Canon Challenge preview & plays
For the 2nd year, the Canon Challenge is held at Castle Hill, having previously been held at Terrey Hills. As the course compatibility stats show, it is a very different proposition to The Grange and last week's New Zealand Open. Whereas accuracy was paramount last week, it was the powerful Paul Gow, Scott Laycock, Brett Rumford and Geoff Ogilvy who came to the fore. This is a course that can be attacked with a number of short par-fours where the reward for attacking golf is a reachable green; though there are penalties for a missed target and the lay-up areas may ultimately be not such a bad option as the greens are said to be softer than usual for an Australasian Tour event.
The defending champion, Paul Gow, is in the field, but having missed two cuts in two weeks on the PGA Tour is hardly good value. Nor is Aaron Baddeley who is a single-figure favorite and has been working on swing changes since the start of the year. Instead, the outright plays will be Peter Lonard, Peter O'Malley and Steven Conran. The two stalwarts, Lonard and O'Malley, do not fit the bill of long-hitters, but if the greens are indeed soft this week, then experience and 100-yard 2nd shots may be the best strategy for the week. Indeed, both finished in the top-10 last year, so their games are not that incompatible. Lonard was dominant at the Ford Open in December and is justifiably one of the more favored players this week.
O'Malley is one of those frustrating players who always contends but hardly ever wins. In the last three years he has finished in the top-5 of 11% of tournaments entered, but has won only once, the Canon Challenge in 1998 at Terrey Hills. Returning to an event that he has won will hopefully increase his chances of converting good form into at least a place finish. Last year he was 6th and disappointed over the weekend to finish 12th last week when he had been 2nd after 36 holes; he will be looking to make amends this week.
The 3rd choice is Steven Conran, who like the others finished in the top-10 last year. This is his first start of 2001, but after his excellent 2nd behind Robert Allenby in the Australian PGA in December he will be high on confidence. With Surrey going as low as 33/1, it is indicative of the respect that he should have this week, so the William Hill offering is definitely good value, especially the week after a 100/1 shot won the New Zealand Open
Outright plays:
Peter Lonard to win 20/1 e/w @
William Hill
Peter O'Malley to win 20/1 e/w @
First Stake [or
DAS]
Steven Conran to win 80/1 e/w @
William Hill
72-hole plays:
Steve Alker to beat David Podlich -111 @
Centrebet
Expect Alker to build on last week's 2nd place and continue the renewed form he found on the Canadian Tour where he was a double-winner last year
Nick O'Hern to beat Aaron Baddeley -125 @
Centrebet
First-time outing for Baddeley which will used be used as a testing ground for his swing changes; expect a much stronger performance from O'Hern who was very impressive at the World Matchplay and did finish 3rd on this course last year
