Stolz takes winning form into Moonah Classic

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Andre Stolz is looking forward to playing Moonah Links for the first time.

FINGAL, Victoria, Australia -- Australasian Tour Order of Merit leader Andre Stolz is the latest star to sign on for the Moonah Classic and comes into the event with rock-solid form and a win under his belt.

Stolz, winner of last week's Cellarbrations Victorian PGA Championship has been a revelation since his return to golf after a three-year hiatus due to a wrist injury. The knockabout 38-year-old from the Central Coast in NSW made an impressive return to the Australasian Tour last year, where he tied for sixth place at the Australian Open and has been on a roll since.

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He will head to the Moonah Classic with three top-10 results in his last three outings and is looking forward to the challenge of the famed Sandbelt course, where, surprisingly, he will make his tournament debut.

"I have never played at Moonah Links before, so, as I was heading down to Victoria for the Vic Open and PGA, I made it a point to get down there with my caddy a couple of days earlier and had a game. I had heard a lot about the course and wanted to see it for myself," said Stolz.

"Everyone talks about the challenge when the wind gets up, but I played there with not much of a breeze blowing, probably a one club wind, and I thought it was pretty good. The fairways were in good condition, and the greens were awesome. It's in perfect shape for the tournament."

Stolz, most noted for his win at the PGA TOUR's 2004 Michelin Championship, has been a regular feature in the media since his emphatic return to the Australasian Tour late last year.

The down-to-earth father of four finished tied for 17th at the 2008 Sportsbet Australian Masters and came back to be one shot off the lead heading into the final round of the Australian Open in December, eventually finishing tied for sixth. He tied for 10th at the Australasian Tour's season-opening 2009 Subaru Victorian Open two weeks ago, before claiming the Cellarbrations Victorian PGA Championship by two shots last weekend, and now leads the Order of Merit.

The seemingly rapid return to form has surprised everyone but Stolz, who is well aware of his capabilities, but he is just as aware that the escalation of his wrist injury is ever present. He is hoping that the wind does pick up when he tees off at the Moonah Classic on Feb. 26 and plans to use it to his advantage.

"Probably the main thing that hurts me is that I don't really hit it far enough these days to carry a lot of the bunkers," said Stolz. "It looks to me like a strong hitter's course. You'll see Ewan Porter won last year, and he is a long hitter," said Stolz.

"What sorts that out in the end is that if we get some strong winds blowing, that will probably be in my favor, so bring it on."

Stolz will line up at the Moonah Classic alongside such luminaries as Craig Parry, Peter Senior, Peter Fowler, Peter O'Malley, David Smail and defending champion Ewan Porter.

The Moonah Classic, the first of the three-swing, Nationwide Tour co-sanctioned events will be held at Moonah Links from Feb. 26 --March 1. The Moonah Classic will be followed by the HSBC New Zealand PGA Championship at the Clearwater Resort in Christchurch from March 5-8 and the Michael Hill New Zealand Open at the Hills in Queenstown from March 12-15.

The $600,000 Moonah Classic boasts a 156-player field of U.S. and Australasian players. Entry to the Moonah Classic is free with all-day parking at the venue for $5.00.