THE Fiji Open Championship which will be held in Suva in June will serve as the first qualifying event for the second Fiji International at the Natadola Bay Championship Course in October.
The winner of the Fiji Open and the top finishing Fijian player will secure the first two spots for the Fiji International.
The PGA Tour of Australasia, which organise the Fiji International, has increased the number of the local-based players from the lone spot offered at the inaugural event last year.
Sam Lee was the only local-based player who participated at the tournament. The other Fijian golfers were Vijay Singh (United States), Krishna Singh (Australia) and Dinesh Chand (Japan).
Simon Butterly who is the PGA Tour of Australasia general manager tournament division said more Fijians were guaranteed to play at the premier golf tournament in the country.
“Four Fijians competed in the inaugural event held in August 2014, but that number is set to rise this year with more places in the tournament provided to local talents,” Butterly said.
“The Fiji Open champion will earn a start and also the top finishing Fijian player. In an exciting new development, a qualifying series will be staged around the country with three places in the Fiji International up for grabs.”
The increased number of playing opportunities for Fijians at the tournament is part of the PGA Tour of Australasia’s plan to grow the game of golf in the country.
“In 2014 we had four Fijian golfers teeing it up in the inaugural Fiji International, this year we aim to see this number increase,” Butterly said. “Through the Fiji International a number of young Fijians are exposed to golf and we want to provide them with role models to look up to and aspire to be like.”
“Vijay Singh continues to inspire a number of people to take up the game, but we want to find that next Fijian star to encourage future golfers.”
Golfers aiming to compete in the Fiji International will have their first opportunity to qualify via the Fiji Open which is to be played at the Fiji Golf Club course from June 4-7. National Golf Association of Fiji president Ofakilomaloma Tabunakawai said they were grateful to see the increased number of opportunities provided for Fijians to compete in the prestigious event.
“This allows for our local talents to earn the exclusive experience of playing against some of the world’s best golfers,” she said.
Fiji PGA members and elite amateurs with a handicap of five or less who are Fijian citizens or residents will be able to compete in the Fiji International qualifying series over three days. They will compete on three of Fiji’s best 18 holes courses with the leading scorers across the 54 holes earning one of the three coveted positions into the world-class tournament.
Fiji PGA president Graeme Bell said it was a great opportunity to provide the local golfer a chance to qualify for the Fiji International.
“To compete against some of the world’s best is an opportunity that needs to be earned and we believe the qualifying series will achieve this goal,” Bell said.
The 2015 Fiji International will be held at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course from October 15-18.
