World Par-3 will ‘raise our level’

Turtle Hill Golf Club director of golf Anthony Mocklow believes the Bacardi National Par-3 Championship has whet the appetite nicely for the Grey Goose world equivalent.

The national championship was, for the first time, a qualifier for the World Par-3 Championship — to be played at the same course in March —which is headlined by former Ryder Cup star and European #1 Ronan Rafferty.

And Mocklow believes the chance tp play in such esteemed company as well the increased competition in the qualifiers will only benefit the island’s golfers.

He told the Bermuda Sun: “This has never happened in Bermuda. For golfers here to get the chance to qualify and play against PGA professionals — hopefully it will raise the level of golf in Bermuda.”

He added: “The really pleasing part of this weekend was that there was a lot of people on the cusp of qualifying and the weather was terrible on the Saturday but they didn’t give up which they otherwise might have done. 

“They stayed and it showed their mettle, they didn’t bottle it. That was really nice to see. How many players, 10, 12, eight handicappers, will get the chance to play against a former Ryder Cup player and a former European number one in their life? That’s got to be worth something.”

The top 10 finishers in each division qualified  for the World Par-3 but a number of players will benefit from the exemption of others — see panel right — so there remains hope that players further down the final leaderboard will be invited back in March.

Daniel Augustus claimed his second National Par-3 Championship title in five years with a two-over 110 that was three clear of runner-up Dwayne Pearman. Scott Roy came third in the pros with a seven-over 115.

In the men’s amateur category Will Haddrell emerged victorious after a sudden death playoff with Jarryd Dillas after both had completed their two rounds in a four-over 112. David Smith was third one shot back.

The senior division was won by Jeffrey Lindo thanks to an eight-over 118, with Hav Trott and Craig Christensen tied for second on 121. 

There was a play-off, too, in the ladies’ division between Kathy Lloyd-Hines and Katyna Rabain — both finished on 124 — with Hines claiming victory on the second extra hole. Linda Down was third with 125. 

The event meant Mocklow’s long-held dream for Bermuda to host the biggest televised, global World Par-3 event has moved a step closer. 

This year’s tournament will feature a field of about 165-170 players — around 100 from overseas — and thanks to a partnership with Cleveland Golf and a demonstration day competition they have been running, amateur players from the likes of South Africa, Australia, Sweden and even South Korea will tee it off at Turtle Hill.

Download the Scoring Summary.