Bay of Plenty representatives and Tauranga Golf Club members Nathan Clark and Tania Ellis are heading into the BOP Open off the back of wins at the Cambridge Classic a week ago.

The pair share some exciting form going into their home Open at Whakatane Golf Club, which begins tomorrow morning, with Clark romping to a six-shot victory and Ellis shooting a blistering third-round 69 to win the women’s event by a couple.

They face similar competition over the next three days and four rounds.

Clark will need to produce more scintillating golf again to beat the likes of BOP number one Mitchell Kale, defending champion Sam Marsters, and other BOP players such as Hayden White and Jordan Golding.

Taranaki’s Jack Van Prehn and Australia’s Sam Howse are another two players who could feature late on Sunday.

Ellis will also need some of her best stuff to beat her fellow BOP teammates, New Zealand Maori Golf champion Hunter Edwards and Taylor Rose-Perrett, not to mention Espirito Santo Trophy representative Eunseo Choi, New Zealand Under 16 Girls champion Sophie Yu, and Auckland’s Rebekah Blackwell-Chin.

BOP Open Tournament Director Mike Campbell says the two strong fields set up a great spectacle.

“There are plenty of players showing promising form heading into this tournament. Whakatane Golf Club is always presented immaculately and will challenge the players every day; I look forward to seeing who prevails on Sunday afternoon.”

Tania Ellis.

The BOP Open tees off a three-week stretch of tournament golf in the Bay of Plenty with the Jennian Homes Charles Tour resuming at Mt Maunganui for the Christies Floorings Mount Open next week, and the Carrus Tauranga Open at Tauranga Golf Club the week following.

Play begins at Whakatane Golf Club for the BOP Open tomorrow at 7.30am.

BOP Men’s Open Tournament Information

BOP Women’s Open Tournament Information