Tipster: Stanley

ANZ Championship

Outright plays (1.5pts):

Craig Parry to win 33/1 e.w. @ SkyBet, Victor Chandler and Paddy Power
Parry disappointed when finishing 32nd as a selection for the Heineken Classic last week, but I suppose it was his first start of the season and he may have been a little ring-rusty. This week he can drive to the course from his home in Sydney and that has to be an advantage. He also has a decent record in this format, having finished 2nd two years ago at The Lakes, also near to his home. So there is good reason to expect a much better performance this week.

Nick O'Hern to win 33/1 e.w. @ SkyBet and Victor Chandler
Parry finished 2nd in this format two years ago and O'Hern finished 2nd last year. He was also 11th two years ago as well to confirm his liking for this format/event. Like Parry, he has started 2004 slowly, but he has improved in each of his events so far and finished 16th last week. Not the best player at closing out for the win, but he should be in contention on Sunday.

Peter Fowler to win 40/1 e.w. @ Stan James
Fowler is a good player for outrights. It might be a few years since his last win, but he tends to finish well out of contention or in the top-10. In the last year, he has played 29 times, finishing in the top-10 on 9 occasions, but between 11th and 20th only once. He ended his 2003 season with back-to-back top-10 finishes and finished 3rd last week. Buoyed by an 11th place finish in this format last year, he should certainly fancy his chances of securing another high finish this week.

Final update: 0-3; -4.50 pts

Parry 49th
O'Hern 6th
Fowler 8th

Yet another sickener! O'Hern had been the first round leader and and encouraging stayed in the top-two throughout the event before taking the lead on the front nine in the final round. But he shoots 3-over-par to surrender not only the lead, but also a top-5 place! Fowler hung around the top-10 all weekend, but couldn't get in the top-5. Another no return from a promising event.