Wright takes out Daikin Night Golf Shootout

BY iseekgolf.com | Von Nida Tour | 2006 Queensland PGA | General | 01 Nov 2006

Queenslander Michael Wright last night holed a two metre putt at the last hole of the evening to take out the 2006 Daikin Night Golf Shootout at Emerald Lakes on the Gold Coast.

Now one of the features on the Gold Coast golfing calendar, the event attracted the largest crowd since its inception four years ago, thanks in no small part to the presence of locally based teenage star, Amy Yang, and Emerald Lakes’ recently graduated trainee professional, Nick Teague. Both attracted new followers to the night and although neither was able to last the distance, they played their part in attracting a crowd that reflected the growing status of the event.

At the very first hole Teague hit his tee shot at the reachable par four to just two metres from the hole and in actual fact came very close to holing out for an ace at the 280 metre opening hole of Emerald Lakes back nine. His eagle won the hole but the object of the exercise tonight however was to not finish last and for Terry Price it would be he who would bow out after he bladed his second from the greenside bunker through the green.

Amy Yang, who just 48 hours earlier had finished fourth behind Annika Sorenstam, Helen Alfredsson and Karrie Webb in her very first event as a professional in Dubai, had rushed back to support the event but fell victim to a poor tee shot at the second hole which found the water and she was gone to the disappointment of many of her growing band of fans. She had, however, already played her part in the success of the night by just being there.

At the par five third it was Teague who said goodnight after his second found the water and, at the par three 4th hole of the evening, Lucas Parsons, still suffering from back ailment that forced him to withdraw from last week’s Queensland Open, finally ran out of steam and he was gone.

At the 5th hole both Peter Senior and Michael Wright found the trees with their tee shots but it was Senior who was unable to clear those when chipping out and his bogey was enough to see him on his way.

At the par four 6th, Kurt Barnes, who earlier in the day had badly damaged his toe, was gone despite a brilliant tee shot that must have been all of 310 metres. He finished the most distance from the hole in regulation however and although he was not the only one to make par, he was hobbling his way back to the clubhouse.

The 7th hole saw Cameron Percy, the recent winner of the Von Nida Tour’s Minniecon and Burke Queensland Masters, eliminated after his drive finished behind trees and he was unable to shape his second as much as he wanted. He missed the green left and his bogey was not good enough.

With only three players left, the par long par three 17th would decide those who would advance to the final hole and the chance to play for $5,000. Rowan Beste who had been a surprise winner of the event in 2005, appeared to be on track for another win until a poor tee shot left him short of the green.

Beste and Euan Walters bogeyed the hole to Wright’s par, but the deciding factor here, where more was at stake, would be a chip off to decide who would join Wright at the final hole. Unfortunately for Beste when he dropped the ball it finished in a poor lie and he had little chance of controlling his delicate pitch. Walters made sure he found the green and so it would be Walters and Wright who would play the last.

Wright missed the fairway but was well placed with a nice angle and a good lie and with just 114 metres left his gap wedge finished two metres behind the hole. Walters was just a few yards closer after taking driver from the tee but his shot was wide and long and he faced a 25 foot putt for his birdie. It missed and when Wright holed his it was all over.

Wright now heads in to this week’s Greater Building Society’s Queensland PGA Championship buoyed by what has been a good start to the week.

“I love the concept and although this is only the second time I have played under lights, I thought the whole night was a great event,” said Wright after being presented with his cheque.

For Walters it was at least a better sign after a year of frustration on the Nationwide Tour and the $2000, is some consolation. Beste earned $1000 for his night’s work.