NZ Open stacked with talent
A stellar line up of pro and celebrity golfers will tee off at Queenstown’s Millbrook Resort next week for the 103rd New Zealand Open.
Kiwis Steven Alker, Daniel Hillier and Ben Campbell are all confirmed to compete for the Brodie Breeze Trophy after strong years on their respective tours.
Alker returns home after finishing second overall in the 2023 Charles Schwab Championship standings for the PGA Tour Champions, while Hillier has just completed his first year on the DP World Tour racking up four top-ten finishes including a memorable win at the Betfred British Masters at The Belfry, finishing 30th on the overall DP World Tour Order of Merit for 2023, and earning the prestigious Challenge Tour ‘Graduate of the Year’ crown.
Queenstown's Ben Campbell is back again after his maiden Asian Tour victory at the Hong Kong Open, hoping to make it third time lucky after coming close twice.
He finished runner-up at the 2023 New Zealand Open and lost in a play-off in 2017 to Michael Hendry
“Since I started playing golf and made it my career, I’ve always had the goal of winning the New Zealand Open. To have my name alongside some of the greats of golf in this country would be the highlight of my career,” Campbell says.
“Absolutely I am coming back to Queenstown. I got close in 2017, and again last year, so here’s hoping I can lift the trophy in March."
NZ #1 ranked player Ryan Fox looks set to miss the tournament, however, as he attempt to retain his PGA tour card.
Returning to Queenstown for his eighth NZ Open is defending champion Brendan Jones, who describes last year's win as "one of the coolest things" that has happened in his career.
He leads a strong Aussie field including former champions Matthew Griffin, Brad Kennedy, Jordan Zunic, Zach Murray, Dimi Papadatos, along with ones to watch David Micheluzzi, Brett Coletta, Anthony Quayle, Travis Smyth and Todd Sinnott.
Two of the Asian Tour's most talented players, Thailand's Jazz Jannewattananond and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, will take to the fairways as part of the Asian Tour partnership. Over 40 Asian Tour players will compete at the NZ Open for ranking points towards the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.
Former world tennis number one Ash Barty headlines the Ambassador line up. The 4 handicap Barty is joined by Aussie Andy Lee, one half of the Hamish & Andy duo, alongside former New Zealand representatives Jeff Wilson (rugby and cricket), Sean Fitzpatrick (rugby), Israel Dagg (rugby), Stephen Fleming (cricket), Ella Gunson (hockey) as well as international rally driver Hayden Paddon, former Australian Cricket captain Ricky Ponting, and former England Cricket legend Sir Ian Botham.
The pros compete for a total prize purse of $2 million in the tournament, from 29 February to 3 March, presented by Sky Sport and broadcast on Sky Sport 6.
