Sky Sport, the presenting sponsor of the 101st New Zealand Open, will offer $250,000 for a hole in one prize at the 18th hole at Millbrook Resort during the final weekend of the tournament that starts on Thursday.
The Sky Sport Supporting Charities Hole-in-One prize is open to both professionals and amateurs with the successful player earning NZD $125,000 with the same amount split between five charities. They are Habitat for Humanity, the New Zealand Golf Foundation, the Bruce Grant Youth Trust, St Johns Queenstown and HUHA’s (Helping You Help Animals) Australian Bushfire Relief.
Sky Chief Executive Martin Stewart is delighted that his company will offer the prize.
“One of our aims with this project is to not only support the New Zealand Open and incentivise the players to go for glory, but also to give back to the community,” said Stewart.
“We hope the hole-in-one is sunk, and we want to hear about the great stories that these donations will create in the months and years to come.”
Tournament Chairman John Hart is delighted to be able to announce another charity aspect to the tournament as well as create additional interest for the golfers.
“A hole-in-one is something that isn’t achieved often, and if it’s recorded at a premier tournament like the New Zealand Open, it becomes a little bit more special. Add to that a substantial donation to multiple charities, and it becomes another great moment in the tournament’s history,” said Hart.
Carolyn Press-McKenzie, the founder of HUHA (Helping You Help Animals) Charitable Trust is thankful to be one of the chosen charities who will benefit.
“Having just returned from five weeks in Australia assisting with rescued, sick and injured wildlife affected by the bushfires, I know a donation like this could make a huge difference to the wildlife recovery in New South Wales.”
The Sky Sport Supporting Charities hole-in-one is open to all players in the New Zealand Open and the New Zealand Pro-Am tournaments on the final two rounds of the tournament on Saturday 29 February and Sunday 1 March 2020. The first player to achieve the feat will receive $125,000, with $25,000 going to each of the five listed charities.
The 101st New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport, will be held at Millbrook Resort and The Hills from 27 February to 1 March 2020 and will be live on Sky Sport 6.
The five listed charities are:
Habitat for Humanity: Every 24 hours Habitat for Humanity completes 115 homes around the world. Habitat for Humanity help those who have been struck by disaster and partner in international projects to provide communities with sanitation and clean water.
New Zealand Golf Foundation: The New Zealand Golf Foundation is an independent registered charitable trust (CC51432) established with the purpose of growing the game of golf. The foundation supports people, initiatives or programmes that help grow the game across three principal focus areas: health, education plus young people and families. Current supported programmes include the Sir Bob Charles Scholarship and the LOVE Golf Futures Programme.
Bruce Grant Youth Trust: Set up in memory of Olympic skier, mountaineering great, extreme sportsman and extraordinary individual, Bruce Grant, The Bruce Grant Youth Trust looks to support youth, under the age of 25, who are looking to further themselves in the Arts, Cultural and Sporting fields. They must be a resident of the Wakatipu Basin.
St Johns Queenstown: Long-time supporters of the New Zealand Open, St John’s Queenstown are at the frontline of medical response providing Ambulance Services throughout the Wakitipu region. They are also part of the broader landscape of health and social care, through their provision of first aid training, event medical services, medical alarms, youth programmes and a wide range of community programmes.
HUHA: Helping you help animals is a charitable trust dedicated to teaching empathy to the community and providing shelter for those less fortunate animals that struggle to survive in today’s disposable culture. HUHA first travelled to Australia to assist with rescued, sick and injured wildlife affected by the NSW bushfires and were on the scene for five weeks
