Like Geoff Ogilvy and Braith Anasta at Victoria and Sydney respectively, Peter O’Malley and Jan Stephenson jointly play hosts to Australia’s best players at Cypress Lakes this week, with the TPS concept seeing men and women compete for the same trophy and juniors joining the field on Sunday. The junior boys and girls playing for their own trophy over 18 holes due to the shortening of the main event.

The newest addition to The Players Series calendar, the Hunter Valley event is the fourth of the year, with each of the tournaments now offering $200,000 prizemoney. This week's event getting underway on Friday rather than Thursday following the deluge of rain on the east coast of Australia over the past two weeks.

The brainchild of Nick Dastey and Kim Felton of the PGA Tour of Australasia, the concept has been a success since its inception in early 2021 and despite heavy rain last week at Bonnie Doon was popular once again with the players and crowds alike.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Inaugural event.

COURSE: Located in the golf and wine rich Hunter Valley region of New South Wales near Newcastle, Cypress Lakes Golf & Country Club is a well-established destination for travelling golfers and welcomes its biggest tournament this week.

RIGHT: Jarryd Felton won the TPS Sydney last week at Bonnie Doon after it was reduced to 54 holes. PHOTO: PGA of Australia/Brett Costello.

Ranked No.66 in Australia’s Top-100 Public Courses for 2021 by Golf Australia magazine, the par-72 measuring 6,467 metres was designed by American Steve Smyers and opened for play in 1992.

As one might suspect from its name, Cypress Lakes brings water into play throughout the round with Smyers’ design putting a premium on strategic golf that is at times played alongside neighbouring vineyards, including the Brokenwood winery that sits nearby the 2nd hole.

The front nine is more open with rolling terrain, whereas the inward half is more heavily tree-lined and plays out over the more dramatic terrain of the property.

After an ownership change in 2013, with the resort now known as Oaks Cypress Lakes Resort (twice named Australia’s Best Golf Hotel), this publication’s Brendan James recently wrote of the playing conditions as the best he has seen them during regular visits over Cypress Lakes’ 30 years. However, the heavy rain that has pummelled the eastern seaboard has left the greenkeeping staff with plenty to do ahead of this week, with mowers not able to make their way on course early in the week and the practice rounds and pro-am cancelled.

Formerly the 1st hole, the uphill par-5 14th left of the clubhouse and played over water is a hole many visitors will remember and should offer birdie chances for the field this week, while the split fairway penultimate hole (pictured above) could play a crucial role in the outcome with options off the tee and a bunkerless green.

PRIZEMONEY: $200,000

RELATED: So-called expert golf tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The winner in the rain shortened Sydney event, Jarryd Felton, is clearly comfortable playing in adverse conditions and on a heavy track. And has form on his side to boot.

Felton has been working hard at his game after struggling during the early days of Covid and working with a “team” that has him back playing the golf that has seen him win three times on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

David Micheluzzi was in the hunt last week and is one to watch again in the Hunter Valley. PHOTO: PGA of Australia/Brett Costello.

The birdie on the first play-off hole to defeat Brendan Jones last week showed off Felton’s competitive fire and ability to hold his nerve under pressure and if he gets another sniff this week he is a proven winner.

Another of the players who was in the mix last week after three rounds and wasn’t afforded the chance to make up ground on the leaders on Sunday, Brady Watt was a winner not long ago at the Sandbelt Invitational and with the strategic qualities of Bonnie Doon his third place finish last week was no surprise.

Watt will relish the chance to once again plot his way around Cypress Lakes this week, and is another that handles changing conditions well.

David Micheluzzi has quietly put together a very solid summer of golf at home, the Victorian finishing inside the top-20 six consecutive times in 2022, including a sixth place last week at Bonnie Doon.

A former amateur star, Micheluzzi is yet to win as a pro and currently in 10th spot on the Order of Merit would need a tremendous run home to claim an unlikely DP World Tour card via the list.

Yet again Grace Kim makes the list of players to watch after an immensely successful summer at home, where she has found herself in the mix seemingly every time she tees it up.

The Sydneysider shared sixth with Micheluzzi last week and got better with every round and was just four shots out of the play-off.

Kim is an exceptionally straight driver of the golf ball and showed off her other skills recently at The Athena and Cypress Lakes should suit this week, however the course will play long due to the recent heavy rain.

The next best of the WPGA players at TPS Sydney, Cassie Porter is another young player on the rise and has not missed the top-10 in any four round event so far this year.

Grace Kim has continued to impress over the summer of golf. PHOTO: PGA of Australia/Brett Costello.

Hailing from Queensland, Porter was T8 last week and shared fourth behind Hannah Green at the recent Vic Open.

Porter is taking to the pro game very well and with upcoming Ladies European Tour co-sanctioned events in New South Wales will be hoping she can turn her recent good play into some status overseas.

Among the group who had good rounds of golf going last Sunday before the weather cancelled the final round, Anthony Quayle, Jordan Zunic and Hanee Song are all ones to keep an eye on this week. The trio a little poorer in the hip pocket than they would have been if the tournament was able to be completed and with perhaps a little extra fire in the belly this week.

Another player worth looking out for, England’s Charlotte Thomas has finished T10, 14th, 11th, 5th and T15 in her last five starts and one suspects with her background won’t be too phased by the less than ideal predicted weather.

72-HOLE RECORD: 264 (-20, Todd Sinnott (Victoria) & Hannah Green (Murray River), 2022)

18-HOLE RECORD: 61 (Andrew Martin, 2021)

TV TIMES*
Round 2: Saturday (Fox Sports 503 2:30pm – 5:30pm)
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 503 12:30pm – 5:30pm)
*AEDT, check local guides