A RECORD 244 golfers will take to the course for this weekend’s Mildura Open.
The huge field of entries likely stems from extra players using the course across the summer in the wake of closures at the Riverside, Coomealla and Wentworth clubs due to flooding.
Mildura Golf Resort general manager Nick Cavallo said strategies have been put in place over recent months to welcome as many players as possible.
“We absolutely appreciate everyone’s support for the weekend and look forward to having record entries around the course,” he said.”It’s been prepared well and is in excellent condition.
“No doubt the extra numbers this year have come from the fact a lot more golfers have been using the course due to flooding.
“We’ve set some things in place to be able to accommodate for the extra numbers over the last few months and allow as many people as possible to come in and play a good round of golf.
“We’ve had our own challenges with pumps being under water and the like but obviously we managed to escape more of the flooding.”
The event, played across Saturday and Sunday, is the first Open on the Murray Darling Golf Association calendar for 2023.
Ashley Whitehouse is the defending men’s champion, capturing his sixth crown in 2022 after leading Greg Rhodes home by three strokes.
Rising star Madeline Jukes also claimed her first open title after strolling home to a 15-shot victory after posting rounds of 73 and 82 as an 18-year-old.
