Akermanis in field
National football personality and golfer Jason Akermanis will be among a mix of professional and amateur golfers teeing off in a Western Open golf tournament in Horsham this weekend.
Horsham club general manager and golf director Paul Riley confirmed that Brownlow Medallist Akermanis, who forged a star-studded career with Brisbane Lions, would be among a 144-strong field competing in the landmark tournament, which starts on Friday.
“Jason is very excited to be playing and as a talented golfer is looking to take his game to the next level,” Mr Riley said.
“He wants to use the event as a gauge while playing against professionals for when he might possibly become a professional player himself.”
Akermanis will be among top amateurs that also include Horsham scratch player Louis Gebert and Metropolitan club’s Michel Lukas off plus-2.9.
The amateurs will be up against some of the elite stars of the game, including former United States tour player and former Japanese Bridgestone and Victorian open winner Scott Laycock, who is listed in the top 100 golfers in the world.
Mr Riley also confirmed reigning Victorian Open champion Simon Hawkes would be in the field and bringing his open trophy to display in the Horsham clubhouse during the tournament.
“We also have Anthony Marchesani, who won the Clearwater Bay open in Hong Kong last year on the China PGA tour last year and many other top-line players,” he said.
The Western Open is a 36-hole scratch event, designed to thrust Horsham into the national golfing spotlight.
The event features 60 professional players competing alongside 84 of Victoria’s best amateurs for the title of Western Open champion.
It is part of Ladbrokes PGA Pro-am series, which features 140 tournaments across Australia and the South Pacific, including 35 in metropolitan and regional Victoria.
First of its kind
The Western Open will be the first tournament of its kind in Victoria where professionals and elite amateurs compete for the same title. It is also easily the largest and most prestigious golf tournament in Horsham for years.
Professionals will compete for a share of $30,000 in prizemoney, while male amateurs play for the Ivo Whitton trophy and women tee off in an effort to secure a Susie Tolhurst trophy.
The tournament is a major development project for the Horsham club, determined to stimulate regional participation in golf, promote a healthy lifestyle in the community and expose the region to the wider golfing public.
The action involving professional players starts on Friday with players navigating around the Horsham course with sponsors and presenting clinics at schools before a tournament dinner.
The main golfing action will fire up on Saturday with the opening round of the event, with the second round on Sunday.
The club has organised a nearest-thepin dusk shoot-out on the ninth hole and entertainment on Saturday night, with a courtesy bus available to take patrons back into Horsham city centre.
“I’m confident it will be our biggest ever golf tournament in Horsham. It will be a tremendous launching pad for the club and gold in general in Horsham and Wimmera,” Mr Riley said.
“Spectators are more than welcome and can come free of charge.”
A Tourism Research Australia report shows the Horsham region could benefit from more than $170,000 throughout the inaugural three-day event.
ACE Radio through The Weekly Advertiser and radio stations 3WM and MIXX FM has joined Horsham Rural City Council, which is contributing almost $40,000 to the event for the next three years, and Horsham Telstra Store-samsung as major supporters of the event.