Following its sucessful return to Australia last year after a 10 year absence, the Handa Open (formerly the Handa Australian Senior Open Championship), will again be played at Concord Golf Club from 31 October to 2 November 2008. The 54 hole event brings together an array of international golfing talent, including household names such as defending champion Wayne Grady, Rodger Davis, Terry Gale, Bob Shearer, Michael Clayton and Brian Jones, all competing for a prize purse of $300,000. The championship is sanctioned by Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia and is sponsored by Japanese businessman and philanthropist Haruhisa Handa, who is also the Honorary Patron of the International Blind Golf Association. In line with his Patronage, blind golf champions from every state in Australia have also been invited to play in the event Pro Am, to take place on Thursday 30 October. Last year s Handa Open saw Wayne Grady take the tournament by one stroke from David Merriman in the most unusual of circumstances. The two players were tied for the lead going into the last three holes when Merriman s caddy inadvertently raked the bunker he was yet to hit out of, costing him a two stroke penalty. A wayward Grady eventually finished with a three under score of 210, Merriman carded a 211 and Graham Bannister took third place with a two over score of 215. It’s terrific to see this tournament once again being played on Australian shores and it certainly has generated a lot of excitement in golfing circles both here and overseas, said Tournament Chairman Wayne Smith. After the excitement of last year s win, I m sure Grades is champing at the bit to get out there and defend his title against a quality field made up of some of the greatest all time names of Australian golf. These players are still very competitive and there is a lot of pride at stake here, so I m expecting to see some tight, entertaining golfing action during the tournament. he said. Spectators for the Handa Open are welcome and entry is a gold coin donation at the gate to the tournament s nominated charity. For further information contact Event Manager Gemma Liddelow at Vault Sports Management: gemma.liddelow@vaultsm.com or (08) 9380 6978. For player information, including entry forms, please CLICK HERE.