Porter wins Jack Newton Classic
BY Anthony Powter | Special Events Tour | 2009 Jack Newton Celebrity Classic | Round Two | 17 Dec 2009
Ewan Porter birdied the first playoff hole to claim victory over Ken Druce and Aron Price in the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic at Cypress Lakes Resort in the Hunter Valley.
The three finished the 36-hole tournament with scores of nine under par to force the fourth playoff at “The Jack” in as many years.
The pro-am style celebrity classic is in its 31st year and continues to go from strength to strength with former Prime Minister, Bob Hawke alongside TV, film and sports stars all joining in the fun to raise money for Jack Newton’s chosen organisations, with this year’s event expecting to raise more $160,000.
A contingent of 54 celebrities and 50 professional golfers took to the fairway over the two-day event held at the Cypress Lakes Resort in the Hunter Valley.
“I am really impressed with the calibre of celebrities and professional golfers that have joined us this year,” said Newton. “Everyone leaves their egos at the door and enjoys three days of fun, relaxation and golf.”
Tournament winner, Ewan Porter, had nothing but praise for the event.
“I’ve played these style of events all over the world and Jack’s event is just fantastic,” said Porter after the playoff.
“It’s great to give something back. I was 12 when I first started in the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation and without that, I would not be where I am today.”
Porter returns to his Florida base in January to focus upon the Nationwide Tour for 2010. A previous winner on the Nationwide where he won the Moonah Links Classic in 2008, Porter outlasted a field at the Jack Newton Classic which included PGA Tour members Nathan Green, James Nitties, European Tour player, Peter O’Malley, and Asian Tour players, Aaron Townsend and Kurt Barnes.
“This event is obviously a fun event and the players approach it that way, but to have a win certainly gives me confidence heading back to the US next season,” said Porter.
Golf aside, the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic was again a mixture of great Aussie mateship, sport, good food and some serious entertaining. In was appears to be a continuing tradition, former Prime Minister The Hon R.J.L Hawke, Patron of the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic, again brought everyone to their feet at Tuesday’s dinner to join him in singing “Waltzing Matilda”.
It was classic stuff, with great camaraderie among the events participants continuing well into the evening and onto the following day.
That’s “The Jack”, some great golf and even better good old Aussie fun.
