North Harbour Professional, Jake Meenhorst has taken out the first event of the 2024 season, winning the Cardinal Logistics Whitford Park Pro Am with two impressive 66's to win by one over South Korean, Junhyong Im and former New Zealand Open winner Michael Hendry.
Played in calm conditions at the pristine South Auckland Golf Course, the class field of 2024 did not disappoint in scoring, featuring; DP World Tour Player, Sam Jones, KPGA Tour players Junhyong Im & Byungjun Kim and former overseas winners, Kerry Mountcastle, Mike Hendry and Josh Geary as well as multiple PGA Tour of Australasia members as they prepare for the season ahead.
Benign conditions lead to a competitive leaderboard with 29 Players being Even Par or better over the 36 Hole event. Round 1 was especially competitive, with the Day 1 lead being a -5 66, shared by former NZ Open winner, Mike Hendry, Jake Meenhorst and PGATA player, Rhys Thomas. They were not alone, however as James Tauariki, former Australian Open, NZ Open and DP World Tour winner Peter Fowler and left hander, Gareth Paddison hot on the heels with rounds of 67.
Day 2 Scoring was just as good, with KPGA Tour player, Junhyong Im taking out low round honors with a bogey free -8 63 including six birides and an eagle to be one off the Course Record previously set by Harry Bateman in the 2021 edition to shoot up the leaderboard following his day one 70.
At the top of the leaderboard scoring came right down to the final two holes. Hamilton professional Rhys Thomas fired off three birdies in a row on his 14th, 15th & 16th holes to have a one shot lead at -10, however a costly leak right with a driver on his 17th hole lead to a double bogey to fall back back to his finishing score of -8, while Jake hit his approach on his 17th hole to a foot to move to the winning score of -10 with a par on his final hole enough to ensure solo honors. Mike Hendry couldn't quite keep up, his three birdies on his final 9 holes not enough to keep up with the leading score on his way to a final round 67 to finish -9 for the tournament alongside Junhyong Im.
Jake Meenhorst now leads the Mini Order of Merit for a spot to the NZ Open for those not already qualified, with third place getters Nick Coxon, James Hydes just behind as they will compete in the up coming Pro Ams to secure their spot in the 1.9million event.
The next event moves to Palmerston North for the BDL Dentures Palmerston North Pro Am on Tuesday 16th January.