Toowoomba reps keen to make PGA mark

City Golf Club trio to match skills with Australia’s best golfers in Toowoomba this week.

City Golf Club members (from left) Wade Edwards, Anthony Timms and Quinn Croker will line up for Toowoomba at this week’s Queensland PGA Championship at City Golf Club. Picture: Kevin Farmer

GOLF: Toowoomba is set to welcome an army of Australia’s best golfers to town this week.

But the flashy visitors won’t be the only players in the spotlight when they hit off in the 2020 Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship at City Golf Club on Thursday morning.

International stars including Marcus Fraser, Nick O’Herne and Peter Lonard are set to tee up alongside Australasia’s next wave of stars.

But Darling Downs golf fans will also have plenty to focus on with at least four Toowoomba reps in the field with the possibility of more winning through in today’s qualifying play.

City Golf Club professional Chris Britnell lines up this year alongside City members Anthony Timms, Wade Edwards and club champion Quinn Croker who represents both the City and Toowoomba clubs.

Timms recalls being almost too nervous to put his tee in the ground when he made his first PGA appearance in 2009 when the event moved for the first time to City.

He has played the event a further three times and narrowly missed the weekend cut last year.

“I was really happy with how I hit the ball last year but I just made a couple of late mistakes which cost me winning through to the weekend,” Timms said.

No City member has qualified for the final two rounds of the tournament.

“It’s been a goal for me to be playing at the weekend, and it would be nice to be the first from the club to do as well as being a personal achievement playing four rounds with the pros.”

Seventeen-year-old Croker has had some of his good recent tournament play – including the NSW Open – interspersed with illness but he is eager to atone for his “disappointing” Queensland PGA debut last year.

“I didn’t play well last year to be honest, but I learnt a lot on how I need to tighten up my game,” Croker said.

“I should be able to play better this year, and if I can I’m confident of making the cut.”

Edwards has contested the past four championships and is also looking to produce some of his best form this week.

“Last year I wasn’t too flash,” Edwards said.

“But I’m feeling reasonably confident this year.

“I feel my game is where it needs to be to play well.

“I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself but there will be plenty of opportunities out there.

“You just need to be patient and make sure you try and take them.”

# THE qualifying tournament where players are looking to win through to Thursday’s final PGA field is scheduled to start at 6.30 this morning at City Golf Club.

Spectator entry is free.

2020 COCA-COLA

QUEENSLAND PGA

CHAMPIONSHIP

City Golf Club

Thursday, February 13

to

Sunday, February 16

156 player field

Prizemoney: $150,000

Spectator Entry Free