MANAWATU GOLF CLUB - PROUD HOSTS OF THE 2016 CHARLES TOUR LAWNMASTER CLASSIC - Activities run from 15th to 20th March 2016
 

The Lawnmaster Classic Charles Tour Event

The Lawnmaster Classic is held every year in February/March and is part of the New Zealand Professional Charles Tour.  The 2016 event is open to Professionals and top Amateur Golfers and closer to the time entries are taken by New Zealand Golf.

This is a fantastic week long event which provides plenty of opportunity for golfers of all abilities to be involved or simply to come along and watch some of the greats test themselves on our course. 

Activities on offer in 2016 were:

• Tuesday 15 March - Jeff Gray BMW Pro-Am day - teams of three play alongside one of the professionals.  
• Wednesday 16 March - Horizon Golf Shootout - the top professionals compete for some great prize money.  2.30pm start.
• Wednesday 16 March - A gala dinner with Steve Williams. 
• Thursday 17 - Sunday 20 March - Four round Lawnmaster Classic    

For more information on how you can be part of this exciting week in 2017 please contact Michael Williams at gm@manawatugolfclub.com.

Click here for the 2015 Tournament wrap-up

Latest 2016 News ...

Hendry makes History on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour

Michael Hendry has won the 2016 Lawnmaster Classic for the second consecutive year and now holds the record for most wins on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour.

Hendry jumps ahead of veteran Doug Holloway with six victories on the tour and if he returns to play here in New Zealand it would be no surprise if he was to add to his tally.

“It’s immensely satisfying, I want to be regarded as one of New Zealand’s best when I hang up my boots,” said Hendry.

The more tournaments you win locally the more times your name is on trophies and the more you put you name into that good grouping so really, really happy to have another win.”

His sixth title didn’t come easy this afternoon with Josh Geary consistently nipping at his heals in a real dog fight.

After 22 holes of frustrating even par golf, Hendry finally got a roll on with four birdies in five holes to close out the front nine.

“I definitely struggled on the greens yesterday, so it was nice to make a solid birdie on five which gave me more confidence and then a little buffer as well.”

Josh Geary then came to the party with consecutive birdies on 13, 14 and 15 to be locked up with Hendry coming down the stretch which the hundred plus Manawatu Golf Club faithful’s were relishing.

Hendry then showed why he has the most Jennian Homes Charles Tour victories next to his name with convincing birdies on 15, 17 and 18 to win in style.

“When Josh applied some pressure on the back nine, it was a lot of fun. It was a bit of a ding dong battle out there and thankfully I made a few more birdies than he did,” smiled the Lawnmaster Classic Champion.

Chantelle Cassidy has just completed her second Jennian Homes Charles Tour victory in a row after holding off nearest rival Amelia Garvey in clinical fashion.

Trailing the Lawnmaster Classic by one shot overnight, Garvey struck early to put pressure on Cassidy, but Cassidy then put together a near perfect final showing all how to hold onto a lead with professionalism.

“It feels good to win another Jennian Homes Charles Tour event!” said Cassidy

“I have played Lawnmaster a couple of times and come so close, but now I have got the win. I made crucial birdies and just tried to stay focused throughout the day.”

“My game is improving since Riversdale and it’s just getting better and better, so we will see how we go at the strokeplay next week.”

Cassidy has become a force in the women’s field and is slowly building with each tournament she enters. It will be exciting to see all these girls go head to head at the National Strokeplay Championship next week hosted by the Christchurch Golf Club.

The week in the mighty Manawatu started with an early hurdle with rain forcing day one to be abandoned. However, from then on it was nothing but beauty as the weather and more importantly the golf turned it on. Locals may have only seen 54 holes, but they were treated to some of the best golf you will witness in the New Zealand.

Hendry, Paddison and Geary make up final group

The Lawnmaster Classic will have a stella last group which should attract large galleries at the Manawatu Golf Club on Sunday 20 March. After a first round 61 (11 under par) Mike Hendry came back to the pack with an even par 72 in the second round of the rain shortened 54 hole event. Hendry's 11 under total was matched by Gareth Paddison who shot a fine 7 under 65 in round 2. One shot back on 10 under is web.com tour player Josh Geary. There are a number of other players within a couple of shots of the lead which should make for great final day viewing. Follow the live scoring at www.golf.co.nz.

Entry is free for spectators with the final group teeing off at 10.45am.

Hendry Masters Manawatu

Round one wrap below courtesy of NZ Golf.

http://www.golf.co.nz/NewsMedia/Article.aspx?id=2928&topickey=National&topicid=420843&src=tournament-dashboard&CompetitionId=420843
 

Steve Williams Dinner a Success

The Club hosted a dinner as part of the Lawnmaster Classic week on Wednesday night with special guest Steve Williams. A great night was had by all with 207 people in attendance. Steve re lived some of his experiences and stories with MC Chris Burn.

Prior to Steve speaking Kieran Muir was presented with his Horizon Golf Shootout cheque and defending Lawnmaster Classic champion Mike Hendry was asked about his last 12 months since winning the Lawnmaster.

Lawnmaster Classic at the schools

On Wednesday morning the Lawnmaster Classic organising committee arranged three school visits to promote the tournament and Golf to local primary school pupils. Lawnmaster players Hayden Beard from Tauranga and James Betts from Melbourne along with Manawatu Golf Club coach Karen Manninen visited Hokowhitu, St James and College Street Normal primary schools over three hours. At the last school visit of the morning at College Street Normal were surprised with Steve Williams (Tiger Wood’s) former caddy make an appearance! The students were taught with snag Golf gear which is soft clubs and balls that you hit at targets.

LAWNMASTER CLASSIC - DAY 2

We're underway!   The rain has stopped and play started on schedule this morning in overcast conditions.  For live updates on player progress in the now 54 hole tournament, follow the Lawnmaster Classic Leaderboard

LAWNMASTER CLASSIC ROUND 1   *** PLAY ABANDONED *** 
Due to the weather, play has officially been abandoned for the day.

NZ Golf Press Release

Updated Round 1 draw for Friday 18 March

For up to the minute news, keep an eye on the NZ Golf twitter feed

2016 Horizon Golf Shootout winner found

A very happy Kieran Muir birdied the last hole to walk away with the $10,000 first prize.  Congratulations Kieran and well done to all the players and spectators who braved a cold and blustery Manawatu afternoon to be part of the 2016 Horizon Golf Shootout.

Stella field for the Horizon Golf Shootout

The ten players have qualified and been selected for today’s (Wednesday 16 March) Horizon Golf Shootout. The players will start on the tenth tee at 2.30pm with the player with the worst score dropping out on each hole. Ties will be decided by way of chip off. This unique format sees the players play for $15,500.00 over 9 holes! The winner receives $10,000.00, second $3000.00, third $1500.00 and fourth $500.00. There is also a long drive competition for the players on the 14th hole which is worth $500.00.

The two favourites will be Mike Hendry and Josh Geary. Hendry is coming off a third place finish at the New Zealand Open and was the 2015 Lawnmaster Classic Champion. Hendry was shock exit on the first hole of last year’s Shootout and will be looking to rectify that. Geary had a fantastic year on the PGA China tour in 2015 with three wins. He now holds web.com tour status and is used to the shootout format having finished second in 2015. The strong field of ten has plenty of experience seven of them holding status on the Australasian tour or higher. Local interest will be in Course Superintendent Malcolm Wells who plays professionally as a senior in Australasia.

Entry is free for spectators and we expect play to run from 2.30pm through to 6.00pm.  Players are:

Mike Hendry
Josh Geary
Gareth Paddison
James Betts
Brad Shilton

Jeff Gray BMW Pro Am a success

The Jeff Gray BMW Pro-Am as part of the Lawnmaster week was held yesterday (Tuesday 15 March) and was thoroughly enjoyed once again by 150 Amateurs who got to tee it up with a Professional Golfer. All up 50 teams took part across the morning and afternoon field. All the Amateurs saw some great Golf with their professionals attempting to qualify for the Horizon Golf Shootout.

The format for the teams was the best two stablefords on each hole counting towards the team card. The scoring was hot! See the results below.

Hendry looks to go back to back. Click here for the full media release from NZ Golf.

EVENT SPONSORS

Thanks to all sponsors of the various events

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