After a solid year on the Sunshine
swing of the PGA Pro-Am Series, New South Wales Professional
Dale Brandt-Richards has been crowned the illustrious Robbie Bennetts
Enterprises Rookie of the Year.

Brandt-Richards’
year on the Sunshine swing of the PGA Pro-Am Series was one of many ups and
downs, but with six top 10’s, his best finish being
a runner-up result at the Coolangatta
& Tweed Heads Pro-Am, Brandt-Richards
amassed enough money to hold off his nearest rivals for the coveted title.

Aside from the great honour of being crowned Rookie of
the Year, Brandt-Richards will also receive financial support to attend a
Qualifying School, which will present the perfect opportunity to further his
playing career.

Brandt-Richards’ golfing career all started at South
West Rocks, and after some time developing his game he
moved to the Northern Beaches of Sydney, joining the Mona Vale Golf
Club.

As an amateur Brandt-Richards represented at both Club
and State level, and was a key member of the
Mona Vale pennant team winning the club’s first
flag in 90 years. Brandt-Richards also had
the honour of captaining the NSW State Team in 2015 prior to earning his Tour
Card for the 2016 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of
Australasia season.  

The strategy for Brandt-Richards was to play as many pro-am events
as he could in order to gain valuable experience while also improving his
standing on the Order of Merit.

"It is a great honour to win this award and I would
like to thank Robbie Bennetts Enterprises for their sponsorship of the award and the opportunity to further my career," said
Brandt-Richards.

"Winning this award is like an early Christmas present
and will assist me in my attempt to gain playing rights on the Asian Tour in 2017."

Robbie Bennetts Enterprises has been a huge supporter of golf for
many years and is very proud to offer the next generation of Australian
professionals an opportunity to further their careers on the international
stage.

"If this financial support can give a young player the
opportunity to achieve their goal of attending a Qualifying School, then it’s a
good reason to be involved," said Bennetts.

"I gain so much enjoyment from being involved in golf,
especially watching young Professionals embark on their personal golfing
journey, from the PGA Pro-Am Series right through until they are competing on
the international stage"

The Sunshine swing forms part of the PGA Pro-Am Series
which comprises of 200 events Australia wide.

Played across more
than 170 golf courses around Australia the PGA Pro-Am Series plays an important
part in the development of Australia’s Professional Golfers whilst also growing
the game at a grass roots level by engaging an estimated 48,000 amateur golfers
each year.