Golfers bound for Germany

Following a successful two-day tournament at Millbrook Resort last week, Jim Malcolm, of Royal Wellington Golf Club, Fran Weinstein, of North Shore Golf Club, and Steve Hyun, also of the North Shore club, will travel to Germany later this year to represent New Zealand at the 2013 MercedesTrophy World Final.

Mercedes-Benz New Zealand general manager Ben Giffin, of Auckland, said a field of 28 golfers - all Mercedes-Benz owners - were selected for the MercedesTrophy tournament at Millbrook having qualified during one of nine tournaments held nationally.

About 65,000 competitors, from 40 countries, compete annually for the trophy, now in its 24th year. Other than owning a Mercedes-Benz, the only other requirement was to have a golfing handicap.

Ms Weinstein, the overall winner of the New Zealand MercedesTrophy, who finished with a total of 68 points after the second day of the tournament, described the win as ''the pinnacle of my life''.

Frank Freeman, of the Nelson Golf Club, secured a trip to the British Open at Muirfield in July after winning the ''Drive to a Major''.

Mr Giffin said Mr Freeman had won the trip for having the straightest drive on Arrow 5.

While in the United Kingdom he would also take part in a tournament with players from more than 37 countries, competing to play on Muirfield the day after the British Open.