World Schools Golf Challenge Organising Team
The 2012 Asia-Pacific World Schools Golf Challenge was created by Vintage Sport & Leisure (VSL), a company based in Auckland, New Zealand. This tournament follows on from the highly successful events staged in Stellenbosch, South Africa in 2011, Adelaide, South Australia, April 2009 and Christchurch, New Zealand in April, 2007.
Frustration that international tournaments for young people required extensive qualifying and the fact that many schools, who had golf teams, were consequently unable to participate led to the development of the World Schools Golf Challenge. With the rapidly growing popularity of golf amongst young people and the development of new golf programs at schools, the organisers had a belief that the opportunity needed to be offered to all schools for their young golfers to enjoy international golf with educational and cultural experiences.
The Tournament Management Team includes the following VSL personnel who are highly experienced with golf events, golf management, tournament direction and sports administration. They include:
Earle Thomas – comes to the World Schools Golf Challenge with a wealth of sporting knowledge from his time as managing Director of Spalding in New Zealand and Australia. Earle was captain of New Zealand during his 9 year international football career.
Earle is a keen golfer and plays off a handicap of 6.
Roger Carroll - a single figure handicap golfer Roger has an extensive background in advertising and marketing. He also has experience in golf tournament organisation and management. Roger has played extensively around the world, extending his knowledge of golfing conditions and Tournament requirements including caddying in professional tournaments. Roger was Tournament Director for the first two World Schools Golf Challenge events.