A DARK horse entry from New Zealand has added some last-minute intrigue to a red-hot men's field at the annual Mareeba Open.

Tournament director Danny Bradley last night counted 168 nominations for this weekend's 36-hole championship, including mystery packet Robbie Sim in the men's field.

"We are happy with the nominations, we were going to limit it to 180 anyway and looking through the draw, it is a field with a lot of quality about it," Bradley said.

"In the men's field we've got 18 players with a handicap of five or less so that’s going to make it pretty interesting.

"And I think it means there will be no room for error. In the past you might have been able to win this event even if you had a bad hole or two but I think the quality of the field this year means the winner will be the one who plays well and avoids any slip-ups."

The usual suspects of the Far North's best men's players are there - Lui Dezen (Mareeba), Kevin Lynch (Gordonvale), Greg Overend (Mossman) and Cairns duo Jeff Musgrave and Mick Buckley.

Tully's Tanu Wulf is an outside chance too, a player Bradley rates as "sneaky long."

But it is one marker Sim, from the Kaitake club on New Zealand's North Island, who could be one to watch.

Sim is one of the leading players in the strong Taranaki region and has recorded some solid results on that province's golf tour.

"I don't know too much about him other than what his nomination form says and that if he plays off one, then he must be quite handy," Bradley said.

"He may be out here travelling and decided to have a game. It will be interesting to see how he handles the different conditions."

Defending men's champion Darrin Hastie has played once in the past three months and does not think he will be a threat this weekend.

"I'd say my chances would be slim," he said.

"I did play at the weekend and was pleasantly surprised at how I went but to be realistic, I could go out this weekend and hit a 100. I just haven't played enough."

Hastie might not win the Open but it is highly doubtful he will hit 100 because the two marker is one of the region's best.

He hit a two over par 74 during his round at Mareeba last weekend and if he finds some touch on the greens, he should still be a chance on his home course.

In the women's division, established players Nikki Bruce and Erina Williams will be doing their best to hold off the bright wave of junior talent coming through, such as Gennai Goodwin from Mossman and Sara Kirsch of Millaa Millaa.

Bradley said players could expect to be tested by the Mareeba layout.

"The course is playing pretty tough at the moment," he said.

"With the weather we've had in the lead-up, the rough is quite thick and we have narrowed some of the fairways and, in particular, the size of the landing zones has been reduced so that will test all the players out."

Sponsored by Foster's, the Mareeba Open is a 2008 Far North Queensland Golf Association Player of the Year and selection event.

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