Golf: Millbrook event gets cash boost

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Jim Clelland

Some of the best golfers from yesteryear, and several promising newcomers to the senior ranks, will be competing for extra prize money at the Handa New Zealand tournament at Millbrook, near Arrowtown, later this month.

The resort yesterday confirmed the total prize money for the three-day event, from February 19-21, would be $200,000, up $50,000, making it the richest on the New Zealand senior (for golfers 50 years and older) tour.

The extra $50,000 comes courtesy of sponsor and patron Dr Haruhisa Handa, a Japanese businessman, academic, artist and philanthropist who always insists 10% of his sponsorship money should go to helping other organisations.

The format for the Millbrook tournament varies significantly from others on the tour, with three events being held within the same tournament.

The Handa NZ Senior Masters is worth $100,000; the Harry Handa Handicap event, which is based on handicap relevant to the age of the player, is worth $70,000; and the team pro-am event is worth $10,000.

The other $20,000 will be given to the International Blind Golf Association and New Zealand Junior Golf.

Jim Clelland, the national events manager for the Professional Golfers Association, yesterday said that as entries for the Millbrook events had already closed, the additional prize money, while welcome, would not entice more players to compete.

But there was already a top line-up of professionals confirmed for the three days, including former British Open winner Sir Bob Charles and the 1990 US PGA Championship winner Wayne Grady, who also won the 2007 Australian Senior Open title.

Australian Mike Harwood, who won last October's Australian Senior Open in Perth then scored his maiden win on the European Seniors Tour, earning him Rookie of the Year status, is also coming to Millbrook, as is Michael Clayton, runner-up to Harwood in Perth.

Clelland also listed Australians Lyndsay Stephen and American-based Graham Bannister, promising newcomers to the senior tour, as ones to watch at Millbrook, while the New Zealand contingent, spearheaded by Sir Bob, includes Simon Owen, Barry Vivian, Jim Lapsley and Wanaka's Garth Domigan and Peter Smith, the latter winning a senior title in Holland last year.

The Millbrook tournament is part of a four-event senior "swing' in the South Island this month, which ends with the two-day $30,000 City of Dunedin Legends tournament, being held by the Otago Golf Club at Balmacewen.

Seniors tournaments
In the South Island
February 16: $10,000 Club Car Pegasus Legends, Christchurch.
February 19-21: $180,000 Handa NZ Senior Masters, Millbrook.
February 23: $10,000 Club Car Queenstown Legends, Kelvin Heights.
February 26-27: $30,000 City of Dunedin Legends Pro-Am, Balmacewen.