Organisers of the New Zealand Open golf tournament have agreed a title sponsorship deal with Japanese non-profit organisation ISPS Handa.
The organisation joins German automotive giant BMW as a co-title sponsor of what will now be officially titled the BMW ISPS Handa New Zealand Open. Both have signed on for the 2016 tournament.
BMW also sponsored the 2014 and 2015 editions of the New Zealand Open, which is sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia, in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour. ISPS Handa joins a number of other Japanese companies that have backed next year’s event.
New Zealand Open organising committee chairman John Hart said: “It's never easy creating an event of this magnitude in a market as relatively small as New Zealand. We're very proud of the growth we've achieved over the past four years, and this new partnership will undoubtedly assist us in moving forward.
“This addition to our family of sponsors and supporters further illustrates the impact the BMW ISPS Handa NZ Open is having on the Japanese market, in particular. Our event has forged a close relationship with the Japan Golf Tour, and today's announcement is further testament to the impact we're having on the bigger picture Japan-New Zealand relationship.
“For 2016 we now not only have a co-naming rights Japan-based partner, we also have continued support from other Japanese corporates like Oji Holdings, Sumitomo Forestry and JTB. The amount invested by all Japanese stakeholders in the BMW ISPS Handa NZ Open has now reached a level that's really significant.”
Next year’s tournament will take place in Queenstown from March 10-13. Australian Jordan Zunic (pictured) is the reigning champion.