mrbojumbles

Kidnapping young tour stars

// November 3rd, 2009 // News

Even Batman's cape wasn't this impressive

Please allow me to introduce mrbojumbles latest contributer – Mike Wakefield. Based out of the sunny Hawkes Bay, Mike’s handicap is a little sharper to the rest of the team which should open up a new realm of insight that can only be a good thing for you punters out there! (for more on Mike check out his bio in the ‘fellas’ page)

In a repeat of last year’s made-for-TV event, albeit with some variation, the “Kiwi Challenge” is scheduled to hit New Zealand’s shores for the second year running on the 11th and 12th of November 2009. The event this year will be held over two days at Cape Kidnappers Golf Course in Hawke’s Bay.

This year the four golfers; last year’s winner – Hunter Mahan, last year’s runner up – Anthony Kim, Sean O’Hair and Camilo Villegas will compete in a 36 hole stroke-play competition the same as last year’s event. For the winner there is the prize cheque of a cool US$1 million, and arguably the title of “best golfer under 30”.

Personally, I believe this quartet of golfers is a vast improvement on last year. Adam Scott, despite having one of the purest golf swings around put on a rough performance last year that merely highlight his inconsistent ball-striking of late, and Brandt Snedeker, after putting on a stirling showing at Kauri Cliffs hacked his way around Cape Kidnappers, managing to blow a 4 shot lead through only 9 holes. Those dismal performance and Snedeker’s oh-so-silly-that-it-can’t-be-taken-seriously name was obviously enough to convince course owner Julian Robertson to look to other talent.

Mahan, currently the 26th ranked golfer in the world, has said to media that “I played some of my best golf ever on the final holes to win last year’s event, so I’d sure call it one of my favourite places for a few reasons. The course is fantastic and the views are incredible; like nothing I’ve ever seen before”. Kim, currently ranked 18th in the world, has also said that he is looking to “come out on top this time around” (presumably without the implied sexual connotations).

As a spectator for the ’08 version at Kidnappers, I hope that the sunshine that bathed the course for last year’s competition turns up again in order to showcase New Zealand golf as being up there with the world’s best. I’d love to see this format encouraged further in our country to include the newly completed Jack’s Point golf course in Queenstown and hopefully the to be completed Gibbston Valley Golf Course near Arrowtown.

A limited number of spectator tickets are available for purchase from Ticket Direct. Tickets went on sale in September for $50.00 with all proceeds benefiting charities in the local community of Hawke’s Bay.

For coverage of last year’s event click here to see a brief little natter from mrbojumbles editor Reece Witters.

Just for the record, mrbojumbles hope to send Mike at this years edition of the Kiwi Challenge as a media representative – check back soon for extensive coverage.

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