A top quality field will assemble to contest the South Pacific Golf Open Championship at the Tina Golf Course in Noumea, New Caledonia from the 26th – 29th September.
In what is set to be a competitive field, former PGA TOUR winner Andre Stolz and US Open qualifier Anthony Summers are two players hoping to stake their claim in the first tournament in the second half of the 2012 PGA Tour of Australasia season.
After finishing tied seventh in 2011, Andre Stolz is heading back to New Caledonia and Tina Golf Course looking to claim his fourth PGA Tour of Australasia victory.
“It's easily the best course we play in the South Pacific so it's fun playing there,” said Stolz, who in his career has played many pro-ams in the region.
“Even though it's a great holiday destination I don't go there to kick back and relax, I prepare for it like any other event and I'm going there trying to win.”
“Although, it's nice to look out over the ocean on so many holes.”
Having played on the PGA TOUR and throughout Asia, Stolz has played some of the world’s best courses but says he particularly likes Tina Golf Course.
“I've really enjoyed playing New Cal the few times I've been there, it can be an incredibly tough test if it’s firm and fast and then also add some strong wind and you've got a battle on your hands,” added Stolz.
“I think the course really suits my game, I'm usually a good driver of the ball and I can control my ball in the wind.”
“You need to do both these well to have a chance of winning at Tina so I'm looking forward to the challenge.”
Coming into the South Pacific Golf Open Championship fresh from his first appearance in a Major is Anthony Summers who competed in the US Open Championship.
“The US Open was a great experience and something I could get used to very quickly,” said Summers.
“It has definitely instilled a greater sense of belief in me about my game and added a new level of hunger to get the best out of myself.”
Anthony Summers says he is looking forward to his first PGA Tour of Australasia tournament in the second half of 2012 and is extremely complimentary of the Tina Golf Course.
“I had a great time in Noumea last year and played nicely on the weekend, the course has some great holes on it and suits my game as it’s predominantly short and tight,” added Summers, who finished in a tie for ninth at the tournament in 2011.
“It’s great to have the South Pacific Golf Open Championship on the PGA Tour of Australasia and hopefully it is here to stay for quite a while.”
“The hospitality from the locals last year was fantastic and it was one of the most enjoyable weeks I had on tour.”
Other players set to contest the South Pacific Golf Open Championship include Open Championship qualifier Aaron Townsend, WA PGA champion Michael Wright, NSW PGA champion Matthew Guyatt and former Japan Golf Tour winner Chris Campbell.
“For a tournament in just its second year as a PGA Tour of Australasia event we are extremely pleased with the quality of the field,” said Simon Butterly, General Manager of the Tour Division of the PGA of Australia.
“The number of players entering the tournament has increased this year and I think this has a lot to do with the players who competed in 2011, the tournament's first year on Tour, letting everyone know just how great a week it is in Noumea.”
The winner of the South Pacific Golf Open Championship will earn a spot into the season's biggest tournaments; the Perth International, Australian Masters, BMW New Zealand Open, Emirates Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship presented by Coca-Cola, as well as Official World Golf Ranking points.