The agony of knee surgery was long forgotten after Castlecliff's Tyler Lock claimed the Ricoh Wanganui Golf Open at Belmont on Sunday.
Fresh-up from injury Lock played steady golf to finish on top of a good quality field in Sunday's 36-hole Open.
No player really took full advantage of thenear perfect conditions at Belmont, and no scores were posted under par on either round. The Belmont course has a par of 70 and Lock proved best of the amateurs to card 144.
Locks rounds of 73 and 71, was 1 shot better than NZ Eisenhower rep Josh Munn's rounds of 70 and 75. One shot further back in third was Manawatu's Stu Smith (74, 72) and Marton's Lachie McDonald (74, 72). McDonald won last year's Wanganui Open with a card of 130.
Professional ex-pat Wanganui golfer Nick Gillespie also competed in the field as a guest entrant, but was not eligible for the trophy. Gillespie was the top scorer on the day at 1 over par with rounds of 70 and 71. The tournament is open to all amateur golfers with an affiliated club handicap.
Lock said he didn't think he even had a shot at the title until his final hole under the shotgun start format. "I actually thought I was playing quite badly really and didn't think I was anywhere near the lead."
Lock said the win came as a surprise. "I've only just returned from injury after knee surgery and given the way I played on the front nine the win came as a bit of a surprise. It's my best result yet and very pleasing."
Meanwhile, in the Women's section Manawatu's Emma Clayton had two rounds of 77 to finish three clear of Wanganui's Amber-Rose Thompson-Newth (79, 78). Levin's Brydie Hodge was another 3 shots back in 3rd (80, 80).
The Chronicle incorrectly reported yesterday that Josh Munn had won the Ricoh Wanganui Open. The Chronicle apologises to all concerned for the error and regrets any offence the mistake may have caused.
