The Fiji International presents a huge opportunity for young professional golfers when it tees off at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course from 17-20 August.
Tri-sanctioned by the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, Asian Tour and European Tour, the AU$1.5million tournament can launch a young player’s career.
The winner of the tournament will earn full status on the European Tour, one of the most distinguished Tours in the world, until the end of 2018. This provides the champion the opportunity to play every week in Europe among some of the best players in the world.
Three young players who are tipped to play well on this big stage are…
Dimitrios Papadatos
From New South Wales in Australia, Dimitrios Papadatos turned Professional in 2013 and made an immediate impact on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia by winning Qualifying School. Dimi won his first tournament in 2014 at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open and since then has competed on the European Tour last year. 2017 is turning into a career year for Dimi who has already won twice this season at the Victorian Open and Western Australian PGA Championship. Competing on the European Challenge Tour this year, a win at the Fiji International would install Dimi back on the European Tour. However, Dimi will need to conquer the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course first; it hasn’t been a particularly successful layout for the 26-year-old whose previous best finish at the Fiji International has been a tied 21st in 2014. Vijay Singh’s redesign will be welcomed by this player.
Jordan Zunic
Another young New South Welshman, Jordan Zunic turned Professional in 2015 and won the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open in just his third tournament in the play for pay ranks. Proving that he wasn’t a one win wonder, Jordan was crowned the inaugural champion at the Northern Territory PGA Championship in 2016. This year Jordan has been competing on the European Challenge Tour with his best result being a tied 5th at the Swiss Challenge. Jordan has played the Fiji International only once, in 2015, and missed the cut. While he doesn’t have a lot of course knowledge, it won’t be a disadvantage as all players will compete on the re-designed Natadola Bay layout for the first time this year.
Todd Sinnott
From Victoria, Todd Sinnott turned Professional in 2015 after a distinguished amateur career where he made a name for himself after leading the 2014 Australian Masters and Australian Open at points. What is most eye catching about Todd’s game is his big hitting abilities which will make the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course play much shorter. Since turning Pro, Todd’s best finish on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia has been a tied 6th at the 2016 Northern Territory PGA Championship but on the Asian Tour he is a champion. He comes into the Fiji International in winning form after he claimed the Myanmar Open in January.