Grant Moorhead believes there is no better place for a breakthrough win on the Charles Tour than on his home course which hosts the Taranaki Open starting today.
Moorhead, the local professional at the New Plymouth Golf Club, has been a consistent player on the tour and its
predecessor, the GTNZ series.
He plays against a strong field, including recent Wairakei Open winner Doug Holloway and Tauranga Open champion Josh Geary.
Moorhead came closest to winning on the Charles Tour in Tauranga this year when he was beaten on the second playoff hole by Geary.
He has been third twice and fourth twice at the Opens in Tauranga, Wairakei and Taranaki over the past three years. On his home course, he was third behind Mark Brown in 2006 and tied for fourth in last year's weather-shortened event.
"I guess I am overdue. I have not played a lot recently and so the tournament at Wairakei and even the pro-am this week will help."
Moorhead was in the hunt at Wairakei two weeks ago, three shots off the lead going into the final day and closed to within a shot on the front nine but dropped three shots on the trip back to the clubhouse.
Geary and Holloway will have their final outings before they take on qualifying school for the US PGA Tour.
Other leading professional chances include Christchurch rookie Richard Anderson, eighth at Wairakei, and Hamilton's Mark Purser, a two-time tour winner.
Australian James Beston could do well along with in-form Marcus Wheelhouse (Auckland), and outstanding masters players, Stuart Reese (North Harbour) and Taranaki's Craig Owen.
The amateurs will want to show they can compete at the highest level, with former Taranaki player Troy Ropiha keen to build on his outstanding third placing at Wairakei.
There are a number of leading females in the 120-strong field, led by New Zealand representative Caroline Bon (Northland).
- NZPA
