Sport

New classic Pro-Am golf announced

A new event has been announced by the organisers of the New Zealand Golf open.

Set to be played over the weekend of April 2-3, the one-off Pro-Am event will be called the Millbrook Classic. The event aims to provide support for golfers adversely affected by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic which has limited playing opportunities.

When announcing the cancellation of the 2022 New Zealand Open, tournament organisers indicated they intended to hold a smaller Pro-Am event that could be hosted within the red light setting of the Covid Protection Framework. The Millbrook Classic will feature New Zealand Professionals, some of the country’s best elite amateur players and will have a total prize-purse of $150,000.

New Zealand Open Tournament Chairman John Hart says the team recognised the need to support New Zealand based players who have had a difficult time in the past two years.

“Since the pandemic hit our shores, Kiwi professionals have been faced with restrictions not only cancelling events here in New Zealand, but also affecting the ability to travel to tournaments throughout the world,” he said.

PHOTO: millbrook.co.nz

The Millbrook Classic Pro-Am will be hosted at the award winning Millbrook Resort.

The Millbrook Classic invited professional field will comprise 28 playing spots including two elite amateurs, and each player will be paired with a paying amateur.

The amateur field entrant fee will cover their own costs and the accommodation and golfing costs of one of the invited professionals for the Millbrook Classic. “Our aim is to make this a special occasion for the professionals, with prize money being distributed across the whole field. This will allow visiting players to stay at Millbrook Resort for the three nights at no cost, and any costs of getting to and from the event being well and truly offset by the prize pool,” said Hart.

PHOTO: Tommy Pyatt Photography

Brothers Miguel (left) and Nico Porteous.

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Rain causes pain once again...

In surely the most disrupted season on record, another rainy Saturday resulted in the cancellation of almost all cricket for Albion-Luggate teams.

It left only two matches going ahead either side of the affected day.

Youth: given this grade play on a Friday evening, a match would have been possible if it wasn't for the frustration of this team being defaulted against by their Cromwell opposition. Unlucky lads.

Division 1: shifted to a sunny Sunday morning, our Volts took on Molyneaux Firebirds and prevailed comfortably. Sending the Alexandrians into bat, our boys, led by a sensational 5/5 haul by William Noble-Kirkbride and 3/25 by Division 2's Toby Hartnell, bowled out MCC for 67.

In reply, the Volts had great knocks throughout their innings - it included James Muir (24), Ryan Keenan (26), Rosco Rowley (28) and another blistering effort from Sam Harper (49). They finishing their 25 overs at 195/7. The Hāweanladen Volts are an exciting prospect for the club’s future.

Division 3: Friday after school saw Albion Heat take on their intra-club buddies the Albion Flames on the brand new pitch at 3 Parks. Batting first, Heat batsmen made small contributions with Noah Williams’ 12 the top score as they reached 99. With 12 wickets lost in their innings and 10 from their opposition this was a game for the bowlers, as the Flame's Harper Norman (3 for 5)and John Quirke (3/4) proved.

In reply the same duo had excellent batting figures and together with Hamish Jamieson's run-a-ball 14, Logan Davidson’s efforts and Oliver Simpson's 10 compiled 125. With wickets evenly shared across the Heat bowlers and a heap of catches snared by both teams the match that launched Wānaka's newest cricketing asset was a cracker - well done to all, including the weatherwatching coaches!