Golf Vic Vol 60 No 1

Photography: Bernie Phelan Stephanie Kyriacou, 18, from New South Wales stood up to the pressure of the final round of the women’s Australian Master of the Amateurs at Royal Melbourne to shoot the day’s low, a two-under 70, for a finishing total of two-over 290, besting Julienne Soo by three shots. Victorian Soo finished second to Yasuda last year. The confidence Kyriacou derived from winning such a big four-round stroke tournament helped her a month later when she made the cut in the Vic Open. The men’s AMOTA produced an incredible finish that was as miraculous for Chinese Taipei 20-year- old Chun-An Yu as it was demoralising for Japan’s Keita Nakajima. Yu, who is based in the US playing the college circuit for Arizona State, started the day five strokes adrift but fired five birdies on the front nine on his way to a final round 67. Nakajima, the 2018 Australian Amateur champion who finished equal fifth in the Australian Open late last year, was still a shot clear when he landed on the 72nd green in regulation. But three putts from 15 metres dropped him into a playoff at a six-under total of 282. On the second sudden-death hole, Nakajima had a two-metre putt for victory but just missed. Third time around, Yu knocked a seven-iron approach to a metre, made the putt and claimed the jacket. World number one amateur Justin Suh finished inside the top-10 as did world number four Matthew Wolff, who has a somewhat quirky swing but clearly a big future. Upon returning to the USA after the Australian Master of the Amateurs, Wolff played in the Phoenix Open on the US PGA Tour and made the cut. He seems set to continue the AMOTA tradition of attracting rising amateurs on their way to the big time – players of the calibre of Rickie Fowler, Jason Day, Tommy Fleetwood, Bryson DeChambeau, Andy Sullivan and Victor Dubuisson. In 2020 the Master of the Amateurs championships will be hosted by Victoria Golf Club from January 7-10. Wheelton Philanthropy because we wanted to send a message out to the philanthropic sector that there’s a real need and opportunity for philanthropy to get behind avenues for women in sport, because it’s just not happening fast enough. Support of women in sport needs a kick start and that’s something that philanthropy can do.” Wheelton Philanthropy has the core pillars of women and girls, health and education, all underpinned by disadvantage and need. Supporting the women's AMOTA ticked all boxes. And both the Wheeltons and the Manns are delighted with the result. Last year 24 females teed up for the inaugural women’s event won by Japan’s Yuka Yasuda, while this year the field doubled to 48 with 18 countries represented and an extensive waiting list. “We were overseas the first year, so this was our first year here and we were quite blown away. We both realised the enormity of it,” said Paul Wheelton. Angela Mann was equally enthusiastic. “This is just so special,” she said. “The women’s event has brought a whole new dynamic to the field. It’s a whole new excitement to the game. It’s fantastic for women’s golf and for the girls; they feel that we treat them as equal with the males, they’re respected, and that they have a platform on which to show their skills. And the guys love it. They really love it, and they’re so respectful, and I think that’s how all golf should be played.” Respect for women not just in sport but in life is a huge part of the Wheeltons’ work. In 2018, Wheelton Philanthropy was awarded the inaugural International Philanthropy Award, presented as part of the Australia Philanthropy Awards and in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for its work with the Bali Children’s Foundation, which has 4500 girls receiving education to prepare them for a better future. “This work is one of the most exciting things we’ve done, to see it progress the way it has,” said Angela Wheelton. Paul added: “We’ve really concentrated on girls because in Indonesia, girls are very much neglected.” Aside from the issue of gender equality, United Nations statistics suggest that 70% of a girl’s earnings return to her village while only around 30% is returned via males. Education and subsequent employment for girls is a way to effect both social change and economic viability for poor villages. The Wheeltons currently have a longitudinal study underway, following the progress of girls from education to employment. “We want to provide verifiable evidence to the local government there of the social and economic value of educating girls,” said Angela Wheelton. “We have one girl who would have been in the fields at ten but with us she did high school, then we got her to a Polytechnic in Denpasar to do civil engineering. There were 600 boys and just six girls; she came second in the school and is now doing a post-graduate degree,” said Paul. Both super-successful in their respective careers – Paul with 11 franchises under his watch at Budget and Angela as the former CEO Australia and New Zealand for Swiss company Straumann – the Wheeltons have transferred their business acumen into modern philanthropy, which has moved beyond simple charitable giving to those in need (though they still do that) to strategic planning, having an endgame for every project that allows the projects to ultimately manage themselves. As for the women's AMOTA, the 2020 event will see a shared sponsorship between Wheelton Philanthropy and Budget. And with other philanthropists now looking at ways in which to be involved in this space, it is hoped that potential commercial sponsors will also see the value and advantages of investing in women’s golf as well as other sports. The gratitude of the female competitors was reflected in the words 2019 Australian Women’s Master of the Amateurs champion Stephanie Kyriacou wrote to the Manns: “I would like to thank everyone involved, especially the Wheeltons for all their support of women’s golf. The AMOTA is one of my favourite events of the year. Being able to win such a big event and getting my name on that trophy is such an honour. I’m already looking forward to coming back to this tournament next year and being the first person to defend their title!” Happily, thanks to the Wheeltons’ support, Kyriacou will be defending a shiny new green jacket, not that one in the cupboard from 22 years ago! Golf Victoria 37