Mangawhai Pro-Am building solid reputation

 

There's a host of cliches about golf. Perhaps most quoted is Oscar Wilde's “Golf is a good walk spoiled”. But for the field in the 2018 PartnersLife Mangawhai ProAm on Thursday March 15, this banal statement couldn't have been further from the truth.

An impressive field of 36 professionals, each playing with a team of three amateurs, enjoyed perfect conditions and a course that surprised many first-timers with its quality and sudden ability to surprise even the best of players.

Sponsored by PartnersLife, New Zealand's leading life insurer for the past seven years, and headed by Mangawhai member Naomi Ballantyne, this is the second year the Mangawhai ProAm has been held. It has quickly become recognised as a significant event on the NZPGA calendar and this year attracted a very strong field of New Zealand professionals.

Places on the amateur teams, most organised by hole sponsors from the local and wider corporate community, were eagerly sought after. ProDrive Golf – who have a close relationship with the Mangawhai club – produced an exceptional prize table, valued in excess of $10,000, promoting strong competition amongst the amateur players.

The weather was ideal for golf, and the highly regarded Mangawhai course was in outstanding condition. The field teed off at 10am with a shotgun start and play progressed well as players came to terms with the demands of the championship course.

Three food stations provided sustenance – with Steve's hand-craft ed mussel fritters on the 4th tee proving a big attraction – and water bottles provided were much appreciated as players warmed to their task. Players gathered in the clubhouse to relive their rounds as results were collated, and the professionals clearly enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere as they mixed with the amateur players.

Club Manager Steve Hinton presided over the prizegiving and welcomed Naomi Ballantyne of PartnersLife as principal sponsor. Naomi spoke briefly, emphasising her pride in being member of such an outstanding club and committed her company's support of the event through the coming years. All players enjoyed more time together as a carvery buffet dinner brought a successful day to a very satisfactory end.

Speaking on behalf of all players, winning professional Josh Geary praised the course presentation and thanked all who worked to make the event such a positive experience for all. His winning score was 66, just one shot clear of three others.

Team prizes were earned by recording the best two stableford scores on each hole (with professionals playing off scratch) and the local team sponsored by Rowan Clift of AK Concrete Polishers came out winners with 96 points (no doubt boosted by having Josh Geary as their team professional).

As always, club members supported the event enthusiastically and many volunteers stepped forward to fill important roles that ensured the event ran smoothly. The event's many sponsors added tremendous value with many already making a commitment to support the event again next year, with the PartnersLife name firmly fixed to the head of the field.