Stellar Australasian field announced for Heineken Classic
BY iseekgolf.com | Australasian PGA Tour | 2005 Heineken Classic | General | 14 Jan 2005
The strongest field in the thirteen year history of the Heineken Classic took shape today with the release of the Australasian contingent, containing no less than 12 winners from International Tours in 2004 lining up at Royal Melbourne on February 3.
2004 Australasian Tour Order of Merit and MasterCard Masters winner Richard Green will feature in the line up, along with fellow 2004 event winners Terry Price (Holden NZ Open), Euan Walters (Jacobs Creek Open), Gavin Coles (NZPGA) and Peter Lonard ( Hillross Australian Open & Cadbury Schweppes PGA Championship).
2004 USPGA Tour winners Stuart Appleby ( 2004/05 Mercedes Open), Adam Scott (TPC Championship, Booz Allen Classic) and Craig Parry (Ford Championship) will take part, alongside Brett Rumford who took out the Irish Open on the European Tour and Japan Golf Tour winners Paul Sheehan ( Nippon Series JT Cup, Fujisankei Classic), Steve Conran (Hisamitsu KBC Augusta) and New Zealand’s David Smail, who won the Casio World Open for the second year running.
To add to the depth of talent in the field are bright young talents including Kim Felton who won the 2004 Von Nida Tour Money List, up and comer James Nitties, who took the golfing world by storm finishing second at the 2004 Cadbury Schweppes PGA Championship and dual Asian Tour winner Terry Pilkadaris (Crowne Plaza Open, Sanya Open).
As at today’s date, five of the Australasian contingent playing at the Heineken Classic are in the World’s Top 50 with a further three within the World top 100. The highest ranked contender is Stuart Appleby at 11, followed by Adam Scott 12, Peter Lonard 40, Nick O’Hern 47, Richard Green 62, Craig Parry 68 and Michael Campbell 94.
Perennial favourite Greg Norman will be back for the Heineken Classic, adding to what is already an outstanding field of local talent.
The Heineken Classic will be held at Royal Melbourne from February 3-6, 2005. The European Tour component will be confirmed when entries close next Thursday.
Tournament invitations will also be confirmed in the near future.
Source – Heineken Classic
Photo – Anthony Powter/Snaperture
