The New Zealand Open will be co-sanctioned by the Australasian Tour and the USPGA Tour’s Nationwide Tour for at least the next two years after cutting ties with the European Tour.

Ricky Barnes brushed aside early fears over disqualification to surge up the leaderboard and into contention for his first professional title at the ANZ Championship today.

COLIN MONTGOMERIE is among a number of male golfers expressing doubts about the increasing amount of lady golfers playing at the men’s tournaments.