Seven NZers through to Australasian tour

Fraser Wilkin. Photo: NZ Golf

Seven golfers from New Zealand have secured their cards on this year’s PGA Tour of Australasia after progressing through the final stage of a qualifying series in Melbourne.
The seven were Fraser Wilkin, Daniel Pearce, Lachie McDonald, Mathew Perry, Nick Gillespie, Tae Koh and Vaughan McCall. They finished inside the qualifying mark of the top 40 players following four rounds at the Sandhurst Golf Club in Melbourne.
Wilkin, from Auckland, was the best of the Kiwis. He finished 12th with a score of nine-under par.
Next best was Pearce from Ashburton. Pearce had missed out on qualifying for the Web.com Tour in the United States and was relieved to get back on the Australasian tour for another season.
“It’s a relief having my status back,” Pearce told Fairfax Media.
“I played so well last year but lost my card because I missed too many events towards the end of the year [from playing in China and trying to qualify for the Web.com]. I’m really excited about getting back out there this year.”
Manawatu amateur McDonald (20th), a standout performer for his province in recent Interprovincial tournaments, former Australian Amateur Championship winner Koh (34th) and former New Zealand Amateur champion McCall (37th) all did enough to begin their professional careers.
The news was not so good for Manawatu amateur Joshua Munn, a former New Zealand Amateur Champion and two-time winner on the New Zealand’s Charles Tour, and fellow Manawatu representative Tyler Hodge. They both missed the qualifying mark by one shot.

2016 PGA Tour of Australasia schedule
February 4-7
$A300,00 Victoria Open at 13th Beach Golf Links (Beach), Barwon Heads, Victoria.
Last year’s winner: Richard Green (Australia).
February 9-12
$A100,000 Victorian PGA Championship at Huntingdale Golf Club, Oakleigh South, Victoria.
Last year’s winner: Aaron Townsend (Australia).
February 25-28
$A1,750,000 Perth International at Lake Karrinyup Country Club, Perth.
Last year’s winner: Thorbjorn Olesen (Denmark).
March 3-6
$NZ125,000 Holden NZ PGA Championship at Remuera Golf Club, Auckland.
Last year’s winner: Matthew Millar (Australia).
March 10-13
$NZ1,000,000 BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand Open at The Hills, Arrowtown, New Zealand.
Last year’s winner: Jordan Zunic (Australia).
March 17-20
$A125,000 Queensland PGA Championship at City Golf Club, Toowoomba, Queensland.
Last year’s winner: Ryan Fox (New Zealand).
April 28-May 1(to be confirmed)
Western Australia Open Championship at Western Australian Golf Club, Yokine, Western Australia.
Last year’s winner: Daniel Fox (Australia).
May 12-15 (to be confirmed)
Western Australia PGA Championship at Kalgoorlie Golf Club, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia.
Last year’s winner: Brett Rumford (Australia).