Takiri wants more
The National, Tuesday 30th April 2013
By KYMLIE KARANI
WINNER of the 2013 Coca-Cola Morobe Open amateur division, Brian Takiri is hoping for a repeat success in the SP Export PNG Open that tees off tomorrow at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club.
The 18-year-old, who completed Year 12 last year at Port Moresby International School, said winning the amateur title was the highlight of his young golf career.
Takiri, from Fergusson Island, in the D’Entrecasteaux Islands, Milne Bay province, won the 2013 Morobe Open amateur title in his fifth year of playing.
“I had no idea I was leading the four rounds. I only realised in the final round,” he said.
“I just went out and played my best, knowing that each shot had a purpose.
“I was runner-up in the 2012 PNG Open amateurs, this year my aim is to shoot under par and I hope I get it this time.”
Takiri’s step-father, Lionel Melbille spoke with pride of Takiri’s achievement.
“We were overwhelmed when we heard that Brian won the amateur title,” he said.
“Knowing Brian, who is so quiet about things, he never texted or called us after his win but we eventually heard. We are all proud of him.”
Takiri finished 29th in a field of 60 professional golfers and is looking forward to bettering that at the PNG Open.
He has been a competitive junior golfer since he started playing at an early age.
He played as a junior and an amateur at international tournaments at Australia, Scotland, Fiji and Singapore recently, missing out on the Asian Amateur Golf tournament in Thailand because of a clash with his high school examinations.
But he was on the course as soon as he got out of school.
Just before the 2013 Morobe Open, Takiri had a few swing adjustment coaching sessions with coach Graham Bolton in Cairns.
“It’s been very tough but the more practice, the more you better your skills,” Takiri said.
“Takiri is young and he is coming up slowly. His got the PNG Open and a couple more big tournaments later on in the year leading up to the 2015 Pacific Games,” Melbille said.
“I think with the level of experience he’s got at this age, anything is possible.
“We’d like to see someone from PNG win gold in golf come 2015. That would be great.”
The young golfer said he was looking forward to competing against other international amateur golfers this week in the PNG Open.