Team China has maintained their superiority over Australia by winning the first leg of the 2015 International Challenge at Pelican Waters on the Sunshine Coast. Team Australia was hoping to taste victory for the first time however came up short by 24 stableford points.

Following round one, Team China lead the way with 144 points to Australia’s 142.5. Team Australia dug deep to shoot a very competitive score of 327 points but the Chinese, with a score of 351 points, proved too strong.

The day was highlighted by some amazing shots. Shaun Piper of South West Rocks Country Club eagled the 3rd hole. Jake Nagle, Professional at Queanbeyan Golf club, then scored an eagle on the par five 8th. He was then outdone by his playing partner Hou Jianhong from China who holed an amazing albatross on the same hole from 210 metres.

Stephen Hogg from Australia was the leading individual for the event but the consistency of the entire Chinese team was enough to hand them the title. Seven of the twelve Chinese players played to or beat their handicaps.

The International challenge pits two 12 man teams from China and Australia in a friendly competition designed to give participants from the China Golf Club League (sponsored by Buick) and the Holden Scramble the opportunity to play in an international tournament.

This year the winning team from the 2014 Holden Scramble Championship Final, Palm Meadows, were joined by a further seven PGA Professionals from across the country teeing it up against the top three teams from China’s respective teams golf championship.

The event was played using a modified stableford format in which 1 point is awarded for a net par, 2 points for a net birdie and so on. Monday saw a 4BBB round and Tuesday was a single stableford round.

The leading professional in the event was Matt Kiernan from Palm Meadows Golf Club with a total of 32.5 points for two rounds, playing off scratch.

Kiernan said he greatly enjoyed the experience.

“The teams bonded really well and it was great to meet the Chinese players. We had a great week and all the Chinese players were really friendly. Pelican Waters Golf Club was a great venue and now we can look forward to heading to China, which I’m sure will be another amazing experience. Everyone is really excited and looking forward to July.”

The second leg of the 2015 International challenge will take place from the 13-17 July in Beijing.

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