Kerry Mountcastle’s 2024 plans 

                                                                                        By Neville Idour

Golfer Pacific caught up with Super Six winner Kerry Mountcastle at the recent The Hills Invitation Pro-Am.  We kicked off asking about his background.

“I grew up in Otaki. My father was manager at the Otaki Golf Club so from a very young age of about three when I could walk I was always out with him. 

``But after he moved away when I was five-ish I only played golf in the school holidays when I went and stayed with him. It wasn’t until I was 16 years old when I could drive myself around that I started playing a bit more. I was in Masterton at the time and have been there ever since. I turned professional in 2021 and have slowly worked my way up the rankings since then.”

What about your career as an amateur? As he related 2018 was a big year for him.

``I won the New Zealand Strokeplay in 2018 and the Carrus Tauranga Charles Tour event as well. I played in the Eisenhower in 2018 and also finished runner-up in the New Zealand Amateur, just missing out on the double. I then took most of the covid year off golf because I was hating golf at the time. So I went back to work and got paid in 2020.”

In early 2021 he won the Manawatu Sixes. 

“I turned pro after that then played in New Zealand for a couple of years. I finished fifth in the order of merit in 2022 which gave me some status in Australia. So playing in Australia from October this season using that status and getting the win I now have winners’ status in Australia. That means I get into all events for two and a half years.”

We ask what 2024 is looking like?

“There are eight events on the Aussie Tour starting 11th January. The top three at the end of the season get DP World Tour cards.” 

At time of writing he is effectively third or fourth. We then ask him about playing any Asian Tour events. 

“I might try and get a few invites into the International Series Events after having a good first round in the LIV promotions event. My main focus will still be the Australasian Tour and trying to cement my good position to gain DP World Tour status.”

Tell us about the LIV experience.

``It was really good. Everyone was really friendly and it was a very different format for a Q school with having qualifying into different days. Every day being it's own day and resetting. After a great first day, unfortunately a plus one (score) that second day was not good enough. However in some ways it is a good format.”

We asked how he qualified for the event. 

“I didn’t even know about it until the Monday after my win which was only three weeks before it was happening. A TPC member on the Aussie Tour called me after I won and gave me a heads up about it. He said to look into it and make my own decision. My win guaranteed I qualified for one of the three Aussie Tour spots available for the qualifier.”

So Kerry Mountcastle is another KIwi to watch on the world golf scene which is now providing many more opportunities, in no small way because of the LIV golf influence.