World first coming to Redcliffe

Redcliffe will host its first world ranking golf tournament this week.

The national final of Conor’s Amateur Series is being held at the course in Handsworth St, Clontarf, on February 17-19, following regional qualifiers.

Thirty players will be chasing prizes in the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) series, recognised by world governing body the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, as an “elite amateur tournament”.

Striking gold

They include Caerwyn Ross, 19, a Kiwi, who won the silver medal at the Caloundra qualifier, but could not make last month’s Sunshine Coast regional qualifier.

Organiser Stuart Gray arranged for Ross to play in the Redcliffe qualifier and despite having never seen the course, won the gold medal with a one-under par 70.

He will now face Jared Whittal, from Maroochy River Golf Club, playing on a +3 handicap, with two gold medals already and the only player to have beaten Ross.

Redcliffe Club Champion Tony Summerfeldt, playing off +3 with two bronze medals, will be hard to beat on his home course.

Also teeing off will be former Australian T20 player Cameron Boyce, the series ambassador, as well as his twin brother Chris. Both play off close to scratch.

Michael Q Todd won gold at Esk Golf Club, is a member at Toogoolawah Golf Club and is the high marker in the field.

Just the ticket

The national final will be refereed by Redcliffe Golf Club’s captain with elite players chasing gold, silver and bronze medals which are their ticket to Queenstown.

As an Australia team they will take on New Zealand at Jack's Point in a three-day Ryder Cup format match for Conor's Anzac Cup.

Stuart Gray - who grew up in Redcliffe, played at Redcliffe Dolphins with his brothers, at Redcliffe rugby union and boxed - named the event after his son Conor.

He was an actor at the Playhouse Theatre, with extra roles in Shortland Street, Ash Vs the Evil Dead and the New Zealand Film Commission's A Matter Of Time.

Sadly, Conor was diagnosed with Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor or DSRCT, one of the rarest forms of cancer in June 2021 and died in July 2022, aged 22.

The tournament, originally called The Amateur Series, was renamed 14 months ago with Conor 's agreement, but under certain terms.

Donation

They included that $5 be donated for every player to the Australian Cancer Research Foundation for use in child cancer research.

The first round of the Conor’s Amateur Series national final will be played on February 17 following a Men of League golf day at Redcliffe Golf Club.

And the final round on February 19 will start early as Dolphins face the Titans, at Kayo Stadium, in their final trial game before their NRL debut.

Spectators are welcome at the series final.