Rotorua golfer Peter Spiers has made history at Mount Maunganui Golf Club, becoming the first winner of the Bayleys New Zealand Putting Open.
Spiers topped a field of 136 players from around the country on Sunday, with golfers of all ages and abilities taking on the club’s massive 6000sqm practice green.
The inaugural championship featured 36 holes of stroke play, with the top 54 players from the opening round progressing to the final.
Spiers, who took up golf at 40 and has spent two decades working in the golf industry, had never seen the Mount Maunganui putting green before arriving for the tournament.
“You don’t really expect anything. I went over there to do my best and I’d never seen the putting green before, so I just sort of took it in my stride,” he said.
Spiers said putting had always been a strength of his game, and he found his best form when the tournament became more demanding.
“I putted really well on the hard holes and I channelled a bit of Ryan Fox — just step up and hit the thing.”
He holed his final two putts to secure the title.
“It’s a novelty of sorts, but it’s a feather in your cap, and I’m pretty proud about it.”
Tournament director and Mount Maunganui Golf Club head professional Jimmy Napier said the response to the first edition had exceeded expectations, with organisers hoping to establish the event as a regular fixture.
The club’s giant practice green opened last year and provided plenty of challenges, with testing hole locations and strong winds adding to the difficulty.
Former Black Cap Neil Wagner was among those taking part as an event ambassador and said the tournament highlighted the quality of the club’s facilities.
Wagner also backed the concept returning, saying putting provided an opportunity for golfers of different standards to compete alongside each other.
Mount Maunganui Golf Club general manager Michael Williams said that accessibility was a major part of the tournament’s appeal.
With its first champion now crowned and 136 players taking part in year one, the New Zealand Putting Open has made an encouraging start.
