Vic Open weekend kicks off with Pro-Am competition

A MIX of sporting stars, media personalities and sponsors hit the fairways at 13th Beach Golf Links on Wednesday (January 14) to help launch this year’s Vic Open.

About 200 players spread across the club’s beach and creek courses under clear blue skies for the Vic Open’s annual Pro-Am, with each group made up of one professional and three amateurs.

Alongside professionals set to contest this weekend’s Vic Open tournament, the field also featured a number of familiar faces from other industries and sporting code.

The field included former Australian cricketer Aaron Finch, Barwon Heads-based broadcaster Mark Howard, ex-Melbourne Storm gun Ryan Papenhuyzen, West Coast Eagle Jayden Hunt and Geelong AFLW trio Claudia Gunjaca, Julia Crocket-Grills and Jackie Parry.

 

 

On the creek course, the winning team finished with 113 points and included professional Maddison Hinson-Tolchard alongside amateurs John Walters, Bonnie Boezeman and Keira Woods.

The beach course honours went to professional James Conran and amateurs Matt Hocking, Stephen Wall and Stephen Rowbotham, who combined for a score of 108 points.

Highlights across the day included Western Australia professional Curtis Luck scoring an albatross on the par-5 seventh hole on the creek course, while the Cat’s Gunjaca claimed the women’s longest drive and walked away with an Odyssey Ai-ONE putter.

The official Vic Open tournament began today (January 15th) and will run until Sunday, January 18th. Play is expected to finish by 5.40pm.