KEY POINTS:
A cluster of New Zealand touring professionals will tee off at Gulf Harbour in the New Zealand Open next week.
More than 20 New Zealanders will be in the 156-strong field for the Blue Chip-sponsored open starting next Thursday.
Among those returning for the second consecutive open to be staged at the Whangaparaoa Peninsula course are four former champions, world No 22 Michael Campbell (2000), Michael Long (1996), David Smail (2001) - depending on whether he qualifies this week for the season-ending event on the Japan Tour - and Mahal Pearce (2003).
Add in Phil Tataurangi, Craig Perks, Steven Alker, who has just qualified for the European Tour, Tim Wilkinson, rookie pro Kevin Chun, Gareth Paddison, Stephen Scahill, Brad Iles and Matthew Holten and there's a decent Kiwi flavour to the field.
The only notable absentee is Grant Waite, who this week missed his card at the USPGA Qualifying School, having finished 217th on the PGA Order of Merit this year.
Having Tataurangi, who finished 230th on his return to the Tour after a long injury layoff, and Long in the Open field has a touch of the double-edged sword to it.
They did not progress beyond the second round of qualifying in the US this week. Had they stayed on course to retain their PGA Tour cards, they would be in California next week preparing for the cut-throat final round at the La Quinta course starting on November 29.
"We have basically got every New Zealand touring professional from the US, European, Japan and Asia Tours playing in their own national championship, which is just fantastic," said New Zealand Golf spokesman Graeme Scott.
Special invitations were held back to see how qualifying tournaments played out in Europe and the US.
While Scott sympathised with the players who missed getting Tour cards for next year "it will be a thrill to have them back for the Open and it offers golf fans and the general public the rare chance to see our best players in action".
New Zealand PGA Order of Merit winner Mark Brown has been given a spot in the field while the top 10 on the order have a pass to Monday's final qualifying round at the Manukau club.
The 156-strong field is split between the Australasian PGA and European Tours, along with special invitations.
Tauranga's Josh Geary and Hamilton's Mark Purser will be making their professional debuts next week and will be joined by fellow Eisenhower Trophy teammate James Gill of Hamilton, who has remained as an amateur.
Other amateurs to qualify for the Open include Auckland's Leighton James, as the South Island Amateur champion, national amateur champion Andrew Green of Wellington, and Martin Tumata from Onewhero, the national Mid-Amateur winner.
After Campbell, the next best world ranked players confirmed are Australian Richard Green (No 77) and Englishman Simon Dyson (No 88).
KIWI CHALLENGE
Steven Alker, Mark Brown, Michael Campbell, Kevin Chun, Tony Christie, Josh Geary, James Gill, Andrew Green, Mathew Holten, Brad Iles, Leighton James, Michael Long, Gareth Paddison, Mahal Pearce, Craig Perks, Mark Purser, Stephen Scahill, David Smail, Martin Tumata, Phil Tataurangi, Tim Wilkinson.
