Dramatic finish to "amazing" pro-am
Above: Redcliffe's Director of Golf Chris Adnams, pro-am winner Ben Henkel, Alan Newcombe from sponsor Optilease.
History was made in the $90,000 Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am with four players teeing-up in the tournament’s first play-off.
Victorian Ben Henkel triumphed on the second sudden death hole, from fellow Victorian Andrew Kelly, Wynnum-born Chris Wood and Gold Coast's Dillon Hart.
Henkel followed his first round 66 with four birdies from the 10th to 14th holes to card a 10-under-par 60 - and just missed making it a 59 on his last hole.
It was a dramatic finale to the most lucrative pro-am in Australia which attracted a top-class field for the July 17-18 event at Redcliffe Golf Club.
“It did have a Tour feel to it and the course was amazing too,” winner Ben Henkel told the Australia PGA. “The course set-up was so good for the event.
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“The greens are rolling pure, fairways and surrounds are amazing and even the temporary holes we had to play were pretty damn good too.”
Chris Adnams, Redcliffe’s Director of Golf, described the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series tournament as “amazing” with “some elite golf over two days”.
“The weather was picture perfect on day one. Day two opened with light showers but cleared quickly to allow fantastic scoring from most of the players.
“Ben Henkels -8 under par round got him into the four-man playoff - the first time in this event that a playoff has happened - which was very exciting.
“Our major sponsor has signed for another two years and it will be known as the Isuzu-Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am which is outstanding to have the backing of Isuzu trucks.
“The entire Redcliffe Golf Club team, with an army of member/volunteers, made this event run flawlessly and I couldn’t be more proud of everyone involved.
“The pride, passion and vision the club, sponsors and myself share for this event is why it is the biggest and best pro-am in Australia.”
Doug Klein, who used to work in the Redcliffe Pro Shop and won this tournament in 2021, was seventh with an eight-under-par 128.
Dolphins’ NRL stars Isaiya Katoa and Jake Averillo were among the guests playing in the Redcliffe Pro-Am.
Kato’s jersey from the Anzac Round was auctioned for $3100 and raised $2950 from the Mega Raffle with both going to Redcliffe Golf Club’s Junior program.
Redcliffe golf course as a par 68 for the tournament, with work underway on the 10th hole. It is usually a par 71.
Leading scores
1 Ben Henkel (Victoria) 66, 60 - 126
(Won sudden-death play-off and $16,182)
T2 Andrew Kelly (Victoria) 63, 63 – 126 ($6558)
T2 Chris Wood (Queensland) 63, 63 – 126 ($6558)
T2 Dillon Hart (Queensland) 61, 65 – 126 ($6558)
T5 Daniel Gale (South Australia) 65, 62 – 127 ($3493.80)
T5 Lucas Higgins (NSW) 62, 65 – 127 ($3493.80)
T7 Doug Klein (Queensland) 65, 63 – 128 ($2652)
T7 Jye Pickin (NSW) 63, 65 – 128 ($2652)