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 AMP to support new GTNZ golf event Tuesday 24th April, 2007 AMP to support new GTNZ golf event Golf Tour New Zealand, the initiative launched by Greg Turner, has today announced a new tournament to their schedule. AMP Financial Services is to further support golf in New Zealand through sponsorship of GTNZ tournament at Titirangi Golf Club in Auckland on 4–7 October to be known as the "AMP Titirangi Open." The AMP Titirangi Open is the fourth tournament on the GTNZ schedule along with the Taranaki Open, Wairakei Open and this week’s Carrus Tauranga Open, which began with the traditional Pro-Am today. GTNZ was established by Turner to provide opportunities for young New Zealand professionals and to raise the bar for the leading amateurs, both men and women. AMP currently runs 18 well-regarded AMP regional golf tournaments throughout New Zealand. It is a past sponsor of the New Zealand Golf Open and was a presenting level sponsor at the 2007 New Zealand PGA, held at Clearwater in February. Allan Hopson, AMP Financial Services General Manager of Marketing and Strategy says the GTNZ tour will help New Zealand golfers achieve their dreams and goals. "AMP and golf have been synonymous for many years. The AMP Titirangi Open is an exciting extension of our ongoing commitment to golf." Turner said the support from AMP and Titirangi Golf Club is a real fillip for the GTNZ Tour. "AMP have been long time sponsors and supporters of golf in New Zealand and especially with the development of young talent," Turner said. "It is wonderful to have AMP involved with us — we share the same vision and look forward to working with them." "One of the key points with our Tour is to test our best players on the best courses and it's great to be playing on a course of the quality of Titirangi." There's expectation that top amateurs Danny Lee and James Gill may be able to emulate the feat of Josh Geary who won last year’s $40,000 Carrus Tauranga Open as an amateur at Tauranga Golf Club. Lee (Rotorua) became just the second 16 year old to ever win the New Zealand Amateur last week while Gill took out the strokeplay title before falling to Lee in the matchplay semifinals. Last year Geary ran away with victory over the professionals in Tauranga and has gone on to turn professional, recently qualifying for the Canadian Tour. Leading professionals include Matthew Holten, Mark Purser and Brad Shilton, who are also fighting for honours in the Michael Campbell Foundation Scholarship. Three scholarships will be awarded at the end of the GTNZ season with the recipients spending a week of personal tuition in Florida with Campbell and his coach Jonathon Yarwood. The Carrus Tauranga Open has attracted a full field of 126 amateurs and professionals including European Tour senior Jim Lapsley and fellow leading professionals Grant Moorhead, Marcus Wheelhouse and Tony Christie along with New Zealand representatives Lee, Gill, Troy Ropiha, Mark Boe, Andrew Searle and North Island champion Nick Gillespie. The tournament proper starts this Thursday with a cut to the leading 60 players plus ties for the final two rounds at the weekend. Media Enquiries: About AMP |
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