Michael Hill Jeweller is the naming sponsor of the New Zealand Golf Open to be played at The Hills course, Arrowtown, from November 29 to December 2, on the course built by Michael Hill, the person.

Under the three-year title sponsorship agreement, the event will be called the Michael Hill New Zealand Open.

Michael Hill, chairman of Michael Hill Jeweller, said that it is an honour for his company to be associated with such a prestigious event.

“Michael Hill Jeweller has strong ambitions to become a global brand and sponsorship of the New Zealand Golf Open will give us global exposure through the worldwide television coverage. We are also about to launch a new Michael Hill range of watches which will tie nicely to the Open.

The local community has shown great support and interest in the Open already. This will only build as the course will remain closed until the Pro-am, the day before the tournament starts. Even now we have people from Australia and Canada keen to play in this event,” he said.

New Zealand Golf have set-up a New Zealand Open championship committee to oversee the future of the event that includes three members of New Zealand Golf, the PGA Tour of Australasia, Tournament promoters Tuohy Associates NZ, the Hills Golf Club and Open Ambassador Michael Campbell.