Amateur prevails in Muriwai Open three-way playoff
James Hydes with his trophies after his win in the Muriwai Open. Photo credit New Zealand Golf
A playoff was needed to find the winner of the Muriwai Open in Auckland — and the victor was an amateur golfer.
Three players were tied for the lead at 10 under par at the conclusion of the regulation four rounds of play and it was 21-year-old James Hydes from Gulf Harbour in Auckland who came out on top.
Hydes began the fourth round three shots behind the leaders and had not made up any ground when at par through the first nine holes with blustery weather making for difficult playing conditions.
But he rattled off four birdies in a row from holes 11-14 to get back into contention and standing on the 18th tee he was tied for second with Jordan Loof and one shot behind leader Ryan Chisnall.
Chisnall, however, let victory slip through his fingers with a bogey on the 18th hole. That allowed Loof and Hydes, with pars on the 18th, into a three-way split for the lead.
Hydes only scored par on the first playoff hole but that was enough to secure victory and become just the seventh person in the history of the Charles Tour, sponsored by Jennian Holmes, to win as an amateur.
Hydes said the win at the beginning of the month was a dream come true.
“This feels unreal,’’ Hydes said afterwards.
“I can’t believe I’ve just won a professional event. I’m speechless right now.”
Although he was three shots back at the beginning of the day, Hydes knew the conditions would favour the style of golf he likes to play. He said believing in himself all day was key to getting the job done.
“I knew it was going to be windy out there today and I’m a pretty good player in the wind,’’ he said.
“I just needed to back myself the whole day and I knew I would be a chance if I could do that.
“I just stuck to my game plan and tried to have as much fun as I could. It was pretty easy doing that with a couple of mates Chizzy (Chisnall) and Jordy (Loof).
Hydes had recently been selected for the New Zealand Golf national academy, and it’s been a goal of his to win a Charles Tour event before he turned professional.
He’ll now turn his attention to the remaining Charles Tour events that resume in October.
Scores:
278 James Hydes (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 70 68 72 68, Jordan Loof (PGA New Zealand) 70 68 69 71, Ryan Chisnall (PGA New Zealand) 68 67 72 71
281 Josh Geary (PGA New Zealand) 70 68 73 70
285 Michael Hendry (PGA New Zealand) 69 70 73 73
286 Gareth Paddison (PGA New Zealand, Manor Park) 69 71 76 70, Momoka Kobori (Rangiora) 70 74 71 71
287 Lachie McDonald (Marton) 75 71 71 70
288 Matt McLean (Harewood) 69 70 74 75
290 Vivian Lu (Royal Auckland and Grange) 71 76 74 69, Kieran Muir (Omokoroa) 72 71 75 72, Hanee Song (New Zealand) 71 70 74 75, Kazuma Kobori (Rangiora) 72 71 72 75
291 Luke Toomey (PGA New Zealand) 73 74 76 68
292 Harry Bateman (PGA New Zealand) 76 73 76 67
293 Mark Hutson (PGA New Zealand) 73 74 74 72, Joshua Bai (Akarana) 73 72 76 72, Dongwoo Kang (PGA New Zealand) 70 69 80 74, Darae Chung (Shandon) 70 74 75 74, Cameron Jones (PGA New Zealand) 67 74 77 75
294 Chang Gi Lee (PGA New Zealand) 70 76 77 71, Mason Lee (PGA New Zealand) 75 75 73 71, Munchin Keh (P) 70 72 80 72, Woonchul Na (PGA New Zealand) 71 71 78 74, Shaun Campbell (Omanu) 70 73 75 76
295 Tyler Wood (Palmerston North) 71 77 77 70, Sean Riordan (PGA New Zealand) 72 78 72 73, Johnny Tynan (Titirangi) 73 73 75 74, Daniel Hillier (PGA New Zealand) 71 69 78 77, Mark Brown (PGA New Zealand) 73 71 74 77, Richard Lee (PGA New Zealand) 68 73 76 78
296 Dominic Barson (New Plymouth Inc.) 70 71 81 74, Michael Brodie (Mangawhai) 71 74 76 75, Jared Edwards (Royal Auckland and Grange) 74 73 74 75, Tae Koh (Windross Farm Golf Course) 74 72 74 76, Nick Loach (PGA New Zealand) 72 72 69 83
297 Jimmy Zheng (Howick) 74 73 79 71, Samuel Jones (Manaia) 74 76 74 73, Kunaal Singh (New Zealand) 74 73 74 76
298 Trent Munn (Manawatu) 70 72 85 71, Douglas Holloway (PGA New Zealand) 72 74 78 74, Martin Pettigrew (PGA New Zealand) 75 75 73 75, Tyler Hodge (P, Gulf Harbour Country Club) 72 74 76 76, Jaeseung Na (Pakuranga) 69 71 82 76, Jesper Bengtsson (North Shore) 71 76 75 76, Brad Shilton (PGA New Zealand) 71 73 78 76, Jordan Woodall (Cambridge) 73 73 75 77, Brenden Stuart (PGA New Zealand) 76 71 74 77
299 Sam An (Titirangi) 76 72 76 75
300 Jerry (Xiangming) Ren (P, Gulf Harbour Country Club) 74 75 77 74, Jayden Ford (Judgeford) 71 78 77 74, Pieter Zwart (PGA New Zealand) 72 75 73 80
301 Zachary May (Russley) 74 76 80 71, Peter Fowler (PGA New Zealand) 78 72 77 74, Carmen Lim (Windross Farm Golf Course) 70 79 76 76
302 Matthew Latham (Redwood Park) 77 70 80 75, Mako Thompson (Maraenui) 75 75 77 75, Tom Parker (Christchurch) 74 75 77 76
303 Wenyung Keh (P) 74 76 82 71, James Fellows-Ford (Hamilton - St Andrews) 75 73 78 77, Anna An (Muriwai) 73 76 75 79
304 Julianne Alvarez (P) 74 76 79 75, Jessica Huang (Pakuranga) 79 69 77 79
305 Amy Im (Pupuke) 73 75 78 79, Kit Bittle (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 77 72 77 79
306 Thomas Woods (Miramar) 77 72 80 77
307 Mitchell Kale (Tauranga) 75 75 78 79, Caitlin Maurice (Omokoroa) 76 74 77 80
309 Misong Jang (North Shore) 76 74 82 77, Karan Nalam (Royal Auckland and Grange) 74 76 80 79, Sam Marsters (Miramar) 70 76 79 84
310 James Tauariki (Futures Geyserland) 75 75 76 84