There’s a lot to play for at $400,000 NSW Open

The NSW Open starts tomorrow at Concord Golf Club in Sydney following the running of the NSW Regional Open Series which kicked off last September and made its way through the state.

With a total prize pool of A$400,000 the event has attracted a stellar field of both professionals and amateurs who will compete in the four round stroke event which when played last March at Concord proved an outstanding success with Bryden Macpherson taking the title.

Bryden Macpherson won the 2021 NSW Open (Credit: Anthony Powter)

Twenty-three amateurs will tee it up against the professionals in a field that includes Brendan Jones, a multiple winner on the Japan Tour, Andrew Dodt, Andre Stolz, former PGA Tour player and multiple Australian tour winner Micheal Sim and former winners Jason Norris, Michael Wright, Rick Kulacz, Josh Younger, Adam Blyth, Aaron Townsend, Jake McLeod and Bryden Macpherson.

Young guns Anthony Quale, Jarryd Felton, who secured a recent win at the TPS Sydney, and Blake Windred are also entered with Windred attracting considerable attention so far in his short professional career.

Windred turned professional in late in 2019 and after a number of strong results was impressive in notching up his first professional victory last December at the 2021 Victorian PGA Championship at Moonah Links.

Since that victory Windred has played the European Tour, now known as to the DP World Tour and notched a top-15 finish at the Cape Town Open in February to see his world ranking currently at 337th and climbing.

Last year Windred opened with an impressive 64 before going on to finish in 6th place. This year he’s battle ready and certainly will be a player to follow.

Keep an eye out also for former US Amateur Champion and four-time Nationwide Tour winner Nick Flanagan. As an amateur Flanagan played Division 1 Pennants for Concord and whilst the 37-year-old has not won since 2012, his experience of six professional wins shows he can claim a title if the time and place are right.

Another contender is Brendan Jones, who is a 15 time winner on the Japan Tour and winner on the Nationwide Tour and just a fortnight ago lost in a play-off to Jarryd Felton in the rain effected TPS Sydney.

With a prize pool of $400,000 on offer this week, a handful of players will also be eyeing off a chance at one of three DP World Tour cards on offer to those at the top of the Order Of Merit. Australian PGA winner Jed Morgan most likely has the top spot sewn up on $184,943.77 but for the several players sitting behind him the approx. $70,000 first prize money could make all the difference in earning a life-changing career start in Europe.

Concord Golf Club is no stranger to professional golf or indeed as a venue for the NSW Open, having already hosted the tournament an impressive eleven times in its 90-year history.

The NSW Open is steeped in history with some of our greatest golfers including Kel Nagle, Greg Norman, and Peter Thomson as well as former legends like Norman Von Nida and Frank Phillips, Peter Lonard, Jack Newton, Peter O’Malley, and Craig Parry amongst those who have won the title.

The event will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Australia and across its streaming service, Kayo starting 12pm this Friday.