Golf: US players dominate Classic field

A 74-strong contingent of American golfers will pack the field for the $1.2 million Clearwater Classic in Christchurch next week.

The first buy.Com tournament to be played in New Zealand, the Classic will be arguably the strongest field assembled in this country.

That only 10 New Zealanders have made the field, and five of these are on sponsors' exemptions, indicates the calibre of field.

Included are many who have had full US PGA Tour cards, several of whom have won tournaments on this tour.

The aptly named Keith Clearwater had two victories in this rookie year; Jim Benepe became the first player in the history of the PGA Tour to win at his very first start; Ken Green has had five Tour victories; and Guy Boros, Dan Halldorson and Trevor Dodds have all had one each.

The New Zealand field is headed by Sir Bob Charles, co-designer of the Clearwater course, and includes Greg Turner, David Smail, Steve Alker, Gareth Paddison, Marcus Wheelhouse, Paul Devenport, Richard Lee and Tony Christie.

Also hoping to do well in front of his home crowd will be leading New Zealand amateur Eddie Lee.

"We are incredibly excited about Eddie Lee after his performance in Australia this year," said Chris Doig, chief executive of Sporting Frontiers, which owns the rights to the event.

There are more than 50 Australians in the field, headed by two-time Australian Open winner Aaron Baddeley.

Peter O'Malley and Scott Laycock, who is second on the Australasian Order of Merit, join him.

Eight players are still to be added to the field of 156.

- NZPA