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 2006 GTNZ WAIRAKEI OPEN Wednesday 13 – Sunday 17 September, 2006 Holloway holds off Lee to win GTNZ Wairakei Open 17 September 2006 Holloway, who won the GTNZ Taranaki Open last year as an amateur, birdied the first playoff hole to dispose of brilliant Rotorua teenager Danny Lee. The Wairakei Open is part of the Golf Tour New Zealand established by Greg Turner to provide opportunities for young New Zealand professionals and to raise the bar for the leading amateurs, both men and women. Holloway and Lee finished on six-under par 282 in strong winds at Wairakei International today to be five shots clear of New Zealand representative Mark Purser. His world championship-bound teammate Sarah Nicholson (Wellington) completed her remarkable tournament to share fourth place on two-over 290 with professionals Kevin Chun (Auckland) and Chris Judd (Queenstown). Professionals Tony Christie (Christchurch) and Brad Shilton (Waikato) were seventh and eighth respectively with New Zealand amateur Josh Geary (Tauranga) sharing ninth place with Otago professional Ben Gallie and Waikato amateur Mark Boe on six-over 294. Tough pin placements and fierce south westerly winds made for a demanding test today, with only two players going under par in the final round – Gulf Harbour professional Michael Duncomb with a two-under 70 and 71 for Lee. Holloway sank an 8m birdie putt on the first playoff hole to grab the victory after he and Lee birdied the 18th in regular play to force the sudden death finish. The Hawkes Bay player, who won the GTNZ Taranaki Open last year as an amateur, has enjoyed some success in his rookie year as a professional with wins in the pro-am circuits on both sides of the Tasman. His win has elevated him to top of the NZPGA Order of Merit and also will help in his quest for a card on the USPGA Tour. "I fly out to the US tomorrow so this is a really good boost," Holloway said. "It’s great to win this tournament as it was in Taranaki last year. "I had a good week. It was mighty tough out there today but I thought my way around this week quite well. "The win will pay for half of my expenses for the first qualifying tournament. Hopefully you won’t see me for the rest of the year but if I don’t make it in the US I will be back." Holloway begins with the pre-qualifying tournament in Georgia which clashes with the Olex Taranaki Open, and the Hawkes Bay player says it will cost him approximately $10,000 for each phase of the qualifying process in the US. He began today with a two shot buffer over Lee and Purser with the lead changing five times. Purser had the lead after three holes with Holloway fighting back to share the spoils at six-over par after nine holes with Lee one shot back. Five dropped shots in three holes on the back nine spelled the end for Purser with Holloway back in front after a brilliant eagle two at the par-4 ninth. Birdies at the 14th and 16th gave Lee the lead for the first time before a bogey at the 17th saw him back level with Holloway. They both birdied the 18th, with Lee slotting a 4m birdie putt to force the sudden death. Lee will be in confident mode as he looks forward to his debut for New Zealand in the under-18 international against Australia later this month in Hamilton. Purser is also in solid form as he prepares for next month’s Eisenhower Trophy, while Nicholson was the talking point for many. The Australian strokeplay champion, who was fourth in the British strokeplay three weeks ago, impressed with her ball –striking to finish in a share of fourth. Full scores www.gtnz.org For further information: |
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