Last year’s tournament, won by Lachlan Barker, marked a successful return of professional golf in Papua New Guinea after complications with Covid-19 saw three years go by without a PNG Open being staged.

Barker is back to defend his title after last year’s four-stroke victory provided the perfect start to his second year on tour, giving him the confidence to know he belongs.

“I’d say the first year I always felt on edge in my rookie season,” Barker reflected in an interview earlier this year.

“I suppose even if I was playing well and my game was great, I still felt like I was on edge and not that comfortable.

“So first event of the season. Papua New Guinea. Win. I just felt a lot more settled … and it’s allowed me to know that when I’m hitting it well I’ll play better.”

Joining Barker is 2019 PNG Open winner Peter Cooke, who used his driving accuracy on the tight fairways of Royal Port Moresby to claim the title five years ago.

Another player looking to use his experience in PNG to his advantage this week is Brett Rankin, who won the 2019 Morobe Open at Lae Golf Club, and was runner-up in the 2017 PNG Open.

While prior experience is a huge bonus in the hot conditions, a strong group of young players are out to follow in Barker’s footsteps and notch their first career win at Port Moresby.

Josh Greer, Max Charles, Jye Pickin, and Jack Buchanan are just some of the next wave looking to make on early splash.

Players will be competing for $200,000 prize fund, and to get an early advantage on the Order of Merit standings.

HOW TO FOLLOW

For live scoring and the latest news visit www.pga.org.au.

Exclusive content and tournament updates will also be posted regularly on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia’s social media channels.

Instagram: @pgatouraus

Twitter: @PGAofAustralia

Facebook: @PGAofAustralia, @PGATourAus

Official hashtags: #PNGOpen #ChaseIsOn

FORMER CHAMPIONS

2023: Lachlan Barker

2022-2020: No tournament

2019: Peter Cooke

2018: Daniel Gale

2017: Cory Crawford

2016: Brad Moules

COURSE RECORD

61, Daniel Gale: 2018

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Lachlan Barker: 2023 PNG Open winner

Austin Bautista: 2023 Webex Players Series South Australia winner

Andrew Campbell: 14th on last season’s Order of Merit

Brett Rankin: 2019 Morobe Open and NT PGA Championship winner

Peter Cooke: 2019 PNG Open winner

Nathan Barbieri: 2024 Qualifying School winner

Louis Dobbelaar: 2023 NZ PGA Championship winner

Joshua Greer: Hunting his first win after a strong first Tour season