12 Aug 2009

PGA tournament loses Nationwide tour status

7:45 am on 12 August 2009

The Professional Golf Association says the annual tournament at Clearwater Resort near Christchurch will not retain its co-sanctioning status with the US PGA Nationwide Tour next year.

The tournament was sponsored by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation until last March, and promoters have not been able to find a replacement.

The chief executive of PGA Australia, Max Garske , says the tournament will now return to the fold of the Australasian Tour.

He says that will mean a significant drop in prize money stakes from the almost-one million dollars won at this year's tournament.

Garske says Nationwide Tours need to offer a minimum 9 hundred and 80 thousand New Zealand dollars, which is not possible without a big sponsor.

The golf tournament's future will be discussed in the public-excluded part of tomorrow's Christchurch City Council meeting.