Golf: Brown, Geary lead top Open field

Mount Maunganui-based golfer Mark Brown will compete for his second Carrus Open title at Tauranga Golf Club next week. Photo / Getty Images

The head-to-head clash between Mark Brown and Josh Geary is set to illuminate next week's Carrus Open at Tauranga Golf Club.

The two local touring professionals are the headline acts in arguably the strongest field to ever contest a Charles Tour event.

Three-time champion Geary, 2012 winner Brown, Ryan Fox and course record holders of 59 in Richard Lee and Tauranga's Jared Pender, are the star attractions chasing the $40,000 purse.

Brown, 39, who now calls Mount Maunganui home, has fond memories of shooting a scorching 62 to win the 2012 Carrus Open.

"It doesn't matter what level you are playing at, it is always satisfying to win a four-round event," Brown said. "That final round at Tauranga was particularly pleasing for me. I was in contention to win a tournament and I played great attacking golf to get it done.

"I spend a lot of time here now after moving to the Bay. The course is an exciting layout for a tournament like this. The first 8-10 holes offer up a lot of birdie opportunities and I am sure there will be a lot of players attacking the course for this year's Carrus."

Brown is hoping to add a third Charles Tour title before he closes out 2014 with events on the PGA Tour of Australasia and OneAsia, culminating with the final stage of European Tour qualifying school in November.

But he admits local boy Geary will be hard to beat. "He has a great record and it is going to take a good performance around here to beat him. But there are good players in the field so hopefully we can put some pressure on him. There will be a few guys who like their chances but Josh will be the favourite for sure. I am looking forward to that challenge."

Geary would love to defend his title before a possible career-defining stint at Q-School qualifying for the Web.Com Tour in the US in December.

"I will miss three Australian PGA Tour events. I made that choice," Geary said. "I had options to maybe go to Japan and Asia but I have always loved playing in the States. My game is definitely suited to the States."