FEATURE

Brendon McCullum leads the charge in trans-Tasman challenge

By Southern PR

Swapping bat for golf club and smashing a smaller white ball than usual, New Zealand cricket legend Brendon McCullum leads the charge at a celebrity golf challenge in Queenstown later this year.
 
The current Black Caps captain and world renowned batsman will represent New Zealand in a trans-Tasman ANZ Celebrity Challenge as part of the BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand Open.
 
The Challenge will be played concurrently with the Open, seeing a 4-man Australian celebrity team (captained by Allan Border) go head to head in match-play against the 4-man New Zealand celebrity team (captained by Stephen Fleming).
 
The ANZ Celebrity Challenge will be played over all four days of the tournament (March 10 to 13) across Millbrook, The Hills and Jack’s Point golf courses. In total, the eight players will play 16 matches to compete for the ANZ Celebrity Challenge team event between the two countries.
 


Ricky Ponting was on great form during the 2015 ANZ Challenge. Photo courtesy of Southern PR

In the New Zealand line-up with McCullum are Stephen Fleming, former AB’s Justin Marshall and Andrew Mehrtens, while Australia fields Allan Border as captain, former cricketer Ricky Ponting, actor and comedian Glenn Robbins and former New Zealand Warriors coach Ivan Cleary, all playing as amateur golfers in a ‘team versus team’ format.
 
BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand Open organising committee chairman John Hart says having this unique team event within the Open means the celebrities can entertain the crowds across all four days of play.
 
“Having a range of celebrities taking part in New Zealand’s leading golf event brings with it crowd interaction and increased television exposure,” he says.
 
“The world’s major Pro-Am events such as the Dunhill and the AT&T at Pebble Beach both include celebrities. While our team concept differs in format to those events, the entertainment factor will be huge, enjoyed by die-hard golf fans as well as those simply along for a great day out.
 
“We will still have other celebrities playing within the regular Pro-Am section of the tournament, but the ANZ Celebrity Challenge brings us something extra and quite unique, and sparks some magnificent trans-Tasman sporting rivalry.”
 
McCullum’s self-confessed love for the game saw him jump at the chance to be involved.
 

Brendon McCullum swaps one white ball for another to compete in the ANZ Celebrity Challenge. Photo © www.photosport.nz

Playing off a “handy’ handicap of 11, McCullum admits he is likely to have a few nerves ahead of what he describes as his “ultimate golfing test.”
 
“To have my swing open to analysis by thousands of golf fans is something quite new for me. I am really looking forward to being a part of the NZ Open, and to play on three of New Zealand’s finest courses – and of course the leadership that our Captain Fleming will no doubt provide!”
 
Australian team captain Allan Border is also looking forward to a return to playing in Queenstown, following his appearance in the Pro-Am section of the 2014 NZ Open.
 
“Make no mistake, the rivalry will be fierce, although as we’ve always done, the fun element will thrive,” he says.
 
Susan McGregor, ANZ’s Head of Corporate Marketing and Sponsorship, said the ANZ Celebrity Challenge will inject some highly competitive celebrity fun into the professional tournament.
 

Stephen Fleming playing in the 2015 ANZ Challenge. Photo courtesy of Southern PR

“ANZ is proud to help bring these celebrities to one of the world’s most unique National Opens. The added trans-Tasman rivalry should make for some compelling viewing and appeal to a wide audience as we also build towards the exciting introduction of golf into the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.”
 
The BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand Open is a Tier One event on the PGA Tour of Australasia, in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.  The 2016 event will be played from March 10 to March 13 at two iconic Queenstown courses, The Hills and Millbrook.
 
The BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand Open will include a traditional Pro-Am event also featuring more celebrities, who will be announced later this month.
 
For further information, latest updates and to book tickets go to www.nzopen.co.nz
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