Thirteenth Beach proves irresistible for British Open champion

REIGNING British Open champion Georgia Hall will headline a host of past winners when the 2019 Vic Open gets under way at Thirteenth Beach next month.

The 22-year-old (pictured) joins Minjee Lee, Joanna Klatten, Marianne Skarpnord and Mel Reid in the women’s event, while Dimi Papadatos, Matt Griffin, Richard Green, Ash Hall, Michael Long, Jason Norris, Gareth Paddison and Simon Hawkes will front the men’s field.

Hall, who took out the 2016 Vic Open and claimed her maiden major at last year’s British Open, has shot to world No.8 in the Rolex rankings and said the event would be part of a two-tournament trip down under.

“I can’t wait. It is my third time playing the Vic Open and every year I will definitely come and play it,” Hall said.

“It is one of my favourite events of the year, and not just because I won it a few years ago, but I actually really enjoy the golf course.

“We get to play it over two courses which is pretty cool and Australia as a whole, it is one of my favourite countries. The people are really nice and I enjoy myself so I am looking forward to coming down to the Vic Open and then playing the Australian Open the following week.”

The Vic Open has continued to enhance its reputation as one of the country’s premier golf events and has gained cosanction status with the European Tour for the men’s tournament this year as well as the LPGA Tour in the women’s.

Hall said she was anticipating an even stronger field than past years at Thirteenth Beach and added while she might have a target on her back in 2019, her focus was solely on her own game.

“I just want to try to work much harder than previous years. That is my goal and then the results hopefully will follow,” Hall said.

“But I don’t feel any pressure playing the Vic Open, the courses suit me so I am quite confident when I go and play there and the two times I have played there I have come first and third.

“I would like to win in the US, that is important, and to play well in all the majors, and I would like to get a better world ranking but they are the end goals.

“I think I will be playing quite a few more events this year by choice, so I just want to work on my game and put the effort into my game.”

Hall is currently in Florida for the Tournament of Champions event and said she would be encouraging players on the American tour to sign up to the Vic Open in the coming weeks.