A series of recent winners from the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia is set to feature in the North Queensland Pro-Am Series, which begins at Sarina Golf Club on Saturday. The event will take place across three locations: Sarina Golf Club, Mackay Golf Club, and Pioneer Valley Golf Club, starting May 31. This series has become a notable part of the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series calendar.
The North Queensland Series this year includes players who have recently won on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, as well as seasoned players like Marcus Fraser and Sam Brazel, both with international victories. Sponsored by Mackay Regional Council, the events are named CMR Recycling Sarina Golf Club Pro-Am (May 31-June 1), PIMS Mackay Festival of Golf, and Roy Powell Security Pioneer Valley Pro-Am.
Notable participants include Will Bruyeres (PNG Open), Ben Henkel (Gippsland Super 6), Cory Crawford (Victorian PGA), and Brett Rankin, who is the defending champion at both Mackay and Pioneer Valley and the 2024/2025 National PGA Pro-Am Series Order of Merit winner.
Mayor Greg Williamson expressed enthusiasm about hosting these events in the Mackay region. “We are very excited to welcome hundreds of players, including about 60 professionals, from all over Australia,” he said. He emphasized that these events serve as an important platform for local golfers aiming to enter the professional circuit.
Spectators can expect to see three current PGA Tour of Australasia tournament winners, three former European Tour winners, and one Olympian competing. “We can’t wait to see everyone teeing off in Mackay and look forward to a fantastic series,” Mayor Williamson added.
Peter Welden, National Tournament Coordinator for PGA of Australia, highlighted the significance of regional support for the success of the PGA Pro-Am Series. “Given the support these events from the local communities, it is no surprise that so many of our best players want to be part of the North Queensland Series,” he stated.
The series offers nearly $100,000 in prize money with an additional $4,500 bonus for the player with the lowest aggregate score across all three events. Welden praised both the quality of golf courses and hospitality in North Queensland. “With the players we have in each field, I expect the quality of golf to be world class,” he concluded.
Other former tour winners participating include Dimi Papadatos, Deyen Lawson, Aaron Pike, and Louis Dobbelaar.
