Michael Hendry Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Golfer Michael Hendry has won the Clearwater Open on his 44th birthday after being diagnosed with Leukaemia in April, becoming the winningest player on the Charles Tour.
The victory was emotional for the 2017 New Zealand Open champion, who didn't know if he would play another competitive round following his cancer diagnosis, let alone what his future would look like.
After overcoming his fair share of challenges over the past six months, he said he couldn't put the victory into words.
"Obviously, the trials and tribulations that I've been through this year I've been pushing hard to get back to the game, and to do this in my second major tournament back is pretty surreal to be honest. I'm blown away.
"Along with the All Blacks win, it's been a good day so far."
He did it the hard way, winning on the fourth playoff hole against four other players.
He said he had plenty of memories to call upon to get the job done.
"I've been in this situation a few times before. With five guys in the playoff, I knew I was going to have to make a birdie at some stage. I just thought I needed to play as aggressively as I did in regulation. With the wind off the right on 18, it set up pretty well for me; I just stepped up and piped driver a few times.
"It's probably the best I played all week to be honest," he laughs.
He now holds nine Charles Tour titles, the most of any player. He said it was one of his proudest golfing achievements.
"Having these little records and things, I'm sure someone will come along and beat them - Josh is playing so well at the moment and will probably win and tie it again next week."
"It means a lot. These records in the New Zealand golfing scene mean a lot. I care about how I'm perceived as a golfer in New Zealand. Hopefully, I can add to that now that I hold this record; it's really satisfying."
He now turns his attention to the Taranaki Open next week in search of his tenth title.