PNG Golf Open News Bite

LAST Tuesday saw the launch of the 18th consecutive South Pacific Export Lager (SPEL) PNG Open which will once again be held in the nation’s capital at the Port Moresby Golf Club from May 3-6. 
The PNG Open tournament has grown in stature and strength each year, with this year being no exception. And SP Brewery, the naming rights sponsor, said they would inject A$130,000 (K295,454) for this year’s prize purse making this one of the most attractive tournaments in Australasia. 
Tournament director Gary Haora, thanking SP Brewery for their fifth year of continued sponsorship, said: “A purse of this amount should draw more top players from the Pacific region, including the 2011 PNG Open Champion, Mathew Ballard and 2011 Morobe Open winner Heath Reed.”   
Ballard and Reed were joint leaders from day two and went into the final day in equal first place with Ballard finally winning the championship by seven shots from Reed.
The 2011 championship saw 63 professionals from a number of countries including Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Korea, Solomon Islands and of course four of our own PNG professionals.  
It hopes to have over 220 professionals and amateurs play in the tournament’s four rounds and that the increased prize money will attract more Asian professionals to this year’s open.
The Sharp PNG Golf Association Pro-Am, once again sponsored by Sharp and Brian Bell, will be held on Wednesday, May 2, and should attract around 56 teams making this one of the largest Pro-Am competitions in the southern hemisphere. 
The PNG Open is a key event in the Queensland PGA Tour of Australasia and with ongoing innovation and the continued support from commercial partners and volunteers will continue to grow with each passing year. 
A sponsor’s night will be held at the Port Moresby Golf Club early next month to attract the support from ongoing and new partners.

Know your golf
 
Safety: Be aware of the players in your group, others on the course and yourself. Never take any action that could endanger anyone.