Nikau and Arahina Black are on track to become New Zealand’s next talented golfing duo.

The Rūātoki juniors, who have been hitting a golf ball since they were two years old, are excelling in the sport that their dad, Ranui Black, grew up playing and loving.

Seven-year-old Nikau took out the New Zealand Golf Championships 8 and under division run by the US Kids Tour.

The victory has earned her a spot to compete at the US kids Golf World Championships in Pinehurst North Carolina, where she will represent New Zealand and face young golfers from around the world.  She will also play at the World Junior Classic in Las Vegas.

Arahina, 6, finished third at the event and has some more tournaments to play before, hopefully, earning a spot to play in the United States alongside her sister.

“There is one other place for whoever missed out on the other three majors to earn a spot for the United States,” Black said.

“You must win one of those three majors to qualify, and Nikau won two of them.
“Arahina now has to compete in four of the next six events over the next six to eight weeks. They will take the top two scores and if she manages that, she will qualify for America.”
If she doesn’t qualify, she will travel to the United States anyway.

“She will just come along for the experience,” Black said. “She is only six years old. I would prefer she goes and watches because I know that will drive something inside her, watching her sister play golf and supporting her.”

He’s called on cousin Whetu Wiremu to caddy for Nikau.
“He is her caddy and hopefully we can take it all the way to the States. He’s excited for that spot too.”

Black is proud of his daughters and their efforts.

“These are the first big tournaments they played. Before that, it’s just been hitting balls. They adapted to tournament-style play quickly and did incredibly well.

“I am proud of them for achieving at these tournaments and, looking back, at how hard they actually worked in the heat and sun.

Over the next month, the girls will continue their golfing season in Auckland, playing in the junior equivalent of the PGA tour.

When the tournaments finish, Black said the focus would return to practice – “hitting balls and fine tuning everything to prepare for America".

He said the girls picked up their golf training about a year ago and love the sport.

“It’s much easier that they are sisters and have a competitive nature. They love to play golf more and more every day.

"They are always creating competitive games to play each other.”
Black spent six years playing golf at Whakatāne Golf Club and during that time forged an impressive resume.

He was part of the Rotorua Golf Academy, and then the Wairakei Golf Academy and represented the Bay of Plenty but narrowly missed out on New Zealand honours.

Black was coached by a PGA pro for multiple years and has altered that coaching style to suit his girls.

“I know what it takes to get to the big time and got my girls in real early,” he said.

“I have an idea of what my girls need, so I coach them four to six hours a day to be great.

“I knew they were going to make it when they were three years old.

“Take things in, adapt and change; it’s a learning process every week.”
But, he always makes sure they have fun as well.

He said they had access to a great course in Whakatāne.

The members are lovely to us and the course is immaculate. We’ve got just as great a course here as anywhere else in the world.”

Arahina has shot 8-under off the purple tees at Whakatane, while Nikau’s best is two over.

"We’re just experiencing it all one hole at a time.”