Jack Newton Classic sees out 2009
BY Anthony Powter | Special Events Tour | 2009 Jack Newton Celebrity Classic | Preview | 15 Dec 2009
In what will see the Australasian season out, the 36 hole pro-am style Jack Newton Classic starts today at Cypress Lakes Resort in the Hunter Valley.
The classic is in its 31st year and continues to go from strength to strength in what is arguably one of the most enjoyable events on the Australian golfing calendar.
The professional roster includes a mixture of PGA Tour, Nationwide and Asian Tour players with Nathan Green, Nick Flanagan, Aron Price, Ewan Porter, Peter O’Malley, James Nitties, Ewan Porter, Aaron Townsend, Kurt Barnes, Paul Gow and NSW Open Champion, Leigh McKechnie, all ready to take to the fairway and raise funds for Diabetes Australia and the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation.
The men are supported by fellow female professionals Sarah Kemp, Nikki Garrett, Jo Mills, Annabel Rolley, Helen Oh, Katy Jarochowicz, Sarah Nicholson and Karen Lunn.
The celebrity roster features some of Australia’s favourite TV, film and sports stars including Sunrise’s James Tobin, Gary Sweet, Nathaniel Dean from Underbelly, Home and Away’s, and Luke Mitchell. Sporting stars also competing include Rugby League legend, Wally Lewis, world surfing champion, Layne Beachley, swimming great, Dawn Fraser, Jack Newton and netball great, Liz Ellis.
The Jack Newton Celebrity Classic and the Diabetes Australia Corporate Cup has seen the $4 million mark in funds being raised in the tournament’s time. Funds from both of those events go towards junior golf & diabetes research around Australia and in each state.
Newton, 59, was awarded with the OAM in 2007 for his work for promoting and raising funds for junior golf and research into the diabetes.
One of Australia’s most successful golfers in the 1970s and early 1980s, Jack Newton turned professional in 1971 and won his first professional tournament, the Dutch Open, in 1972.
He amassed 13 victories over the next decade including the Benson & Hedges International Open, the British Matchplay, the Buick-Goodwrench Open, and the Australian Open Championship.
Newton lost the 1975 British Open at Carnoustie to Tom Watson, who holed a 20-footer for a birdie on the 72nd hole to equal Newton. Watson defeated Newton by one stroke (71-72) in the 18-hole playoff.
He won the PGA Tour of Australia’s Order of Merit in 1979 and was the Chairman of the PGA Tour of Australasia from 1990-2000.
Last year Simon Furneaux won the Celebrity Classic and will return to defend his title after winning in a play-off over Sydney professional, Ewan Porter.
