Local wins Taranaki Golf Open with eagles
- 12 hours ago
- 3 min read
Ngamotu's Dominic Barson steals the show with back-to-back eagles to claim the Taranaki Open title
Dominic Barson produced a stunning finale at his home course to win the Taranaki Open in dramatic fashion sinking eagle putts on the 18th in both regulation and the playoff to deny Cameron Harlock and claim the Summerset Charles Tour title at New Plymouth Golf Club.
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Squally wind and intermittent showers set the tone for a gripping final round, with hard rain periodically disrupting play and biting into the chill factor across Ngamotu Links as the field chased a closely-contested leaderboard throughout the day.
The final group traded blows from the first hole, with Harlock and Barson tied at 6-under and Jake Meenhorst two shots back.
Harlock hit a remarkable birdie on the opening hole after a wayward drive, while Meenhorst drew within one of the lead and Barson made double to slip back. However Barson
responded with a birdie on the third to close the gap, only for the lead to continue shuffling hands as the early holes played out in the blustery conditions.
On the 18th Barson's eagle slid just past and he tapped in for birdie, leaving Harlock needing to convert to extend the contest. He missed past the edge and Dominic Barson was champion; winning the Taranaki Open at his home course with back-to-back eagles.
Barson said standing over his par putt on the 17th hole he knew he had to roll it in with Harlock’s power down 18 turning it into a birdie opportunity.
"It was outside the hole. I had to go in, otherwise I wouldn't have had a chance, because Cam, with how far Cam hits it, he's always gonna birdie the last hole."
His approach into 18 will live long in the memory not only for Barson but for those at Ngamotu Links that witnessed it.
“I've just absolutely pumped the best five-iron of my life, which was a good... It was a great shot. Flighted it, everything perfect,” he said.
Any win as a professional golfer is special, but to win on your home course in front of the members will rank highly for Barson, he said.
“You always like winning, but it's up there, because it's your home track, you know? So, it's always special when it's your home course."
Barson’s winning rounds of 69, 73, 68 and 71 reflected just how difficult a test the conditions at Ngamotu Links provided with just five golfers in the field finishing under par over four rounds.
Barson and Harlock finished regulation tied at seven-under-par, with Barson's closing 71 matching Harlock's own final round on a 69-73-68-71 card against Harlock's 71-70-69-71.
Meenhorst took third outright at six-under after a final-round 70 for a 68-71-73-70 total.
Kerry Mountcastle was the best of the rest in fourth at three-under, a closing 68 the highlight of his 70-74-73-68 week, while Mark Brown rounded out the top five at one-under after a 69-70-75-73 total.
James Hydes' brilliant six-under 66 on Sunday — the low round of the tournament — shot him 12 places up the leaderboard to share sixth with Mason Lee at even-par,
Tyler Hodge finished eighth at one-over after a closing 70, while Josh Geary ended the week at two-over in ninth.
