Josh Lane 2009 winner New Caledonia Championship
The 2010 New Caledonia La Ouenghi Golf Club Pro-Am, part of the South Pacific Swing for the NSW/ACT pro am circuit as well as the lead in event for the New Caledonia Golf Championships, will tee off on 3rd October, offering a $15,000 prize purse.
Tournament Director, Jacques Coulson was proud to announce the increase in prize money for the tournament’s second year saying, “I am delighted to host the Pro-Am again with the 50% increase in prize money due to the outstanding success and popularity of the inaugural event last year.”
The popularity of the one day Pro-Am, introduced in 2009 as the lead in to the New Caledonia Golf Championships, ensured its inclusion on this year’s PGA schedule.
Melville Proud, NSW / ACT PGA Executive Officer, said, “The presentation of the La Ouenghi golf course, incredible hospitality, and professional administration of last year’s event made it immensely popular amongst players.”
“It is this popularity that has secured the event’s future on the PGA tournament schedule in 2010,” he went on to say.
The event, won last year in a tie by WA Professional James Carr and New Caledonian Jean-Louis Guepy, provides the perfect lead up to the New Caledonia Golf Championship scheduled for the next week, teeing off on 6th October til 9th October.
The La Ouenghi Pro Am was introduced last year as the curtain raiser to the New Caledonian Golf Championship which is played for a prize purse of $110,000.
The Pro Am is an added bonus for Australian players giving them a chance to earn some extra winnings whilst also providing important practice leading into the main event, the New Caledonian Golf Championships.
The New Caledonia Championship held at Tina Golf Club has proven to be a test of brain power and skill in past years with only one player scoring under par last year.
“The prize money increase will no doubt attract more entries but so too will the chance to gain important knowledge of the playing conditions in New Caledonia,” said Proud.
Staged the week after the La Ouenghi Pro Am the New Caledonia Championships is the most lucrative event on the South Pacific Tour with $A110, 000 in prize money to be won.
The event is also unique in that is affords up and coming junior golfers both locally and internationally the chance to experience competition in these high profile events and assists with the promotion and development of the sport at grass roots level.
Patrick Koch, New Caledonia Golf Championship Tournament Director and President of Tina Golf Club, initiated the inaugural La Ouenghi Pro-Am as part of the long term development plan for golf in New Caledonia.