Knee back on track, Parry ready for Moonah Classic

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Craig Parry is anxious to play the Moonah Classic after an injury prevented him from playing in it last year.

FINGAL, Victoria, Australia -- Australian Craig Parry can say without doubt that his campaign to snare the Moonah Classic trophy will be more successful than last year as he enters this month's tournament fully fit and injury free.

Primed to contest the inaugural Moonah Classic last year just weeks after his victory at the 2007 Australian Open, Parry succumbed to an injury that forced him to withdraw just days before the event, railroading his plans for the start of the 2008 season.

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The good news this time around for one of Australia's most loved and most successful golfers is that he has begun 2009 raring to go and is keen to tackle the challenging Moonah Links layout in the first of three Australasian and Nationwide Tour co-sanctioned events starting on Feb. 26.

"I'm really looking forward to playing the Moonah Classic," said Parry.

"I love starting the year at home, and it's great to have so many events to play locally."

"Unfortunately, I missed out last year because of knee surgery on my right leg. I tore my medial meniscus, which is behind the kneecap, and then I had a cyst on the bone, as well. That was really painful and kept me out of the game for a while."

"This year though, I'm 100 percent. I'm feeling great now and am looking forward to getting back out there."

The 2007 Australasian Tour's Order of Merit winner, Parry is one of the big drawcards for the event and is biting at the challenge to tackle the course that he has not seen in four years.

"I can't believe I haven't been there for that long, but the last time I played at Moonah Links was at the 2005 Australian Open," said Parry, who finished in a tie for 30th.

"What I do recall is that it's a challenging course and more so when the wind gets up, so if it's really blowing, then it should make for an interesting week."

Parry will travel over to the Johnnie Walker Classic next week before heading back to Victoria for the Moonah Classic. He will then travel to New Zealand for the remaining Nationwide Tour co-sanctioned events, the HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship at Christchurch and the Michael Hill New Zealand Open at the Hills in Queenstown.

He will be looking to add to his long list of home grown victories that include the 1992 Australian PGA Championship, 1992, 1994 & 1996 Australian Masters, 2005 Heineken Classic, and the 2007 Australian Open.

Parry will represent the Australasian challenge alongside Tour stalwarts including Peter Senior, Peter O'Malley and Peter Fowler with recent Australasian Tour winners Ashley Hall and Andre Stolz also lining up, keen to capitalize on their recent successes.

The $600,000 Moonah Classic returns to Moonah Links from Feb. 26 - March 1. The Moonah Classic boasts a 156-player field of U.S. and Australasian players, including defending champion Ewan Porter. Entry to the Moonah Classic is free with all day parking at the venue $5.00.