Manawatu GC want PGA back
The Manawatu Golf Club hope to find out by the end of the month if they will get another chance to host the New Zealand PGA Championship.
The tournament wrapped up on Sunday with a bumper gallery following the leaders over the final two days.
Perth’s Jarryd Felton went on to claim the title after sinking a birdie putt in a three-way playoff at the 18th hole against New Zealand’s Ben Campbell and Australian Josh Younger.
It was an exciting finish to the tournament, which featured the strongest lineup of golfers the region had seen since 1973.
The Hokowhitu course picked up the hosting rights late in the process and club president Peter Mcredmond was happy with how the tournament ran.
‘‘I was really pleased with the way the club hosted the event,’’ he said. ‘‘They only asked us three months out so we had to hit the track running to make it all happen. The organising team did a fantastic job getting it done.’’
But their hosting rights were only for one year so the tournament’s future location remains up in the air.
Mcredmond confirmed they wanted it back. ‘‘We had some in depth discussions with the PGA after the event [on Sunday]. We are certainly hopeful to get it again next year,’’ he said. ‘‘We would certainly like to think we would know by the end of the month what the plans are for next year.’’
Their effort over the past week would have done no harm to their chances of getting the tournament back.
Mcredmond said much of the credit needed to go to the club’s greens staff, who were led by Malcolm Wells. ‘‘They put in hours well beyond the expectation,’’ he said.
And it was not just the locals who were impressed with the condition of the course.
‘‘It is immaculate,’’ Kiwi professional Gareth Paddison said. ‘‘It has just been great. We have had a wet [summer] so the whole place is emerald green. Having a rubbish summer has actually been good for the golf course. It is so picturesque out there, you can’t help but enjoy walking around the place.’’
‘‘I love the golf course,’’ fourtime PGA Tour winner American Heath Slocum said. ‘‘It has got so much character. I can see that when the wind gets up it can be really challenging because it is difficult to hit some of those fairways and it is really tough to hit the greens.’’
‘‘It is in brilliant condition,’’ Australian professional Aaron Townsend said. ‘‘It is so nice and lush and the greens are nice and firm.’’
The still and sunny conditions over the first two days of the tournament allowed for some impressive low scores - including Kiwi Shaun Jones’ second round when he tied the course record with a 63.
Despite the favourable conditions, a score of one-under was good enough to make the cut. The wind then got up over the last two days, which kept the top scores in the low-to-mid teens.
Felton claimed AUS $17,088 (NZ $18,437) for the tournament win.
Draw card American Heath Slocum made the cut, but never looked like threatening the leaders and while Kiwi legend Grant Waite missed the cut at three-over he proved popular both on and off the course.
Levin professional Tyler Hodge was the best of the Manawatuwanganui players, finishing in a tie for 11th at nine-under after rounds of 65, 70, 69 and 71.
Marton’s Lachie Mcdonald (two-over), Manawatu’s Alan Hyatt (seven-over) and Manawatu amateur Regan Mcconaghty (one-over) all missed the cut.