Classic expansion plans

Entries for this year’s Cameron Smith Junior Classic (CSJC) open next month – but organisers already have major changes planned for 2026.

The CSJC will expand to three days (from the current two) for the 10^th staging of the tournament at Wantima Country Club in Brendale.

It will enable a record 256 players, under 18 with a GA (Golf Australia) handicap, to enter the new-look 54-hole competition.

Founder Ken McKay said the 2026 CSJC would have a shotgun start on the first two days and a cut for the final round.

It is another significant step for the increasingly-popular event which started in 2017 as a one-day, 18-hole tournament for 132 players.

The Classic expanded to 36 holes over two days in 2022, when a nine-hole tournament was introduced for under 14 players without a GA handicap.

Sponsored by QUS, the shorter event started with a cap of 52 players, but this year and in 2026 it will be 72.

LIV Golf, the global league and Cameron Smith’s Ripper GC franchise back the CSJC, which has Qualia Wealth on board as a sponsor this year.

“We have a vision with Cameron on how to help grow the game of golf,” said Ken, who co-organises the Classic with Shane Johnsson.

“Basically, we don’t want young players to miss the opportunity to play and believe expanding the event to three days is a good step forward.

“A lot of hard work went into the tournament in the first two couple of years and since then we have only had to jejig it, rather than reinvent it.”

There are hopes by further expanding the CSJC is may attract more national and even international entries alongside the local and state players.

Entries open for the 2025 Cameron Smith Junior Classic on September 29 through the www.mitournament.com website.

Cameron Smith, 32, grew up in Bray Park and went to Pine Rivers State High School, started his golf career as a junior at Wantima.

He turned professional in 2013 and in 2022 won both in The Players Championship and his first major - the 150^th (British) Open at St Andrews.

Smith is now on the LIV Golf Tour. Last year Ripper GC won the LIV Team title and is a partner with Australia’s official junior introductory program MyGolf.