Gareth Paddison became the first player to win consecutive tournaments on New Zealand’s professional golf circuit, the Charles Tour, when he won the Muriwai Open in Auckland.
Paddison led from start to finish in the Autex Muriwai Open with scores of 64, 69, 69 and 71 to finish at 15 under par and five shots clear of his nearest rival.
The previous week Paddison had won the Akarana Open in Auckland when he held New Zealand Open winner Michael Hendry at bay in a marathon playoff that went an extra four holes.
The Wellington professional, from Manor Park Golf Sanctuary, was proud of his achievements.
“Going back to back is really special and it was great to lead from start to finish this week, which is a first for me,” Paddison said.
“It’s always nice to be part of New Zealand Golf history, because I haven’t been in it much.’’
The two wins also put him in line for an additional $5000 as the winner of the Jennian Homes Trophy which is for the player who tops the Charles Tour order-of-merit table.
“To be in the driver’s seat for the Jennian Homes Trophy is fantastic,’’ Paddison said.
“Any bit of extra money is of massive value with the amount of expenses we have as professionals.”
Mark Brown, who had finished third at Akarana, once again featured in the final group on the last day at Muriwai and ended up taking second. Brown gave Paddison an early fright but could only manage a matching round of 71.
Shaun Jones was third after making an exciting run of six birdies in eight holes to add to the tension, but a demoralising four-putt on the 17th green quickly ruined his chances.

Meanwhile, in the women’s division of the Muriwai Open, Chantelle Cassidy was back in the winner’s circle after a clinical performance over the weekend to win by four strokes.
This was Cassidy’s fourth title on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour in three different tournaments to show her skill in a range of different conditions.
Cassidy was ecstatic to be back on top of the leaderboard and win her maiden Muriwai Open title.
“It feels great to finally get a win under the belt this year,’’ Cassidy said.
“I’m just so excited and it means a lot to win another Jennian Homes Charles Tour event.
“I started par, birdie which settled my nerves early and the putts started dropping on the back nine which was very pleasing.”
No one can argue with Cassidy’s dominance at this level and after her fourth victory on the Charles Tour, turning professional might just be around the corner.
“There is a chance in the near future,’’ she said.
“I am just discussing with my coach about the next step and it should be an exciting year. I’m looking forward to heading back overseas at some stage and hopefully getting more experience.”

Muriwai Open scores

Scores from the Autex Muriwai Open held at the Muriwai Links Golf Club from April 6-9 were:-
Men (par 72)
273 Gareth Paddison (PGA New Zealand) 64 69 69 71
278 Mark Brown (PGA New Zealand) 70 71 66 71
279 Shaun Jones (PGA New Zealand) 71 68 69 71
281 Josh Geary (PGA New Zealand) 72 64 77 68
283 Matthew McLean (Harewood) 74 69 68 72
284 Mark Hutson (Muriwai) 72 70 70 72, Campbell Rawson (P, Australia) 69 75 68 72
285 Kieran Muir (Omokoroa) 69 73 73 70, Luke Toomey (PGA New Zealand) 73 71 69 72
286 Fraser Wilkin (Royal Auckland) 72 76 69 69
287 Douglas Holloway (PGA New Zealand) 72 72 70 73, Chang Gi Lee (Pupuke) 69 69 73 76
288 Harry Bateman (Muriwai) 75 75 69 69, Sean Riordan (PGA New Zealand) 73 70 71 74
289 Scott Hellier (Gore) 70 75 72 72, Pieter Zwart (PGA New Zealand) 72 72 72 73, Dale Williamson (P, Australia) 78 73 65 73
290 Jordan Loof (Akarana) 74 69 77 70, Troy Ropiha (PGA New Zealand) 74 71 73 72
291 Luke Brown (Muriwai) 74 73 72 72, Tae Koh (Windross Farm Golf Course) 74 71 70 76, Hayden Beard (Mt Maunganui) 72 73 68 78
292 David Klein (Te Anau) 71 76 72 73
293 Jimmy Zheng (Howick) 74 75 72 72, Woonchul Na (PGA New Zealand) 76 73 71 73, Lachie McDonald (Marton) 73 68 76 76
294 Sam An (Titirangi) 78 73 70 73
295 Steven Heyes (New Plymouth Inc.) 74 73 76 72, Kwanghue Kim (Akarana) 75 74 73 73, Nick Coxon (Riverside) 74 72 73 76
297 Wesley Jeon (Whitford Park) 79 72 74 72, Jonathan Mackay (Lower Waitaki) 75 72 72 78
298 Matthew Friend (Wainui) 73 74 74 77
299 Justin Morris (PGA New Zealand) 78 73 74 74, William Howard (Tauranga) 71 74 72 82
300 Markopolo Fullepp (New Zealand) 77 74 77 72
301 Trevor Marshall (PGA New Zealand) 73 74 77 77
304 Kit Bittle (Wainui) 77 72 74 81
305 Kerry Mountcastle (Masterton) 81 70 78 76, Jeremy Hall (Green Acres Country Club) 77 72 80 76, Taylor Gill (Bay of Islands Kerikeri Incorporated) 75 72 79 79
306 Jack Lee (Pupuke) 76 73 84 73, Sam Yoshifuji (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 74 72 81 79
307 Inia Logan (Wakatipu Junior) 71 79 79 78
308 Christian Nitsche (Whangarei) 76 75 73 84
309 David Riordan (Nelson Inc.) 75 72 82 80, Johnny Tynan (Titirangi) 78 72 76 83
310 Steven Han (PGA New Zealand) 72 79 81 78, Ben Guilford (PGA New Zealand) 82 69 77 82
312 Jee Hwan (Davis) Oh (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 71 78 86 77
314 Tyler Wood (Ngahinepouri) 75 76 83 80
315 James Perkinson (P, Australia) 74 76 79 86
Women (par 72)
279 Chantelle Cassidy (Riverside) 74 68 69 68
283 Hanee Song (North Shore) 73 66 73 71
290 Alanna Campbell (Omanu) 74 70 75 71
298 Jenna Hunter (P) 72 78 72 76
301 Caryn Khoo (Pakuranga) 78 75 74 74
304 Siyi Keh (Pakuranga) 77 71 80 76, Brittney Dryland (Titirangi) 75 77 76 76
308 Miree Jung (Titirangi) 75 73 79 81
311 Darae Chung (Shandon) 82 77 78 74
313 Silvia Brunotti (Takapuna-Thomas Park) 79 75 79 80
319 Anna An (Muriwai) 79 81 81 78
320 Jessica Huang (Pakuranga) 83 78 78 81
325 Fiona Xu (Pakuranga) 81 80 83 81