The countdown is on! There is just 100 days to go until the first ball is struck at the Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast with the PGA Tour of Australasia welcoming the European Tour to Aussie shores.

On
hand to launch the countdown to Australia’s richest tournament, WA PGA Champion
Ryan Lynch, New Zealand Open Champion Jordan Zunic and former New Zealand Open
Champion Jake Higginbottom were practicing their swing on the idyllic Gold
Coast beaches.

"It’s definitely one of the most beautiful destinations that
I have hit a few golf balls, it was good fun down there with Ryan and Jordan, and
hopefully it promotes the tournament well," said Jake Higginbottom.

While Ryan Lynch sang the praises of the Gold Coast, "I have
played on the Gold Coast before and it’s one of the best places in Australia to
hold a golf tournament, as far as locations go," said Lynch.

"I
think the European Tour players will love the Gold Coast, I think anybody in
the world would come and enjoy the Gold Coast and the beautiful beaches and the
great scenery."

"I
think we as Aussies take for granted how nice the beaches are in that part of
the world."

In
its first year as a co-sanctioned event on the European Tour, our Aussie young
guns are gearing up for what promises to be a big Australian PGA Championship,
it could be the tournament that sees one of them join the Race to Dubai.

"I think every player on the PGA Tour of Australasia is
looking forward to playing in a tournament co-sanctioned by a top tour in the
world," added Lynch.

"You only need to look back as far as the co-sanctioned
events with the Web.com Tour and see the success that grew for a lot of the
players giving guys like Alistair Presnell and Steven Bowditch, the success
they have had in the US because of those co-sanctioned events, so I can only
imagine this is going to do the same with the European Tour."

With Jake Higginbottom adding, "I guess everyone’s aim is to
try and win, like with Jin Jeong winning the Perth International obviously it
gives you good exemptions."

"It’s good to see a PGA Tour of Australasia member win a
European Tour event, it gives you hope that you can do it as well."

One of the most recent rising stars to emerge on the PGA
Tour of Australasia, New Zealand Open champion Jordan Zunic, is looking forward
to measuring his game against some of Europe’s finest.

"Obviously after I won in March it really did change my
whole year and I’m just really happy that I have lots to play in this year and
can keep developing my game by competing against really good players," said
Zunic, who prior to his victory would not have been exempt to compete in the
Australian PGA Championship.

"Just the opportunity to play a European Tour event, giving
us the chance to play against some high ranked players and also playing for
some pretty good qualifications like gaining status is incredible."

But
not just an opportunity for our home grown talent it also opens up the Gold
Coast to some of the best European and South African professionals to
experience what Aussie golf has to offer.

"They’re obviously going to have a good time coming out to Australia;
the Gold Coast is a great place to come out to," added Higginbottom.

"It’s a family week, a little bit of a holiday towards the
end of the year but I am sure they will be coming out here to try and to compete
to win as well."

The
Australian PGA Championship will be played from 3-6 December at RACV Royal
Pines Resort and tickets are now on sale.

Related links:

Info / Australian PGA Championship
Article / Grab your ticket to fun – 24 August 2015