KEY POINTS:
The inaugural New Zealand Women's Open golf championship will be held in Christchurch.
New Zealand Golf (NZG) today said the tournament, to be staged at Clearwater on January 30 to February 1, would offer a purse of $150,000.
NZG chief executive Bill MacGowan said his organisation was especially pleased to be in a position to launch the championship despite the challenging economic climate.
A key to the establishment of the Open came from funds set aside from a trust fund by Women's Golf New Zealand before it amalgamated with the New Zealand Golf Association.
Officials hope the tournament will raise the profile of the game for women and provide inspirational opportunities for young New Zealand golfers.
It will be part of the Australian Ladies' Professional Golf tour (ALPG), a four-tournament schedule which includes the New South Wales Open, the Australian Women's Open and the Ladies Masters, and as such will offer points for the women's world golf rankings.
The Open will be the first professional tournament staged for women in this country since 1975.
- NZPA