Vanuatu Golf Open Preview

Jason King Celebrates his 9 under par round in the 2005 event

Vanuatu is about to be inundated by around 160 golfers, friends and families over the next few days as preparations wind up for the VGO 2006. The Port Vila Golf and Country Club will host the 22nd VGO and there has been a flurry of activity on the course and around the club to showcase the seaside course at Mele.

The professional field this year is again very strong and includes past winners in Scott Strange and Shannon Jones.Whilst Strange strolled to victory in the 2005 event Jones had to survive 4 playoff holes in fading light to defeat Orange Amateur Robbie Payne for the 2004 title.

Jason King last year shot the lights out in the first round to shoot an amazing 9 under par 63. This gave the rest of the field plenty to chase and it was only the experience and resilience of Strange that enabled him to wear down King in the final round.

Amateurs from as far away as Tahiti and the Solomon Islands will compete in the amateur event and a strong filed of Ladies will do battle over the 3 round ladies event.

Dave Pullin’s initiative some years ago to sponsor the Senior Men’s Competition has been taken up by incoming ASCO General Manager Richard Thurgood who has arrived in Port Vila just in time to be part of the 2006 event.

The VGO Committee through Chairman Bryan Death paid special tribute to the continued strong support for the event by Naming Sponsor “Tusker”

“Without Murray Parsons & Tuskers support and the support of many other corporate sponsors in Port Vila the event would not be possible” said Mr. Death.

Speaking at the pre tournament sponsors event Mr. Death paid tribute to all of the sponsors who were often called upon by various worthy sporting bodies to assist their events.

Mr. Death also highlighted the good fortune the committee had in being able to secure players of the calibre of Scott Strange who is able to compete in the VGO whilst the PGA Asian Tour is in mid season recess. Strange currently ranked 17th on the Asian Tour will certainly head the pre tournament betting with Professional Analyst Glen Joyner installing Strange as 3/1 favourite for the event.

Find this page online at: http://www.news.vu/en/sports/golf/060721-vanuatu-golf-open.shtml

Scott Strange 2005 victory speech

Junior Claims Hawkes Law
National Vanuatu Amateur Golf Title

Evan Sinclair Receives his trophy from Bill & Julie Hawkes with Club Captain Craig Sippits

Janet Siru receives her trophy from Bill Hawkes

Junior Evan Sinclair took another step in his promising golf career by winning the 2006 Vanuatu National Amateur title held at the Port Vila Golf and Country Club on Saturday and Sunday.

The two day event Sponsored by long time supporters of the event Hawkes Law attracted a strong field of Local and international visiting players. Many of the players use the event as a warm up to the Vanuatu Golf Open held over 4 days at the club from 25th to 30th July.

Runner up to Evan was local player Raymond Vallette a very consistent performer at PVGCC. Three top local ni Vanuatu players Jon Naupa, Kora Mansale and Tony Mansale battled out a 3 way playoff for 3rd place. Jon Naupa held firm in the sudden death section of the playoff after 3 extra holes failed to produce a winner

The two day event saw a packed leader board after round one and it wasn’t until the back nine on day two that Evan Sinclair started to emerge as the likely winner.
Evan started slowly shooting a respectable one over par 37 on the back nine (started at number 10) but flew home with a fine 3 under 33 to record a gross total of 70 which added to his first day 75 gave him a winning score of 145.
Evan is a promising Gold Coast based junior who is coached by two time coach of the year Mark Gibson at Royal Pines and is based out of the Helensvale club. Evan’s most recent success was in winning the Southport Classic for the 3rd time.

The ladies event also produced some fine golf with honours shared by local and international ladies. Regular Solomon Islands visitor and Ho la la girl Janet Siru played well to win the gross section over the two days whilst improving local lady Louise Stevens won the net event.

Sponsors Bill and Julie Hawkes were on hand to welcome players and to present a wonderful array of trophies to the winners. The club sincerely thanks Bill, Julie and John Law for the generous and long term sponsorship of this prestigious event.
The club was packed with players and visitors on Sunday afternoon for the presentations with many ex residences here for the VGO renewing local friendships over a Tusker or two. Amongst the returning ex residents were here for Golf week was Andre and Ingrid Lancom, Steve and Leigh Johnson and Phil and Emma Kirby

OVERALL GROSS WINNERS
1st Janet Siru (171)
2nd Lois Ovens (172)
3rd Winnie Campbell (177)

OVERALL NETT WINNERS
1st Louise Stevens (129)
2nd Lois Ovens (142)
3rd Saris Sanjappa (142)

DAY ONE
Gross Winners
1st Janet Siru (86) - Won on Countback
2nd LOis Ovens (86)

Nett Winners
1st Louise Stevens (66)
2nd Kate Martin (67)

DAY TWO
Gross Winners
1st Winnie Campbell (85) on countback
2nd TJanet Siru (85)

Nett Winners
1st Liliana Briand (67)
2nd Louise Stevens (68)

OVERALL NETT WINNERS
1st Mr Yang (137)
2nd Raymond Valette (140)
3rd Saule Soromon (141)

DAY ONE
Gross Winners
1st Kora Mansale (73)
2nd Adrian Sinclair (75)
3rd Tony Mansale (75)

Nett Winners
1st Mr Yang (64)
2nd Adrian Sinclair (67 c.b.)
3rd Dave Outhred (67)

DAY TWO
Gross Winners
1st Evan Sinclair (70)
2nd Tony Mansale (76)
3rd Jon Naupa (76)

Nett Winners
1st Mike Reid (68)
2nd Mal Gibson (68)
3rd Gary Tunstall (70)