Olivia’s open invite

The tournament is held from January 24 to 26 and is the sixth Open that Wilson will contest. 

The field comprises 60 professional players, including international Gwladys Nocera from France, who is ranked 78th, and top 200 players Laura Davies from England and Joanna Klatten from France. 

Australian professionals Lind-

say Wright, Stacey Keating and Rebecca Artis will also be among the challengers. 

Wilson says amateurs will play with two professionals in the first two rounds and that it’s something she rarely gets to do.

“Being able to play with the elite female golfers will be a great experience as I can only do it once or twice a year,” she said.

Wilson works full-time in Sydney and hasn’t been able to get out to the practice course to refine her game as much as she would like over summer, but this hasn’t deterred her from aiming to play all 54 holes of the three-day tournament.

“My aspirations aren’t as high as past years but I am aiming to make the cut to be in the last round,” she said.

Wilson said she was hitting the ball well in the few times she played golf over summer but the heat in January in western Sydney served up the toughest challenge.

“I’ve played days there before where you spend five hours in 40-degree heat which wears you down,” she said.

Wilson has her sights set on the Women’s NSW 72-hole Stroke Play and Amateur Championship beginning on January 29. 

The tournament combines the NSW Medal and Champion of Champions and the NSW Amateur Championship. The NSW Medal and Champion of Champions will be played at Castle Hill Country Club and Pennant Hills Golf Club from January 29 to 31 and is a 72-hole stroke play tournament.

If Wilson plays well and finishes in the top-16 she will then be invited to play in the NSW Amateur Championship at Concord Golf Club, with the first round on February 2.

The NSW Amateur Champ-

ionship is a match-play tournament and Wilson will be aiming to be a higher seed to give her a friendlier draw.