Kiwi's back in field at APGA Futures Championship

Nicholas Davey and Ben Williams are back in the field after round one of the Australian PGA Futures Championship being held at Catalina Country Club, Batemans Bay, NSW.

Davey is tied 71st with an opening round 76, while Williams sits one stroke further back on 77, tied 79th.

Leading the event after one round are Cody Sherratt (South Australia) and Corey Hale (Northern Territory) both carding opening rounds of 67. Sherratt and Hale have a two shot lead over a group of three players on 69.

The Crown Lager National Futures Championship sees qualifying PGA Trainee Professionals from around Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom competing for a AUD$55,000 purse.

New Zealand is represented by Nicholas Davey (Te Puke Golf Club) and Ben Williams (Lochiel Golf Club). They earn the right to play the Futures Championship by finishing in the top two at the New Zealand PGA Trainee Championships at Omanu Golf Club earlier this year.

Full Leader Board - Crown Lager National Futures Championship

PGA Futures History

The PGA National Futures Championship was established in 1980 to provide an opportunity for trainees across Australia to showcase their considerable talent and gain experience in a full-field, four-round golf championship.

Providing an ideal platform for trainees looking to pursue a career as a professional golfer on the worldwide golf tours, the tournament has seen US PGA Tour members Rod Pampling, Peter Lonard and Nick O’Hern compete over the years. Pampling won the event in 1992, while the “Tiger killer” O’Hern, the only golfer to have defeated Tiger Woods twice in match-play golf was a regular competitor during his time as a trainee in Western Australia.

For trainees looking forward to a career as a club professional or coach, the championship gives all participants a great opportunity to experience genuine first-hand tournament competition against their peers, while continuing to develop their professional careers by interacting with significant golf industry stakeholders.

The Championship has been held at a number of prestigious golf clubs around Australia throughout its thirty-year history, with Duntryleague Golf Club in Orange, Newcastle Golf Club and the Sandhurst Club in Victoria supporting the event in past years. Since 2008, the event has settled into the ideal location of Catalina Country Club in Batemans Bay on the New South Wales south coast.