Murray to play in New Zealand Open
DOUBLE Olympic champion Eric Murray has been a busy boy since stepping out of the rowing boat.
Murray, an ambassador for the New Zealand team for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in April, will line up at next week’s New Zealand Open in Queenstown.
Murray, who teamed up with Hamish Bond to win two Olympic golds and eight world championships, is part of a group of celebrities who will take part in the Open at Millbrook Resort and The Hills on March 14.
Murray and rally driver Hayden Paddon are included in the amateur field, alongside other celebrities such as double All Black Jeff Wilson, exNew Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming, cricket greats Ricky Ponting, of Australia, and Sir Ian Botham, of England, Japanese baseball great Masumi Kuwata and Australia’s Logie Award winning actress and television personality KerriAnne Kennerley.
It is the first time Paddon and Murray will have taken part, with the other celebrities all regular competitors in recent years and all keen golfers led by Ponting, who plays off a scratch handicap.
Murray, who plays off an 18 handicap, like Paddon, played golf while he was at high school, and is making a social return to the game since his retirement from competitive rowing.
The 35yearold used to play regularly at the Maramarua Golf Course near the family home at Bombay before turning his attentions to rowing.
‘‘I always thought when I was involved in rowing that I would have time to play golf a bit but that never happened,’’ Murray said.
‘‘I was invited to the Steven Adams Charity golf event and since then decided to dedicate some time to playing again and I am loving it.’’
He has become a member of Cambridge Golf Club and received some tuition from Simon Thomas at the St Peters Golf Academy.
‘‘I enjoy the strategic part of golf and of course the technical focus, that it is not just about the shot you are hitting but the next shot.
‘‘It’s a lot of fun and I am loving playing the game again.’’
The celebrities will also be involved in a range of activities and functions.
The field will be finalised early next week, with the last six players to be added from final qualifying at Cromwell Golf Club and Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club next Monday.