The Hills beckons top amateur

The best-performed amateur golfer from the Charles Tour series, which culminates with the Shirley Open starting today, will gain entry to the New Zealand Open at The Hills near Queenstown in January.

A capacity field will line up for the $40,000 Labour Weekend event in Christchurch, including Sir Bob Charles – playing for the first time in a tour event named in his honour.

The professional field is headed by Charles, the four-time New Zealand Open champion. Charles, who has been a Christchurch Golf Club member for more than 50 years, twice finished runner-up in the open at the course.

Hawke's Bay golfer Doug Holloway, a four-time winner on the Charles Tour, will be favoured among the professionals, along with last year's Taranaki Open winner Troy Ropiha and 2003 New Zealand Open champion Mahal Pearce.

Japan tour player Kazunari Nakayama impressed in Taranaki, while Wellington's Brenden Stuart, the consistent Grant Moorhead (New Plymouth) and Tauranga's Jared Pender are likely contenders this weekend. The amateur battle has an additional edge, with the overall winner invited to compete in the co-sanctioned New Zealand Open, while there is the $1500 Danny Lee Scholarship for the leading amateur over the spring series – the Wairakei Open, Taranaki Open and Shirley Open.

Former Northland golfer Gary-John Hill, now based at the Titirangi club in Auckland, is leading the amateur section after his share of third place at the Wairakei Open.

He leads Tauranga's Andrew Stewart. Stewart made an impressive debut for New Zealand at the Asia-Pacific teams championship recently, where he was fourth-best individual.

Wairakei Open winner Emily Perry, runner-up in the prestigious Riversdale Cup in Melbourne this year, will be looking for her second win in the women's competition over 54 holes.

New Zealand strokeplay champion Zoe Brake (Whakatane) will be hoping to stake her claim after strong performances in the recent interprovincials, along with fellow international Caroline Bon and Nelson's Lisa Wright, who is returning to the game after a lengthy layoff because of leg surgery.

The top 60 men, plus ties, make the cut for the final two rounds of the event which concludes on Monday.

The women's event finishes on Sunday.