THE Coffs Harbour Golf Club is set to welcome a crack field of golfers to its course when it hosts a NSW Open regional qualifying tournament.

The event, to be held for three days from 9 December, will be the first of six regional qualifiers teeing off across the state.

Around 80 professionals and 40 elite amateurs will compete over 36 holes with the top three placegetters, be they amateur or professional, qualifying for next year’s NSW Open to be held at Concord Golf Club in March.

In addition to the coveted places in the NSW Open Championship, the professionals will also be vying for a share of the $50,000 prize money on offer.

Originally the tournament was going to be held at the Coffs Harbour Golf Club in September but was postponed due to coronavirus. 

Now that the qualifier has been rescheduled, club general manager Paul McAra is thrilled about what promises to come.

“Hopefully we can get someone playing here who will make a name for themselves overseas further down the track,” McAra said.

“One day it would be good if we can look back on this event and say that we watched that player live as he was rising through the ranks.”

The Coffs Harbour Golf Club has already proven capable of hosting a big tournament.

It was the home of the 2018 Women’s NSW Open, an event co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour.

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said Coffs Coast golf tourism will be boosted in December with players expected to travel long distances to compete.

“These NSW Open qualifiers will help regional communities like ours hit hard by drought, bushfires, floods and COVID-19,” Mr Singh said.

“I’m proud Coffs Harbour Golf Club has been selected as a host and I congratulate their hardworking board, management, staff and members on this terrific outcome.”

 

By Brad GREENSHIELDS