The Lynch Mob Hit The Stage at the 2013 NZ PGA Championship

Media Release: December 12 2012

The Lynch Mob Hit The Stage at the 2013 NZ PGA Championship

While world-renowned golfers and celebrities are lining up to take a swing at the 2013 NZ PGA Championship, an open air concert on the Saturday night (March 2 2013) looks set to be a highlight of the event whether you are a golf lover or not.

NZ PGA tournament director Michael Glading said he had “great pleasure” in announcing local Queenstown band the ‘Lynch Mob’ in the supporting role to rising Auckland star Jamie McDell, already announced as the headline act.

Jamie -- who New Zealanders have come to know and love with a series of chart-topping singles -- will be first on stage and concert-goers will be invited to ‘party on’ with the Lynch Mob.

Locals’ favourites the Lynch Mob are renowned throughout the region for crowd-pleasing music with huge appeal, guaranteed to get the most reluctant in the audience on their feet and dancing. Their most celebrated gig was the 2010 ‘Over the Top Rock’ performance of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, played a mile high on Cecil Peak overlooking Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu.

A family affair, four of the six members of the Lynch Mob are siblings -- Emma Pullar on vocals, and brothers Ben, Nick and Tom Lynch on vocals and lead guitar, keyboard and bass respectively. Drummer Marc Hamilton and vocalist Stacey McDonald complete the line-up.

Ms Pullar said she and the band were very much looking forward to the night.
“It’s such a spectacular setting at The Hills,” she said. “The new location of entertainment area The 19th means we’ll have an amazing amphitheatre for the audience. It’ll be a great night.”

Mr Glading said the concert – free to those attending the championship event -- was guaranteed to be an entertainment highlight amidst four days of stunning golf. The line-up of golfing greats already includes renowned US golfer Hale Irwin, top Australian golfer Brendan Jones, and Kiwi golfer and title-holder Michael Hendry . The list of ‘celebrities’ includes teen golf sensation Lydia Ko, golfing legend sir Bob Charles, TV personality and ex cricketer Mark Richardson, and flamboyant English cricket star Sir Ian Botham.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2013 NZPGA Championship which will run from Thursday February 28 to Sunday March 3. Tickets are just $55 for the season (all four days), or $20 a day for Thursday and Friday, and $30 a day Saturday or Sunday. Children aged 10 to 17 are $15 for Saturday only (free all other days), and youngsters under 10 are free of charge.

As well as the Saturday evening concert, scheduled to start when golf play ends, The 19th will feature an extensive array of regional food, wine, merchandise and daily entertainment.

www.nzpga.co.nz

Background Information

The Tournament Format: NZ PGA Championship
Up to 132 professionals will tee up on Thursday February 28th, 2013 with the top 68 professionals making the cut on the Friday progressing through to the weekend to play for the NZ PGA Championship.

A field of 68 Amateurs (friends, sponsors, celebrities) will play a seeding tournament on Friday 1st March at Millbrook. Following this each amateur will be placed with a professional and that pair will play as a two-ball, best-ball team on the Saturday and Sunday for the NZ PGA Championship pro-am title.

The Course: The Hills
In its stunning amphitheatre encircled by the Remarkables Mountains, with 180 degree views taking in Coronet Peak and the Crown Range, The Hills has the x-factor as a tournament golf course.

Designed by Darby Partners, the course was initially Michael Hill’s own private golf course. Set over 500 acres of former deer farm land close to Arrowtown, Central Otago, it is home to an incredible array of flora including native brown top grasses and wild native mountain tussocks.
Another unique element of the course is a significant sculpture park that links outdoor art pieces into the course design, creating a magical playing environment.

The Hills is proud to have hosted three consecutive New Zealand Open Championships since opening in 2007 and is now the home of the NZ PGA Championship.

The Location: Queenstown
With mountain peaks as far as the eye can see, shimmering lakes and crisp alpine air, Queenstown is quite simply a place of pure inspiration. It’s also a golf lover paradise.

With six stunning golf courses all within 25 minutes’ drive of the town centre, Queenstown is fast gaining a reputation as an internationally renowned golf destination. Choices range from the immaculately groomed greens of resort courses to breathtaking fairways with rugged mountain peaks as a backdrop.
Golf facilities are world-class and there’s plenty of variety between The Hills, Millbrook Resort, Jack’s Point, Arrowtown Golf Club, Queenstown Golf Club at Kelvin Heights, and the Frankton Driving Range and Golf Course.

A range of different courses means no two rounds need be the same and a week-long trip can be both technically challenging and fun. Tailored tours and packages cater for the solo golfer right through to larger groups. Every style and level of golfer will be well looked after.

Click for big version.
Crowds enjoying the action at the 2012 NZ PGA Championship at The Hills

Click for big version. The Lynch Mob, L-R Nick Lynch, Stacey McDonald, Emma Pullar, Ben Lynch, Marc Hamilton and Tom Lynch pictured high above Queenstown

ENDS

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