South Pacific Open Championship Preview: Leaderboard
AUSSIE golfer Andre Stolz will defend his South Pacific Open Championship title this week when he makes a return to professional golf after being sidelined with injury.
Teeing off at the Tina Golf Club in Noumea from 10-13 September, Stolz hopes to defend the title he won last year in a five hole playoff over Michael Wright.
However he comes into the tournament under prepared not having played a tournament this year after a wrist injury sidelined him.
“I had a ligament that pulled a little bit of the ulna bone, they call it a fracture. It didn’t heal properly so there was a jagged piece of bone sticking out and that was catching me every now and then.”
“The doctor smoothed that off and cleared a lot of other broken off stuff in my wrist from wear and tear over the years. That part feels good but the other side I can still feel a bit of funky stuff going on.”
“I am happy to be back hitting a few balls after the operation. It has come back alright, not as well as I would have liked, but I was hoping for a miracle.”
His wrist issues have been well documented throughout his career and Stolz has adjusted his grip to help ensure his return to tournament golf.
“It took me a long time to get the wrist to hinge again, it just didn’t want to,” added Stolz.
“I feel like I have to grip the club a little bit stronger in my left hand than I would like. I hit it better when I hold it neutral but it’s a bit more painful.”
Despite feeling under prepared for the week Stolz is happy to be back competing on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
“I just couldn’t sit at home for all this time without going crazy. I really would like to play the Aussie summer coming up,” added Stolz.
“I figure you can practice as much as you want at home but it’s not the same as having a scorecard in your pocket.”
“I love coming here and I have some great memories having won last year.”
“The laid back atmosphere makes it a good place to come and get going again.”
A fierce competitor, Stolz has shown a glimmer of his winning form but is minimising his expectations this week.
“My chances are probably pretty long this week,” added Stolz.
“Although I did shoot 7-under last week at Barnbougle, but it was dead still and I made a couple of putts.
“Honestly I think a top-10 would be a good achievement.”
The South Pacific Open Championship will be played at Tina Golf Club in Noumea, New Caledonia from 18 – 21 September.
Being played for a prize purse of AU$140,000 the winner also receives Official World Golf Ranking Points and becomes fully exempt on to the PGA Tour of Australasia for the remainder of this season plus a further two years.
Inside the Field
Now in its fourth year the South Pacific Open Championship continues to grow both in field size and quality as well as prizemoney.
This week 89 Professionals, two elite Australian amateurs, two elite New Zealand amateurs and 15 local amateurs have gathered to contest the tournament which carries a AU$140,000 prize purse.
The four round tournament tees off tomorrow the 10th September with the winner to be decided on Saturday 13th September.
Groups to watch….
7.04am 10th Gareth Paddison (NZ), Jason Scrivener (WA), Anthony Murdaca (am) (SA)
7.16am 1st Michael Wright (QLD), Josh Geary (NZ), Cory Crawford (am)(QLD)
7.16am 10th Kirianu Blais (NC), Matthew Griffin (VIC), Steven Jeffress (QLD)
7.28am 1st Ryan Fox (NZ), Gregory Humbert (NC), Matthew Guyatt (QLD)
7.28am 10th Andre Stolz (NSW), Jason Norris (SA), Anthony Summers (NSW)