World No.1 Amateur Lydia Ko is the leading player in the nine amateurs named to contest the ISPS Handa NZ Women’s Open hosted by Christchurch from February 17 – 19.

Seven New Zealand golfers and two Australian golfers will play in the national open next week with an additional four places available at Final Qualifying on Monday February 13 at the Russley Golf Club in Christchurch.

Ko, who recently became the youngest winner of a professional golf tournament, leads the Kiwi challenge and is joined by World No.3 Cecilia Cho, Emily Perry, Chantelle Cassidy, Sarah Bradley, Zoe Brake and Julianne Alvarez.

Two Australian golfers Whitney Hillier and Grace Lennon have been invited to play in the tournament meaning that a minimum of nine golfers will contest the Bessie Fullerton-Smith trophy for leading amateur.

New Zealand Golf Talent and Coach Development Manager Gregg Thorpe believed the ISPS Handa NZ Women’s Open hosted by Christchurch provides the country’s leading amateurs a rare opportunity to play in a professional event.

“It is two things; firstly it is the opportunity for the players to test themselves in the pro-environment that is a big step up in from the level they have been playing at as amateurs at the national or international level,” said Thorpe.

“Secondly the timing is ideal for the New Zealand Golf selectors who will get the opportunity to see how a large group of amateurs handle this level of competition with the selection for the Espirito Santo team later in the year in the back of their minds.”