The Official Site of Hunter Mahan

Tue, Nov 10th 2009, 12:02

Mahan heads list of young stars at Kiwi Challenge

Four of the best young golfers on the PGA TOUR will travel halfway around the world in mid-November, chasing a winner’s check for a million dollars in the second annual Kiwi Challenge, a made-for-TV event sanctioned by the PGA TOUR. More than that, the winner could also come home wearing the label of “best golfer under age 30.”

Defending champion Hunter Mahan and last year’s runner-up Anthony Kim will be joined by 20-somethings Sean O’Hair and Camilo Villegas for a 36-hole stroke play event Nov. 11-12 at picturesque Cape Kidnappers Golf Resort in beautiful Hawkes Bay, on New Zealand’s North Island. The event will be televised by NBC in vivid HDTV from 4-6 p.m. (EST) on Nov. 14-15.

Combined, the group already has eight PGA TOUR wins, more than 80 top-10 finishes and nearly $40 million in career winnings. The Kiwi Challenge will offer a $2 million purse and a breathtaking setting that architect Tom Doak used to create a 7,119-yard masterpiece that is ranked 36th in the world by Golf Magazine. It is the fourth highest ranked course opened in the last 50 years.

“You’ll never play golf like this anywhere else,” says Doak.

“It’s one of the most stunning golf courses I have ever seen,” says NBC announcer Mark Rolfing, a resident of Hawaii, where there is no shortage of scenic golf courses.

Mahan, 27, earned last year’s top prize with a par on the second playoff hole after rallying to shoot 30 on the final nine holes of regulation to catch Kim. Each player concluded 36 holes at 8-under-par 136. It may have been the confidence-booster Mahan needed. Since then, he has climbed to No. 26 in the Official World Golf Ranking and he’s 14th on the 2009 PGA TOUR money list.

“I can’t wait to go back to New Zealand and play in the Kiwi Challenge,” said Mahan. “Before going over last year, I had heard wonderful things about Cape Kidnappers and they were all true. I played some of my best golf ever on the final holes to win last year’s event, so I’d sure call it one of my favorite places for a few reasons. The course is fantastic and the views are incredible; like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”

“It’s pretty amazing,” agreed Kim, the youngest of the group at 24, who is never short on confidence or flair. “I was honored to participate in the inaugural Kiwi Challenge and I am looking forward to returning to New Zealand in November where I’ll be hoping to come out on top this year.

“The setting and views from the golf course were just spectacular and the people made us feel right at home. It will be an exciting trip for me, and if it’s anything like last year, it will be another exciting event.”

Continue reading….