Anthony Powter

Matt Guyatt

A strong field has assembled in Noumea this week including several of the PGA Tour of Australasia’s 2011 season winners.

A late entry into the South Pacific Golf Open Championship is Matthew Guyatt the 2011 NSW PGA Champion.

Having competed on the Japan Golf Tour and OneAsia tour, Guyatt has had a full schedule in 2012, but an opening meant he could head to the Tina Golf Club for just the second time.

“I have been playing Challenge in Japan, and there are Challenge events on at the moment, but to get your main tour card through the Challenge event you needed to be top six and I am probably just outside being able to get there, even if I won in the last couple of weeks over there,” said Guyatt.

“Rather than spending all the money to go over there I wanted to play the Aussie Tour event over here instead, it just seemed to fit better, I have been here before and I know the golf course so it was nice to come back.”

Liking what he has seen of the course, Guyatt believes he could be in with a chance, this week, to claim his second PGA Tour of Australasia victory.

“The course is completely different to two years ago, it’s in pretty good shape, the fairways are nice and the greens are holding, so as long as it doesn’t get to windy and harden it up it should be awesome for the week.”

“Obviously that final round in the NSW PGA I made a lot of putts shooting 8-under on the final day which got the win, but I am hitting the ball probably better than then, so as long as I can roll a few putts over the course of the week I am hoping to feature this week.”

Other PGA Tour of Australasia winners competing this week include; Matthew Griffin (defending champion), Kim Felton (9 titles), Andre Stolz (4 titles), Jason Norris (3 titles), Michael Wright (2 titles), Aaron Townsend (2 titles), Adam Bland (1 title).