Marquee names line up for VIC PGA clash
BY iseekgolf.com | Von Nida Tour | 2007 Victorian PGA Championship | Preview | 22 Jan 2007
The 2007 Von Nida Tour swings back into action this week with the nab Victorian PGA Championship teeing off at Sanctuary Lakes. And the wonderful Greg Norman inspired course is certainly a popular venue based on the standard of entries.
Marquee players include Steven Bowditch, who recaptured his best form late last season after waging a on-going fight against depression.
Also teeing off will be Victorian Craig Spence, best remembered for hitting a six-iron to within tap-in distance to win the 1999 Australian Masters by a single shot from Greg Norman.
Another contender is David McKenzie, a resident of Melbourne’s western suburbs who earned more than $500,000 last year on the USPGA Tour.
Joining this trio in the quality field is 2006 Von Nida Tour Order of Merit winner Marc Leishman, defending champion Steven Jeffress, Eisenhower Trophy representatives Stephen Dartnall and Andrew Tampion, Australasian PGA Tour chairman Peter Senior and West Australians Kim Felton and Steven Collins.
Scott Draper, who acted as the interim coach for Lleyton Hewitt during the first week of the Australian Open tennis championship, will make the transition to tournament golfer.
Apart from adjusting to such different playing surfaces, the former Davis Cup star will also demonstrate his right-handed golf swing that contrasts dramatically with his preference to play tennis left-handed.
Talented Melbourne youngster Ashley Hall has also moved into the professional ranks and will be hoping to make an immediate impact.
The 23-year-old won the Australasian PGA Tour Qualifying School Final Stage six weeks ago and is now ready to challenge for the state title.
Hall, a member of the VIS golf program, also placed ninth in the Asian PGA Tour Qualifying School.
The nab 2007 Victorian PGA Championship begins on Thursday, January 25 and runs until Sunday, January 28 at Sanctuary Lakes with $105,000 prizemoney.
The Von Nida Tour then moves to Woodlands Golf Club for the Victorian Open before heading north to New South Wales for the NSW PGA Championship to be held 8-11 February at Riverside Oaks in Sydney’s west.
Source – nab Victorian PGA
Photo – Anthony Powter
