The road to the New Zealand Open 2014 in Queenstown – the biggest golf tournament staged in NZ for many years – has begun for players and spectators alike.
The tournament, a tier one event on the PGA Tour of Australasia, will be held from February 27 to March 2 at The Hills Golf Course and Millbrook Resort.
It will include a unique pro-am format played concurrently with the professional tournament following the principles established for the 2013 NZPGA Championship with a total prize purse for the event of NZ$900,000.
Tickets are on sale through Ticketek (www.ticketek.co.nz).
Everyone who purchases tickets before December 15 will go into the draw to play The Hills with leading Kiwi golfer and two-time New Zealand PGA Champion Michael Hendry and All Black great Justin Marshall in the weeks ahead of the tournament.
The New Zealand Open Championship will give aspiring golfers from all over New Zealand a chance to play in the championship.
The National Open will host first stage pre-qualifying events around the country on Tuesday, January 28.
Royal Auckland, Paraparaumu Beach (Wellington), Shirley (Christchurch) – which are traditional Open venues – and Chisholm Park (Dunedin) will host one-round first stage pre-qualifying events.
A total of 25 spaces in the final qualifying tournaments will be up for grabs at the first stage qualifying venues.
The final stage of qualifying will be held at the Omaha Golf Club and Cromwell Golf Club on Monday February 24 and Tuesday February 25 respectively.
Ultimately a total of 10 spaces in the final New Zealand Open field will be played for at the final qualifying tournaments.
