Each time it stung a little more. So, to see my name etched on that trophy at last \u2014 a New Zealander again \u2014 was something I\u2019ll never forget. <\/p>\n
It felt like a weight lifted not just for me, but for everyone back home who believed this was possible.<\/p>\n
This was the one I really wanted to win. My major goal for 2026.<\/p>\n
And I knew I was playing well \u2013 that knowledge brought pressure. <\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been playing disability golf events since 2019. I finished second a few years ago, and that hurt more than I expected. <\/p>\n
It stayed with me. <\/p>\n
I knew I had the game \u2013 the question was whether I could handle the moment when it mattered most.<\/p>\n
The key was keeping it simple. Stay aggressive, keep the ball in play, focus on one shot at a time. Don\u2019t look at leaderboards.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t worry about what anyone else is doing. Just play my game.<\/p>\n
When I look back on that final putt, it\u2019s impossible not to think about where my golf journey began \u2014 walking the fairways of Awatoto Golf Club in Napier with my dad, carrying just two clubs, determined one day to beat him.<\/p>\n
Those afternoons didn\u2019t just teach me how to play golf. They changed my life.<\/p>\n
Golf helped me move better. It gave me confidence to travel, to meet people, to belong.<\/p>\n
Doctors once doubted what I\u2019d be able to do after I developed cerebral palsy at the age of three \u2013 they said I needed to prepare for a life in a wheelchair – but my parents never did. <\/p>\n
They pushed, supported, believed \u2014 and golf became the place where I proved those doubts wrong.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m incredibly grateful for that. Without my parents, my coaches, my friends, my High Cut team, who support me with apparel, and my family \u2013 my rock \u2013 none of this happens.<\/p>\n
They believed it was possible, but they also kept me grounded when my expectations grew.<\/p>\n
It was also great to be a member of the Para Sport Collective run by Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) and supported by ACC. <\/p>\n
It was awesome to meet and spend time with other inspiring athletes from around the country. That programme was of massive benefit to me and gave me huge belief.<\/p>\n
It helped me focus on the little gains which created massive benefits in sports psychology. Being able to have connections like that is invaluable moving forward.<\/p>\n
Golf is special because it\u2019s inclusive. Anyone can give it a go. For me, it\u2019s about connection \u2013 time outdoors, shared rounds, lifelong memories. <\/p>\n
Some of my favourite moments haven\u2019t been tournaments at all, but travelling New Zealand with Dad, ticking off courses along the way.<\/p>\n
Now, that journey is taking me overseas. In April, I\u2019ll head to Europe to compete in the Disability Scottish Open, the EDGA Tour event at London Club, and the G4D Open in Wales. <\/p>\n
I\u2019m not going with specific performance goals. This trip is about learning, experiencing the highest level, and making connections.<\/p>\n
Most importantly, I want other New Zealand disability golfers to see that this pathway exists. That overseas competition isn\u2019t just a dream. I hope that in the future we\u2019ll have teams from New Zealand attending these events together.<\/p>\n
The mental battle never really ends. Background noise \u2013 doubts, expectations \u2013 doesn\u2019t disappear. <\/p>\n
I\u2019ve learned to focus on enjoying the game, trusting the process, and remembering how lucky I am to play the sport I love. <\/p>\n
Golf gave me purpose when I needed it most, helped me out of my shell, and opened doors I never imagined.<\/p>\n
After missing selection in para swimming for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, I stepped into a new role as Parafed Manawat\u016b Sports Development Advisor. <\/p>\n
My focus now is on creating opportunities for kids with physical disabilities. Growing up with a disability isn\u2019t easy. Doors can close quickly. That\u2019s why role models matter.<\/p>\n
If I can show even a few young athletes that anything is possible with hard work, support, and belief, then everything I\u2019ve done is worth it.<\/p>\n
My advice is simple: get moving, spend time outdoors, set small goals, celebrate every win. Most of all, have fun and don\u2019t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. You never know where one shot \u2013 one round, one opportunity \u2013 might lead. And for me, this one led to a trophy I\u2019ll always treasure.<\/p>\n
– This article is provided courtesy of ACC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Each time it stung a little more. So, to see my name etched on that trophy at last…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1059,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1015,1034,1028,1032,44,1017,1025,1018,1029,1019,1030,1027,1020,1024,1013,1035,1026,1014,1031,1016,1021,478,1022,1033,1023],"class_list":["post-1058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","tag-at","tag-cerebral","tag-couch","tag-diagnosed","tag-golf","tag-guy","tag-harrison","tag-harrisons","tag-home","tag-journey","tag-lucky","tag-lying","tag-national","tag-old","tag-one","tag-palsy","tag-seizure","tag-shot","tag-survive","tag-time","tag-title","tag-to","tag-when","tag-with","tag-years"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1058"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1058\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1059"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}