Tipster: Stanley

ANZ Championship

Matchup plays (1.5pts unless stated):

Peter O'Malley to beat Scott Gardiner -111 @ Stan James [3 pts]
This might not be the format to suit the 'fairways-and-greens' O'Malley, but he has finished ahead of Gardiner in both of the events in Australasia this year bring the total of top-15 finishes in this region to five in his last six starts. On only one of those occasions has Gardiner finished ahead of O'Malley, so despite the format, this should be a win for the senior player.

Jarrod Moseley to beat Gareth Paddison -120 @ William Hill and Easybets [3 pts]
Paddison looks in good form having won the Victorian Open on the Von Nida Tour three weeks ago and finishing 7th in the Heineken Classic last week, but he may find it difficult to lift himself after being the forgotten man of the final round group that included Els and Scott on Sunday. Moseley is a much better player with a 3-1-0 h2h lead on this Tour over the past three months and class should prevail.

Craig Parry to beat Raphael Jacquelin -110 @ Bet365
Opposed Jacquelin last week because of his poor record in Australia and he continued it with a withdrawal after an opening 75 last week. No qualms about opposing him again, particularly with an outright selection.
(also available at Expekt)

Wade Ormsby to beat Hennie Otto -125 @ Five Dimes
Did start the season by backing Otto on a couple of occasions, but he certainly merits opposition now. After finishing 16th in his opening event of the season, he has since finished 64th, mc and mc. He has played in Australia three times and missed the cut every time. Straightforward match with Ormsby having played on this Tour in the 2002 New South Wales Open (he finished 37th) and looking to be one of the best rookies on the European Tour this season.

Adding (3 units):

Paul Casey to beat Michael Campbell +103 @ Pinnacle
This line has moved eleven cents in the last 24 hours and after just thinking about it yesterday, I'll wade in today. Pinnacle are the only ones (of 19) to favour Campbell; most have this matchup at pick'em or with Casey the favourite. While Cambo was obviously less affected last week by his operation on his legs than expected, his form and health are still questionable and it is notable that he had previously skipped this event and its stableford format. It is very well-suited to Casey's attacking style and at this price, he is worthy of attention.
(available generally)

Final update: 2-3-0; -4.07 pts

O'Malley/Gardiner LOST by 8
Moseley/Paddison LOST by 17
Parry/Jacquelin WON by 3
Ormsby/Otto LOST by 1
Casey/Campbell WON by 9

Poor result. Successfully opposed Otto who missed the cut, but didn't expect Ormsby to do the same. Sums up this event.

Tipster: Shaker

ANZ Championship

Matchup plays (1.5pts unless stated):

Greg Owen to beat Barry Lane -111 @ Stan James [3 pts]
Owen had almost twice as many top twenties as Lane last year and is a player on an upward curve in my opinion. I wouldn't put Lane in anywhere near the same class and although he's played steadily enough so far in 2004 there's little to suggest this week will be a good one. Owen's T7th last week was comfortably ahead of Lane and looks capable of a level of performance this week that is beyond his fellow Englishman.

Gary Evans to beat Miles Tunnicliff -111 Stan James [3 pts]
A very strange matchup by Stan James here. Evans is capable of a very high level of form, while Tunnicliff is the proverbial journeyman - I mean, Evans had 8 top tens in 2003, Tunnicliff's best finish didn't even break the top 15!. Evans plays in Australia regularly while Tunnicliff hasn't since 1998, apart from last week when his score, which was a regression from his two 2004-opening tournaments in which he excelled himself, was topped by Evans despite him coming off a season-opening MC. Surely Evans is the one to go on and progress this week.

Final update (Shaker): 1-1-0; -0.33 units

Owen/Lane LOST by 9 (pts)
Evans/Tunnicliff WON (Tunnicliff MC)

Owen had got his head in front with one round to go but disappointed badly and Lane's top 20 was enough to beat us.