Papua New Guinea Open Explained

PNG Open
Location:Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Establishment:1977
Course:Royal Port Moresby Golf Club
Par:72
Yardage:6947yd
Tour:PGA Tour of Australasia
Format:Stroke play
Month Played:August
Aggregate:265 Daniel Gale (2018)
To-Par:−23 as above
Current Champion: William Bruyeres
Coordinates:-9.422°N 147.192°W
Map:Papua New Guinea
Map Label:Royal Port Moresby GC
Map Relief:yes
Map Size:200

The Papua New Guinea Open is a golf tournament on the PGA Tour of Australasia. The event is held at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It has been a tour event since 2016. Total prize money was A$140,000 in 2016, rising to $142,000 in 2017, $145,000 in 2018 and $150,000 in 2019. The 2019 winner was Peter Cooke who won by 2 strokes.

History

In 1978, Papua New Guinea joined the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation with the intention of adding the Papua New Guinea Open to the Asia Golf Circuit,[1] but attempts were ultimately aborted.[2] [3] That year, the PNG Open had a field of 144 competitors, including 40 professionals, 37 of whom were from Australia.[4]

After a three-year hiatus from 2020 to 2022, the tournament returned in 2023, featuring as the season-opening event on the 2023–24 PGA Tour of Australasia season.[5]

Tournament conditions

In September 2024, an article was released by Monday Q Info, outlining the extremities of the conditions that the players have participated in Papua New Guinea during the PNG Open. It had been noted that the course had been fenced off and guarded by corrupt security guards, as well as caddies being paid $20 a day; with reports suggesting that many players experienced theft of personal items from some caddies during tournaments.[6]

The tournament in recent years has also invited the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape to participate in the tournament.[7]

Winners

Year Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
PNG Open
271 −17 2 strokes James Conran
274 −14 4 strokes Jack Murdoch
2021–22: No tournament
SP Export PNG Golf Open
Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic[8]
SP PNG Golf Open
270 −18 2 strokes
265 −23 9 strokes
SP Brewery PNG Golf Open
278 −10 Playoff
South Pacific Export Radler PNG Open
277 −11 Playoff
Prior to PGA Tour of Australasia sanctioningThis list is incomplete

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Asian circuit expands . The Straits Times . Singapore . 20 March 1978 . 22 . National Library Board . 20 February 2020.
  2. News: PNG golfers enter big league . . Papua New Guinea . 12 April 1978 . 20 February 2020 . 40 . Trove.
  3. News: PNG pull out from circuit . The Straits Times . Singapore . 18 October 1980 . 37 . National Library Board . 20 February 2020.
  4. News: 1978-09-13. 40 professionals enter PNG Open. 38. Papua New Guinea Post-Courier (Port Moresby : 1969 - 1981). 2020-11-21.
  5. Web site: PNG Open returns to kick off 2023 season . PGA of Australia . Australian Golf Media . 24 April 2023 . 25 April 2023.
  6. Web site: A Game of Risk and Reward . Monday Q Info . Ryan . French . 8 September 2024 . 13 September 2024.
  7. News: First PNG Open in four years features local talent and Prime Minister James Marape on the tee . ABC Sport . Richard . Ewart . 4 May 2023 . 13 September 2024.
  8. Web site: Morobe and PNG Opens cancelled due to COVID-19 . PGA of Australia . 17 July 2020.
  9. News: Consistency gives Taylor golf victory . . Papua New Guinea . 21 September 1979 . 12 February 2020 . 62 . Trove .
  10. News: Six-stroke victory . . Papua New Guinea . 18 September 1978 . 12 February 2020 . 35 . Trove .
  11. News: Ball fights off pain to win first PNG Open . . Papua New Guinea . 15 June 1977 . 12 February 2020 . 31 . Trove .