The tour action moves to New Zealand this week as Christchurch hosts the BMW New Zealand Open to be played from 22 25 November at Clearwater Resort. Players from New Zealand have been dominating on the Tour this year with Gareth Paddison winning the Victorian PGA Championship, Michael Hendry the NZ PGA Championship and Brad Shilton the South Pacific Golf Open Championship. Indonesian Open champion Nick Cullen and Peter O&aposMalley are among Australian contingent including amateurs Jake Higginbottom, Brett Drewitt and Nathan Holman. Higginbottom finished as the leading amateur at last week&aposs Talisker Masters in Melbourne. Most recently Kiwis Mark Brown, Gareth Paddison and Michael Hendry all finished in the top-10 of the Talisker Masters. The year s been solid and it was a good week last week, hopefully here we can carry that on and put on a good week for everybody down here in Christchurch, said Brown. It was crucial that a few of us played decently at the Masters and come into this week genuine contenders. Looking to continue their domination, New Zealand s top players are all gunning for a win in Christchurch. There is a very good chance for a Kiwi to take the NZ Open out. You have Mark Brown in very good form, and Gareth Paddison. If not this year, then there s something wrong, said Mahal Pearce who, in 2003, was the last Kiwi to win the title. Mark Brown; he seems very calm and collected at the minute. Also Mike Hendry, you never know with him, he can shoot some low numbers. Those are my two bets, he added. Tour rookie Ryan Fox, who has been touted as New Zealand s next big hope, is looking for a confidence boost this week. The key to making that next step Fox believe is, feeling comfortable, feeling like I belong, and I guess that feel s started to come a little bit. I ve had some reasonable results so far this year in the New Zealand PGA and then last week, and I guess I know a few of the guys out here, added Fox who has had four top-20 finishes from six starts this season. I feel comfortable playing and it s just getting over the line and finishing in the top-5 in an event like this. That would really help out with the confidence. The BMW New Zealand Open will be played from the 22 25 November at Clearwater Resort with tickets available on the gate.
Author: Golf Australia