Sir Bob Farewelled in Almost Perfect Symmetry

NZ golfing great, Sir Bob Charles, made his last ever appearance at the NZ Open – an event he won for the first of 4 times as an 18-year-old amateur in 1954. Said Charles, prior to teeing off, “I’m going out there to try and enjoy the moment, wave everyone goodbye, and gallop off into the sunset.” Although failing to make the cut for the weekend play, Charles received a hero’s farewell from thousands of spectators lining the 18th fairway. He will continue to play the Champions Tour in the US. Australian Terry Price took the NZ Open title, beating 23-year-old Auckland amateur Brad Heaven by just one stroke. Price: “As much as I wanted to win, a part of me was saying how great it would be for NZ golf if [Heaven] won … What a great story it would have been had he done it 50 years after Bob Charles.” Heaven received the Bledisloe Cup for leading amateur.