One of the strongest ever fields is converging on paradise this week for the 2015 Tahiti International Golf Open which begins Friday morning AEST.

The Oliver
Breaud International Golf Course will once again serve as the host venue for
the championship which consistently delivers a stellar field and this year is
no different with recent SIFA Samoa Open Champion Mitchell A. Brown joining
international players from New Zealand, New Caledonia and Tahiti.

Almost 50 PGA
Professionals will tee it up in the event which has established itself as one
of the feature sporting events in the country.

Bown’s recent
victory in Samoa sees him climb to the top of the national order of merit
nearing the half way point of the season and with Tahiti being one of the
richest event’s on the Choice Hotels PGA Pro-Am Series, Brown will be looking
to increase the gap between himself and the chasing pack.

"I haven’t
been to Tahiti before so I am really excited to be here this week after a great
week in Samoa," said Brown.

"I hear great
things about the course and the people in Tahiti so it should be a fun week and
hopefully I play well again," he added.

The Tahiti
International Open has been renowned for kick-starting careers, none more so
than Australian golfing icon Brett Ogle who won the event back in 1984.  

Two time
defending champion Ryan Fox is unable to return for his shot at a third crown
but is enjoying a great run on the European Challenge Tour.

Despite Fox’s
absence, the likes of 2014 NSW/ACT Order of Merit Winner Edward Stedman and
runner-up to Brown in Samoa this week, R.J Caracella will provide some great
golf for the local French-Polynesian golf fans.

Other
notables in the field include New Zealand’s Daniel Pearce who took out the 2014
DIGICEL Vanuatu Open and had a seventh-place finish in the 2014 Tahiti Open.

Pearce will
join compatriot’s Nick Gillespie and Brad Shilton along with Australian young
guns Tim Hart from Queensland and New South Wales players including Callan
O’Reilly and Alex Hawley.

The President
of the Polynesian Golf Federation Temauri Foster spoke of the preparations and
said he is more excited than ever to host the 2015 edition.

"I personally
feel the course is better than in previous editions and all is ready for the
week ahead," said Foster.

"The local
amateurs have been practicing hard and are excited to meet the Professionals
from Australia and New Zealand."

The
tournament will be streamed live with access via the tournament page www.pga.org.au/proam