New Plymouth professional Grant Moorhead finally broke through on the Charles Tour today, and the tears that followed were testament to how much the victory meant.
The 42-year-old, who has played in all but two Charles Tour events since it began in 2004, carded a final round three under par at the LawnMaster Classic to hold off the charge of Waikato teenager Luke Toomey.
Moorhead led by one shot heading down the 18th at the Manawatu Golf Club and he two-putted for par to put the pressure on Toomey, who had a birdie try from 3m to force a playoff.
The put went sliding by on the high side and the emotion hit Moorhead, who has been a perennial contender in the four-round format where the field of professionals contest a $40,000 purse.
"I am just feeling a huge sense of relief," said Moorhead, who claimed the $7200 in prize money. "Today's final round is just such a blur. I can't remember the middle part of the round at all. But I hung in there and played really nicely.
