Golf’s turn to shine

Australian summer of golf heats up as City Golf Club continues PGA preparations

Daniel Nisbet on his way to winning the 2019 Queensland PGA Championship at City Golf Club in February.

GOLF : As Australia prepares to host a mammoth December of international golf, the finishing touches are being put in place for Toowoomba’s return to the golfing spotlight in February.

Australian golf hits a high next month when international eyes turn to Royal Melbourne Golf Club from December 9 for the 2019 President’s Cup.

The President’s Cup features 24 of the world’s leading golfers with 12 from the United States and 12 from around the world - excluding Europe - vying for the biennial cup.

This year’s event is sandwiched between next week’s Australian Open at Australian Golf Club in Sydney and the 2019 Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines from December 19.

The Australasian Tour is also in full swing with the New South Wales Open currently underway as the tour winds its way to Queensland in the New Year.

Golf officials next week will confirm the return of the Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship to City Golf Club in February.

Tournament activities will run from February 11 to 16 as City, the PGA and the Toowoomba sporting public celebrate the 11th staging of the championship since its move to Toowoomba in 2009.

The four-round tournament hits off February 13.

Previous winners include Steve Bowditch, Brad Kennedy and Ryan Fox while then emerging Queensland amateur Cameron Smith was a multiple winner at the tournament before bursting to prominence on the US PGA tour.

PGA of Australia state manager Broc Greenhalgh said details of a gala week of Queensland PGA activities will start being announced from next week.

“A lot of familiar names will be on board again for the championships and although some of the previous fields are hard to top in quality we are confident next year’s 156-player line-up will be as strong, if not stronger than ever,” Greenhalgh said.

“We are also looking to retain our focus on celebrity guests in the tournament lead-up.”