Golf: Paddison chases second Charles Tour title

Gareth Paddison. Photo / Simon Baker

Wellington professional Gareth Paddison is looking to make it two from two when the Charles Tour's Taranaki Open starts tomorrow.

The 30-year-old left-hander has plied his trade mostly in Europe since turning professional nearly a decade ago, but now that he is concentrating on the OneAsia tour he took advantage of the break there to win the Wairakei Open last week.

In his first Charles Tour appearance, Paddison won by five shots from Tauranga's Jared Pender.

Now he has entered the Taranaki Open and is preparing to play the famed Ngamotu Links course for the first time.

"I've heard a lot about it, that it is part linksy and part parklands. I love those sorts of courses. They suit my game," Paddison said.

"I've heard that it is a really good course and that should be great because I am used to playing on good courses overseas. I am really looking forward to it."

Paddison won the Canadian amateur championship in 2001 before turning professional that year and immediately finishing third in the Australian PGA Championship.

He grabbed his first pro win on home soil at the 2002 Scenic Circle event in Dunedin before another strong year in 2004 when he won the Victorian Open and finished tied for seventh at the Heineken Classic.

"It's nice to come back and be in the winner's circle, especially back home in New Zealand. That makes it one for one on the Charles Tour. Now let's see if I can make it two from two at Taranaki," Paddison said.

He will not have things his own way with the field including the winner of the last two Taranaki Open titles, Michael Hendry, the 2005 winner Doug Holloway and 2008 champion Troy Ropiha.

The field also includes the New Zealand women's amateur team, who are using the event as a shakedown for next month's Espirito Santo world teams championship, and Ryan Fox, a member of the national men's team going to the Eisenhower Trophy.

- NZPA