NZ Open hostage to the vagaries of Covid19
THE New Zealand Open has not yet gone out of bounds as contingencies are put in place to keep the tournament on the calendar next year.
Although there is a chance of it not going ahead, every effort is being made for the tournament to be played next year.
Tournament chairman John Hart and director Michael Glading are both working hard to deliver the 2021 New Zealand Open, again at Millbrook and The Hills.
Glading confirmed the key partners were well and truly on board with whatever form it takes.
He stressed the importance of keeping all stakeholders in the loop.
‘‘Sky TV and our major sponsors are all in close communication with us as the situation with Covid19 develops.
‘‘The impact of Covid19 is being widely felt throughout the event sector in New Zealand and therefore the decisions regarding the feasibility of the 2021 New Zealand Open going ahead as scheduled are largely out of our hands. As an international event, we are very dependent on the borders being open so players can come in and out of the country seamlessly.’’
The event is planned for February 2528, although any player travelling internationally will have to quarantine here for 14 days before the event. Glading said most players were unlikely to quarantine for one event in New Zealand.
The organisers are looking at three different scenarios.
If the borders are open the tournament would go ahead as planned with a full international field, although there would be increased health and safety measures.
If only the Australian border is open, an event could be run as an AustralianNew Zealand event, although more finance would be needed.
Should all borders be closed the tournament will be postponed to 2022.
As it stands at the moment the event would be postponed.
Glading expressed confidence a very strong professional field could be found if only the Australian borders were open. Part of that strategy would be to reduce the field size a little to maintain the overall high quality playing standards.
Australian Brad Kennedy won the event earlier this year.
As a minimum requirement, the Australian borders would have to be open in sufficient time for the go button to be pushed.
“We are currently working on timelines for final decisions to be made, but we expect this to be early December at the latest.”
The importance of the event for the Lakes District and Central Otago regions cannot be over estimated, he said.
The financial injection brought by the 300 players plus many partners, family and friends , 500 volunteers and their extras, 300 caddies, many media and tournament staff, and the thousands of spectators was significant.
‘‘Whatever the outcome it will not be for a lack of concerted effort.’’
Queenstown golfer James Anstiss had a disappointing comeback tournament on the Latin America Tour.
Playing in The Invitational at the Auburn University Club, Anstiss finished on 4 under after the three rounds.
He shot an impressive 65 to start but then had two rounds of 74 to finish on 213, 15 shots behind winner Cooper Musselman. — additional reporting Steve Hepburn