Leading golfers prepare for Open

An elite field of 84 competitors has entered the 2024 Men’s and Women’s Tasmanian Open Golf Championships beginning on Friday at the Launceston Golf Club.

Conducted concurrently, the men’s and women’s open championships create unprecedented exposure for the game and a top-level event in Tasmania.

Favourites for the men’s title include touring professionals Simon Hawkes from Tasmania and defending champion Toby Walker from Victoria.

Local amateurs hoping to capture the elusive Open title include Prospect Vale Golf Club’s Ronan Filgate, Brayden Field from Burnie and local member Mitch Van Noord.

Devonport Golf Club’s Jonty Lunson and another Prospect Vale member Ryan Thomas are strong favourites and will also be out to prove their mettle.

The Tasmanian Open’s honour roll includes players such as Bill Dunk, Ian Stanley, Mathew Goggin, Geoff Ogilvy and Nick Flanagan.

Matilda Miels from South Australia, NSW’s Sophia Perkins and Annabelle Hutchings from Queensland will be big draw cards for the women’s event.

Local hopefuls to keep an eye on are Mackenzie Thomas from Royal Hobart, and Launceston’s Jorjah Bailey and Zahara Lemon.

Previous winners of the Elvie Whitesides trophy include Tamie Durdin, Nikki Campbell, Minjee Lee and Tasmanian golfing legends Tammy Hall and Lindy Goggin.

Meanwhile, Australia’s best golfers with a physical, sensory, or intellectual disability will tee off for the Men’s and Women’s Tasmanian Inclusive Championships.

The event brings together players from across the country, competing as part of a global calendar that contributes to the World Rankings for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD).

Competitors to keep an eye on include Cameron Pollard and Lachie Smith from NSW, Rod Welsh from Victoria, Huon Valley’s Leeza Wlaker and local Corey Ackerly.

All events are at the Launceston Golf Club from April 19-21 and admission is free.