Golf: Baddeley leads Australian charge

Aaron Baddeley will head a troupe of young Australian golfers contesting the $1.2 million Clearwater Classic in Christchurch in March.

Baddeley, Scott Gardiner, Craig Spence and Matthew Goggin have confirmed that they will compete in the US PGA-sanctioned tournament, the richest in New Zealand.

Baddeley won the Australian Open in 1999 as an 18-year-old amateur, the youngest player to win the title and the first amateur to do so since Bruce Devlin in 1969.

He successfully defended his title last year, and also added the Greg Norman Holden International, beating Sergio Garcia in a playoff.

Gardiner had a glittering amateur career, turning pro last year after finishing third in the world amateur championships in Berlin.

This year, he played several tournaments in Europe and in just 12 events was twice inside the top 10.

Spence played the full US PGA tour last year and, although he did not regain his card, still played 19 events on this year's tour. He will focus on the Buy. Com Tour of which the Clearwater Classic is the second event on next year's programme.

Goggin is another to have played the full US PGA tour.

In 1999 he was a two-time winner in the Buy. Com Tour and qualified for the full tour by finishing fourth on the order of merit.

He retained his card in his rookie year, but the death of his close friend and coach Ross Herbert affected his play this year.

He finished 148th on the money list and failed to regain his card at Q school. He will concentrate on the Buy. Com Tour and has some exemptions to play the full tour.

The Clearwater Classic is being held from March 14 to 17.

- NZPA