Following a testing 2021 for our Tour Players both domestically and internationally, the new season kicked off in style with the annual Cardinal Logistics Whitford Park Pro-Am. BOP Professionals Luke Toomey and Kieran Muir shared the 1st Round lead with 5 under par 66’s, two of the 15 scores under 70. Round 2 saw similar conditions to day one, and with a tight leaderboard, the event was up for grabs. Round of the day belonged to Europe bound Daniel Hillier, 6 under 65, with Jordan Loof posting a 66, but the overnight leaders weren’t able to match Dongwoo Kang, who with back-to-back 67’s took out the season opener, one ahead of Toomey and Harry Bateman.

The Long Blacks Nelson Pro-Am began with local Pro Ryan Chisnall starting the 1st Round very hot, being nine under with 3 to play but unfortunately made a triple bogey on the final hole. It was Harry Bateman that took the spoils after shooting rounds 66 and 64, 3 shots ahead of Chisnall and Jordan Loof.

The BDL Dentures Mates Rates Insulation Palmerston North Pro-Am went ahead under Red Traffic Light protocols and was taken out by local Sam Nichols, Ryan Chisnall and Kerry Mountcastle with 7 under par 65’s, one ahead of Fraser MacLachlan, PGA Champion Tae Koh and Rookie James Tauariki.

The Inaugural Rural and Lifestyle Sales Marton Pro-Am with long time club member and Professional Lachie McDonald was the driving force behind the event. Whitford Park Champion Dongwoo Kang who finished alone on top with a fine 7 under par 65 ahead of Rookie James Tauariki, continuing his form, Troy Rophia and previous days winner Ryan Chisnall.

The Tommy’s Real Estate Paraparaumu Pro-Am took place in great conditions, with the top 11 players all breaking par. Luke Toomey and Richard Lee shared the spoils on 5 under 66. “This course always inspires me to play well’ said Lee in his entertaining victory speech in a restricted number prize giving. The PGA wishes to thank Chris Packer for his long support of the event in his final time as Naming Rights Sponsor.

The Spark Martinborough Pro-Am saw mixed conditions on the wine country layout. Rookie Matt McLean, Harry Na and Mark Hutson lead the pack with 5 under par 66’s, ahead of Johnny Tynan, Nick Loach and Sung Jin Yeo. In just his 6th start as a Professional, Mclean picked up his first victory.

The Recreational Services Masterton Eketahuna Pro-Am this year saw the field split with 18 teams and Professionals at each course for the first time. Two of the big highlights from the weekend occurred on the same hole, Eketahuna’s Par 3 16th, with Mark Hutson on Saturday and Jamie McIssac on Sunday both recording Hole-In-One’s. Luke Toomey led after day one with a fine 63 at Eketahuna, to lead by two from Huston and Josh Geary, with Troy Ropiha’s 66 the best at Masterton. With the fields switching over, a charge from Rookie Jake Meenhorst at Eketahuna with 62 put up a 2-round total that only winner Luke Toomey and Runner-Up Kerry Mountcastle would surpass. Toomey’s 14 under total was good enough to beat Mountcastle by a shot.

The Guthrie Bowron Hastings Pro-Am saw Brett Allen presented the Life Flight Trust with a cheque for $10,000 from proceeds for the day. Sung Jin Yeo, Ryan Chisnall and Josh Geary finished on 5 under 67’s, but the day belonged to Kerry Mountcastle with a fine 65, for his second 2022 victory. A special mention around an imitative by Allen, which see a Junior team entered each year and it was the team of Ruby Jarvis, Levi Bayley and Luke Jarvis with Professional Kit Bittle who stole the show, amassing 132 points.