Five to watch: WA Open
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
The PGA Tour of Australasia is on its last leg of the three week West Australian swing.
This week the Professionals are at the Royal Perth Golf Club for the John Hughes Geely / Nexus Risk Services WA Open Championship.
Here are five players we expect to perform well this week, who is your tip?
Brett Rumford (WA)
The three time European Tour winner has been home in Perth for the ISPS HANDA Perth International and is staying on this week to support his State Open. Rumford is a past champion of the WA Open (2005) and as the highest ranked player in the field according to the Official World Golf Rankings will be a crowd favourite this week. The other advantage Rumford has up his sleeve is his familiarity with the course. Royal Perth Golf Club is Rumford’s home course, he has played many rounds here even claiming the Junior Championship in 1996 and 1997 and the City of Perth Amateur Championship in 1998.
Michael Hendry (NZ)
Hendry has developed into a very consistent golfer and is currently one of New Zealand’s best Touring Professionals. In 2012 Hendry has already notched up a win on the PGA Tour of Australasia at the NZ PGA Championship in April. While not particularly pleased with his performance this year on OneAsia, a tour which he has previously won on, he has spent considerable time working on his game over the winter. His hard work paid off last week at the ISPS HANDA Perth International where he finished fourth.
Steve Jones (VIC)
Jones is one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour of Australasia and with many of the greens driveable from the tee at Royal Perth Golf Club he will be in his element this week. Coming into the WA Open Jones is showing some excellent form finishing T11 at the ISPS HANDA Perth International and the week previously a T8 at the Nanshan China Masters. Jones is looking for his first win on the PGA Tour of Australasia this week at the John Hughes Geely / Nexus Risk Service WA Open Championship.
Rohan Blizard (NSW)
Claiming his first Professional win at the John Hughes Geely / Nexus Risk Services WA Open Championship last year, Blizard is back to defend his title in 2012. After his breakthrough win, Blizard went on to finish within the top five a further two times on the PGA Tour of Australasia. Having been working on his putting, an area he identifies as a weakness, Blizard is now looking forward to the challenge of defending his title.
Stephen Dartnall (WA)
The former World Number One Amateur turned Professional in 2008 and is still looking for his breakthrough win. A Perth local, Dartnall is confident that his golf is showing signs winning form and is hoping to claim his State Open this week. Dartnall has played some good golf this year which saw him leading the Victorian PGA Championship after the first round and in the top 10 after the second round at last week’s ISPA HANDA Perth International.