Parry headlines Open qualifier in Sydney
BY iseekgolf.com | Australasian PGA Tour | 2007 British Open International Final Qualifying | Preview | 30 Jan 2007
Multiple tournament winner Craig Parry headlines a 52 strong contingent that will line up vying for one of four places to the 2007 OPEN Championship when Final International Qualifying is held at The Lakes in Sydney next week.
The Open International Final Qualifying on Tuesday February 6 will be a 36 hole strokeplay event featuring the likes of Parry, whose last victory was the 2005 Heineken Classic in Melbourne, alongside 1998 Australian Open winner Greg Chalmers, 2003 US Amateur Champion Nick Flanagan, bright young prospect Queenslander Jason Day and the story of the 2006 MasterCard Masters amateur Aaron Pike.
Sydney based Parry is particularly pleased that IFQ is in his home town where he will be playing an OPEN qualifier for the first time in Australia. After a month long break from the game, he is looking forward to starting his 2007 season with a tournament at the Lakes, where he last played at the 2002 ANZ Championship. Parry was tied second with Scott Laycock behind winner Sweden’s Richard Johnson.
“I love playing there, it’s a very very good championship course, said Parry. “Like most Sydney courses the wind at The Lakes can be a strong factor in determining how well you will score.”
“It tests every club in the bag and the way in which shots are penalised. When the wind gets up in particular on the back nine near the water, you have to hold your own. Anyone who is nervous going down that stretch will find it difficult to complete the round.”
Also lining up next week will be three of last year’s four successful entrants Michael Wright, Adam Bland and Ben Bunny who made their way to the 2006 OPEN Championship after finishing in the top four at IFQ held at Kingston Heath in Melbourne.
Australian Terry Pilkadaris qualified successfully for his first Open Championship earlier this month when he finished fourth at Final International Qualifying at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington, South Africa.
IFQ will also be held in Asia – Sentosa, Singapore, March 27-28; America – Oakland Hills, Michigan, USA, July 2 and Europe – Sunningdale, Berkshire, England, July 2.
The 2007 Open Championship will be held from July 19-22 at Carnoustie, Scotland.
The field for the 2007 IFQ Australasia
Aaron Pike (Am)
Adam Bland
Adam Crawford
Adam Porker
Alistair Presnell
Andrew Dodt (Am)
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Tschudin
Aron Price
Ben Bunny
Brad McIntosh
Bradley Lamb
Cameron Percy
Chris Campbell
Craig Parry
David Diaz
David Lutterus
Euan Walters
Ewan Porter
Greg Chalmers
James Nitties
Jason Day
Jason Norris
Kurt Barnes
Larry Austin
Leigh McKechnie
Lucas Parsons
Luke Hickmott
Marcus Cain
Martin Doyle
Matthew Ballard
Michael Wright
Neil Sarkies
Nicholas Flanagan
Nigel Stivala
Paul Marantz
Peter Fowler
Peter Wilson
Richard Swift
Ricky Schmidt
Robin Hodgetts
Ryan Haller
Scott Laycock
Shinichi Yokota
Steve Collins
Steve Dartnall
Steven Conran
Steven Jeffress
Steven Jones
Tim Wilkinson
Tristan Lambert
Wayne Perske
Source – PGA Tour
Photo – Anthony Powter
