Queensland Open prepares to launch into action

BY iseekgolf.com | Von Nida Tour | 2003 Queensland Open | Preview | 29 Oct 2003

The 2003 Q.L.D. Group Queensland Open kicks off at the Ipswich Golf Club, Thursday with a quality field trying to add their name to the trophy that boasts the who’s who of Australian Golf.

Headline acts include Queenslanders Stuart Bouvier, Chris Downes, Scott Hend, Peter Senior, all winners on the Von Nida Tour so far this year. Whilst Queenslanders have dominated the Von Nida Tour this year the event does host an enormous list of interstate talent with no less than 75 players representing all states and New Zealand.

The success of these players on the Von Nida Tour this year is testament to the depth of talent through Australasian professional golfing circles.

Chris Downes, who returns from a full year on the Nationwide Tour in the USA, is the hottest tip to win the inaugural Von Nida Tour Order of Merit. He is also tipped by many good judges, including The Von, to be the next player to make an impact on the international scene.

Stuart Bouvier and Tony Carolan return from the first stage of U.S Tour school after successfully qualifying for the second stage.

Meanwhile, defending champion Andrew Buckle will not defend his title this year after springing into the limelight exactly twelve months ago, when he walked away with the spoils in his first event as a professional. Buckle waltzed through the first stage of the U.S Tour school after shooting a massive 21 under par, while also in the midst of a European Tour school campaign, hoping to secure at least one major tour card for the 2004 season.

After speaking with Andrew’s manager, David Rollo (IMG) he said Andrew was extremely disappointed not to be able to make it back to his home state for the event that was instrumental in paving the way for a career that has not yet reached it’s forecast heights.

Hoping to emulate the feats of his former state team member is Richard Moir. Richard makes his professional debut at Ipswich this week after a distinguished amateur career that included a victory at the World Junior Championship.

The 1990 US PGA champion, Wayne Grady, returns to the fairways of Ipswich, hoping to capture a title that has managed to allude him so far in his brilliant career.

Marcus Both, proved a worthy sponsors invitation to this year’s Qld Open after his win at the Sanya Open in China (APGA Tour) collecting $32,000 US in his maiden professional victory.

Source – PGA Queensland