Luke Toomey turned around a challenging year with back-to-back wins on the Charles Tour in October.
The Waikato professional, who is now based in the Bay of Plenty, talked in the October issue of New Zealand Golf Magazine how much this year has been a struggle.
But he found his mojo in spectacular fashion on the local tour. The 26-year-old, who was a New Zealand rep at the Eisenhower World Amateur Team Championships, won his maiden Charles Tour event at the Pegasus Golf Club.
Toomey holed a bunker shot from behind the 18th green for birdie to beat fellow professionals Lachie McDonald and Daniel Pearce on the second playoff hole.
They had all finished at 10-under for the tournament during regular play. Toomey looked to be in trouble on the second leg of the playoff, hitting his difficult third shot over the back of the green into the greenside bunker.
It set up a grandstand finish.
“I honestly don’t know where to start or what to think,” Toomey said.
“You watch that kind of stuff on TV and you never think that kind of thing will happen to you.
“Watching that ball fall over the front lip was a pretty unique and special feeling.
“To win my first four-round professional event in that fashion is something I’ve dreamt about, and to do it here in New Zealand is a dream come true.”
To win in Christchurch was one thing, but Toomey backed up that performance with a masterclass at his adopted home province.
He carded a five-under-par 65 in the final round to win by six strokes.
Toomey became the fourth person in history to win back-to-back Charles Tour titles.
