Watanabe wins QLD Order of Merit Championship

First year Trainee Professional Atomu Watanabe from Horton Park Golf Club has fired an impressive 68 to win the Queensland Trainee Order of Merit Championship for 2011. Competing for the ‘Paul King’ Trophy the Order of Merit Championship is currently in its third year and offered a prize pool of approximately $6000, which is generated from a percentage of each trainees entry fee throughout the trainee events during the year.

Watanabe’s four under par round which included five birdies on the front nine, was able to hold off 2011 QLD Trainee Champion and Pampling Plate winner Paul Hayden, and 2009 Trainee Order of Merit Champion Sam Eaves, who both shot 69. Queensland’s PGA Life Member Paul King was on hand to present Watanabe with the trophy. “When you first look at Atomu he looks like a jockey, but I’ve never seen a jockey strike a ball that well.”

After wild thunderstorms and heavy rain swept through Brisbane the previous day there were obvious concerns of how conditions would be for the event. It must be said that the course at Brisbane Golf Club held up extremely well through the weekend and the course was in fantastic condition. This result is testament to all the hard work done by staff, members and volunteers since the course was ravaged by floods earlier in the year. “It was a great opportunity to play here today with all the holes back in play and the course is looking great”, Watanabe stated after his round.

With the high caliber of players in this year’s championship, the 2012 season will be one to watch with keen interest.