The race to qualify for the season-ending Race to Tieke field is heating up at this week’s popular Carrus Tauranga Open.

The leading 24 players on the Jennian Homes Trophy standings automatically qualify for the $100,000 Jennian Homes Charles Tour season finale in February following the final three events of the calendar year.

As the current leader, Sam Jones, and last week’s Christies Floorings Mount Open winner, Jayden Ford, are absent from the Carrus Tauranga Open this week, other players nipping at their heels have an opportunity to earn valuable points to improve their ranking.

Two players looking to do just that are Jordan Loof and Harry Bateman, who currently sit second and fourth respectively. Loof comes into this week boasting some hot form after holding the lead after the first round last week and winning the Brian Green Property Group NZ Super 6s in February.

Loof has accumulated 734.5 points in the first four events of the year and sits 130.26 points behind the leader. He says he’s eager to qualify for the Race to Tieke after winning his maiden Jennian Homes Charles Tour event earlier in the year.

“It’ll be awesome to qualify for the Race to Tieke field. I’ve just bought a house! So that’s given me something else to focus on outside of golf – I slept very well with the lead after being successful with the purchase last week.

“The prize they have for the Race to Tieke is obviously very appealing, and it’d be nice to be in the mix heading into the final event on the Jennian Homes Charles Tour. I’m looking forward to this week and I’m very happy with the position that I’m currently in.”

Unfortunately, Loof’s best finish at the Carrus Tauranga Open is a share of 13th in 2019. He is looking to change his fortunes this week as he says he loves Tauranga and Tauranga Golf Club.

Jordan Loof. Photo: Golf NZ.

“I have never played well here,” he laughs.

“My expectations for this week are low but optimistic. Sometimes when my expectations are a little lower, something good can happen. It is a great opportunity to earn some Race to Tieke points.”

After missing last week’s event due to the birth of his child, Wallace Development Hastings Open champion Bateman returns ready to earn some valuable points of his own.

The two-time Jennian Homes Charles Tour winner hasn’t played competitive golf for four months but says he comes back as refreshed as he can after a hectic past couple of weeks and sees an opportunity to take the pressure off for the remainder of the season.

“It’s great to be back. It’s unfortunate to have missed last week, but I’m looking forward to getting back into some competitive golf after a break.

“I wasn’t actually aware that Jayden and Sam weren’t playing, so it’s a great opportunity to earn some valuable points to make a dent in their lead. I won earlier this year at Hastings, so I knew I’d be somewhere up there. I’m looking forward to building on some of my great form from earlier in the year.”

Sitting on the bubble is Troy Ropiha, who will also be looking for a positive week to give himself some breathing room heading into the DVS Clearwater Open and Taranaki Open – the final two events of the regular season.

Round one gets underway today at 7.30am.