Golf: Fowler in legends field for Dunedin

Australian golf stalwart Peter Fowler will headline the City of Dunedin Legends Pro-Am at the Otago Golf Club later this month.

Fowler is among 51 professionals who have confirmed their entries for the inaugural $30,000 tournament at the Balmacewen course on February 26 and 27.

Organisers planned to have only 40 professionals, each playing with three amateurs, but have been pleasantly surprised to attract the extra interest.

All of the professionals will be allowed to play in the two-round tournament but the number of amateurs will be capped at 120, so some professionals will play in groups by themselves.

Fowler turned 50 in the middle of last year, making him eligible for senior tournaments around the world.

The New South Welshman turned professional in 1977 and has nine tournament wins, including the 1983 Australian Open, the 1993 New Zealand Open and the 1993 BMW International Open on the European Tour.

Other high-profile Australian golfers confirmed for the Balmacewen tournament include Rodger Davis, a two-time winner of the New Zealand Open, former European Tour professional turned commentator Ossie Moore and Randall Vines, who won back-to-back Australian PGA titles in the 1970s and three European Tour events.

New Zealanders in the hunt include 1976 Open champion Simon Owen, Otago's Jim Lapsley and Wanaka club professional Garth Domigan.

Sir Bob Charles will play as a special guest, in a team including former All Blacks Sir Brian Lochore and Andy Haden, and broadcaster Murray Deaker.

Many of the professionals will also compete in three senior tournaments in Queenstown preceding the Dunedin event.

Organisers of the Balmacewen tournament hope to raise $20,000 for the Otago Hospice.

- The Otago Daily Times is running a competition to allocate three places to amateurs in its team for the City of Dunedin Legends Pro-Am.

- New Zealand golfer Michael Campbell continued his recent dismal form at the Dubai Desert Classic yesterday, sitting second-to-last after the first round, NZPA reported.

In a round that included three double bogeys, four bogeys and a birdie, Campbell carded a 9-over 81.

Danny Lee was the best of the New Zealanders in the field, with a two-over 74, while Mark Brown finished with a six-over par 78.

Defending champion Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, shares a six-way lead with fellow Briton Stephen Dodd, Swede Alex Noren, South African Charl Schwartzel, India's Jeev Milkha Singh and Italy's Edoardo Molinari, on 68.