Nick Voke takes $10,000 first prize at The Hills Pro-Am

Caption: Nick Voke at The Hills Pro-Am which he won last month along with the $10,000 first prize.

Nick Voke takes $10,000 first prize at The Hills Pro-Am

By Neville Idour

First round co-leader Nick Voke coped best with the at times very windy conditions to win the sixth The Hills Invitation Pro-Am by two shots.

His rounds last month of 69 and 69 at The Hills Golf Club in Arrowtown, near Queenstown, for a total of 138 were too consistent for European Tour player Daniel Hillier’s 69 and 71 (140).

Voke had five birdies and two bogeys while Hillier scored four birdies and three bogeys. The other first round co-leader Luke Brown faded with 75 and finished sixth.

After 12 holes in the second round Voke and Hillier were tied on four under par. However Voke birdied 13 and 14 so the margin was two shots with four holes to go and Voke left nothing to chance with birdies a difficult ask in the strong winds.

Voke made sure of par on the last four holes with shots to each green leaving him comfortable two putts for par and the $10,000 winner’s purse.

Gracious in victory Voke said: “Daniel and I are fortunate that we have been playing tournaments regularly on tour whereas most of you here haven’t played competitive golf for months because of covid.”

For one of the tournament favourites, Queenstowner James Anstiss, this proved true as he battled the conditions finishing 11 shots off the pace.

Voke will leave for the United States this month to again play on the Korn Ferry Tour while Hillier goes to back to Europe to play the Challenge Tour with the full European Tour in his sights.

Three players tied for third on 142. They were Harry Bateman, a former tournament winner, Luke Toomey and Ryan Chisnall who all had solid under par second rounds.

LPGA Symetra Tour player Amelia Garvey, from Canterbury, showed her ability with two rounds of 74 and 71 for eighth. On the 424 metre par five 13th she only required driver and a wedge to reach the green for her birdie. She heads backs to the United States this month to play the tour and link up again with coach and former PGA Tour player, Kiwi Grant Waite.