Taikiri, Koma represent PNG in Asia-Pacific golf championship

PAPUA New Guinea representatives Brian Taikiri and Cassie Koma are eager to test themselves against a strong field of golfers in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in the United Arab Emirates this week.
Papua New Guinea Golf Association operations manager Deanna Dawanincura farewelled the pair for the four-day, 72-hole event which teed off yesterday.
It will be Taikiri’s seventh appearance in the championship after his graduation through the junior golf ranks over the past decade.
“Not many Papua New Guinean’s have played in the Middle East,” Taikiri said.
“It will certainly be an eye-opener for Cassie and myself.”
Dawanincura said there was also support for the pair from Port Moresby regulars after they had been informed of their selection to represent the country in the Dubai.
Upon their arrival, the pair took two days to practise and acclimatise ahead of the tournament at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club.
“To play at this level, I think about playing my own game and being myself on and off the course, and it helps my confidence against the calibre of players on the field,”Taikiri said.
“Most of the players who we will be up against are on the verge of turning professional. So we will be up against the best Asia-Pacific amateurs.”
According to Koma, their short game on approach is going to be crucial and will require major adjustments.
The pair agreed that the course would be their biggest challenge compared with what they were used to playing on in the country and the Pacific.
“We don’t know much about the course, so it was good to get in an early round ahead of competition to have a feel of the layout and adjust our game to suit the playing conditions,” Koma said.
“We need to look at the type of grass they have on the greens, how they cut it, and get an idea of how fast the greens run and turn to give ourselves the best chance of carding good scores.”
A seasoned international campaigner, Taikiri’s assessment of the course was positive.
“The greens at a top-tier course like the one we are playing on are really fast compared with what we are used to playing on, it’s like putting on glass, so that will be the biggest challenge for Cassie and I,” he said.
Taikiri’ said were reaching the greens well, so it would be just a matter of finishing each hole in as fewer strokes as possible at the championship.