News
2nd August 2010
Vault Office Unattended
The Vault office will be unattended from Tuesday 3rd August to Monday 9th office as we travel overseas securing new and exciting golf opportunities for Western Australia.
Please email all URGENT enquiries to admin@vaultsm.com or contact us when we return on Monday 9th August.
21st July 2010
Be Part of the Action at the 2010 Handa Australian Senior Open
Don't miss your chance to get up close with the stars of the 2010 Handa Australian Senior Open by becoming a volunteer!
This is an opportunity to go behind the scenes and play a key role in the delivery of the tournament. As a volunteer you can nominate for a variety of roles including being inside the ropes caddying for the players, marshalling, scoring and other exciting opportunities.
Unless you're a competitor in the field, you won't get any closer than this!
Volunteers will receive a shirt, hat, lunch and drinks throughout the tournament. Complete the volunteer form by clicking here and return it to Royal Perth Golf Club or via email to admin@vaultsm.com.
We look forward to having you involved in the action of Western Australia's biggest golf tournament.
9th July 2010
ISPS announce Handa Australian Senior Open Co-Sanctioning with European Senior Tour
The future of Australia's premier senior golf tournament, the Handa Australian Senior Open, continues to strengthen with the announcement to co-sanction the event with the European Senior Tour.
The three year co-sanctioning of the Handa Australian Senior Open will see a $100,000 increase in the prize money to AUD$400,000 and the inclusion of the leading 30 players from the European Senior Tour. It will be the opening tournament on the 2011 European Senior Tour schedule and will be followed by the Handa Cup Senior Masters in Japan the following week.
To be held at Royal Perth Golf Club from 19-21 November 2010, the Handa Australian Senior Open will see the likes of Ian Woosnam, Sandy Lyle and Sam Torrance compete for the prestigious title. The tournament will also be a significa nt occasion for Australian golf icon Ian Baker-Finch, who will make his debut on home soil as a Senior golfer at the event. He will be joined in the field by defending Champion Mike Harwood and fellow countrymen Peter Senior, Wayne Grady and David Merriman.
Chairmain of the International Sports Promotion Society and long-term golf supporter Dr Haruhisa Handa said he was pleased the European Senior Tour have agreed to co-sanction the event and pledged his continued support to the tournament he resurrected back in 2007.
"I am so proud of the growth of the Handa Australian Senior Open over the past 3 years and to now have the event feature in conjunction with the European Senior Tour is a big step forward for Senior Golf in Australia," said Dr Handa.
ISPS is a leading sponsor of a number of European Senior Tour events with the inclusion of the Handa Australian Senior Open taking their involvement to five tournaments in fie different countries. ISPS have helped take the Senior Tour to new corners of the globe and have also helped bring a charitable angle to all events through their promotion of blind golf at each event.
Andy Stubbs, Managing Director of the European Senior Tour, said: "The European Senior Tour is delighted to be invited for the first time to co-sanction the Handa Australian Senior Open with the PGA of Australia and for this tournament to be the first to count towards the 2011 European Senior Tour Order of Merit.
"With the Handa Cup Senior Masters taking place the following week in Japan, we are extremely grateful to the International Sports Promotion Society and its Chairman, Dr Haruhisa Handa, for enabling these fantastic events to begin the new season.
"Over the years, we have had numerous legendary Australian players participate on our TOur and this opportunity will allow for them to showcase their talents on home soil and to be joined by our legends such as Sandy Lyle, Sam Torrance and Ian Woosnam. We look forward to working with our colleagues at the PGA of Australia for what promises to be an exciting event in November."
Stephen Pitt, CEO of Golf Australia also confirmed their enthusiasm at the continued growth of the event. "The Handa Australian Senior Open is the biggest tournament on the EZ-GO PGA Legends Tour and to see it co-sanctioned with the European Senior Tour is a fantastic achievement", said Pitt.
"We are so proud of our association with Dr Handa and the International Sports Promotion Society, who are big supporters of not only this event but also the Handa Australian Women's OPen. We look forward to working with the PGA of Australia and Vault Sports Management to once again deliver an exceptional event in November."
Simon Butterly, General Manager of the Tournament Division of the PGA of Australia added, "the Handa Australian Senior Open provides a fantastic opportunity for our members to play an internationally recognised tournament, for an impressive prize pool on their home soil."
"This move to co-sanction the tournament with the European Senior Tour is indicative of the growth of the EZ-GO PGA Legends Tour in recent years and I hope that Australian senior golf continues to develop in years to come."
Household names including Rodger Davis, Bob Shearer, Michael Clayton and Peter Fowler are anticipated to play at the prestigious Royal Perth Golf Club from 19-21 November 2010.
7th July 2010
Handa Australia Cup Date Change
The 2010 Handa Australia Cup will be postponed to February 2011 in a bid to better fit with the world tour schedules and maximise the field opportunities for Senior Men, Senior Women and the Junior Boy and Girl Champions from across Australia.
Further information on the tournament date will be released as soon as possible.
14th May 2010
Peake and Suwanapurra Secure 2010 Handa Junior Masters Titles
After 4 days of phenomenal golf at The Vines Resort and Country Club, WA junior Ryan Peake and Thai sensation Thidapa Suwanapurra have secured the boys and girls titles of the 2010 Handa Junior Masters.
As the boys teed off in perfect, albeit cold conditions on Friday morning, Peake sat atop the leaderboard on 8 under par with Jake Higginbottom from NSW. After 9 holes a shift had occurred with Higginbottom charging 3 shots ahead to 11 under with Peake remaining even par for the day.
As the pressure mounted, birdies from Peake and bogies from Higginbottom closed the gap to 1 shot with 3 holes to play. The seventeenth hole became the turning point and all but won the tournament for Peake as Higginbottom came unstuck and recorded a disappointing triple bogey on the par 3 hole.
Higginbottom managed to regroup before reaching the 18th tee but the 4 shot swing meant Peake had already surged home. An eagle from Peake on the last wrapped up the tournament with him finishing 12 under par and securing the 2010 Handa Junior Masters title.
In the girls competition, tournament leader Thidapa Suwanapurra played another round of solid golf to finish off the event in style, securing a 2 shot win over the field.
Suwanapurra who lead the tournament from start to finish was pleased with her win although did admit her third and fourth rounds were nothing in comparison to her opening rounds of 67 and 68. 17 year old Suwanapurra, who has played junior and amateur golf successfully across the globe, thanked the tournament sponsor Dr Handa before announcing, she will be turning professional at the end of the year.
Tournament favourite Lydia Ko from New Zealand recorded the best gross score for the final round carding a 70 to finish outright second above Australian Girls Amateur Champion Annie Choi. 2009 Champion and WA local Jayde Panos finished in fourth place after a final round of 77.
Peake and Suwanapurra secure themselves exemption to play the prestigious Australian Open with the men's event being hosted at The Lakes in Sydney in December and the women's event to be played in early 2011.
13th May 2010
WA Local Peake Sets The Vines on Fire
WA sensation Ryan Peake has charged to the top of the leaderboard at the Handa Junior Masters after a phenomenal 65 on moving day at The Vines Resort.
With weather conditions taking a turn for the worse during the night, competitors braved the course avoiding rain and maximising the relatively windless conditions. Peake teed off at 9.56am and made an early break with a birdie on the first followed by an eagle on the par 5 third. He continued in impressive form picking up additional birdies on six, seven and nine closing out on his front nine with an exceptional 6 under 30.
A solid back nine with a birdie on the last finished out Peake's round with a field blitzing 7 under 65. Overnight leader Jake Higginbottom from NSW also continued his consistency with a 2 under 70 tying up the leaderboard going into the final round. Higginbottom got off to a shaky start with a bogey on the second and fourth but picked up 3 birdies on the back nine eventually signing for 2 under.
Friday's final group in the boys field will feature a strong contingent of WA competitors with Oliver Goss and Luke Turner carding 70 and 72 consecutively.
Overnight leader in the girls field Thidapa Suwanapurra struggled in the cooler conditions finishing 4 over par for the day. Given her strong start with scores of 67 and 68, she still holds a convincing lead on the rest of the field going into the final round 5 shots ahead of Victorian Su-Hyun Oh.
2009 Champion and WA local Jayde Panos shot the round of the day in the girl's field signing for a 69 with 2 under on the front 9 and a birdie on the 18th to finish her day in style. She is tied on the leaderboard with Australian Girls Amateur Champion Annie Choi and New Zealander Lydia Ko all on 2 over par.
Competitors will battle it out for the prestigious title in the fourth and final round with the winners receiving exemption into the Australian Open and ANZ Ladies Masters. Watch the action live on course at The Vines Resort and Country Club from 8.30am with the leaders teeing off at 9.56am.
12th May 2010
Suwanapurra Charges Ahead at Handa Junior Masters
Round 2 of the Handa Junior Masters has continued to impress with overnight leader Thidapa Suwanapurra from Thailand securing her domination of the field, after shooting an impressive 68 in perfect golfing conditions.
The 17 year old took a strong hold on the field early in the round with an opening birdie on the first and another on the par 5 third. An unfortunate slip on the par 5 sixth with a double bogey put her back to even for the day but she quickly recovered with birdies on seven, eight and nine to turn in 3 under for the day.
A solid back 9 with birdies on the par 3 thirteenth and par 5 eighteenth saw Suwanapurra sign for a 4 under par, 9 under after 2 rounds with a significant 11 shot lead.
Next best placed in the girls field is Su-Hyun Oh from Victoria who had consecutive rounds of 72. She is one shot ahead of Queenslander Annie Choi.
In the boys field, joint overnight leader Jake Higginbottom also took a strong hold on the boys field carding a 2 under 70 for the day, to be 6 under after 36 holes. Higginbottom of NSW thrived in the fantastic Perth weather making birdies on the par 4 second and par 5 third before a small slip with a bogey on the fifth. He bounced back again securing birdies on the tenth and twelth eventually signing for 2 under the card.
Higginbottom sits 5 shots clear of second placed, WA local Ryan Peake, who made a rewarding eagle on the last for even par for the day. Higginbottom and Peake will be joined in the Round 3 final group by New Zealander Tim Leonard and Queenslander Maverick Antcliff who both sit at even par.
WA local Jarryd Felton is also in the hunt after returning from serious injury, and is sitting at even par with Australian Boys Amateur Champion Anthony Murdaca from South Australia one shot further back on 1 over par total.
With weather forecasts suggesting unpleasant conditions for Round 3, the leaderboard will be one to watch as all the action continues at The Vines Resort and Country Club on Wednesday.
11th May 2010
Juniors Blitz The Vines in Round 1 of Handa Junior Masters
The Handa Junior Masters has got off to an exciting start after Round 1 with impressive scores being posted in both the boys and girls fields.
Thai sensation Thidapa Suwanapurra, who received exemption as the winner of the Faldo Asian Series, blew the girls field away shooting a spectacular 67, which included 3 birdies and 2 eagles. After getting off to a strong start on the back 9 turning 1 under the card, Suwanapurra took charge on the front 9 with eages on the par 5 third and sixth.
Local West Australian Hayley Bettencourt and tournament favourite Lydia Ko from New Zealand were the next best placed girls both shooting 1 under par. Bettencourt was ecstatic with her round and was particularly pleased with her two par 3 birdies and only a single bogey on the par 4 fifth hole. Ko had a varied round making a timely birdie on her last hole to finish the day 1 under the card.
In the boys field, interstate competitors took the lead with Maverick Antcliff from QLD and Jake Higginbottom from NSW both shooting 4 under 68. Antcliff got off to a very strong start with birdies on the tenth and eleventh holes finishing his first 9 on 3 under after another birdie on the par 5 eighteenth. His only falter came on the eighth hole rounding out his front 9 on 1 under par for 4 under total.
Higginbottom also made the most of the fantastic conditions starting his round with a birdie on the tenth hole followed by consecutive birdies on the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth holes. A solid front 9 with a birdie and a bogey on the par 5 sixth saw him finish tied with Antcliff on 4 under.
West Australian Jordan Lambert also had a positive round finishing 2 under par, 2 shots back from the leaders. One shot further back on 1 under par are West Australian's Jarryd Felton, Ryan Peake and Victorian representative Sam Mitchell. Sam was particularly pleased with his round with a current handicap of 5 meaning he shot a nett 66.
With continued perfect weather forecast for Wednesday, the tournament is set to take exciting shape after the second round!
30 April 2010
WA Junior Masters Entry Forms
Due to late receipt of some invitations to the Handa Junior Masters, we will accept WA entry forms up until 12.00pm on Monday 3 May.
The list of received entry forms can be found under "Our Events" in the 2010 Handa Junior Masters event. If your name does not appear in this list - we have not received your entry form.
We will not be open over the weekend so please contact us on Monday if you have any queries.
Please ensure if you fax in your entry form that you either process payment of your entry fee online or send a cheque to our postal address. A reminder that we DO NOT accept credit card payments over the phone.
28 April 2010
Juniors Today....World Champions Tomorrow
The highest ranked junior golfers from across Australia and the Asia-pacific region will assemble in Perth for the seventh consecutive Handa Junior Masters at The Vines Resort and Country Club from 11-14 May 2010.
The tournament will host a field of 100 juniors (60 boys and 40 girls) who will compete over 72 holes for the prestigious titles as well as the unbelievable opportunity to play in a professional tournament. The winning boy will receive an exemption to play in the esteemed Australian Open at The Lakes, Sydney in December 2010, while the winning girl will receive exemptions to play the ANZ Ladies Masters and the Handa Women's Australian Open in early 2011.
The Handa Junior Masters is the only junior tournament in Australia, which provides this remarkable opportunity to the next generation of world champions!
Tournament Chairman Wayne Smith said he was also pleased to announce the securing of naming rights sponsor Dr Haruhisa Handa through his organisation the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) for a further 6 years, taking his support of the tournament through to 2016. "With the global financial crisis having taken it's toll on so many people and organisations, this is significant recognition of the event and we hope the demonstration of commitment from Mr Handa will encourage others to support this event and golf as a sport globally!"
Mr Handa and ISPS have also recently announced their financial support of the Faldo Asian Junior Series that presents fortified opportunities for the winners of both the Handa Junior Masters and the Faldo Series over the entire Asia Pacific region.
This year's field boasts an impressive line up of boys and girls from across the region, all vying for the chance to add their name to a growing list of impressive champions. The boys field will be led by Australian Boys Amateur Champion Anthony Murdaca of South Australia who will play alongisde Australian Junior runner up Jake Higginbottom of NSW and third placed Maverick Antcliffe of QLD. Ten of the top twelve junior boys from the recent Australian Boys Amateur Championship will make their way to Perth to content the 2010 Handa Junior Masters title.
The girls field will include a stellar line up of competitors including 2009 Champion and WA local Jayde Panos as well as the winner of the recent Australian Girls Amateur Championship Annie Choi of QLD and runner up Japanese born Saki Suzuki.
The girls will be up against tough opposition from international competitors including Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who earlier this year as a 13 year old, impressed the golfing world finishing tied 8th at the New Zealand Women's Open. She will be joined by Thidapa Siwannapura of Thailand who won the overall Faldo Asian Junior Series in March.
Event Manager Gemma Liddelow from Vault Sports Management said the tournament has grown significantly over the past 6 years and invitations are now highly sought after from all golfers in the Asia Pacific region.
"The growing interest and support in the Junior Masters over the past years has been really exciting and we are so proud to be involved with such a high calibre event on the junior circuit. We try to replicate a professional golf tournament as closely as possible so this next generation of world champions can experience 'life on tour' for a week."
Tournament founder and Chairman Wayne Smith also added "We are pleased to provide this educational opportunity for up and coming golfers so they can experience all elements of the life that professional golfers live. This tournament was developed to not only be a fantastic event for juniors, but a life experience. This includes playing with sponsors in the Junior-Am Day and being responsible for themselves on the golf course over a 72 hole event."
The 2010 Handa Junior Masters will kick off with a Junior-Am (sponsor day) on Monday 10 May with packages and playing positions still available. Spectators for the Handa Junior Masters are welcome and entry is free!
21st February 2010
Harwood Wins Inaugural Handa NZ Senior Masters at Millbrook
Victorian Mike Harwood is making up for lost time at a rapid rate with the 51 year old cruising to victory in the first Handa NZ Senior Masters at Millbrook. Harwood went into the final round with a 3 shot lead and won comfortably by 4 shots continuing the outstanding form he has shown since returning to the game in 2009 after a 15 year break.
Harwood finished at 10 under par (206) beating fellow Australian's Michael Clayton (210) and Wayne Grady (211) with new Zealander Simon Owen and veteran Australian Noel Ratcliffe tied for fourth on 214.
Ratcliffe and Owen tied to win the Handa Handicap tournament where players were handicapped by age based on a scratch age of 58.
While Harwood appeared to win comfortably, he admitted to being nervous throughout the final round. "I'm always nervous. I wouldn't play the game if I wasn't. A big lead can disappear with just one shot and I really wasn't comfortable until I played the last shot over the water on the last hole," he said.
Harwood picked up the winners' cheque of $18,000 for the $100,000 main event while Ratcliffe and Owen banked $9.975 each for their tied win in the Handa Handicap event.
20th February 2010
Harwood Takes Lead in Queenstown
Mike Harwood has moved to the top of the leaderboard at the Handa NZ Senior Masters at Millbrook after shooting an impressive round of 66 today. The current Australian Senior Open Champion now holds a 3 shot lead over fellow Australian and past Senior Open winner Wayne Grady and New Zealander Simon Owen.
The Handa Handicap competition is also shaping up for an interesting finish with 59 year old Simon Owen holding a 2 shot nett lead (123) over 65 year old Noel Ratcliffe and a further 2 shots from 59 year old Garry Merrick.
Mike Harwood's good form has also seen him win the Handa NZ Senior Masters Pro-Am competition with amateur partner Keith Mortimer. Harwood took home the $2,500 winning cheque while Mortimer won flights to Perth with Air New Zealand to play the 2010 Handa Australian Senior Open Pro-Am.
Play concludes at Millbrook today with the leading group teeing off at 11.48am.
19th February 2010
Grady and Ratcliffe lead Handa NZ Senior Masters at Millbrook
Past US PGA winner Wayne Grady and Australian senior golfer Noel Ratcliffe share the lead after the first round of the 2010 Handa NZ Senior Masters at Millbrook after opening rounds of 3 under par 69. Teeing off in perfect conditions on Friday morning, Grady made the most of the still day picking up 4 birdies on the front 9. His only flaw came on the tricky par four 12th hole which resulted in a bogey.
Ratcliffe teed off slightly later than Grady parring his first 10 holes before birdying the 11th, 12th and 18th holes. Ratcliffe said "I didn't play great but I played steady golf. I just didn't hit my iron shots as close as I'd have liked".
Grady, who is playing his first competitive round of golf since the 2009 Handa Australia Cup played in Perth in November, said he missed several chances on his second nine but was happy with how he played. "The course was perfect and the conditions were very playable - good for us old fella's" said Grady post round.
Grady and Ratcliffe hold a one shot lead over fellow Australian Mike Harwood and New Zealander Simon Owen, with the only other player to break par being Michael Clayton who shot 71.
Play continues at Millbrook from 9.00am Saturday morning with Grady teeing off at 10.21am and Ratcliffe off at 9.27am.
18th January 2010
Handa NZ Senior Masters at Millbrook
Millbrook Golf Club will host New Zealand's newest and richest Senior golf tournament on the challenging new Millbrook Golf Course in February 2010.
The Handa New Zealand Senior Masters at Millbrook will take place from 19-21 February 2010 with a record breaking NZ$150,000 total prize money on offer.
The event is a very welcome addition to the Southern Senior Golf Swing that brings Australia and New Zealand's best Senior golfers to New Zealand's mainland.
The tournament will compliment the grand opening of the newly structured Millbrook Golf Course set to be launched at the end of January. "I know Sir Bob Charles is already excited about the Handa NZ Senior Masters. Having been involved as Millbrook's original designer, his influence over the course and Resort remains; and it is only fitting that the biggest Senior event in the Country should be at this venue" said David Onions, Director of Millbrook.
The tournament will not only attract some of New Zealand and Australia’s top senior professional golfers, but will give local amateurs a chance to match their game against the best with a unique Dunhill Links style format to the tournament.
“We are thrilled to be offering amateurs the exciting opportunity to be involved in the Handa New Zealand Senior Masters” said Tournament Director Greg Turner.
Amatuer golfers will have a unique opportunity to play side by side with a skilled and experienced golf professional in an exciting 36-hole golf tournament. This format is similar to the famous Dunhill Links at St Andrews in Scotland. As Coronet nine designer Greg Turner noted; “having played in a number of Dunhill Links events, I can vouch for the success of the format. Hearing the likes of Michael Douglas, Samuel L Jackson and various captains of industry extol the virtues a format that allows amateur players to witness at first hand the realities of tournament golf convinced me. I think this event at Millbrook has the potential to be the most sort after participant golf event in the country”.
Tournament sponsor and Patron Dr Haruhisa Handa is delighted to be involved in the newest Senior Men’s tournament in the Australasian region and is looking forward to the opportunity to enjoy Millbrook Golf Club in the beautiful environment of the Wakatipu.
Dr Haruhisa Handa is a successful Japanese businessman, an academic, an accomplished artist and philanthropist who believes that golf is the ideal forum to bring together people of all ages, abilities and cultures globally.
Dr Handa together with Millbrook Golf Club, are the driving force behind the continuing growth of Senior Men’s golf in the region with the addition of New Zealand’s richest Senior Golf tournament.
Dr Handa’s sponsorship of the Handa NZ Senior Masters at Millbrook will also compliment his ongoing passion for Blind Golf globally with funds being donated to New Zealand and Australian Blind Golf charities.
12th January 2010
2010 Handa Junior Masters
Preparations are underway for the 2010 Handa Junior Masters to be hosted at The Vines Resort and Country Club from 11-14 May 2010.
Interstate and International invitations will be issued by 22 January. Players who are not invited to compete through their relevant association may apply for a Sponsors Exemption by sending a full playing resume to Vault Sports Management via email to admin@vaultsm.com.
Full event details can be viewed under the "Our Events" tab then by clicking on 2010 Junior Masters.