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Home / Sport

Luke Toomey playing for the love of golf and not the trophies

Zoe Hunter
By Zoe Hunter
Bay of Plenty Times·
13 Oct, 2019 06:52 PM3 mins to read

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Luke Toomey won the Carrus Open in Tauranga in front of friends and family. Photo / George Novak

Luke Toomey won the Carrus Open in Tauranga in front of friends and family. Photo / George Novak

Luke Toomey has learned a lesson from his four year old self.

Before he turned professional, Toomey said the boy in him just played for the love of golf and not for the trophies.

"Four-year-old Luke couldn't have cared less about what he shot or what he won, he just loved playing golf," he said.

"If I can be half of that now, I think that is a pretty good place to be."

But last weekend, the 26-year-old lifted a trophy in a moment he will treasure forever.

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READ MORE:
• Golf: Toomey goes back-to-back on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour with Carrus Open win in Tauranga

Toomey won the Carrus Open in front of loved ones on his home course in Tauranga on Sunday, securing back-to-back tournaments on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour.

He also won the DVS Pegasus Men's Open title in Christchurch at the beginning of the month.

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Toomey said it wasn't often that his mum and girlfriend were able to walk alongside him in a tournament, which made the win even sweeter.

"To go and hoist up a trophy for them is just an unbelievable feeling," he said.

"It felt like it was me and the world versus a few other guys. It certainly filled me with energy. Especially right at a time when I was running on empty."

Returning to Tauranga after a not so successful stint in China, Toomey said his immediate focus went to the New Zealand events.

"To win both is the best way I know how to say thank you and what that means to me is really indescribable," he said.

The double win has opened up more opportunity for the Tauranga pro, who will attend Qualifying School with the PGA of Australia in January.

But he is yet to decide what is next for his golf career.

"Now I might potentially have the funding to get myself to Asia or I might even bank that and save it for Japan or Europe later in the year," he said.

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One thing that is certain, is the love he felt for the game when he first picked up the clubs when he was four remains strong today.

"I play because I love the game and I still do," he said.

Mount Maunganui golf pro Hayden Beard. Photo / George Novak
Mount Maunganui golf pro Hayden Beard. Photo / George Novak

Meanwhile, Mount Maunganui pro golfers Hayden Beard and Josh Geary and Ōmokoroa's Kieran Muir are in China for the Hainan Open, Foshan Open and China Tour Championship.

Muir has a lot to play for in the upcoming China events, which could see him leapfrog from third to first on the China Tour order of merit to secure a full European Tour card for 2020.

"I'm looking forward to competing. The course and host setup are both new to me. That's both challenging and exciting at the same time," he said.

"Like any event, it's a chance to learn and improve. Put systems in place, test them and then evaluate. This week helps prepare me for the next."

Omokoroa's Kieran Muir. Photo / File
Omokoroa's Kieran Muir. Photo / File

Josh Geary also has a lot riding on China, with hopes to finish in the top 15 so he can secure a spot on the European Tour next year.

Hayden Beard hopes to finish inside the top 60 to secure his playing status on the China Tour for 2020.

"I feel great going into the Hainan Open game and looking to cement myself through to next year," he said.

"This is one of the last three tournaments left on this tour so good performances in these two events should help lock up my tour card on the China tour for 2020."

Josh Geary. Photo / Simon Watts
Josh Geary. Photo / Simon Watts
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