Off the tee: Finding the Open a real home

New Zealand Golf wants to find a long-term home for its premier event, the New Zealand Open, and the odds are that it will be in Auckland.

The chief executive, Peter Dale, believes there are significant advantages in playing at the same venue, a trend which he says is developing on the Australasian tour.

"People can identify with the open course and there are economies and improvements to be made in the staging if the same course is used," he says.

"We expect to have the same $700,000 purse in January but we would like to increase that. With a longer-term home that should be possible."

Auckland has been identified as the most commercially viable place to stage such an event. The national body still carries a substantial loss incurred on the Tiger Woods Open at Paraparaumu and is keen to balance the books again.

Protracted negotiations are apparently close to completion over the course to be used for next year's event, sponsored by Holden, in the third week of January.

Gulf Harbour was early mooted as a likely choice but Dale was reluctant to identify a venue before negotiations are completed.

Of one thing he is certain: "We are determined to make the open an appropriate tribute to Sir Bob Charles, 50 years after his first win.

"I see him as a national treasure like Kiri Te Kanawa. Most of his career has been overseas, but he has always retained his strong links. I think it is outstanding that he has contributed a percentage of his winnings to New Zealand golf over such a long period."

Dale also acknowledged the contribution of another New Zealand professional, Greg Turner, in development plans to produce more star players on the world circuits.

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Wellington professional Lynnette Brooky, twice a winner on the European women's tour, has announced her engagement to Richard Withell and will be married on March 27 at Atarangi Vineyard.

The former national amateur champion, lies 23rd on the European money list with €17,706 ($35,700). Leading Kiwi is Waikato's Gina Scott, who is 18th with €23,385. After playing just two events, Brenda Ormsby is 54th with €7538. Pam Sowden is 71st with earnings of €4876.

On the men's tour, Steve Scahill is the best of the Kiwis in 50th place with earnings of €179,691 from 13 events played.

In the United States, Marnie McGuire, who finished 58th in the latest LPGA event last week, is 89th on the money list with $US30,900 ($52,800).

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Titirangi have won the Auckland women's A-grade pennants by just one point from Auckland.

They had a bye in the last round but their 76 points were enough to head off Auckland with 75 and Onewhero with 64. Remuera and Maungakiekie will be promoted to A grade next season, replacing Pakuranga and Manukau.

Players in the Titirangi team included Kaye Carroll, Lesley Going, Vicki Duffy, Jenny Grieve, Sharon Haslam, Chris Webster, Susan Read, Dee Hitchcock and Jeannie Wilson.

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Stacey Tate from Huapai will play No 1 when the North Harbour women's team take on Taranaki at Waitomo next Saturday and Sunday.

The team is: Tate, Bobea Park (North Shore), Catharine Mitchell (Omaha), Annece Choi (Huapai), Natalie Storck (North Shore), Sharon Ahn (North Shore), Min Jin Kwon (Pupuke) and Chantelle Webb (Huapai).