Top tier entries for richest pro-am

Redcliffe Golf Club has raised the bar and will again host the most lucrative pro-am tournament in Australia, with a top field, this month.

The Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am has $80,000 in prize money, up $10,000 on last year and more than next best Rockhampton Pro-Am with $60,000.

It makes the 36-hole Redcliffe event, from July 18-19, the richest on this year’s adidas PGA Pro-Am Series.

A top field is being assembled. At the time of writing there were 149 entries - including two of the last three winners - of which 63 will make the field based on their order of merit.

Carrying local hopes will be Doug Klein, who used to work in the Redcliffe Pro Shop and shot a two-round total of 131 to take the title in 2021.

Gold Coast's Michael Sim also returns hoping to repeat his success last year when carding 129, with three birdies in the last five holes to win by a shot.

Nathan Barbieri, from Sydney and Deyen Lawson, originally from Geelong, the joint runners-up behind Sim 12 months ago, are also returning.

Lawson and his Asian Tour colleagues Marcus Fraser, Sam Brazel and John Lyras are tipped to be one’s to watch on the Clontarf course.

Lyras finished tied for second place at last year's New Zealand Open and was tied 22nd at the Australian PGA in October.

So too Tyler Duncan, the Redcliffe member who turned professional after getting a PGA Australasia Tour card in April. He joins the Tour next year.

Redcliffe’s Director of Golf Chris Adnams said the support from sponsors and club members has been “truly humbling” and all “share the vision”.

“The ability to raise the prize fund is testament to the sponsors keeping this the richest and most prestigious pro-am in Australia,” Adnams said.

“Last year was a huge success and we learn new ways to tweak it to make it even better as another year rolls around.”

The Jack Daniels party hole is back on the Friday (July 19) with a live DJ “spinning the decks”, while a Carlton United Breweries stand makes its debut this year.

Play begins each day with a shotgun start. There will be a sudden death playoff in the event of a tie and a $1000 chip-off after the second round for all professionals.

Entry is free for spectators, food and drink will be available along with onsite parking and there’s a free shuttle bus to the party hole.

Optilease is the tournament’s naming rights sponsor. FurnX, MRL Contracting and Austec Building Automation the partnering sponsors.