Golf: New Zealand women's open confirmed for Canterbury

Kristie Smith of Australia will return to New Zealand to defend her 2011 title. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand Women's Golf Open will return to Canterbury next February, almost a year to the day after the region was ravaged by the February 22 earthquake.

The tournament will again be played at the Pegasus Golf and Sports Club, about 30 minutes north of Christchurch, from February 17-19. It will retain its co-sanctioned status on the Ladies European Tour and the Australian Ladies Professional Golf Tour, thanks in part to input from the International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS).

The organisation, founded by Japanese philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa in 2006, aims to support charitable causes throughout the sporting world. ISPS chose to sponsor the tournament, due to the influence sporting events can have on a community still in rebuild mode.

Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker said, for those reasons, the city was delighted to welcome the tournament.

"We are very aware of the importance of sport in the recovery of the city and particularly the benefit of major sporting events to the recovery of the city and morale of our residents," he said.

"We look forward to the visitors and atmosphere it will generate, as well as the positive impact it will have on our city and its ratepayers."

It's expected the fourth staging of the championship will attract its best field, with the timing of the event directly after the Women's Australian Open and Australian Ladies Masters.

Defending champion Australian Kristie Smith, who won the title by three shots this year, and English golfer Laura Davies, who won the championship in 2010, confirmed they will return to compete in the event.