A young golfer, Salote Alexis Vakasiuola (16) has won Tonga’s first gold medal at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, Solomon Islands on 25 November, where she demonstrated remarkable determination in the women’s golfing event.
The talented golfers’ success has taken Tonga’s medal tally to a total 10, one gold, three silvers and six bronzes.
She won in the women’s singles event during her debut appearance at the Pacific Games, shooting 73, 76, 69, and 73 on the final day to finish with a total of 291 after four days, with a 10 point margin on her nearest rival, Pricilla Grace Lormand, who scored 301.
Salote told the Pacific Games News Service she feels great winning the first gold for Tonga. Her victory was described as a result of a “remarkable determination over days of competition.”
In second place with silver, is New Caledonia’s Gracia Lormand and Kirra St Laurent of Tahiti settled with a bronze.
Salote along with her sister, Alyzzah Vakasiuola were previously featured in the New York Times,
The young golfer also won the State Junior Golf Championship at Paradise Valley Country Club earlier this year in June, where a year prior she took home the top honours at the Maricopa Junior Championship.
Archery
Arne Hans Jensen and Halamehi Tangulu won Tonga's second and third silver medal from Archery on 24 November in the Mixed Recurve category.
Meanwhile, Ána Fifita earned two more bronze medals at the conclusion on the same day. The first with Sepeti Makihele in the Mixed Compound and the other in the women's Compound singles event.
Weightlifting
In weightlifting, Uaealesi Funaki won Tonga’s second Silver medal for Men's 96kg Clean and Jerk on Thursday 23 November.
