press.co.nz RARE SIGHT expected to start for B17

THE PRESS, Wednesday, July 10, 2013 B18

GOLF NZ Open heads for the Hills

Matt Richens Tournaments Limited. It remains [email protected] ● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● part of the PGA Tour of Austral- asia, but a partnership with the New Zealand Golf says it is not Japan Tour has been signed. ditching but instead While not co-sanctioned with is being pro-active, inventive and the world’s third biggest men’s making its flagship tournament as tour, 15 players from the Japan attractive as possible by moving to Tour will be given entry to the Queenstown. new-look New Zealand Open and It was yesterday announced the winner of the Queenstown that the New Zealand Open will tournament will receive entry into not be played this year and will the lucrative NZ$1.9 million Japan bounce from a November time-slot Tour Championship and two other at Christchurch’s Clearwater Golf Japan Tour tournaments. Club to a more attractive late sum- Murphy said, in a perfect world, mer time-slot in Queenstown. Christchurch would have retained The Open has effectively taken the 106-year-old tournament for over the New Zealand PGA tourna- one more year. ment and its unique pro-am style ‘‘But the timing was right now,’’ format. he said. The 2014 New Zealand Open The pro-am format might look will be played from February 27 to outside the square, but it’s already March 2 at The Hills Golf Course proven to work by the NZPGA and Millbrook Resort. It will fea- tournament which used it for the ture a minimum of 132 profes- 2012 and 2013 tournaments at The sionals who will play alongside a Hills. Nevertheless, New Zealand minimum of 132 paying amateurs. Golf was being applauded for using The amateurs’ payments – the format but they really had no $10,000 each – plus $900,000 from choice but to do something differ- central government make the tour- ent. By moving to Queenstown nament more sustainable and have there will be a greater tourism allowed organisers to increase the spinoff which is obviously attract- prize money from $500,000 to a ive to the government. minimum of $850,000. ‘‘The New Zealand Open has The combination of a hike in been, financially, a challenge,’’ prize money, the unique format, Murphy conceded. ‘‘I think back to the location and a late summer 2004, 2005, it has been making spot on the calendar, away from reasonably significant deficits the cluttered end-of-year Aust- every year, up to $500,000-$600,000 ralian swing, are all hoped to help for a lot of those years.’’ attract a better field including all New Zealand Golf lost more the leading Kiwis. than $500,000 last year, $397,000 of ‘‘All the New Zealand pros that from the Open. we’ve spoke to in the last 48 hours ‘‘We’ve reached a point of time are really fizzed up about it,’’ New where we figure we have to have a Zealand Golf boss Dean Murphy growth strategy and we can’t keep said. over investing in something that is The new tournament is a joint bleeding money every year.’’ venture run by New Zealand Golf, the NZPGA and Michael Hill ❯❯❯❯ Women’s Open stays B16

RUGBY Student’s big assignment: You’re marking McCaw

Brendon Egan fitness, will play for his Christ- Lentjes is in the Canterbury guess. He’s my favourite player. Christchurch co-coach Daniel IRB world player of the year. ● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● church club for the first time since national provincial championship He’s always consistently the best.’’ O’Brien said no game-time ‘‘There’s a real excitement level University openside flanker James 2009, at Christchurch Park. wider training squad, and has also Lentjes, who is in the final year restrictions had been placed on to be playing alongside one of the Lentjes will cap off a dream week It will complete a whirlwind been a member of the Crusaders’ of a geology and geography Bach- McCaw from Crusaders manage- greatest players to ever play in the when he tests himself against his past few days for Lentjes, who development team, the Knights, elor of Science degree, acknowl- ment. ‘‘He’s there to play as long as country,’’ O’Brien said. idol, All Blacks captain Richie played for the World University over the past three years. edged it would be tough to limit we need him. It will be his call to Christchurch rugby manager McCaw, on Saturday. Barbarians against Sydney Uni- Matching up against McCaw McCaw’s involvement at the see how he’s going.’’ Mike O’Donovan said the ground Lentjes, 22, discovered yester- versity at Sydney’s Olympic will be his toughest assignment breakdown. ‘‘I’ve got to be smart McCaw has attended the last would be roped off and security day he will be marking the 116-test Stadium on Saturday night. The but he was relishing the challenge. about where I contest with him. two Christchurch trainings, and would be tighter than usual. veteran, who will play his first game was played as a curtain- ‘‘It’s exciting, but at the same It’s still his first game back, so he’s O’Brien said it would be a special About 2000 people watched rugby game in seven months. raiser to the third test between time it’s going to be a good battle probably going to be sucking in a moment for his young team-mates McCaw play for Christchurch four Tough task: James Lentjes’ dream job is McCaw, easing back into match Australia and the British Lions. for me. You learn from the best, I few big ones.’’ to line up alongside the three-time years ago. facing All Black Richie McCaw.