New Caledonia joins Australasian PGA tour

The South Pacific Golf Open in New Caledonia has been added to the PGA Tour of Australasia tournament schedule later this year, tour officials said on Monday. The tournament will be played from September 14-17 at Tina Golf Club in Noumea, the PGA Tour of Australasia said. Officials said it would be a fully-sanctioned event and would count towards the Tour’s Order of Merit. The limited field four-round South Pacific Golf Open will have a minimum of 70 professionals playing for Aus$110,000 ($118,000) with Aus$16,500 going to the winner. The champion from the tournament will also gain a spot in the Tour’s biggest events including the Australian Open, PGA Championship, New Zealand Open and Australian Masters as well as a start in the majority of the remaining 2011 OneAsia events, the PGA said. "The elevation of this event to the PGA Tour of Australasia means a lot to us as the tournament has the support of everybody here in New Caledonia," tournament director Patrick Koch said. The par-72 Tina Golf Club is one of three 18-hole golf courses in New Caledonia.