Hydes wins the Autex Muriwai Open

James Hydes has etched his name in the history books, becoming the seventh amateur to win on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour at the Autex Muriwai Open.

Starting the day three-shots back of the overnight leaders Ryan Chisnall and Jordan Loof,Hydes new he needed to hang tough in the blustery conditions that are typical of a winters day at Muriwai Golf Club.

Hydes made the turn at even-par for the day and fell a further shot back of Chisnall who had taken control of the tournament with nine-holes to play.

The Gulf Harbour amateur then rattled off four birdies on the trot on holes 11 through 14 to get himself back into contention.

Standing on the final hole of regulation play he was one behind Chisnall and tied with Loof. Chisnall went on to bogey the hole meaning a three-way playoff with Hydes and Loof was needed to decide the tournament.

A par on the first playoff hole was good enough for Hydes to take the title.

He says winning the Autex Muriwai Open is a dream come true.

“This feel unreal. I can’t believe I’ve just won a professional event. I’m speechless right now,” he says.

Although he was three shots back at the beginning of the day, Hydes knew the conditions would favor the style of golf he likes to play.

He says believing in himself all day was key to getting the job done.

“I knew it was going to be windy out there today and I’m a pretty good player in the wind. I just needed to back myself the whole day and I knew I would be a chance if I could do that.

“I just stuck to my game plan and tried to have as much fun as I could. It was pretty easy doing that with a couple of mates Chizzy and Jordy.

“I just can’t believe I got it done,” Hydes says.

The 21-year-old has recently been selected for the New Zealand Golf National Academy, and it’s been a goal of his to win a Jennian Homes Charles Tour event before he turns professional.

He’ll now turn his attention to the remaining Jennian Homes Charles Tour events that get underway in October.

Scores after round 4 - Sun 2 Aug 2020

278 James Hydes (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 70 68 72 68 - won playoff, Jordan Loof (PGA New Zealand) 70 68 69 71, Ryan Chisnall (PGA New Zealand) 68 67 72 71

281 Josh Geary (PGA New Zealand) 70 68 73 70

285 Michael Hendry (PGA New Zealand) 69 70 73 73

286 Gareth Paddison (PGA New Zealand) 69 71 76 70, Momoka Kobori (Rangiora) 70 74 71 71

287 Lachie McDonald (Marton) 75 71 71 70

288 Matt McLean (Harewood) 69 70 74 75

290 Vivian Lu (Royal Auckland and Grange) 71 76 74 69, Kieran Muir (Omokoroa) 72 71 75 72, Hanee Song (New Zealand) 71 70 74 75, Kazuma Kobori (Rangiora) 72 71 72 75

291 Luke Toomey (PGA New Zealand) 73 74 76 68

292 Harry Bateman (PGA New Zealand) 76 73 76 67

293 Mark Hutson (PGA New Zealand) 73 74 74 72, Joshua Bai (Akarana) 73 72 76 72, Dongwoo Kang (PGA New Zealand) 70 69 80 74, Darae Chung (Shandon) 70 74 75 74, Cameron Jones (PGA New Zealand) 67 74 77 75

294 Chang Gi Lee (PGA New Zealand) 70 76 77 71, Mason Lee (PGA New Zealand) 75 75 73 71, Munchin Keh (P) 70 72 80 72, Woonchul Na (PGA New Zealand) 71 71 78 74, Shaun Campbell (Omanu) 70 73 75 76

295 Tyler Wood (Palmerston North) 71 77 77 70, Sean Riordan (PGA New Zealand) 72 78 72 73, Johnny Tynan (Titirangi) 73 73 75 74, Daniel Hillier (PGA New Zealand) 71 69 78 77, Mark Brown (PGA New Zealand) 73 71 74 77, Richard Lee (PGA New Zealand) 68 73 76 78

296 Dominic Barson (New Plymouth Inc.) 70 71 81 74, Michael Brodie (Mangawhai) 71 74 76 75, Jared Edwards (Royal Auckland and Grange) 74 73 74 75, Tae Koh (Windross Farm Golf Course) 74 72 74 76, Nick Loach (PGA New Zealand) 72 72 69 83

297 Jimmy Zheng (Howick) 74 73 79 71, Samuel Jones (Manaia) 74 76 74 73, Kunaal Singh (New Zealand) 74 73 74 76

298 Trent Munn (Manawatu) 70 72 85 71, Douglas Holloway (PGA New Zealand) 72 74 78 74, Martin Pettigrew (PGA New Zealand) 75 75 73 75, Tyler Hodge (P, Gulf Harbour Country Club) 72 74 76 76, Jaeseung Na (Pakuranga) 69 71 82 76, Jesper Bengtsson (North Shore) 71 76 75 76, Brad Shilton (PGA New Zealand) 71 73 78 76, Jordan Woodall (Cambridge) 73 73 75 77, Brenden Stuart (PGA New Zealand) 76 71 74 77

299 Sam An (Titirangi) 76 72 76 75

300 Jerry (Xiangming) Ren (P, Gulf Harbour Country Club) 74 75 77 74, Jayden Ford (Judgeford) 71 78 77 74, Pieter Zwart (PGA New Zealand) 72 75 73 80

301 Zachary May (Russley) 74 76 80 71, Peter Fowler (PGA New Zealand) 78 72 77 74, Carmen Lim (Windross Farm Golf Course) 70 79 76 76

302 Matthew Latham (Redwood Park) 77 70 80 75, Mako Thompson (Maraenui) 75 75 77 75, Tom Parker (Christchurch) 74 75 77 76

303 Wenyung Keh (P) 74 76 82 71, James Fellows-Ford (Hamilton - St Andrews) 75 73 78 77, Anna An (Muriwai) 73 76 75 79

304 Julianne Alvarez (P) 74 76 79 75, Jessica Huang (Pakuranga) 79 69 77 79

305 Amy Im (Pupuke) 73 75 78 79, Kit Bittle (Gulf Harbour Country Club) 77 72 77 79

306 Thomas Woods (Miramar) 77 72 80 77

307 Mitchell Kale (Tauranga) 75 75 78 79, Caitlin Maurice (Omokoroa) 76 74 77 80

309 Misong Jang (North Shore) 76 74 82 77, Karan Nalam (Royal Auckland and Grange) 74 76 80 79, Sam Marsters (Miramar) 70 76 79 84

310 James Tauariki (Futures Geyserland) 75 75 76 84