The PGA of Australia and the the China Golf Association will stage a new international tournament which will see a team of PGA Professionals and amateur golfers battle it out for the title of International Team Challenge Champions.

Team China will go head-to-head with Team Australia on the Sanctuary Cove Palms Course on the Gold Coast from 3-5 December 2015 in the first stage of the home and away style tournament.

Following stage one, Team Australia will travel to China in mid 2016 to contest the international leg of the tournament.

"It’s wonderful to continue our relationship with the China Golf Association, and I thank them for their support in assisting us develop this new event, which has been modeled on the Ryder Cup format," said Brian Thorburn, CEO of the PGA.

"It will give our PGA Professionals and top amateurs the opportunity to participate and experience the excitement of competing overseas, while also assisting to promote the game of golf in China and Australia."

Six PGA Professionals, who qualified via the PGA Professionals (Vocational Members) Championship, will join six amateurs, selected in consultation with each State Amateur Body and Golf Australia and based on their individual results this year, to form Team Australia.

Captaining the squad will be PGA Professionals and General Manager Darren Richards from Ipswich Golf Club who will be the playing captain in Australia and the non-playing captain in China.>

Professionals in the field

• Darren Richards (c), Ipswich Golf Club QLD
• Chris Duke, House of Golf SA
• Robert Kennedy, Moss Vale Golf Club NSW
• Glen Dick, Director of Golf at Kareela Golf Club NSW
• Peter Harrington, Palm Meadows Driving Range QLD
• Tod Power, Tallai Golf Club QLD

Amateurs in the field

• Greg Longmore, Launceston Golf Club TAS
• David Micheluzzi, Cranbourne Golf Club VIC
• Shae Wools-Cobb, Maroochy River Golf Club QLD
• Travis Smyth, St. Michael’s Golf Club NSW
• Jack Williams, The Grange Golf Club SA
• Cameron Jones, Royal Fremantle Golf Club WA

Each team will comprise of 12 players and the challenge will be run in a three round matchplay format:

Round 1:  Two person ambrose
Round 2:  4 Ball Best Ball
Round 3:  Singles

The first stage of the International Challenge will be contested at Sanctuary Cove Palms Course on the Gold Coast from 3-5 December 2015, while the international leg will be held in China in mid 2016. A venue in China is yet to be confirmed.