Thursday 7 February 2012

Women’s Open tees off tomorrow

The country’s premier women’s golf tournament tees off in Christchurch tomorrow, with a star-studded line up competing for top spot.

The ISPS Handa NZ Open, being held at Clearwater Golf Club from 8 – 10 February, is the most lucrative women’s sporting event in the country. It has attracted all four former champions of the event: Frenchwoman Gwladys Nocera (2009); England’s Laura Davies (2010) and Australians Kristie Smith (2011) and Lindsey Wright (2012), who will be up against the World No.1 amateur, New Zealand’s own Lydia Ko.

Mayor Bob Parker says holding both the Men’s and Women’s Opens annually is a real coup for the city. This is the fifth consecutive year the Women’s Open has been held in Christchurch.

“The tournament this weekend is another opportunity to showcase all Christchurch has to offer to the many visitors that will travel here to see the action. I know our city’s residents will give a warm welcome to those that come, all of whom are making a positive contribution to Christchurch’s economy.”

Christchurch ratepayers and their guests are eligible for half-price passes to attend the tournament. To receive the discount they should take along the 50 per cent discount pass mailed out with the recent rates demand, and their rates bill, when purchasing tickets at the gate.

Those who attend will be on course to win a night for two at the Heritage Hotel in Hanmer Springs, full breakfast, massage and entry to the Hanmer Thermal Reserve pools. The drive there will be courtesy of a Hertz rental car and the winner can pop their brand new set of $2,700 Cleveland golf clubs in the boot.

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Scoop Business: Bathurst Gets Nod For DoC Access To Denniston Mine

Conservation Minister Nick Smith has approved access over conservation estate land for Bathurst Resources to develop an open cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau, above Westport, to the dismay of environmental opponents.

The timing for Smith’s move avoids Bathurst having to resubmit applications for access agreements under the revised Crown Minerals Act, which comes into force tomorrow and would have required public consultation.

The announcement lands in the middle of delicate negotiations between the company, environmental groups and other interested parties that could pave the way to a broader agreement on the Escarpment proposal, whose resource consents are still subject to court appeals. More>>