Golf: NZ Open good start for Asian tour players

New Zealand is developing as a key golf destination for burgeoning Japanese talent.

Six players from the Japan and Asia Tours will tee off in next week's Holden New Zealand Open at The Grange, after three played in last year's Open at Middlemore.

Returning from last year is Kix Kawahara, who finished in a share of seventh at Middlemore, the popular La Bomba Imai, who also made the cut, and Paku Kuniyoshi.

Kawahara has carried his form on to record his first Tour victory in Japan last year, taking out the Georgia Tokai Classic. He finished 22nd on the Japan Tour Order of Merit with total earnings of more than $500,000 this year.

Imai jumped to 14th on the Order of Merit this year after finishing the year in brilliant fashion, winning the Casio World Open to go with his two fourth placings in the KBC Augusta and Georgia Tokai. Imai earned more than $700,000 last year.

They are joined by fellow Japan Tour players Toru Suzuki and Masanori Kobayashi.

Singapore-based Australian Unho Park, who plays on the Korean-based Asian Tour, the same as New Zealand's Eddie Lee, will also play. Park was 15th on the Asian Order of Merit.