Asian Tour members have seized the opportunity to play in one of the game’s most treasured National Opens, with a high-calibre contingent having entered the 105th New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort.

American John Catlin [main picture], the 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, Filipino Miguel Tabuena, who made a fine debut on the LIV Golf League last week, and Hong Kong number one Taichi Kho have all confirmed their participation for the tournament – which will be played at Millbrook Resort, in Queenstown from 26 February – 1 March.

Wooyoung Cho, winner of the Philippine Golf Championship presented by Philippine Golf Commission at the weekend, has also entered, along with Australian stars Wade Ormsby and Travis Smyth. Smyth is another in-form after finishing third in the Philippines.

The NZ$2million event is the second event of the season on the Asian Tour, and is co-sanctioned with the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.

Germany’s Dominic Foos, winner of last year’s SJM Macao Open, will also make the trip to Queenstown.

Dominic Foos.

Tournament Director Michael Glading said the depth of quality coming from the Asian Tour continues to elevate the tournament’s international reputation.

“Dominic Foos had an outstanding 2025 season, finishing in top 20 on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and having his first win on the Tour, so he is clearly a player to watch out for,” Glading said. “He’s someone who has proven he can win and is one the crowds will really enjoy watching. We’re excited to see him at Millbrook this year.”

“John Catlin’s return is equally exciting. He’s a past Order of Merit winner, knows how to win, and is always likely to be in contention come Sunday. When you add in the likes of last week’s winner in the Philippines, Wooyoung Cho, Miguel Tabuena, Wade Ormsby, Taichi Kho and Travis Smyth, it speaks volumes about the strength and depth of the Asian Tour players coming to Queenstown this year.”

Foos, who will be making his debut appearance at the tournament, said: “I’m really pleased to be going to Queenstown, it’s going to be my first time in New Zealand and it’s one of the events I have really been looking forward to playing. So yeah, I’m pumped.

“I’ve heard from a bunch of guys on Tour that the course is amazing and the area is beautiful. I’m told it’s also a really well-run tournament, so yeah, I can’t wait to experience it myself.”

Catlin, meanwhile, will be making his fourth appearance at the New Zealand Open and says the pull of Queenstown keeps bringing him back.

“I absolutely love going back to the New Zealand Open,” Catlin said.

“Queenstown is my favourite place in the world – the people, the scenery, the course – everything about it is special. It’s a tournament I always look forward to, and I can’t wait to get back and compete again.”

Wooyoung Cho.

Other Asian Tour players to look out for are Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert, who finished runner-up in the Philippines, Malaysia’s up-and-coming star Ervin Chang and South African Ian Snyman, who both tied for fifth last week. Snyman is another of the Asian Tour members who considers the New Zealand event to be one of his favourite stops. He tied for second last year and was equal sixth the year before.

Defending champion Ryan Peake from Australia and his compatriot Jack Thompson, another runner-up last year, will also return to the tournament. Both are members of the Asian Tour.

Part of the appeal of the tournament is the fact that it’s the only National Open in the game to feature a Pro-Am component. All 156 professionals start with an amateur partner.

After the second round the top 60 professionals plus ties will continue to the final two rounds, while the top 40 Pro-Am teams will progress to round three. A third-round cut will see the top 10 teams make it to the final round.

Millbrook Resort’s Remarkables and Coronet courses will be used for the first two rounds, while a composite layout, consisting of the best holes of each, will be played on the Saturday and Sunday.

For the second year in succession, the leading player not otherwise exempt will earn the right to play at the 154th Open at Royal Birkdale this summer – as the tournament is part of the Open Qualifying Series.