Kiwi writer, Greg Ford of the Press gives us an update of an important fundraiser to aid recovery from Christchurch quake disaster:
” Fat wallets with big hearts have arrived in Christchurch.
“The New Zealand Golf Open tees off at Clearwater Golf Club today featuring a heavyweight trio with combined career earnings of well over $20 million in Kiwi Michael Campbell and Australians Craig Parry and Peter O’Malley.
Michael Campbell playing well in Christchurch quake fundraiser
“All three fronted the media yesterday and said they were here to play “not for the money” but to “give” back to Christchurch.
“Campbell, a former US Open winner, said: “Financially I’m very comfortable and I’m not here for the money.
“‘I have no idea how much we are playing for this week and I don’t really care. All I want to do is hold that silverware. I am here to support the event and support Christchurch. I signed up as soon as I knew the tournament would be here.’
“The Open is the first truly international sporting fixture to be played in sports-starved Christchurch since February’s earthquake.
“There’s a $500,000 purse up for grabs, about 20 per cent of which goes to the winner.
“While the strength of the field is inferior to previous years, O’Malley and Parry who have both won high-profile tournaments here, in Australia and the United States, said golfers had flocked to play in Queensland after their devastating floods to ensure top-level golf thrived in the area, and they were determined to play in Christchurch for the same reasons.
“At the other end of the pay scale, rookie professionals and amateurs sense an opportunity to claim a national open, with three resorting to sleeping Wednesday night on the Clearwater club’s restaurant floor.
“Australasian PGA tournament director Simon Butterly said the players were caught short at the last minute and had since found beds, while Japan’s Ryukoh Kanazawa fell on his feet when a Clearwater resident with an “Aston Martin and Porsche” in his garage came to the rescue and provided him with a bed.
“The tournament proper starts today. ”
Thanks to The Press and writer Greg Ford. Great Photo of Michael Campbell by Iain McGregor of Fairfax Media
