oCtober 2011

Joshua Carmichael,
Port Taranaki Open Winner
Port Taranaki Open: Carmichael enjoys breakthrough win
Joshua Carmichael enjoyed a dream golfing
road trip in the Taranaki.
The North Harbour professional is the latest breakthrough
winner on the Charles Tour claiming the Port
Taranaki Open by one shot from good friend Hamish
Robertson in cool conditions today at Ngamotu.
The 30-year-old fired a three under par 69 in the
final round to come from behind and post a 10
under par total in what was a survival of the fittest of
36 holes on Saturday.
Two rounds were played today to avoid the wild
weather that was forecasted for tomorrow and has
been synonymous with the Port Taranaki Open and
Carmichael was the last man standing claiming four
titles in 10 days.
“I am elated, relieved and just absolutely stoked to
win this title,” said Carmichael who moves to the top
of the NZ PGA Order of Merit with his $7,200 win.
A Carmichael win did not look likely with Robertson
four shots up with seven holes to play.
The Taihape professional still had a birdie chance on
the 18th green from 15 feet to get to 10 under and
when he missed the title was there for the taking.
Carmichael made no mistake. He was left with an up
and down from 25m from the left fringe and he hit
to two feet to put the title beyond doubt.
“It is funny, you practice that chip shot so many
times pretending you are doing it to win a title and
then the time comes and you wonder how you’ll go.
I was so relieved to hit it dead. I wanted to get it on
the green as soon as possible. To see it roll up to the
hole was a good feeling.”
It wasn’t always a good feeling out on course as
Carmichael endured a rollercoaster final 36 holes on
Saturday that included a disastrous triple bogey in
round three on the 12th. He played flawless golf on
the final nine holes – a five under par 31 to get home.
“With everything I went through today I just can’t
believe it was my day. I made doubles and triples but
I keep hanging in there and trying to catch up. It was
a nice surprise that it was enough.”
It has been an incredible run for the likeable pro who
grew up playing his golf at the Pupuke Golf Club on
Auckland’s North Shore. He won the $20,000
Wanganui Pro-am, the $10,000 Hawera Pro-am, the
pro-am on Wednesday and now he claims first prize
in the $40,000 Port Taranaki Open.
“It has been a wicked stretch of golf. A dream road
trip. I don’t know what to say but I am really stoked.”
Carmichael, a product of Rangitoto College in
Murrays Bay, is proud of the progress he is making in
his game. He has been working hard in the gym and
also with coach Sam Parsons.
“It is my third four round win as a professional and
my first at home – it‘s nice to win at home. It has
been a long time between drinks. I won my first four
round tournament five years ago in Papua New
Guinea so it’s been a long time coming.
“I have been working hard with Sammy and it is
good to see the results. I am just trying to keep pace
with big Mike [good mate Michael Hendry] if I can
ride on his coattails then I reckon I’ll be doing
alright.”
Many winners of the Port Taranaki Open have gone
on to achieve bigger and better things. Mark Brown
won here in 2006 and progressed to win the Johnnie
Walker Championship on the European Tour. Brad
Iles claimed the title in 2007 and is now playing on
the Nationwide Tour. Michael Hendry won in 2009
and last year won the Indonesian Open on the One
Asia Tour.
Carmichael hopes that he can follow that pathway
to success in his upcoming trip to play the Tahiti
Open and then the Australasian Tour.
The hard case Maori, a true gentleman of the game,
spared a thought for his good mate Robertson who
he was best man for at his wedding in August.
“We are really great mates so it is always hard. I
wanted to chase him down. I didn’t want him to lose
it, I wanted to go out there and win and I feel like I
did that. He didn’t lose it, I mean he shot 66 and 73
on the final two rounds and he played great the
whole tourney.”
Robertson, from Taihape who led Jim Cusdin and
Johnathon Ratcliffe by one shot heading into the
final round after a superb six under par 66, was
“gutted” by his final round 73.
“It was a hard day because I had no idea where I
stood. It was like I was playing in the dark. Now that
I know it is pretty gutting to come so close and not
win one of these again. But I am proud of how I
played. I played decently all week and Josh must
have played well to shoot 69.”
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