The Australasian and Japan golf tours will partner for the first time for a new event in New Zealand next year.
The ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship will take place on March 5-8 at the Royal Auckland and Grange Golf Club.
The $1.2m event will be co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and the Japan Golf Tour Organisation.
“This tournament represents an exciting new chapter for golf in our part of the world,” PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman said.
“Partnering with the Japan Golf Tour for the first time is a tremendous opportunity to strengthen ties between our tours and provide our players with a truly international stage.
“New Zealand has a rich golfing heritage, and bringing tournament golf back to Auckland is something we’re immensely proud to support.”
JGTO chairman and chief executive Yutaka Morohoshi said: “The Japan Golf Tour is delighted to work hand-in-hand with our friends at the PGA Tour of Australasia on this groundbreaking event.
“We’re extremely grateful that ISPS Handa has extended the great support it provides our tour in Japan, into the Australasian region.”
The event will be part of a three-week swing of professional golf in the Shaky Isles that also includes the New Zealand PGA Championship (Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club, February 19-22) and the New Zealand Open (Millbrook Resort, February 26-March 1).
The PGA Tour of Australasia continues next month at the Royal Fremantle Golf Club with the January 8-11 Webex Players Series Perth event.
Following last week’s Victorian PGA, which was won by Marc Leishman, Queenslander Christopher Wood leads the PGA Tour of Australasia order of merit ahead of nearest rivals Leishman and James Marchesani.
Marco MonteverdeSports reporter
AloJapan.com