NT crowns first Order of Merit winners Kate Buckland & Peter Hargreaves

NT crowns first Order of Merit winners Kate Buckland & Peter Hargreaves

The inaugural NT Order of Merit (OOM) has concluded at the recently played RAAF Open with Kate Buckland and Peter Hargreaves crowned scratch champions.

Buckland, a member at Alice Springs Golf Club, had a consistent year, highlighted by her victory at the RAAF Open to close out the year.

Buckland would edge out Darwin’s Christina Ritchie in a close finish. Ritchie had three top-three finishes throughout the season.

“The OOM series has been great fun to be a part of and I am happy to get the win,” said Buckland.

“The series entices players to travel to a variety of clubs and has helped to form great friendships across the playing group”.

Hargreaves edged out young gun Jacob Rawlings after both had fantastic seasons.

A victory at the Katherine Open, alongside runner-up finishes at the NT Country Championships and RAAF Open was enough for the Darwin golfer to be victorious.

Rawlings, 14, who plays his golf at Palmerston Golf Club, had a fantastic season as he added to his runner-up in the Men’s Scratch OOM by claiming victory in the Boys Scratch OOM, Boys Net OOM and Men’s Net OOM.

Six victories across the junior events alongside a victory in the RAAF Open were the highlights of Rawlings’s fantastic season.

To add to the victory at the RAAF Open, Rawlings also posted a course record.

Despite victories at the Alice Springs Junior Open and being the highest ranked junior at the NT Amateur, Phiraphat Pinitkittikhun had to settle for second behind Rawlings.

Pinitkittikhun finished runner-up in a further four events to cement a brilliant season.

In the Girls Scratch OOM, Abrielle (Summer) Dellow finished narrowly ahead Hannah Rika to claim the title.

Dellow, just 10 years of age, was victorious at both the Katherine Open and RAAF Open.

Dellow travelled to more events than any other player and is one to keep an eye out for in the future as she also claimed victory in the Girls Net OOM.

Holly Trembath claimed the Women’s Net edging out Christina Ritchie.