Entries are open and a high quality field is already lining up for the 2016 NSW Open Golf Championship.
Five former Champions have confirmed their participation with defending Champion Ben Eccles heading the list. He will be joined by Aron Price (2013), Peter O’Malley (2010), Leigh Mc Kechnie (2009), and Aaron Townsend (2008).
Tournament organiser Graeme Phillipson is thrilled with the quality of entries to date. “There's no doubt this year’s NSW Open is going to be a high quality field. It’s great to see this number of former champions have already entered,” he said.
For Eccles, the chance to defend his first career title will be an exciting thought. The 20-year old who turned professional straight after his 2015 win, has been making the most of his rookie year as a professional gaining starts on the European Tour.
He is excited by the chance to defend his title. “I can honestly say I’m living my dream,” Eccles said after winning last year.
2013 Champion Aron Price has been grinding out a career on the secondary US Tour for a number of years now. His 2016 highlight however must have been his appearance in the US Open at Oakmont Country Club.
The evergreen Peter O’Malley who is now the Chairman of the PGA of Australia is sure to attract a following of loyal fans, while Newcastle’s Aaron Townsend, who regained playing rights on the Japanese Tour for 2016 will be ready to return to Stonecutters Ridge after impressing in 2015.
The Central Coast’s Leigh McKechnie will also be out to rekindle the form that saw him come from the clouds to grab his NSW Open back in 2009 at the Vintage Golf Club in the Hunter Valley.