A capacity field is confirmed for the 2020 Lamb & Hayward Canterbury Strokeplay to be held at Harewood Golf Club this weekend. It should be an interesting tournament with many new faces in the field from throughout the South Island. Most are attracted by the House of Travel Tour prizes on offer across the Canterbury, Otago and Southland Strokeplays, with the Canterbury Strokeplay being the last leg of the tour.
The Men's Open field is full of provincial reps. Most interest will be centred around New Zealand Rep Kerry Mountcastle who has travelled down from Wellington to play the event. Along with Matt McLean (also playing), he has just returned from the South American Amateur Open in Chile. Both players are in good form. The Canterbury contingent is also lead by Hayato Miya, Mike Toeke, Reid Hilton, Scott Manyweathers, the in-form Zach May, recent Otago Strokeplay winner Nic Kay, ex Pro Jordon Latter, Ryan Bellamy, and past champion Dominic Brettkelly who is back from the USA on a summer break. There is a strong contingent from Otago and Southland - Joseph Hancock, Ben Patston, Jack Turner, Hayden Robertson, Matt Tautari, Liam Hewitt, Callum Judkins, Kayne Wardell, and Parker Aluesi who was the All Abilities Golfer of the Year at the 2019 New Zealand Golf Awards.
In the Women's Open field interest will centre around the lowest handicappers in the field Maddie May (Russley), Mimi Guo (Royal Auckland) and Sayaka Okada (Pegasus). Amy Weng (Russley) and Sumin Kang (Wakatipu). Maddie May has just come off a win at the Southland Stroke Play, with Sumin Kang winning the Otago Stroke Play in playoff. Amy Weng will also be looking to etch her name on the trophy after her strong showing that the NZ Women's Interprovincials where she was unbeaten at number 2. There will also be interest in the performance of young up-and-comer Deanna Matthews (Weedons) in her first attempt at this tournament.
The Men's Masters field is somewhat depleted thiis year with the likes of 2019 champion Anton Fouchee and Canterbury Masters Rep Aaron Forsyth unable to play. The field will be lead by Canterbury Reps Andrew Dufton, Brett Turner and Jonathan Stieller. Turner will be looking to add the Strokeplay Trophy to his win at the 2019 Canterbury Matchplay last October.
The Women's Masters field is lead by Canterbury Reps Kate Turner, Suzette Eastmond, and Kim Moggach, and past champion Robyn Pullar from Southland. Others in the mix include Invercargill's Olivia Frost, Joanne Kent, and Virginia Faass.
All-in-all a great line-up for the 54 hole tournament starting first thing Saturday morning with 36 holes play, then 18 holes on Sunday morning, with the weather forecast to be warm and mostly fine.
Click here to view the Draw.
Daily results and updates will be posted on our website. It should be a great weekend of golfing action!
