Kazuma Kobori and Vivian Lu continue to etch their names in the New Zealand amateur golfing history books with the New Zealand Amateur Stroke Play titles which were held at Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club this week.

Kobori carded rounds of 68, 70, 72, and 67 to finish at seven-under par for the tournament and three shots clear of his roommate and fellow Golf New Zealand National Academy member Sam Jones, while Lu also pipped her roommate and fellow team member Darae Chung as well.

Kobori’s trophy cabinet is growing at a rapid pace and he has yet another piece of silverware to add next to his NZPGA Championship. The New Zealand Amateur Stroke Play is a title he’s desperately wanted and has been within touching distance in the last two years, only to come up just shy.

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He says it’s hugely satisfying to get the job done.

“To be able to lift this trophy, especially after the last two years is great. I came close in 2019 at Christchurch Golf Club against [Luke] Brown after he binned an eagle putt on the last to beat me.

“I came up just short last year as well at Hastings, and it feels really good to finally get my hands on the St Andrews Salver this year,” Kobori says.

The 19-year-old started the day just a shot in front of Jones and made his intentions clear early in his round with a birdie on the first. After making a bogey at the fourth, he made three birdie to close his opening nine at the fifth, seventh, and nineth holes to make the turn at three-under and remain in control.

Kobori picked another shot up at the 12th but gave it back at the tough par 4 17th to keep things interesting. However, he was clinical up the last hitting the par 5 18th green in two and have the liberty of a two-putt birdie to win his first national stroke play title.

He says it’s a great reward for the hard work he’s put in.

“I’ve been playing some really good golf this year after an abysmal year last year. I’ve managed to start the year off strong and I’m hoping to keep the trend going,” he says.

Vivian Lu has also added the Mellsop Cup next to her New Zealand Amateur trophy for the first time to further cement herself as one of the country’s premier women golfers.

Lu began the day a shot behind Darae Chung and the pair were locked in a tight tussle for the entirety of the final round.

She opened with five straight pars before making a birdie at the sixth followed by an eagle at the par 5 seventh to tie Chung’s lead.

Lu played her back nine in one-under par to get the job done over Chung who came home in one-over.

She says it feel awesome to get another big national title to her name.

“This feels really good. I didn’t expect too much as the first rounds weren’t great. I was trying to hang in there and not let Darae get too far ahead of me which I managed to do. I was then able to put the foot down and try and go for the win,” she explains.

Lu also says she’s really happy to get her name on both the amateur and stroke play trophies.

“I’m not too sure how many people have done that, but it feels pretty awesome. I’m really happy.”

She’ll next tee it up at the Autex Muriwai Open in three weeks’ time.

Kazuma Kobori and Vivian Lu New Zealand Amateur Stroke Play titles