$5,000 to the Cancer Society from Martinborough Pro-am golf.

Martinborough’s hugely successful Pro-am tournament netted a $5,000 donation to the Cancer society. The tournament, New Zealand’s biggest one day Pro-am event, attracted 164 golfers, of whom 42 were professionals. The professionals welcomed a tournament in a season where, due to Covid,  cancellations have resulted and there having been very little opportunity to play competitively. 

The prize money totalling $20,000 were fully funded by Spark whose sponsorship was in recognition of the tournament being ‘all about community’- the kind of completely community organised event which Spark is keen to sponsor . 

The club had great organising support from the Wairarapa Golf Hub plus a lot of help from local volunteers. Professional golfers were billeted locally and enjoyed Martinborough hospitality. The Lions Club provided the undertaking of an all day barbeque with a variety of hot foods. There was generous support from local businesses in financing and providing prizes allowing all prizes to have been fully sponsored. 

There were also some very attractive prizes amateur prizes on offer such as four for accommodation and play at major New Zealand courses including Cape Kidnappers.

A 7 am start was necessary to ensure the large number of players competed their rounds, the final groups teeing off at 11 am . The organisation under event coordinator Ro Griffith proved well up to coping with the numbers and by 4.30  all rounds were completed.

The winners were Momoka Kobri and Keiran Muir scoring seven under sixty threes. Momoka and Keiran both had a great day with the putter as the strong winds made getting the ball close to the hole with approach shots difficult. Both Momoka and Muir are classy players finishing two shots clear of  third placed Jonny Tynan, Dongwoo Kang, Tae Koh, and Kunaal Singh who all posted five under sixty fives 

In presenting the cheque to the Cancer Society representative Club President Lachie McLeod said that the club was pleased to be able to do something worthwhile for the community and had chosen the Cancer Society as the recipient as cancer touches so many in the community.