The PGA of Australia announced it has secured a new home and sponsor for the 2004 Australian PGA Seniors Championship. The Greg Norman-designed Club Pelican on the Sunshine Coast will host the event for the next three years in a deal announced today.
The Australian PGA Seniors Championship will start October 14 and carry $150,000 prizemoney. It is sure to attract the top senior professionals from throughout Australia and overseas.
The announcement represents a major coup for Titanium Golf – the owners of the Pelican Waters development, and the Sunshine Coast as the PGA Seniors Championship is the oldest and most prestigious senior professional tournament in Australia.
Caloundra City Mayor Cr Don Aldous, PGA Chief Executive Officer Max Garske and Titanium Sports General Manager Marc Harris made the announcement in a joint statement at Club Pelican at Pelican Waters today.
“We are proud to stage a tournament of such prestige on the Sunshine Coast,” said Cr Aldous.
A field of more than 85 professionals is expected to contest the senior’s championship with those missing the top 50 cut for the major prizemoney to play off for a $10,000 purse.
An $80,000 four-day Pro Am for regular Tour professionals will be staged in association with the Seniors Championship.
Previous winners of the Australian PGA Seniors Championship include Orville Moody, Bill Dunk, Terry Gale, Lee Trevino and Ian Stanley.
Titanium Sports general manager Marc Harris said that luring the event from New South Wales would serve to further enhance the blue-chip reputation of the championship standard, Greg Norman-designed golf course at Club Pelican.
Mayor Aldous welcomed the economic benefits that such a major tournament would bring to Caloundra and the wider Sunshine Coast community.
“This is an excellent opportunity for Caloundra to show off to the rest of the nation, and I would encourage local residents to support the event,” he said.
Mayor Aldous said the event would make a significant input into the local economy, and have a positive flow-on effect throughout the local community.
The PGA said it was pleased its Seniors Championship would find a new home at Club Pelican for the next three years.
“We are excited at the arrangement with Titanium Golf and believe the event has the potential to become the absolute highlight of the Australian Seniors golfing calendar,” said Mr Garske.
“We look forward to a long and happy relationship with Titanium Golf and Club Pelican.”
Mr Harris said the Club Pelican maintenance programme would ensure the course was at peak condition for the tournament.
“Course superintendent Ben Marshall has experience in preparing golf courses to tournament standard for the Michelob Classic at the Kingsmill Resort at Williamsburg, Virginia, and the J.C.Penney Classic at Western Innisbrook in Florida so our fairways and greens are in expert hands,” said Mr Harris.
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