Golf: Muriwai pivotal to Charles Tour hopes

The Autex Muriwai Open has become a pivotal leg in the Jennian Homes Charles Tour season with just two events remaining before we crown another Jennian Homes Trophy champion.

The Muriwai Links Golf Club was the destination where we crowned inaugural champion, Jim Cusdin last year, but with a schedule change it is now the penultimate event before history is made at the Carrus Open in Tauranga at the end of the month.

Brad Shilton is currently leading the points table after a dominant win at the Harewood Open, backed up by a solid performance at the Akarana Open last week. He will be a hard man to chase down given his golfing credentials.

Formidable names such as Josh Geary, Mark Brown and Akarana Open champion Gareth Paddison all sit within striking distance and will no doubt be looking to challenge Shilton for poll position.

Defending champion Pieter Zwart returns to the destination of his maiden victory on the national circuit and after a week off, will be fresh and ready to defend his title.

After an exciting and successful week at the Akarana Open, these two Auckland based events feed well off each other to pull together an impressive and very similar field.

Despite New Zealand Open champion, Michael Hendry returning to Japan this week after losing a marathon four-hole playoff last week, the field is still one for Muriwai to be proud of.

Top amateurs Henry Spring and Daniel Hillier were going toe-to-toe with some of New Zealand's best golfers and did not look out of place both finishing in a tie for third. Spring sadly fell short after incurring a penalty stroke which cost him a vital shot late in the final day and Hillier showed flare carding the low round of the tournament and all after a poor start of three over par on day one.

With the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship coming to the Royal Wellington Golf Club this year, it is exciting to see our amateurs performing at a high level with the chance to earn an invitation to both the Open Championship and The Masters.

It's going to be an exciting battle to see if this week's youth can top experience on one of the country's finest links golf courses.

The women's field is bound to be exciting with the certainty that there will be a different champion in 2017.

New Zealand Amateur Stroke Play Champion Amelia Garvey, who also won her maiden title last year, will not return to the tournament due to school requirements which leaves the door ajar for many.

After a very successful week at the Akarana Open, Hanee Song will be the wanting to walk straight through that door and make it back to back titles after proving her professionalism last week.

The young professional who has been plying her trade on the Australasia Tour returned home to win by two shots over Carmin Lim and Alanna Campbell. These two youngsters will be looking to turn that around this week and take charge.