Two new names were added to the Charles Tour honours’ list with Peter Zwart and Amelia Garvey winning the men’s and women’s divisions of the Muriwai Open in Auckland.
Zwart completed a wire to wire victory with a smile on his face as he walked the final hole of the season in comfort to win the Autex Muriwai Open by four shots. He showed no signs of easing up all week with rounds of 65, 66, 69 and 70 for an 18 under par total of 270.
The Hawke’s Bay professional was determined from the start and his emotions were hard to hide after winning for the first time on the national circuit.
“It’s a bit of a relief really,’’ Zwart said.
“I have worked hard for this, so to get the job done on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour is very satisfying.”
The 29-year-old had made his intentions clear all week, so to win the final event of the Charles Tour season meant much for him and his family.
“This is not just me, it’s a team, with everyone back at home helping me the whole way,’’ he said.
“It will be nice to celebrate with them back in the bay.’’
Zwart was keen to shed any thoughts he was a nearly man.
“It was getting to that stage when you are looked at as a player who has the ability, but never quite pull through.
“But now to be considered as a person who has won a four-round tournament in New Zealand, it definitely ticks off a few goals.”
Zwart was pleased with the way the Charles Tour is playing it’s part in New Zealand.
 

“There’s an opportunity for everyone. The prize funds are going up and it shows there is more interest in the game of golf in New Zealand and it’s obviously more beneficial to everyone.”
To top the week off for Zwart he shared the lowest round of the tournament with Johnny Tynan with a score of 65 on the first day. Consequently Zwart and Tynan shared a pallet of Asahi beer for their efforts.
Garvey’s win in the women’s division of the Muriwai Open confirmed the promise of the 15-year-old.
“It’s awesome,’’ Garvey said.
“I have struggled to get the win for quite a while so it was nice to have a good day today. I’m pretty glad I didn’t three putt from eight feet on the last,” she added with a laugh.
Garvey is in the New Zealand academy so for her to finish this off under pressure is a big step in her development and is certainly one to watch in the future.
The Muriwai Open was the final event of the Charles Tour season. The 2016-17 season begins with the Carrus Open in Tauranga in September.

Muriwai Open: Men’s scores

270 Pieter Zwart (P) 65 66 69 70
274 Tyler Hodge (P) 66 67 69 72
279 Luke Brown (Muriwai) 68 76 68 67, Troy Ropiha (P) 69 70 71 69, Ben Campbell (P) 72 67 69 71, Brad Shilton (P) 68 68 70 73, Ryan Chisnall (Greenacres) 66 71 67 75
280 Daniel Pearce (P) 73 72 66 69, Joshua Leitch (Maungakiekie) 72 71 68 69
281 Johnny Tynan (Titirangi) 74 71 71 65
283 Jake Meenhorst (Huapai) 67 75 69 72, David Klein (P, Germany) 71 67 70 75
284 Henry Spring (Whakatane) 70 75 66 73
285 Sam Vincent (Riverside) 72 72 72 69, Daniel Hillier (Manor Park) 72 72 70 71
287 Jordan Loof (Royal Wellington) 69 76 70 72
288 Brad Hayward (P) 67 75 74 72, Kevin Koong (Huapai) 72 68 76 72, Sam An (P) 75 74 67 72
289 Shaun Jones (P) 69 73 74 73
290 Brian Joe (Titirangi) 72 70 73 75, Martin Pettigrew (P) 72 73 70 75
291 Mark Hutson (Muriwai) 71 75 72 73, Hayden Beard (P) 72 72 73 74
292 Dominic Barson (P) 75 72 73 72, Brenden Stuart (P) 75 69 72 76
293 Nathan Kim (Akarana) 69 78 77 69, Kit Bittle (Peninsula) 75 75 72 71
294 Richard Lee (P) 71 75 78 70, Jake Lee (Huapai) 73 74 74 73
295 Nick Coxon (Riverside) 72 76 73 74, Wesley Jeon (P) 72 72 76 75
296 Inia Logan (Wakatipu Junior) 76 74 76 70, Chang Gi Lee (Pupuke) 75 73 75 73, Jim Cusdin (P) 72 72 77 75, Leonard Powell (Clarks Beach) 69 73 77 77, Shaun Campbell (Omanu) 69 71 77 79
297 Jonathan Cane (Royal Wellington) 75 75 75 72, Keiran Brook (Whitford Park) 71 75 77 74, Peter Lee (P) 70 74 77 76
298 Christian Nitsche (Whangarei) 75 75 77 71, James Devlin (P) 74 74 77 73, Julian Fowler (Northland) 72 79 72 75, Doug Holloway (P) 70 77 76 75
299 James Hydes (Peninsula) 77 72 74 76, Sam Yoshifuji (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 70 73 78 78
302 Taylor Gill (Bay of Islands Kerikeri Incorporated) 73 75 76 78
303 Jimmy Zheng (Howick) 75 76 77 75, Jason Gulasekharam (North Shore) 79 72 77 75, Steven Han (P) 72 78 74 79
304 Tyler Wood (Ngahinepouri) 75 74 83 72
306 Reid Perry (Manawatu) 73 78 74 81
307 Dane McArdle (P, Australia) 77 73 77 80, Simon Ellis (Muriwai) 75 76 74 82
309 Sung Jin Yeo (North Shore) 75 75 80 79, Karan Nalam (Royal Auckland) 77 74 78 80
310 Leslie Eckard (Huapai) 77 73 85 75
313 Davis Oh (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 76 75 78 84, Sungwoo Han (Queenstown) 78 73 78 84

Muriwai Open: Women’s scores

285 Amelia Garvey (Kaiapoi) 70 72 73 70
287 Momoka Kobori (Rangiora) 68 77 73 69
288 Rica Tse (P) 72 71 71 74
296 Ali Orchard (P, Australia) 71 71 80 74
299 Jenna Hunter (P) 71 75 75 78
301 Darae Chung (Shandon) 77 72 79 73
306 Shani White (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 78 73 77 78
309 Ela Grimwood (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 78 78 77 76
310 Siyi Keh (Pakuranga) 77 76 78 79
311 Rotana Howard (Springfield) 76 77 79 79
313 Carmen Lim (Manukau) 78 74 80 81, Brittney Dryland (Titirangi) 79 77 76 81
314 Rose Zheng (Pakuranga) 77 76 79 82