Jack Newton Classic celebrates 30 years
BY Anthony Powter | Special Events Tour | 2008 Jack Newton Celebrity Classic | Preview | 15 Dec 2008
The Jack Newton Classic celebrates it’s 30th anniversary when the 36 hole pro-am style tournament starts tomorrow at Cypress Lakes Resort in the Hunter Valley.
The professional roster includes a mixture of PGA Tour, Nationwide and Asian Tour players with Nathan Green, Nick Flanagan, Aron Price, Ewan Porter, Won Joon Lee, James Nitties, Andre Stolz, Paul Gow and Paul Sheenhan all ready to take to the fairway and raise funds for Diabetes Australia and the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation.
Aaron Townsend, winner of last month’s NSW Open and a product of the JNGF, will be seeking to repeat his performance and make it two wins from two trips to the Hunter Valley.
The men are supported by fellow female professionals Sarah Kemp, Nikki Garrett, Kristie Smith, Jo Mills, Cherie Byrnes, Katy Jarochowicz, Vicky Thomas and Shani Waugh.
Headlining the celebrity roster are some of Australia’s favourite TV and film stars including Home And Away’s Lincoln Lewis, Conrad Coleby and Esther Anderson. Dancing With the Stars host Daniel Macpherson, Temptation’s Livinia Nixon, The Footy Show’s Paul Harragon. Dawn Fraser, John Newcombe and international actor Justin Melvey will also do their part to raise funds for charity.
“The Celebrity Classic goes well beyond your standard Pro-Am golf tournament,” said event host and Founder, Jack Newton.
“When you’ve still got over 50 celebrities, 50 professional golfers and significant support at a corporate level in your 30th year, then you know you’ve got an attractive product and a well established format.”
A review of the event’s records reveals since the tournament’s inception in 1979, the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic and Diabetes Corporate Cup has collectively donated over $3 million dollars to the cause. That coupled with a bit of fun, has the event stationed as one of the more “relaxed” tournaments on the Australian summer schedule.
“There is a real purpose behind it,” says Newton. “At the same time there’s some serious golf to be played as well.”
Last year Peter Fowler was victorious with a score of 8-under-par for the 36 holes and will return to defend his title after winning in a play-off over Sydney professional, Dean Kinney.
