|
 
"A Tournament with a Difference"
2009
- Increased Prizemoney
- New Courses in the rotation
- Dates Set
Latest News
Increased Prizemoney - the 2009 Meriton Sydney Invitational will see an $12,500 increase in prizemoney for next year's event to a total of $137,500 (inc GST) for the professionals. The amateurs will again compete for prizes and trophies worth more than $40,000.
New Courses in the rotation - we are pleased to announce that the NSW and St Michaels golf courses have been added to the 2009 course rotation, along with Terrey Hills and Macquarie Links.
2009 Dates - Monday 23rd March at Terrey Hills, Tuesday 24th at NSW, Wednesday 25th at Macquarie Links, and, Thursday 26th at St Michaels.
...................................................................................
2008...........Clear and sunny skies.
After weeks of wild storms and inches of rain, the players in this year’s Meriton Sydney Invitational enjoyed fabulous weather, with blue sunny skies and 30 degree windless days – a golfer’s delight.
Now in its 5th year, the 256 players tested their games at Terrey Hills, Macquarie Links, the Lakes and finally at the newly revamped Cromer course.
This unique event was again very well supported with World #63, Brendan Jones headlining the tournament, along with tournament winner, Scott Laycock, Terry Price, Cameron Percy, Chris Campbell, and young guns James Nitties and Kurt Barnes. The ALPG section of the event saw Joanne Mills desperate to hold off a slew of players including Loraine Lambert, Kristie Newton and last years winner Shani Waugh.
The format of the event sees a professional (both PGA and ALPG) playing for the “big bucks” in their individual event, as well as simultaneously playing with their three amateur partners as a team for the four days, and with the amateurs scores go towards the professional winning prize money in the Team Nett and Team Scratch events.
This year Team Shaw comprising Peter Shaw (PGA), Bill Blair (Killara 3), Joe Vitanza (Castle Hill 15), and Walter Devecchis (Riverside Oaks 24) won the Team Nett event with a terrific score of 356 points. The Shaw team ran away with the event and won by 12 points from Team Forrest.
The Team Scratch event was a little closer, but still convincing with Lucas Bates (PGA) leading his team mates, Gavin Williams (Monash 7), Mark Stevens (Monash 4), and Sean Lee (Long Reef 5) to a 4 point victory from Team Downes 304 points to 300 points.
The PGA event was won by Scott Laycock with 157 points (equivalent to 13 under par); second place was Steven Jeffress on 155, Matthew Ecob (151), Tristian Lambert (150), 2007 winner Leigh McKecknie (149), and Brendan Jones, Anthony Summers and Nevin Basic (148 points).
The ALPG event saw European Tour winner Joanne Mills take the crystal and winner’s cheque with 148 points (4 under par) from “part-time player and Bega farmer” Loraine Lambert two points adrift, and soon to be bride Kristie Newton taking third place.
In the individual amateur event the courses were once again the winner with no player playing to their handicap over the 72 holes. Two players from Team Kelly fought out a cliff hanger with former winner Rick Gibson (Terrey Hills off 15) victorious with 142 points winning by three points from Australian golf club scratch marker Paul Blake. John Dalley used all his local knowledge at the Lakes on day 3 to score 38 points and give himself a chance to repeat his 2007 victory but settled for third place.
The ladies individual event saw team mates Lyn Buckley and Patricia Steinberg go neck and neck for four days and sweet smell of victory going to Lyn with 129 points.
The four day event concluded with a Gala Charity Dinner at Star City Casino with more than 350 players, sponsors and guests enjoying the sounds of Neil Diamond impersonator, Peter Byrne and his band. The night was bought to a close with Harry and Rhonda Triguboff presenting a cheque for $50,000 to the representatives of the Westmead Children’s Hospital INMR department. The Meriton event has now raised in excess of $255,000 for charity since 2004.
|
