SUNRAYSIA superstar Greg Rhodes secured one of the biggest wins of his illustrious amateur golf career late Thursday, taking out a major event in Malaysia.
The Coomealla Golf Club member won the Asia Pacific Senior Amateur Championship by three shots and helped spearhead the Australian men’s victory in the teams event at the Kota Permai Golf & Country Club in Selangor.
A closing one-over-par 73 gave Rhodes a winning 54-hole aggregate of 224, three strokes ahead of runner-up Jimmy Aw of Singapore.
The Aussie quartet of Rhodes, Ken Brewer (NSW), Ian Frost (Qld) and Mark Allen (Vic) swept to a seven-stroke victory over Korea, with Hong Kong pipping Singapore into third place.
Rhodes carded a four-over 76 in the opening round on Tuesday to sit two off the lead and then recorded a three-over 75 to be one shot behind compatriot Brewer heading into the final round.
But in a seven-shot swing over the final 18 holes, Brewer struggled in posting an eight-over 80 to finish back in third, six strokes behind Rhodes.
The two-time Australian Senior Amateur champion sealed his big win with a brilliant up-and-down from the green-side bunker at the 17th hole.
Rhodes came into the Malaysia tournament fresh off winning the 2022 Australian Senior Order of Merit.
Reflecting on his latest glory, the 63-year-old said it had been a “fabulous week”.
“I’ll remember the course, the hospitality and the good people we were able to meet and play with,” Rhodes said.
“It’s always an honour to represent your country and always good to win a team event.
“It’s a magnificent course, although the greens are difficult to understand.”
The event had been in a pandemic-enforced hiatus for the past two years.
Rhodes had also represented Australia the last time the championship was staged in 2019.
Japanese golfer Hiroko Oga won the women’s event after a tight three-day duel with 60-year-old Victorian Sue Wooster, who finished second individually but led Australia to victory in the women’s team event.
Wooster’s teammates were Nadene Gole (Vic) and Jacqueline Morgan (NSW).
Meanwhile, the Merbein Golf Club is preparing to hold its Par 3 Open event at its Cabarita course on Sunday.
Registration is from 11am on Sunday with a 12.30pm shotgun start.
The cost is $25 per player (handicap and non-handicap) which includes a BBQ lunch. There will be prizes and $50 nearest to the pin per hole.
