12/05/2013

New Zealand No.1 Michael Hendry has confirmed his place in an elite club on The Charles Tour by winning the ask>metro Muriwai Open but not before a spirited fight back from good mate Richard Lee in the final round.

The 33-year-old North Harbour professional carded a three-under-par 69 in the warm and benign conditions of the final round to finish on a tournament record 18 under par total to win by two shots from Auckland professional

Lee who battled to the end for his first win on the Charles Tour.

Northland amateur Kadin Neho carried on his fine form to finish alone in third place and as the leading amateur for his best result in a national stroke play event.

It looked like Hendry was on track for a comfortable win before Lee kicked into gear to stir memories of the great battle the pair shared for the 2010 Muriwai Open.

Lee, who began the day six shots back, rallied with five birdies in a row after the turn to put the heat on the two-time NZ PGA Champion but he was good enough to hold on for his fourth win on the local tour.

“I am very happy to win my fourth Charles Tour title,” said Hendry, who was the first NZ No.1 golfer to play on The Charles Tour.

With his fourth win Hendry (2009 Carrus Open, 2009 Taranaki Open, 2010 and 2013 Muriwai Open) joined Doug Holloway (2005 Taranaki Open and Wairakei Open 2006 - 2008) as the most successful players on the Charles Tour since it began in 2004.

“It is nice to be leading little stats like that. If you can keep putting yourself ahead in the record books then it continues to put your name forward among the best New Zealand golfers.”

The 2010 Muriwai Open Champion paid credit to his good mate “R.Lee” who never gave up despite being six back at the turn.

“You don’t expect to be four under for the day and taking a six shot lead into the final round and to be under pressure. He played fantastic today. He has driven the ball so well and he got a good feel on the greens to give me a flutter coming home. It was great to hold my own nerve and finish it off with the pressure he was putting on me.”

Hendry made a crucial birdie putt on the par four 15^th which he saw as the turning point in the championship.

“It sort of stunted any momentum he had and it gave it back to me. I hit a pretty good shot in there and once he missed his putt I said to myself this would be a great one to make and when it went in that proved to be a massive momentum shift in the match.”

Lee was pleased with his effort to take the match down the 72^nd hole with his seven under par 65.

“I made a few putts on the front nine and my caddy said to me: Try to make two birdies out of the next three and I ended up making five in a row,” said the 39-year-old. “It was a lot of fun and why I play the game.

“I love competing. I love the pressure of coming down the back nine and being in contention. Mike is solid though. He didn’t play well today but he putted well. If he didn’t make three clutch putts on the sixth, 12^th and 15^th today then I reckon I had a chance at winning. But he is a great player and handled the pressure of leading this event well.”

Hendry broke a number of records on the local series in the process.

His 18 under par total, 270, was a record score for the Muriwai Open beating his own 17-under-par. He became the first player to win the Muriwai Open twice and the first player to win a Charles Tour event wire-to-wire on the second occasion.

There are only three other golfers who have achieved wire-to-wire wins on the local tour and they include Josh Geary (2006 Carrus Open), Anthony Doyle (2010 Shirley Open) and Josh Munn (2011 Muriwai Open and 2012 Harewood Open).

“Thankfully I have had a bit of experience with leading now. When it is your first or second time there is a pressure there that you are not used to. I have lost tournaments with a 54 hole lead too but I hung in there well today. I like to be under pressure.”

He walked out of the Muriwai Golf Club with the trophy in hand and the sun setting after a good week’s work. After growing up on Auckland’s North Shore winning the local pro tournament twice was a special feeling.

“I have been coming to this course for a long time. It is a special place. The first time I played here it was 18 different holes. The entire course has changed and I think it is even a better course. I have some fond and old memories of this course and this just adds to them.”