Latest news with #NZOpen
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Golfer off to junior worlds
Golfer Ricky Kang, 17. PHOTO: PHILIP CHANDLER Selection for the New Zealand under-19 golf team for the Toyota Junior World Cup in Japan next month confirms Queenstowner Ricky Kang's steady rise up the ranks. The South Korea-born golfer, who turned 17 yesterday, is one of three boys chosen for the strong-looking team along with three girls. Ricky, whose sister, Sumin, 20, is on a four-year golf scholarship at Northern Arizona University, in the United States, has enjoyed some good results in recent months. He won the Southland strokeplay, was second in the Canterbury strokeplay and debuted for Otago. He was also part of the NZ squad who travelled across the Tasman to play the Aussie juniors. Ricky came close, too, to qualifying for this year's NZ Open at Arrowtown's Millbrook, where he's a member. "I was four-under playing a qualifier and I really needed to birdie the last [hole] and just missed out." At 910th in the world junior rankings, he's set some ambitious goals on his 'Ricky Kang's Supporters' Facebook page — he wants to win the US junior amateur champs before he turns 19, aims to play the PGA Tour and wants to represent NZ and medal at the Olympics. His coach of five years or so, Millbrook's Ben Gallie, applauds his goal-setting. "Those goals are really good just to keep you motivated on the lonely days out on the range. "He's getting better and better and he's starting to understand his own game, in particular, situational preparation." Everything's solid about his game, Gallie says, "and he's got good work ethic". Ricky, who was first taught by his dad, Moon, when he was five, came to Queenstown with his family in 2011. He used to play with Sumin, "and do bets really often". What he loves about the game is "it's challenging always". "Even in the good times you can always look for something better." Unlike his sister, Ricky's not looking to go the US college route, but instead wants to join the Korean Tour as a pro. His favourite NZ courses are Jack's Point, near where he lives, Invercargill's Otatara, Christchurch's Shirley and Waikato's Tieke Golf Estate, and his hero is Aussie Min Woo Lee. This week he has gone to Sydney for a month's prep ahead of the Toyota Junior World Cup in Nagoya from June 24-27. Meanwhile, his father is appealing for anyone who'd like to help sponsor his son, "because the training and tournament costs are quite a lot".
Otago Daily Times
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Car giveaway canned after 2000 tickets sold
No-one drove away with this spot prize - a Fraser Clubman Lotus 7 replica - at the inaugural Ayrburn Classic car show in Queenstown. PHOTO: SUPPLIED The man behind Queenstown's inaugural Ayrburn Classic car show says a promised car giveaway did not happen because ticket sales failed to reach a certain threshold. Every ticket buyer was to go into a draw to win a Fraser Clubman Lotus 7 replica, worth about $60,000 - and VIP ticket buyers got four entries. Ayrburn hospitality precinct developer Chris Meehan said ''there was a rider on the ticket that said we had to sell a certain number of tickets, and we didn't get to that number''. They sold just over 2000 tickets to the two-day late-March event, against a hoped-for 4000. He put that down to rain on the Sunday, although the event also clashed with a Porsche meeting in Hawke's Bay. However, feedback was still ''fantastic'', Mr Meehan said. To lessen the chance of rain, the 2026 classic - for which tickets go on sale today - will be held on February 20-22, the weekend before the NZ Open golf tournament at the neighbouring Millbrook Resort. ''We've already got very strong indications of support for next year, and it'll just be one of those things that get better and better.'' As for whether there will be a car giveaway, ''we're considering whether we jackpot the car to next year''.
Otago Daily Times
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Threshold not reached for car giveaway
No-one drove away with this spot prize - a Fraser Clubman Lotus 7 replica - at the inaugural Ayrburn Classic car show in Queenstown. PHOTO: SUPPLIED The man behind Queenstown's inaugural Ayrburn Classic car show says a promised car giveaway did not happen because ticket sales failed to reach a certain threshold. Every ticket buyer was to go into a draw to win a Fraser Clubman Lotus 7 replica, worth about $60,000 - and VIP ticket buyers got four entries. Ayrburn hospitality precinct developer Chris Meehan said ''there was a rider on the ticket that said we had to sell a certain number of tickets, and we didn't get to that number''. They sold just over 2000 tickets to the two-day late-March event, against a hoped-for 4000. He put that down to rain on the Sunday, although the event also clashed with a Porsche meeting in Hawke's Bay. However, feedback was still ''fantastic'', Mr Meehan said. To lessen the chance of rain, the 2026 classic - for which tickets go on sale today - will be held on February 20-22, the weekend before the NZ Open golf tournament at the neighbouring Millbrook Resort. ''We've already got very strong indications of support for next year, and it'll just be one of those things that get better and better.'' As for whether there will be a car giveaway, ''we're considering whether we jackpot the car to next year''.
Otago Daily Times
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Threshold not reached for giveaway: organiser
No-one drove away with this spot prize - a Fraser Clubman Lotus 7 replica - at the inaugural Ayrburn Classic car show in Queenstown. PHOTO: SUPPLIED The man behind Queenstown's inaugural Ayrburn Classic car show says a promised car giveaway did not happen because ticket sales failed to reach a certain threshold. Every ticket buyer was to go into a draw to win a Fraser Clubman Lotus 7 replica, worth about $60,000 - and VIP ticket buyers got four entries. Ayrburn hospitality precinct developer Chris Meehan said ''there was a rider on the ticket that said we had to sell a certain number of tickets, and we didn't get to that number''. They sold just over 2000 tickets to the two-day late-March event, against a hoped-for 4000. He put that down to rain on the Sunday, although the event also clashed with a Porsche meeting in Hawke's Bay. However, feedback was still ''fantastic'', Mr Meehan said. To lessen the chance of rain, the 2026 classic - for which tickets go on sale today - will be held on February 20-22, the weekend before the NZ Open golf tournament at the neighbouring Millbrook Resort. ''We've already got very strong indications of support for next year, and it'll just be one of those things that get better and better.'' As for whether there will be a car giveaway, ''we're considering whether we jackpot the car to next year''.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
I've just changed my life – Ex-biker gang member Ryan Peake books Open place
Former motorcycle gang member Ryan Peake described his New Zealand Open triumph as a life-changing moment after victory booked his spot at the Open Championship. The Australian claimed a one-shot win at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown, shooting a final-round 66 to finish on 23 under par. Peake's victory comes after he served five years in prison for assault when he was a part of the Rebels biker gang. Ryan Peake has booked his ticket to @TheOpen at Royal Portrush in July ✨ 📸 @PhotosportNZ #NZOpen — New Zealand Open (@NZOpenGolf) March 2, 2025 He did not have the necessary visa to travel to New Zealand for the tournament until the start of the week and, as a result, only arrived on Tuesday ahead of the first round on Thursday. By winning the title the 31-year-old has earned a spot at this year's Open Championship, which takes place at Royal Portrush in July. 'I've just changed my life. This is what I do,' Peake said on the New Zealand Open website. What a finish! 🏆 Ryan Peake takes out the 2025 #NZOpen — PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) March 2, 2025 'I want to be here and just play golf. The story is what it is, but I'm just out here playing golf.' Peake had played amateur golf in his youth and, during his time in prison, was contacted by coach Ritchie Smith to ask if he wanted to play competitively. 'I always knew I could do it. It was just a matter of time when I was going to do it,' Peake added.
