Ninja Warrior tees off to success

A FORMER Australian Ninja Warrior competitor swapped the high ropes for golf clubs with great success today (Monday, February 10) at The Sands Torquay.

Charlie Robbins conquered brutal winds at the golf course to secure a spot in the $2 million New Zealand Open.

The 2019 obstacle course champion scored four under to secure one of two qualifying spots for the tournament.

“I just tried to stay positive, and it all paid off,” he said.

“I’d never played here before, so I walked the course the day before and thought it was awesome. The layout forces you to think strategically off the tee – deciding whether to be aggressive or lay back. And with the wind up, it made for a great challenge.”

The result was a breakthrough for Robbins in only his second year on the Australian tour.

“I haven’t had an exemption for the last two years, so I’ve had to go through pre-qualifiers. Getting into a major event like this can make a massive difference,” he said.

“A good result in New Zealand could take me from outside the top 100 into a category for next season, which would be amazing.”

PGA tournament director Heath McLeod said it was a fantastic day for all at The Sands.

“The conditions were challenging, but the setup was perfect from the start, and we saw some really strong scoring.

“It’s a great venue for professional golf, and it was exciting to have the pros back competing here.”

The New Zealand Open will be played at Millbrook Resort from February 27.