The 2014 Oates Victorian Open will be a mixed affair, as the PGA tour of Australia meets the ALPG Tour down at the 13th Beach Golf Links in Geelong.
Nineteen Western Australians will make the start as the opening two rounds are spread over the beach and creek course.
Royal Fremantle Amateur Minjee Lee headlines the WA charge. Despite holding the ‘amateur’ tagline next to her name, Lee is being regarded as anything but after leading late into the ISPS Handa Australian Open and finishing as a runner-up at the Australian Ladies Masters.
With a 5th place finish at the NSW Open earlier in the year to her name, Lee will start as one of the hot favourites to take the title alongside defending champion Stacey Keating of Victoria.
Melbourne based Korean Jin Jeong is heavily favoured in the Men’s event after securing a qualification spot for the British Open two weeks ago in South Africa. The 2013 ISPS Handa Perth International Champion is now a European Tour regular, but will have to compete with WA’s Brody Ninyette, third at the Perth International, Scott Strange, Matt Jager and Stephen Dartnall if he is to take home his state title.
After a blistering start to 2014, amateurs Curtis Luck and Jarryd Felton will look to turn heads on the professional circuit. Felton is coming off two straight national victories at the NSW Amateur and the Tasmanian Open, while Luck earned qualification for the Victorian Open with his Victorian Junior Masters win earlier in the year, which he then followed up by finishing as a finalist at the Australian Amateur.
Round 1 Draw
WA Representatives
Men’s
Jarryd Felton (am), Curtis Luck (am), Stephen Dartnall, Scott Strange, Brody Ninyette, Daniel Fox, Jason Scrivener, Kim Felton, MIchael Sim, Stephen Leaney, Matt Jager.
Women’s
Minjee Lee (am), Hannah Greem (am), Hayley Bettencourt (am), Nadine Smith (am), Whitney Hillier, Kristie Smith, Bree Turnbull, Jessica Speechley.
