Allenby and Lonard return for tournament

The Oates Vic Open, the only golf tournament world-wide that sees men and women battle it out for equal prize money, returns to Barwon Heads next month.

Teeing off February 1 both sexes compete on the same course, at the same time with the male and female winner’s splitting the $1.3 million dollar reward.

Two of Australia’s most decorated golfers, Robert Allenby and Peter Lonard, return to the 2018 competition, adding further depth to the men’s field, which includes the last five male champions and the biggest names from the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia.

This will be the second year running Victorian Allenby competes at 13th Beach Golf Links hoping to claim another Oates Vic Open crown.

For Lonard (nine-time winner on the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia) this will be the first time since 2015, having spent the past few years in the US.

“I think the Vic Open where the girls play and the boys play together is a good concept, it makes sense to me,” Lonard said.

“I think putting everyone together and perhaps appealing to a wider range of people is a great idea. For me it’s really interesting to see the way the girls practice, the way they approach the game.”

Lonard said throughout his career his best golf has been played on firmer, bouncier courses with wind, which this course delivers.

“It just suits the way I like to fly the ball. I think the 13th Beach sets up really well and it’s a really good test of golf, particularly when the wind blows,” he said.

Allenby remains the only male amateur winner in the tournaments history after his triumph at Woodlands Golf Club as a 20-year-old, going on to secure 13 career victories on the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia.

For more information on the coming Oates Vic Open tournament, head to vicopengolf.com.