Golf: Field fills up for historic Classic

Sporting history is set to be made this weekend as the Bream Bay Classic waves goodbye to the existing course at the Waipu Golf Club.

This weekend's annual classic will be the last to take place on the current Waipu Golf Club's course with next season's Classic taking place on a new course layout at Waipu.

Tournament director Murray MacFadyen added that the current course was set for a final hurrah with about 90 entries received so far, 46 of which have a handicap of one or better. "The field has filled up and I'm really stoked," MacFadyen said. "All I need now is the weather to turn up."

He also commented on the large number, in comparison to other years, of female entries with 16 currently entered. MacFadyen said normally there were about four to eight entered each year.

This weekend's event doubles as another trial for the Northland Golf Team which means a number of the region's rising stars will be competing, including members of the Whangarei Boys' High School team who won the World Schools' Golf Challenge this year after winning the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships in 2012.

MacFadyen said last year's winner Chase McKeown would have a good shot at taking out this year's title, but Whangarei's Kadin Neho would be in hot pursuit.

Included in the classic is a strong field of masters and ladies with last year's winners, Michael Leeper of Omaha and Britney Dryland from Titirangi, also expected to take out top honours.

The tournament is an Order of Merit tournament which will be played off the back tees. MacFadyen added that the Waipu Links Course looked in superb condition.

The clubhouse café is open daily for meals.