Golf: Strong field for Clearwater event

Kevin Stadler of the United States won the Johnnie Walker Classic Golf Tournament at The Vines in Perth. Picture / Reuters

Kevin Stadler, who won the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth on Sunday, heads a strong contingent of American golfers confirmed for the New Zealand PGA Championship in Christchurch next week.

Also in the field are four-time PGA Tour winner Notah Begay and seven others who have won on that tour, including New Zealanders Phil Tataurangi and Grant Waite.

Other tour winners are Matt Kuchar, Joel Edwards, Jim Carter, Glen Day, Jim McGovern and Dicky Pride.

Stadler eagled the final hole at The Vines to win the Johnnie Walker Classic by two strokes and pocket a cheque for $544,992.

Stadler won twice on the secondary Nationwide Tour in 2004 when his season's placing of 13th elevated him to the PGA Tour.

He lost his card last year when earnings of $548,835 left him 168th on the money list.

Stadler is competing in the Jacob's Creek Open starting in Adelaide on Thursday, another Nationwide Tour event, before heading to Christchurch for the $895,400 New Zealand PGA Championship starting at Clearwater Resort on February 23.

Begay won four PGA Tour events in 1999 and 2000 before a chronic back injury severely affected his play. He played Presidents Cup for the United States in 2000.

He contested 11 PGA Tour events under a major medical extension in 2005 but failed to retain his full card.

The New Zealand PGA Championship is the third of 31 tournaments on the Nationwide Tour calendar this season.

Leading New Zealanders confirmed for the tournament include Tataurangi, Waite, Michael Long, Tim Wilkinson, David Smail and Brad Iles.

Among other Nationwide Tour players appearing in Christchurch are Brad Adamonis, Joseph Alfieri, Chris Anderson, Ryan Armour, Chip Beck, Brett Bingham, Justin Bolli, Craig Bowden, D. J. Brigman, Josh Broadaway, Andrew Buckle, Jason Buha, Jeff Burns, Paul Claxton, Roberto Coceres, Chad Collins, Keoke Cotner, Joe Daley, Patrick Damron, Brendon de Jonge, Jay Delsing, Jason Dufner, Ken Duke, Kevin Durkin, Scott Ford, Kyle Gallo, Kevin Gessino-Kraft, Tom Gillis, Paul Gow, Scott Gump, Hunter Haas, David Hearn, Bob Heintz, Scott Hend, Matt Hendrix, Glen Hnatiuk, Ryan Howison, Tripp Isenhour, Andrew Johnson, Tom Johnson, Skip Kendall, Jeff Klauk, Cliff Kresge, Franklin Langham, Steve LeBrun, David Mathis, Parker McLachlin, Andrew McLardy, John Merrick, David Morland, Dan Olsen, Brad Ott, Scott Petersen, Rick Price, Fran Quinn, Jim Rutledge, Brandt Snedeker, David Sutherland, Roland Thatcher, Chris Tidland, Mario Tiziani, Tommy Tolles, Peter Tomasulo, Johnson Wagner, Scott Weatherly and Matt Weibring.

- NZPA