by Jeremy Mogi and Shane Saroya – EM TV Sport, Port Moresby
The Royal Port Moresby Golf Club will again play host to the annual SP Export PNG Golf Open.
The Open tees off on Thursday and will feature 76 professional and amateur golfers chasing cash prizes of over K300,000.
The four day event will cover 72 holes, and will end on Sunday.
The tournament is part of the Sunshine Coast PGA tour and will bring some of the best golfers from the Asia-Pacific region. A number of former open winners will also be featured in this year’s competition – a prospect that has excited co-tournament director, Ken Dunn.
Dunn said the golf open would also provide exposure to local golfers, hoping to make the cut for the Pacific Games.
Fellow co-tournament Director, Shane Johnsson, outlined etiquette and rules, and expressed satisfaction in the increase in visiting golfers.
Papua New Guinean golfers, August Peni and Nelson Gabriel, will also participate, the latter, finishing outside of the top fifty in 2014.
The SP Export PNG Open is the richest sporting tournament held in Papua New Guinea.
At last year’s Golf Open, defending champion, Peter Zwart, had been in contention until the last few holes. But the limelight was all on Tasmanian, Kalem Richardson, who took the winner’s green jacket in addition to taking home a total of K74,044 in prize money.
In equal second were Samuel Brazel of Australia and Kiwi, Jared Pender, who played some fantastic shots throughout the event.
In its twenty one year history, the PNG Golf Open has yet to have a back to back champion.
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