Duffin Leads Group Red
Queenslander Andrew Duffin shot five under par 67 to take an overnight lead in Group Red during the Sheraton Golf Classics 2022, hosted at the Denarau Golf course yesterday.
Duffin, an assistant professional at Oyley Golf Club in Brisbane, has been a golf professional for over a decade, playing competitively on the Australian tour/Korean Tour.
Australian Brad Burns and James Gordon shot three under par 69, to cement their spot in second place.
When this edition went to press yesterday, Group Blue were still playing at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course.
A total of 224 players, of which 56 are professionals are playing in the four day event boasting the prize money over $100,000.
Tourney marks 10th Anniversary
Marriott International Multi Property vice president Fiji & Samoa, Neeraj Chadha, said: “10th year anniversary that took 13 years to come, so we’re very excited about hosting the Sheraton Golf Classic again.
“We’ve been waiting for this wonderful event to come after the over $70 million of renovation at the Sheraton. Certainly we spend some money in our golf course to make sure it takes care of the players that come in here and the best of experience.
“It’s also been very great to work with our partners; they put a lot of effort in to get that product ready.
“It is certainly big for Fiji in the sense that the rooms are distributed among hotels in general. There are suppliers and business partners who provide dinner as a whole, the restaurants and bars, taxi drivers, the transport operators.
“Of course, they all fly the airline to come into the country and suddenly a lot of food and beverage consumption and some celebrations make the event really special.”
Chadha thanked Pacific Golf Management Limited director Richard Ellis, who has been with the players over the years.
“He has been very patient and very loyal to making this event happen. Thank the sponsors as without their help the tournament was not possible.”
Ellis, a professional golfer himself, said it was great to be here,
despite missing out during the pandemic.
“Well, the event is very important not only to Sheraton but to all of Fiji.
“This is a world class golf event and now you can see the way the golf course has been set up,” he said.
“There is a great field of professional’s, Glen Joyner, who won in Pebble Beach in America last week. Andre Stolz, a winner in the
US tour.
“There’s a bunch of other players here as well, all very good.
“A lot of amateurs, of course, so the event doesn’t happen unless all these amateurs come to Fiji.
“Let’s be honest, they’re the ones that spend all the money. They spend the money in Fiji at the hotels.
Ellis added that the event was worth more than a million dollars for Fiji.
He said they expected good scores, with great weather on Denarau.
“Were just happy to get out of COVID and come to Fiji, it doesn’t matter about the golf. I’m sure the scores will be really good.
“There are some really good players and the golf courses are fantastic. They’ve done an unbelievable job with a short time to get them ready.”