Nico Wentzel faces one of the strongest fields in the history of the Nedbank SA Disabled Golf Open as he attempts to defend his title at Randpark Golf Club next week.

Nico Wentzel faces one of the strongest fields in the history of the Nedbank SA Disabled Golf Open as he attempts to defend his title at Randpark Golf Club next week.

The KwaZulu-Natal golfer is up against two-time champion Mick Horsley from the UK, South African star Iglin Grobbelaar, German champion Reinard Friske and perennial favourite Ben van Zyl from South Africa in the premier event of South African disabled golf.

"I'm looking forward to it, but it is a strong field," said Wentzel, who won last year's title by one shot over Horsley and Grobbelaar.

"I don't know Randpark that well. The last time I played a Disabled Open there was in 1998, shortly after I had lost my leg, and I put in an average performance."

Wentzel is pulling strings to secure time off from work to defend a title he claims remains the greatest achievement of his life and which marked his first major victory in the disabled ranks.

And with eight international golfers in a field of 83 players, he is determined to keep the title in South Africa when the tournament tees off on Monday.

"Winning last year was the best day of my life and I'd love to do so again. But to be honest, the title doesn't have to come back to me. I just want it to stay in South Africa."

As one of the world's top disabled golfers, Horsley will be keen to add to his list of titles in this event, the last of which came in 2007. Friske bolsters the foreign challenge as Germany's leading disabled golfer and a top-10 finisher in the 2005 European Open.

Grobbelaar will certainly feel he's due a victory in this event after finishing second in 2007 and last year, and third in 2006.

The tournament will be played over 54 holes according to the various disability categories, and with divisions for ladies, juniors and seniors. - Sapa