25 Jan 2010

Qualifying for NZ golf Open today in Christchurch

8:26 am on 25 January 2010

More than 110 golfers will today chase the final four places in the field for the New Zealand Open that tees off in Arrowtown on Thursday.

Thirty-six amateurs and 76 professionals are included in the field for the 18-hole pre-qualifying to be staged at the Russley Golf Club in Christchurch.

The four leading players will head to Queenstown to complete the 156-strong field for the 850 thousand dollar event which is co-sanctioned between the Australasian Tour and the US Nationwide Tour.

A spot was set aside for the champion of the NZPGA, but as playoff winner Mitchell Brown was already a starter, the spot was held over and goes to the next player on the category list, which is Victorian David Diaz.

Taranaki professional Grant Moorhead, who finished third and just one shot from the playoff in the NZPGA, is in the first group off at Russley today chasing a spot in the field for the Open.

Christchurch club professional Anthony Doyle, who impressed to finish in a share of 11th place at the NZPGA, is another who will take good form into the pre-qualifying, as will Melbourne-based kiwi Mathew Holten, who finished tied for 15th at Clearwater.

There are professionals from Australia, Korea, Japan and New Zealand in the field.