A new naming rights partner and more access to all the action on New Zealand’s domestic professional golf tour through highlights packages available on Sky Sport means Aotearoa’s top professionals and leading amateurs will have a bigger stage than ever to showcase their talent.

The season opener begins another campaign on the country’s premier domestic circuit, with players chasing early momentum in the Order of Merit while fans around the country are given a closer look at the depth of talent competing on home soil.

The Brian Green Property Group NZ Super 6s, held at Manawatu Golf Club, sees a unique opportunity for the country’s professional and elite amateurs to shine across 54 holes of Stroke Play, qualifying them for Sunday’s Super 6s six-hole matches, where the winner will advance after each round until a final pair battle for the title.

Past champions include Daniel Hillier, victorious in 2020 on his way to the Charles Tour Order of Merit title, who has since gone on to DP World Tour success and his recent triumph at the 105th New Zealand Open.

Tyler Hodge tasted Super 6s victory in 2024 and then went on to win the 2025 New Zealand PGA Championship.

Defending champion Jake Meenhorst heads to the Super 6s following a stern three-week test of elite professional events across the New Zealand PGA Championship, New Zealand Open and ISPS Handa Japan-Australasia Championship.

While his final leaderboard positions were not as high as he’d have hoped heading into the swing of events, he says the valuable experience of playing a demanding stretch of events with elite fields cannot be understated.

“The preparation was good, but at the bigger events, you get found out pretty easily if you’ve got a few weaknesses going on. I had a couple of them, and they showed. It was a bit of a shame, but it’s good to have those experiences, and then you know what you need to keep working on, and you’ve just got to keep cracking away at it.”

With those areas to work on identified, Meenhorst says the beginning of the Summerset Charles Tour season presents an opportunity to put the work into practice in a more comfortable yet competitive setting.

“There’s always a few areas that under the pump it’s hard to pull off certain shots, so it’s nice to have the Charles Tour events that come along every month or so that you definitely feel a little more comfortable in those, but still, on a Sunday, Charles Tour in contention you still feel it like you do at those big New Zealand competitions.

“It’s good to try and knuckle down and hit the shot you intend to, rather than shying away from the big moment.”

With Summerset Charles Tour coverage returning to Sky Sport, Meenhorst says it’s encouraging to see increased exposure for professional golf in New Zealand.

“It’s pretty awesome to see a bit of development, and I guess a bit more exposure for us players, and even just having golf in New Zealand in the last few weeks [on television] it brought more crowds out, and I feel like it will continue for Charles Tours, a lot of locals at these courses get behind it.”

RIGHT: Jake Meenhorst with the spoils in Manawatu. PHOTO: BW Media.

Meenhorst faces a stern test at Manawatu Golf Club, where in-form Kerry Mountcastle is chasing another strong result at home after top-five finishes at both the New Zealand Open and New Zealand PGA Championship. HotelPlanner Tour player Sam Jones will also be hungry for a victory before heading back to the European circuit. With the likes of Jayden Ford and Hodge also in the mix, the Super 6s format on Sunday promises to deliver plenty for those in attendance.

Returning to a tournament as a defending champion is something Meenhorst says he doesn’t usually let affect his preparation or approach, particularly in a Super 6s format, as once the Stroke Play holes are concluded, the matches can be won or lost by one lucky break or false shot.

Seeded 19 of 24 at last year’s Brian Green Property Group Super 6s, Meenhorst advanced to the knockout Stroke Play matches and, across a gruelling 30 holes, defeated Nathan Clark, Ford (2024 runner-up), James Hydes, Hodge (2024 champion), and Dominic Brettkelly in a statement performance.

He says the format affords every player an equal opportunity to deliver a standout performance on Sunday and claim the title.

“We pros don’t often get to play anything other than Stroke Play, so it’s cool to have some dog fight tussles one-on-one.