Golf: Seasoned vets, keen young ’uns enrich field

A string of international players have been confirmed for next month's New Zealand Open in Arrowtown.

Two-time US PGA Tour winner Daniel Chopra, the favourite when the event was first played on The Hills course in 2007, headlines the field.

After playing the European Tour and US PGA Tour in the past, he is now playing the Asian tour and is ‘‘thrilled'' to be returning to Central Otago for the event.

The Swede will be joined by South African star Dylan Frittelli, promising Irishman Cormac Sharvin and an impressive list of Australian and Kiwi golfers.

Frittelli (25) was world No1 Jordan Speith's university team-mate in the United States and turned pro almost four years ago.

Since then, he has recorded wins on the Sunshine Tour and on the European Challenge Tour.

Sharvin (23) is just starting his professional career, and recently starred in the European Walker Cup victory against the United States.

He only started playing golf when he was 15, but was playing off a scratch handicap within 18 months.

Australian Jordan Zunic is back to defend his title, while other past winners - Dimi Papadatos, Jake Higginbottom and Brad Kennedy - are also chasing another title.

Former US PGA Tour player Tjaart van der Walt (South Africa) and Kiwi and Australian professionals Steve Alker, Ryan Fox, Mike Hendry, Josh Geary, Adam Bland, Scott Strange and Brendan Jones are also entered in what organisers are touting as the ‘‘strongest'' field in years.

‘‘The range of professionals in contention this year includes everything from seasoned players with numerous wins to their name to some of the most exciting, up-and-coming and hungry young golfers with everything to win and nothing to lose,'' tournament director Michael Glading said.

‘‘It's great to have youngsters like Frittelli and Sharvin come to New Zealand at the start of their careers, a perfect time for the New Zealand public to see some of the stars of the future.

‘‘In addition, having such renowned players as Chopra and Van der Walt, who've both played regularly on the US PGA Tour, is a real bonus.''

A professional field of 144 players will play the first two rounds alternately at The Hills and Millbrook Resort before the second-round cut.

The final two rounds will be played at The Hills.

A transtasman celebrity challenge, which will include Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum, former Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming and former Australian captains Allan Border and Ricky Ponting, will be contested in conjunction with the event.

The New Zealand Open will be played from March 10-13.

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