You beauty: Brian Didier of Portsea Golf Club shows his delight as he rides in his winning putt in the state final of the World’s Best Putter competition, held at Sandhurst Golf Club on Sunday. Watching the top roll are other winners Jeremy Patt from Mooroopna Golf Club, left, and Tim Sinnott of Anglesea Golf Club.By John Gavegan
THE well-known saying ‘drive for show and putt for dough’ was certainly to the fore at Sandhurst Golf Club on Sunday.
Golfers from all over Victoria lined up on a specially designed six-hole layout on the practice green for the State final of the inaugural World’s Best Putter competition.
The event was run by the Worlds Best Putter Pty Ltd in conjunction with the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) based at Sandhurst and was open to all golfers and non golfers, males and females, juniors and seniors of all ranges of skills and ability.
Out of 18 finalists the three winners were finally decided after five players with the best scores of a nine and four 10s took part in an exciting one-hole sudden-death play-off.
The winners will now putt off in the Australian final – Brian Didier, Portsea Golf Club, Tim Sinnott, Torquay Golf Club and Jeremy Patt, Mooroopna Golf Club.
State finals were also held over the weekend at Adelaide Shores Golf Club for South Australia and Northern Territory, Wembley Golf Complex, WA, Country Club Tasmania, Riverside Oakes for NSW and ACT and Indooroopilly Golf Club Queensland with winners progressing to the national final.
Professional golfers will also take part in the event and held their elimination games at the weekend.
The televised final will be held under lights at Moonah Links on 9, 10 and 11 April, with the winner pocketing a cool $100,000.
The national winner will then be invited to the US to represent Australia at the global final with prizemoney of $1 million.
Brian Didier described the competition as great fun at a great venue like Sandhurst and a chance for the average golfer to show their skills.
Off a handicap of 12, Brian has used the same putter for more than 20 years.
“I believe if a person’s putting goes off, it’s not the club and I’ve proved it,” he laughed.
Tim Sinnott (handicap four) and Jeremy Patt (handicap 10) also praised the competition, saying it was a chance for golfers and non golfers to be involved and promote the game.
Colin Watson director of Worlds Best Putter and Wendy Smith events coordinator from the PGA were both delighted with the inaugural event.
“Although this was only the first one, it has created a lot of interest and is certain to grow and be very popular, as well as increasing the interest in golf,” David said.
“Let’s face it, anyone could win a million dollars – you don’t have to be a top player or professional to putt well.
“It’s an area of the game where a junior or senior could easily defeat a pro.”
Wendy Smith said the PGA supported the event, as it was an excellent way to promote and get more people interested in and playing golf.
“I’m sure we’ll get more and more entries from an increasing range of people as the event becomes better known,” she said.
