The Lamb & Hayward Canterbury Strokeplay to be held at Russley Golf Club this weekend has seen an unprecedented 140 entries for the 96 spots available in the field, Unfortunately there will be some disappoiinted players when the draw is posted this afternoon.
COVID has meant limited playing opporturnities for our top golfers and they have come from far and wide to play in Canterbury's premier amateur tournament.
In the Men's Open section the handicap index cut-off is around 2, and there are 23 players with a scratch handicap or better. Visitors of note are led by Tyler Wood (Ngahinepouri), Cameron Harlock (New Plymouth), Liam Hewitt (Queens Park), Jordan Woodall and Sam Vincent (Tieke Golf Estate), Joshua Cassin (Pukekohe), Phil Bungard (St Clair), Ben Patston (Otago), Nic Franzmann (Greymouth), Tom Lee (Otago), and William McLaughlan (Otago). Local hopes will rest with runaway Patston Media Stroke Play Series leader Kazuma Kobori, and his Canterbury team-mates Zach May, Reid Hilton, and Dominic Brettkelly. There are also some under 19's that will have some championship aspirations including Joshua Bai (Akarana) who placed third overall last year, Stephen Liu and Jaesung Na (Whitford Park), Robby Turnbull (Remuera), and Ryan Rooney (Fielding). Canterbury's U19 hopes are lead by Yuki Miya, Cooper Moore, and Mika MacDonald.
The women's field is lead by Auckland rep Vivian Lu. Her rivals will be Canterbury rep Olive Tapu, and Sumin Kang and Yoonae Jeong both from Wakitipu. Also the Marlborugh pair of Aroha Minhinnick and Lizzie Neale, and young Naomi Yacyshen from Waikato. The field is somewhat depleted without the likes of locals Maddie May, Catherine Bell, and Amy Weng being unable to play.
The Men's Masters field of 20 players is lead by Canterbury reps Andrew Dufton, Jonathan Stieller, and defending champion Brett Turner. Others to feature will be current Canterbury Masters Match Play Champion Paul Burke, and Ben Crawford and Nathan Smith from Nelson.
Unfortunately there are only four entries for Women's Masters. They will be lead by Canterbury rep Rachel Eder (Clearwater).
The weather forecast for the weekend is not great and it may well be survival of the fittest if the rain and wind eventuates. Whatever the case it will be a keen contest and we look forward to the battle.
The Patston Media Strokeplay Series will also be decided with Kazuma Kobori a runaway leader in the Men's Open with second place a tight battle between several players. Vivian Lu leads the Women's Open comfortably, and Robby Turnbull the U19 from Jan Ebbinge.
All players, caddies, and spectators are reminded that they must present their Vaccine Pass when they arrive on course.
The draw will be published on this website by Thursday morning.
