Former professional golfer, Asiata Van Wright, is more than happy to recede from the sport’s elite ranks and help develop the next generation.

Having picked up silver and bronze medals in the team and individual events of the 2019 Pacific Games, Asiata no longer travels for tournaments since opening his Quantity Surveying and Project Management firm, Le Vikz Consultancy.

“It’s more secure for me, and I get to see my family,” said the 42-year-old from Lotopa

“The toughest thing about being a competitive professional golfer is being away from home.

“For me, this is more fulfilling to be involved with the kids and giving back to my country.”

Asiata invested in the driving range and pro shop at Faleata Golf Course, and offers coaching programmes for juniors there.

He was hired by Marist B.I.G. to put on their programme for the underprivileged youth that hang around the course, and also runs his own First Tee lessons on Fridays.

Asiata said he was keen to give back to the sport that gave him so much.

“There’s no other kid that’s come through, there’s a few that are around but there’s no one that has filled in the void over the last twenty years,” he said

“Which means we’ve never had any development in golf in this whole space of time.

“We need to fill in those gaps, and I think moving forward, having a driving range and a pro shop will give the kids that excitement to come to golf.”

Asiata played collegiate golf in the United States before joining the PGA Tour of Australasia from 2000 to 2003.

He has two employees running Le Vikz with him, and keeps an office in Vaitele where he meets clients, and an office at the Faleata pro shop.

“I schedule my time so that all I need is my computer,” Asiata said.

“I love golf, and that’s something I’m able to juggle with my work.”

His wife and kids left the country to live in Hawaii when the measles epidemic hit Samoa.

“Work is here, but I go back and forth every two months,” Asiata said.