Several New Zealand golfers are in the sort of form that suggests a home player could win the New Zealand Open for the first time since Mahal Pearce was victorious in 2003.
Among the favourites this week at Clearwater in Christchurch are Wellingtonians Mark Brown and Gareth Paddison and Aucklander Michael Hendry who all finished in the top six at last week's Australian Masters in Melbourne.
The 400-thousand dollar championship, starting tomorrow, hasn't attracted a very strong overseas contingent, and the highest ranked Australian in the field Nick Cullen has a world ranking of 383.
The top-ranked player in the draw is Michael Hendry at 350.
