Foote steps to pro-am again

Michael Foote successfully defended his Pakenham Pro-Am title last Friday. 27004 Picture: Stewart Chambers

By Paul Pickering
NYORA-raised golfer Michael Foote last week became the first back-to-back winner of the Pakenham Pro-Am.
The 31-year-old right-hander fired a four-under-par round of 67 to finish two shots clear of fellow Victorian Tony McNaughton, with South Australian Nick Cullen and Queenslander Shaun Harmer a further shot back.
Foote, who now lives in Parkville, made the most of favourable conditions at Pakenham Golf Club on Friday morning, before sitting comfortably in the clubhouse as the afternoon field was buffeted by swirling wind.
The victory capped an impressive 48 hours for Commonwealth Golf Club’s head professional, after he finished second in the Lang Lang Pro-Am the previous day.
Foote attributed his successful title defence to some handy local knowledge gained during frequent visits to the Pakenham layout while doing his traineeship at Cranbourne’s Amstel Golf Club.
“I reckon I’ve probably played at Pakenham over 30 times, so it’s almost a local course for me,” he said.
Foote spent six years on the Australasian PGA Tour during his twenties, before settling into life as a family man and teaching pro at Commonwealth.
And while his ball-striking might not be as consistent as it used to be, his improved temperament and course management skills have made him a force on the pro-am circuit.
The 67 on Friday was one shot shy of his 2008 score, but he knew it would be a difficult mark to chase down.
“It was probably the first time I’ve ever walked off the course feeling like I’d won the event,” he said.
“Usually some negativity creeps in and you think, ‘if only I did this better’, but as soon as I saw that I was three ahead (on the morning field) I was pretty confident.”
Foote banked a winner’s cheque of $1800 for his troubles, to go with $1200 from Thursday’s runner-up performance at Lang Lang – a course he grew up playing as a junior.