Dobbelaar & Zheng make New Zealand Amateur Golf History
10/30/2016 | by New Zealand Golf
see also: View results for New Zealand Amateur, Invercargill Golf Club
Australian Louis Dobbelaar and New Zealand’s Rose Zheng have won the 2016 New Zealand Amateur Championship
UPPER HUTT, New Zealand (October 30, 2016) -- Australian Louis Dobbelaar and New Zealand’s Rose Zheng have won the 2016 Cobra Puma New Zealand Amateur Championship.
Dobbelaar becomes the youngest winner in the tournament’s history at the age of just 15. He defeated the experienced Peter Spearman-Burn 2&1 at the picturesque Royal Wellington Golf Club today.
It was an epic 35-hole battle which for the majority of the day was dominated by Spearman-Burn, before he unravelled coming home to give Dobbelaar the biggest win of his short and exciting career.
It was hard for the new champion to hide his emotions with friends and family all there to watch.
Unknown to most, Dobbelaar is a country member at Royal Wellington with his father living in the region. Vince Dobbelaar also carried his son’s bag for the week, so it was a family affair as the boy from Brisbane prospered.
“It feels crazy, the last six holes I thought I had a chance but somehow I battled it out and got the result.
“It’s really cool to have them all here, there was so many of them, I didn’t realize I had that many family members but it was a pretty cool feeling having them supporting me.
“It’s so cool to have a big crowd and it is definitely the biggest win of my career so far, but hopefully there can be a few more.”
Unfortunately for Spearman-Burn he couldn’t maintain the magic that he supplied all week and faltered down the stretch. The Miramar and Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club member missed crucial putts on 14, 15 and 16 which sealed his fate and was unable to join his twin brother Thomas who won the New Zealand Amateur title in 2008.
In the women’s championship, Zheng showed age was no barrier as she disposed of her fellow Auckland teammate and captain Muchin Keh, winning by a healthy margin of 3&2.
The 14-year-old became the second youngest in history to win the championship behind world number one Lydia Ko.
“I can’t believe it, I can’t believe it and I don’t know what to say!” said a bubbly Zheng.
“It means so much to me and I hope this can be a big boost for my future. Winning my first Jennian Homes Charles Tour event was also a huge booster last week, so I am pretty happy.”
Although the margin of victory was dominant, it wasn’t smooth sailing for the Pakuranga member after Keh carded three birdies in four holes early in the second round to bring the match back to even and test Zheng. For her to bounce back and finish off the match was a true sign that she is a talent and one to watch for the future.
This week was a test for all golfers, but also a good test for this great golf club, Royal Wellington who will be the venue for the 2017 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship (AAC). This afternoon we witnessed the pure passion they have for the game with galleries that flocked the fairways. The number of fans dwarfed that of the recent AAC in Korea which will be a huge confidence booster for the club.
When one of the world’s biggest amateur events embarks on Wellington next year, they will be ready and will do a great job of hosting the prestigious event.
Today showed that the game of golf is in safe hands with this easily being the youngest pair of combined winners and that New Zealand has some special people and players coming through the ranks.
Results: New Zealand Amateur
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | , Australia | 500 | ||
| Runner-up | , New Zealand | 400 | ||
| Semifinals | , New Zealand | 300 | ||
| Semifinals | , New Zealand | 300 | ||
| Quarterfinals | , New Zealand | 200 |
About the New Zealand Amateur
Match play championship of New Zealand for men and women. 36 holes of stroke play qualifying to determine the final 32 players for single elimination match play.
Most Popular Articles
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Guide: Sites, Scores, and Who Advanced
Dec 5, 2025Second Stage is complete and Final Stage awaits at Sawgrass — follow every Q-School leaderboard and the players still chasing
2025 LPGA TOUR Q-Series: Final Qualifying Stage FINAL SCORING
Dec 8, 2025Helen Briem earns medalist honors, 31 players headed to the LPGA next year
2025 PGA TOUR Q-School Final Stage: Ewart Leads Five New TOUR Card Winners
Dec 14, 2025A.J. Ewart topped Final Stage at TPC Sawgrass, leading five players who secured PGA TOUR membership for 2026.
Australian Open at Royal Melbourne: Preview, amateur bios, and how to watch
Nov 30, 2025Rory McIlroy headlines one of the championship's top fields in years - at least four amateurs will have their chance at glory
Luke Ringkamp Cruises to Rolex Tournament of Champions Title at TPC San Antonio
Nov 26, 2025One week after committing to Pepperdine, Luke Ringkamp won the Rolex Tournament of Champions by nine shots.