The Tasmanian Pro-Am series had its final event today at the James Boag Port Sorrell Pro-Am. With strong winds for the morning field and constant rain in the afternoon low scoring was always going to be difficult on the challenging Port Sorell layout., hosting its 13th Pro-Am.
Four players were able to break par in the morning on the new par 70 layout. The best of those was visiting British professional Glen Haynes. Haynes has had a good week on the Tasmanian Pro-Am circuit taking out the inaugural Bothwell Stampede earlier in the week.
Haynes returned a score of three under par 70 in the windy conditions which included a bogey to finish his round. This was countered by five birdies over the course of his round to see him take the early lead.
“Whilst happy with my round it was disappointing to finish with a bogey on my last hole”, said Haynes.
With rain starting to fall steadily as the afternoon players headed onto the course it was going to take some quality golf to unseat Haynes from the clubhouse lead.
With scoring proving extremely difficult in the wet and windy conditions one player stood out against the rest. PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia player Kalem Richardson mastered the difficult conditions shooting a new course record of five under par 65. Richardson’s round contained seven birdies and a solitary bogey on each nine.
“I drove it really well today which was important in the wet conditions. It meant I was able to be in a good position to get the ball on the green and have a number of realistic birdie putts”, said Richardson.
Richardson has been close several times this week but hasn’t been able to get a win, with a close second at Stanley yesterday.
“Early in the week I had been in a great position but let it slip in the final few holes. Today with a few holes to go the wind really got up and I was able to birdie three of the last five holes to claim the win”, said Richardson.
“It is great to get the win today which will give me some good confidence with the Victorian and Queensland PGA Championships in the next few weeks. I will then tackle the OneAsia circuit and hope to have some good results in Asia”.
Haynes was able to hold on to second place which rounded out a very consistent week and a half of golf for the overseas professional.
Joint winner at Exeter, John Collins from Queensland, finished on two under par 68 in outright third.
This rounds out the Tasmanian Pro-Am series, the eight events worth in excess of $50,000 were once again played on tremendously turned out courses. A reflection of the strength of the professional fields was that each Pro-Am was won by a different professional.