 The Queenstown Men's Open Championship returned to our calendar after a covid enforced break since 2019.
The championship winner is swarded the Rod MacDonald Cup which already carries some strong golfing history with significant New Zealand amateur golfers having claimed the title in the past.
The Open grade field whilst only 49 players had an extremely high calibre of golfer chasing both the title and the Otago Order of Merit points on offer.
Weather conditions could not have been better on Saturday for the 36 hole players and despite some pre-start rain on Sunday conditions remain fair and the wind was friendly for the final rounds on Sunday.
The winner of the championship was Parker Aluesi from St. Clair Golf Club with a 54 hole score of 1 over par 217 ( 70, 71 , 76) with runner up Liam Balneaves of Invercargill Golf Club (winner in 2009 and 2010) posting 218. Wakatipu Junior members Nico Cheifetz and Jan Ebbinge with 219 and 220 respectively were 3rd and 4th.
Best net score in the open grade went to Darren Hill with 213 (net 66, 70 ,77) with Steve Ridley close behind on net 215.
In the Masters grade (over 50 years old) Monn Seo Kang carried on his form from the week's Central Otago Autumn Classic with a gross score for his 36 holes of 146 ( 4 over par).
The Masters net winner was Athol Stephens with a net 150 (78, 72) from Bill Grant, Martin Williams, James Hand and Dean Corey all on 152.
We thank all players for getting behind the relaunch of the event and look forward to it's growth over coming years as a major event on the Otago Golf calendar.
Prizes were supplied by Titleist and Footjoy and we thank them for their support.
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