Having tasted success at both golf and cricket, an Arrowtown 16-year-old admits he’ll probably have to choose which he’ll pursue.
Toby Gallie, who’s 17 on Sunday, last year won the Arrowtown Golf Club’s senior club championship in an epic 36-hole final — doubtless pleasing his dad, Ben, who’s club pro at nearby Millbrook Resort.
Then, this month he’s been playing at the national under-17 boys’ cricket tournament at Lincoln, near Christchurch, where he’s been a leading wicket-taker and run-scorer for Otago across its two 50-over and two two-day games.
A left-arm off-spinner, he took a great caught-and-bowled in his right hand, while also top-scoring with 52 in their two-day game against Wellington.
Toby says his coach promoted him from nightwatchman to no.4 then to opening the batting.
Though he calls himself ‘‘a bowling all-rounder’’, his batting’s been impressive too.
Late last year he hit a 50, 60 and 110 on consecutive days — the first for Queenstown Cricket Club versus Wānaka and the other two for Wakatipu High’s First XI against Mosgiel’s Taieri College, ahead of the team representing Otago in the First XI Cup finals in Lincoln.
As for which sport he’ll concentrate on, ‘‘I’ve been more of a golfer, but I’m getting into quite a lot of cricket actually’’, Toby says.
‘‘It’s really tricky now, I’m going to have to make a decision soon.’’
While wanting to play for the national Black Caps cricket side, he’d also be keen to play college golf in the United States — he’s about to start his final year at Wakatipu High.
Golf-wise, Toby this week just missed out qualifying for the pro-am at the upcoming local New Zealand Open, while, cricket-wise, having played one Hawke Cup game for Otago Country, he’s keen to play again for them.
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