Portarlington Golf Club has won top gong for its Legends Tour pro-am event at the 2022 Victorian Golf Industry awards.

Chief executive Michael Phillips accepted the award on behalf of the club, voted by the PGA of Australia’s Legends Tour pros as the best in the state in its first time on their schedule.

Former Open Championship runner-up Mike Harwood fired a 64 to edge Australian Open champ Peter Fowler by a stroke in February, with both legendary pros raving about the course’s presentation on a day of hot scoring.

“I can actually say that might be my best putting round in my 43 years of playing professional golf,” Harwood said at the time.

“It says a lot about the quality of the greens and when you see some of the other scores, you can tell they were running perfectly.”

The day, presented by naming rights partner Barwon Cleaning Supplies, also featured meals before and after play, activations by sponsors at different points of the course and several competitions within the main event for the 200 professionals and amateurs who took part.

There was also a physio/massage installation for players from club partner Kieser, plus a roving Canadian Club bar that proved a hit on a balmy afternoon for the good-sized crowd that came to watch the heroes of yesteryear.

“We were absolutely thrilled with how it went off on the day,” Phillips said.

“So it was brilliant for us to have that acknowledged with an award voted on by professionals who have seen a lot of golf in a lot of places in their distinguished careers.

“When you think back to when we made the decision to commit to become part of the PGA Legends Tour, it was a bit of a risk with Covid still active in our society.

“But it really showed how much the Port community can unite behind a great event and I’m really proud of what we achieved together.”

Phillips paid tribute to the sponsors, staff and volunteers who brought the event to life.

“I think from the coffee and breakfast we were treated to at dawn right through to the presentations of all the big prizes – and the quirky ones – everyone who came to the club had a great time and that’s precisely what we’re all about.”

In partnership with sister clubs at Curlewis and Lonsdale Links, Portarlington will be a joint host of an even bigger event in 2023 with the three clubs to host a combined 54-hole tournament in mid February.

“We’ll announce more details along with Lonsdale and Curlewis in coming weeks, but we’re really excited about bringing another great event to our Bellarine community,” Phillips said.

“Along with the Vic Open, it really showcases to a wide audience just how world class our neck of the golfing woods has become, not to mention the rest of the wonderful attractions of the Bellarine Peninsula.”