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Previewing your inaugural DVS Pegasus Open
The first edition of the DVS Pegasus Open presented by NewstalkZB gets underway tomorrow with plenty of names set to be the first to add their names to the new trophy.
The new Christchurch edition to the Jennian Homes Charles Tour begins after seven successful years at Harewood. Pegasus are taking over the reins with DVS coming onboard as the headline sponsor in association with NewstalkZB.
Hometown hero Kazuma Kobori is expected to be somewhere up near the top of the leader board come Sunday afternoon. He comes into the tournament as one of the favourites after capturing the NZPGA Championship at this venue earlier in the year.
Last week, he competed in the Asia-Pacific Amateur at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai; the destination of the HSBC Champions in a few weeks’ time.
“Last week was a long week but I learnt a lot about my game and what it takes to compete at the highest level.
“The fairways were tight and the rough was extremely long, so you had to hit it pretty straight. Luckily the fairways are a bit wider and the rough is shorter this week, so there should be a lot of birdie chances out there.
“I’ve had a bit of success out here in the past and I know the course really well, I just need to go out there and do my job and hopefully I’ll be somewhere near the top later in the week,” Kobori says.
He’s not the only player coming into the week boasting some good form. BOP Professional Kieran Muir also tees it up this week coming off a win, and tie for 21st, and a tie for 10th in his last three starts on the China Tour.
“I have a couple of things I’m working on which seem to be trending in the right direction. This week will be a good test to see how those things hold up as I head into the back end of the season.
“All you have to do is look at the scores here earlier in the year to see what the players are capable of shooting around here. The leader board may not be as stacked as it was then with amateurs in the field this week, but someone is going to have the ability to shoot a few low rounds.
“I’m looking forward to getting started. The fairways are in great shape and the greens look to be running well. It should be a great week,” says Muir.
Other notables in the field are NZPGA runner-up David Smail, five-time Charles Tour winner Mark Brown, James Anstiss, and Gareth Paddison.
The women’s side of proceedings is also set to deliver an exciting event with numerous players expected to be contending for the title.
Reigning New Zealand Amateur Vivian Lu once again finds herself as one of the tournament favourites. She’ll be up against the likes of Laura Hoskin and Siyi Keh for the women’s title.
Play begins from 8 o’clock tomorrow morning of the first and 10th tees.
Live scores can be found at https://www.golf.co.nz/Home.aspx
For more information, please contact jason@nzgolf.org.nz
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