERS preparing for the 2015 Pacific Games have the home ground advantage and must use it to the fullest, says visiting coach Graham Bolton.

Bolton was brought in by the Papua New Guinea Golf Association to run a one-week camp for members of the national squad at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club.

The squad was given a refresher on skills and technique through drills, with Bolton saying the players had the potential to perform well and being on familiar turf would help their cause.

A confident Bolton predicted that Team PNG golf would win gold at the July 4-18 event.

“We are 141 days away from the Games and the team has been instructed to keep working and the results will come,” Bolton, who is based in Cairns, said.

No stranger to Port Moresby, Bolton was hired by the club for three years to help develop the talent.

PNGGA’s Laka Toua said he was happy with Bolton’s involvement in helping prepare the country’s best male and female golfers.

There are eight men and eight women undergoing training, including two overseas golfers, Hazel Martin and Sophia Cragnolini.

The 16-year-old Australia-based Martin was the 2014 PNG Women’s Open champion while Cragnolini won the title the previous year.

Martin is about to embark on the next stage of her golfing career by representing her country of birth at the Pacific Games.

After the Morobe Open and PNG Open, PNGGA will announce the final four men and women to represent the country.