The future of Australian golf is on show at the Rich River Golf Club Resort in Moama, New South Wales, from 31 January – 3 February, where one PGA Trainee will ultimately prove themselves worthy of the title of 2017 Coca-Cola Rich River Trainee Classic Champion.

This year, the Rich River Classic celebrates the 30^th anniversary of the event making it the longest standing four round tournament at one venue in PGA of Australia history. To help celebrate this milestone an increased prize purse of $40,000 will be on offer along with celebratory festivities in the lead up to round one.

The Rich River Trainee Classic was established in 1988, with a prize purse of $10,000 to provide an opportunity for PGA Trainees to develop their tournament playing skills against budding Professionals from all over Australia.

Providing an ideal platform for PGA Trainees looking to pursue a career as a Tour Pro on the worldwide golf tours, the tournament has seen winners including recent PGA TOUR winner Rod Pampling, NSW PGA Champion Tim Wood,  Jacobs Creek Open Champion  Euan Walters, Queensland National Coach Tony Meyer and Jack Wilson, who became the first PGA Trainee to win an ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia tournament at the 2013 WA PGA Championship.

With 137 PGA Trainees representing every state in Australia teeing it up to compete for the $40,000 in prize money at the end of the month, the tournament again promises to be an enthralling battle.

This year’s field will be particularly strong with the three of the remaining 2016 top-10 ranking Trainees, Zac Fuller (3^rd), Andrew Thompson (6^th) and William Flitcroft (8^th) all vying for the first big win of the season.

The Rich River Trainee Classic also sees female Trainees competing alongside their male peers for the same prize purse and title. A total of three females, Emily Pell, Melissa Taylor and Jaydon Vaenuku, will battle the boys this year in an attempt to take out the Championship.

Once again the field sees a significant amount of new first year Trainees out to prove their ability in their first four round event as PGA Trainee Professionals.

Along with their campaign to bring home the winner’s cheque at the end of the week PGA Trainees will be provided the opportunity to out drive each other in the Doug Fraser Long Drive Competition on Monday evening, the winner walking away with $500 cash.

The longest drive competition is held in honour of the long-serving Rich River member and tournament volunteer, Doug Fraser, who before his untimely passing, was the driving force behind the running of the Rich River Trainee Classic.

The club and course no doubt, as always, will be presented in perfect condition, providing PGA Trainee competitors with true rolling greens and flawless fairways. Spectators who visit the course over the four day tournament are guaranteed to be treated to excellent golf viewing and treated to the Rich River hospitality.

For tee times and leaderboard please visit www.pga.org.au.