When Brent Paterson comes to Gulf Harbour to watch the New Zealand Open this week, it will complete the reunion of another famous golfing foursome.
New Zealand's Eisenhower Trophy winners of 1992 in Vancouver, Phil Tataurangi, Michael Campbell, Steve Scahill and Grant Moorhead, are all playing in thetournament.
Two years earlier at Christchurch, New Zealand finished second equal with the United States behind Sweden. Moorhead was in that team with Michael Long and Steve Alker, who are both playing at Gulf Harbour.
The fourth member was experienced Canterbury amateur Paterson, who soon opted for a business career, playing his golf at Middlemore.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS
No surprise that experienced Aussie professional Peter O'Malley likes playing in New Zealand. During his career, the 41-year-old has won the New Zealand amateur, Open and PGA titles. He won the Open in 1995 at The Grange and the NZPGA at Clearwater in 2002 and 2005.
Other former Open champions in the field this week are Peter Fowler (1993), Michael Long (1996), Michael Campbell (2000), Craig Parry (2002), Mahal Pearce (2003) and Terry Price (2004).
EYES ON THE BALL
Seve Ha, at 15 the youngest player in the field, better not drive the ball too far this week. The stocky Akarana golfer won the Auckland matchplay title at Manukau wearing glasses to correct his short-sightedness.
But this week he qualified for the Open without his specs, which he has mislaid. He reckons he only needs them to see where his shots have gone.
SHOW ME THE MONEY
The winner of the Open will walk away with a cheque for $270,000 on Sunday afternoon. Make the top 10 and you're guaranteed $37,500. Make the cut in the top 60 and ties on Friday evening and the minimum payout is $2040. The top amateur wins the Bledisloe Cup - last year Josh Geary won the cup even though he missed the cut. The previous year Brad Heaven finished second as an amateur.Bob Pearce
