Fiji Open Explained

The Fiji Open is a professional golf tournament played in Fiji. It was inaugurated in 1970 as a 54-hole stroke play tournament sponsored by Air New Zealand. During the first event there were 40 players.^[1] It has been a 72-hole tournament since the second edition in 1971. In 1973, a full-field of 162 players entered the tournament. As of 1976, it was the second of five events "South Pacific circuit."^[2]

Since 2015, the winner and the leading Fijian have been rewarded with entry into the Fiji International.^[3]

Winners

• 1970 Bruce Rafferty
• 1971 Frank Molloy
• 1972 Simon Owen
• 1973 Paul Shadlock^[4]
• 1974 Bob Tuohy^[5]
• 1975 Frank Phillips^{[6] [7]}
• 1976 Barry Vivian
• 1977 George Serhan^[8]
• 1978 Bill Brask^[9]
• 1979 Peter Creighton (a)^[10]
• 1980 Stuart Reese
• 1981 Alex Bonnington^[11]
• 1982 Richard Coombes
• 1983 Stuart Reese^[12]
• 1984 Mike Harwood^[13]
• 1985 Greg Turner^[14]
• 1986 Ian Stanley^{[15] [13]}
• 1987 Brett Officer^{[16] [17]}
• 1988 Jeff Woodland^[18]
• 1989 Max Stevens
• 1990 Jason Deep^[19]
• 1991 Rob Willis^[20]
• 1992 Darren Barnes^[21]
• 1993 Jeff Wagner
• 1994 Neil Kerry^[22]
• 1995 Steven Alker
• 1996 Elliot Boult
• 1997 Tony Christie
• 1998 Mukesh Chand
• 1999 Neil Kerry
• 2000 No tournament
• 2001 Neil Kerry^[23]
• 2002 Salesh Chand
• 2003 Tony Christie
• 2004 Ryan Haywood
• 2005 Marika Batibasaga (a)
• 2006 Marika Batibasaga (a)
• 2007 Tony Christie
• 2008 Brad Shilton^[24]
• 2009 Matthew Griffin^[25]
• 2010 Michael Hendry^[25]
• 2011 Nick Gillespie^[26]
• 2012 Ryan Fox^[27]
• 2013 Ryan Fox^[28]
• 2014 Matt Ballard^[29]
• 2015 Ed Steadman^[30]
• 2016 Gareth Paddison^[31]
• 2017 Kieran Muir^[32]
• 2018 Sam Lee^[33]
• 2019 Sam Lee^[34]

Source (1970–2008):^[35]

Notes and References

1. News: July 29, 1973 . Down the Fairways . 2021-02-14 . Sydney Morning Herald . 60 . Google News Archive.
2. News: 1976-12-30. New Zealand report. 27. The Honolulu Advertiser. 2021-04-01.
3. Web site: Fiji Open Championship serves as golfer's first qualifying round . The Fiji Times . 25 April 2015 . 25 June 2020.
4. News: Sports corner Golf . The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, New South Wales, Australia . 16 . 7 August 1973 . 25 June 2020 . Google News Archive.
5. News: Fiji Open to Tuohy . The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, New South Wales, Australia . 13 . 6 August 1974 . 25 June 2020 . Google News Archive.
6. Web site: August 5, 1975. Last hole open win for Frank Phillips. 2021-04-05. The Age.
7. Web site: August 5, 1975. AIR NZ OPEN. 2021-04-05. The Sydney Morning Herald.
8. News: World sport briefs . Papua New Guinea Post-Courier . 2 August 1977 . 2020-06-25 . AAP . Trove.
9. News: Sporting details Golf . The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, New South Wales, Australia . 33 . 8 August 1978 . 25 June 2020 . Google News Archive.
10. News: Amateur wins the Fiji Open . The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, New South Wales, Australia . 30 . 7 August 1979 . Newspapers.com . 25 June 2020 . subscription.
11. News: Trevor . Grant . Kiwi beats McCully charge to win PGA . The Age . Melbourne, Victoria, Australia . 30 . 19 October 1981 . Newspapers.com . 25 June 2020 . subscription.
12. News: Sport summary Golf . The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, New South Wales, Australia . 27 . 2 August 1983 . 25 June 2020 . Google News Archive.
13. News: The main contenders . The Age . Melbourne, Victoria, Australia . 2 . 12 February 1990 . Newspapers.com . 25 June 2020 . subscription.
14. News: Golf . The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, New South Wales, Australia . 52 . 7 August 1985 . 25 June 2020 . Google News Archive.
15. News: Stanley takes Fiji Open after playoff . The Age . Melbourne, Victoria, Australia . 37 . 4 August 1986 . 25 June 2020 . Google News Archive.
16. News: Fiji Open to Officer . The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, New South Wales, Australia . 44 . 4 August 1987 . Newspapers.com . 25 June 2020 . subscription.
17. News: 1987-08-04. Fiji Open to Officer. 45. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2021-04-01.
18. News: Sport summary Golf . The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, New South Wales, Australia . 39 . 2 August 1988 . 25 June 2020 . Google News Archive.
19. News: Australian Jason Deep... . The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, New South Wales, Australia . 48 . 7 August 1990 . Newspapers.com . 25 June 2020 . subscription.
20. News: Willis unlikely Fiji hero . The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, New South Wales, Australia . 44 . 11 August 1991 . Newspapers.com . 25 June 2020 . subscription.
21. News: Willis unlikely Fiji hero . The Age . Melbourne, Victoria, Australia . 32 . 27 July 1992 . Newspapers.com . 25 June 2020 . subscription.
22. News: Taking on the world . The Sydney Morning Herald . Sydney, New South Wales, Australia . 42 . 1 October 1995 . Newspapers.com . 25 June 2020 . subscription.
23. Web site: Fiji Open Tourney Tees Off Today . Fiji Sun . Anasilini . Ratuva . 6 June 2013 . 3 August 2020.
24. Web site: Shilton Wins Fiji Open . Fiji Sun . 16 June 2008 . 3 August 2020.
25. Web site: Hotshot Hend looks fabulous for Fiji . Racing Post . 1 August 2018 . 25 June 2020.
26. Web site: Maiden win for rookie golf pro Nick Gillespie . Stuff . 24 June 2011 . 25 June 2020.
27. Web site: Golf: Ryan Fox claims Fiji Open . New Zealand Herald . 12 June 2012 . 25 June 2020.
28. Web site: Fox Defends Fiji Open . Fiji Sun . 10 June 2013 . 25 June 2020.
29. Web site: Ballard Delighted . Fiji Sun . 2 June 2014 . 25 June 2020.
30. Web site: Steadman, Tuivuna In . Fiji Sun . 8 June 2015 . 25 June 2020.
31. Web site: Paddison Wins Fiji Open . Fiji Sun . 19 June 2016 . 25 June 2020.
32. Web site: Muir and Lee book Fiji International starts . Fiji International . 22 May 2017 . 25 June 2020.
33. Web site: A First! Lee Wins Fiji Open . Fiji Sun . 11 June 2018 . 25 June 2020.
34. Web site: Fiji Open: Sam Lee Retains Title . Fiji Sun . 3 June 2019 . 25 June 2020.
35. Vodafone Fiji Open 2009 . Yumpu.