Andrew Campbell will return to Port Vila Country Club to defend his Vanuatu Open title.

Professionals from Australia, New Zealand, England, Fiji and New Caledonia will tee it up looking to take home the lion share of the AU$50,000 in prize money.

Campbell’s victory last year was not only the biggest of his career but would help him finish 11^th on the 2017 Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series Order of Merit and secure playing rights on the 2018 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

This year Campbell will need to be at his best to hold off a talented cast of professionals. Leading those is former US PGA Tour winner Andre Stolz who is back playing after some time off with injury and the 2018 SP PNG Open Champion, Daniel Gale who will make his way to Vanuatu for the first time and hopes to bring the same form he did to Papua New Guinea.

“I started the season with no status and now to have a Tour win under my belt I still can’t believe it. I’m looking forward to playing in Vanuatu for the first time and I hope to bring the same form I did to PNG,” Said Gale.

Gale not only won the SP PNG Open but the Morobe Open a week earlier as well, his winning scores of 22-under and 23-under respectively is a good indication of his talent and if he can produce something similar in Vanuatu, it’ll be quite a show.

NSW/ACT PGA Tournament Coordinator, Peter Welden praised the work of the organising committee and outlined the importance of the event.

“The South Pacific events are an integral part of the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series. The Vanuatu Open attracts more players than any other South Pacific event," said Welden.

"There’s a relaxed atmosphere about the event which in turn has seen many friendships between the professionals and amateurs grow over the years. Bryan Death does an amazing job coordinating the event and it’s extremely popular for both amateur and professional competitors.”

The 2018 Vanuatu Open will commence on Thursday 23 August with the winner being crowned on Sunday afternoon.