Date: November 25, 2015
Author: Christian Puccini

Men’s Australian Open – 8 South Australian�s in field

The final field has been released for the 2015 Emirates Australian Open featuring some of the biggest names in local and international golf.

This year’s event will be the 100th staging of the National Championship.

Players including Jordan Speith, Adam Scott, Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke, Geoff Ogilvy, John Senden, Matt Jones, Mark Leishman and Steven Bowditch will be on display at The Australian Golf Club from the 26th-29th of November competing for Australia’s most coveted title.

Of the 156 starters, South Australia has eight representatives who have gained entry into the championship to tackle The Australian layout. The South Australian players and their entry status are:

1.       Nick Cullen (35) – Top 50 of 2014 OneAsia Order of Merit

2.       Wade Ormsby (47) – Leading players from PGA Tour of Australasia Tournament Exemption Categories (capped at Cat.12 of the 2015 Categories) (16 positions)

3.       Anthony Murdaca (100) – Tournament Invitations (10 positions)

4.       Peter Cooke (101) – local exemptions as agreed between Golf Australia and PGA of Australia (30 positions)

5.       Jason Norris (103) – local exemptions as agreed between Golf Australia and PGA of Australia (30 positions)

6.       Tom Bond (104) – local exemptions as agreed between Golf Australia and PGA of Australia (30 positions)

7.       Matthew Lisk (AM) (125) – local exemptions as agreed between Golf Australia and PGA of Australia (30 positions)

8.       Max McCardle (133) – Residual position (shared with players from the PGA Tour of Australasia Exemption categories)

WHAT’S AT STAKE:

·         $1.25million (first prize $225,000)

·         The leading three players, who finish in the top ten + ties and not already exempt, will qualify for The Open from 14-17 July 16.

·         Minimum 32 world ranking points

·         The Australian Open was first played in 1904

·         TOURS: PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia

·         FIELD SIZE: 156 player field

·         CUT: Top 60 professionals (plus ties) The cut is made after the completion of the second round

·         TROPHY: Stonehaven Cup

Here’s hoping a local can claim Australia's most prestigious golf championship and come Sunday hold aloft the Stonehaven Cup.

They would become South Australia's third winner after Rufus Stewart 1927 (first Kooyonga Club Pro) and Fergus McMahon 1935 (1925 Kooyonga Club Champ).

THE COVERAGE:

SEVEN NETWORK – Thursday 26 November – Sunday 29 November – 11:30am to 4:30pm (Adel time)

Throughout the Championship follow Golf SA on twitter and facebook for further SA player updates.

AO Twitter details: @AusOpenGolf #AusOpenGolf

For all news including live scoring throughout The Emirates Australian Open – click here for the Official website

Or download the free Emirates Australian Open 2015 App for iPhone and Android – click here to download

AO Radio — The broadcast is available both on-course through earpieces, and streamed via the tournament website www.ausopengolf.com and also the official app. It includes live commentary from on course as well as interviews with players, as well as general chat about the game.Broadcast hours are from 11-4pm Thursday and Friday, and noon-5pm on Saturday and Sunday.