Queensland’s premier golfing pro-am will take on a new look next month, with the Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am to feature three-new events to challenge Australia’s top golfers and connect them with the best of the local amateurs, including a new Frenchville Sports Club Junior Pro-Am.
The week of golfing action runs from June 22-27, with a total $85,000 prize pool attracting nominations from top professionals from across Australia, including defending champion Matt Millar.
But instead of a traditional four-day event, the top pros will have two chances to cash in through the new format which features:
A $70,000 three-day stroke event for professionals from June 24 to 26, with a cut after round two. Pros will be grouped with amateurs who will compete in stableford format for daily prizes in all divisions.
After the three-day event, the top 16 pros (plus ties) will compete in the one-day $15,000 Ian Weigh Invitational, competing both in a single stroke event for professionals only, as well as paired with the champion amateurs and sponsors in a four-ball teams’ format.
Pros who don’t qualify will have the opportunity to play again on Sunday in the new Frenchville Sports Club Junior Pro-Am, in which mixed teams of three juniors from clubs across CQ will be partnered with a professional in a fun, nine-hole Ambrose event.
“The way that the Rockhampton Golf Club continues to innovate and connect Australia’s leading golfers to the local community through its competition design is a big reason why Ian Weigh Toyota sponsors this event each year,” Stephen Weigh, of Ian Weigh Toyota, said.
“We support events like this to promote the city of Rockhampton and the professionals who come from across Australia always tell us how much they enjoy this brilliant course and how much they love visiting the beautiful Rockhampton region.”
Frenchville Sports Club Chairman Graeme Brady OAM said the Club contributes more than $1million into the local community each year and was passionate about developing junior sport in the region.
“We are therefore very pleased to come on board with the new Frenchville Sports Club Junior Pro-Am,” Mr Brady said.
The new Pro-Am formats will be officially announced at a sponsors’ cocktail evening to be held at Rockhampton Golf Club this weekend.
RGC Pro-Am Committee President Matt Sleaford said the new competition formats rewarded pros for top play, provided sponsors and amateurs extra opportunities to play with the best, and created new pathways for junior golfers to improve their game.
“We’re particularly excited about the new Frenchville Sports Club Junior Pro-Am,” Mr Sleaford said.
“Rockhampton is unique in offering this opportunity to young boys and girls to play a competitive format while partnered with a pro – it’s an great opportunity for them to learn and hopefully it will be a memory they will cherish for life.”
Pro-Am week also features a Lexus golf day and a sponsors’ event to provide visiting professionals with practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday June 22 and 23, before the serious business commences on Thursday June 24.
More information: www.rockygolfclub.org.au