Reigning champion Nathan Green will headline a star-studded field of professional golfers in New South Wales at the Ron Crouch Transport Wagga Wagga Country Club Pro-Am.

With a prize purse of $40,000 the tournament stands as the state’s largest on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series schedule and as one of the most highly regarded among competitors.

Playing top golf on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and returning to defend his title, former US PGA TOUR winner Nathan Green is one competitor the Wagga Wagga Country Club are particularly pleased to see return to the field in 2019.

“We take pride in getting our champions back to defend their title and it’s wonderful to see Nathan in the field,” said John Turner, General Manager of Wagga Wagga Country Club.

Green, winner of the 2009 RBC Canadian Open, will be just one of many players in the field to have tasted success on the world stage.

Andre Stolz, Craig Parry, Peter O’Malley and Michael Long also feature in the 2019 line-up, while a host of ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia winners including Matthew Millar make this year’s field one of the strongest ever.

2018 runner-up Dimi Papadatos is also back in action, hoping to finish one better in 2019. Following a breakout season on the European Challenge Tour in 2018 including a victory at the Open de Portugal, Papadatos’ run of success continued at the Emirates Australian Open with a runner-up finish at the Lakes Golf Club in Sydney.

Despite narrowly missing out on a 2019 European Tour card, Sydney-sider Papadatos is one to watch on home soil with the determination to finish atop the leaderboard in 2019.

With competition this tough, players will need to bring their A-game to Wagga Wagga Country Club while spectators should not miss the chance to see some of Australia’s best tee it up this season.

“The field for this year’s Ron Crouch Transport Wagga Wagga Country Club Pro-Am should excite local sports fans,” said Peter Welden, PGA NSW/ACT Tournament Coordinator.

“Some big names in Australian golf will be in action and with the course in great condition despite recent droughts it’ll be a great tournament to watch.”

The Ron Crouch Transport Wagga Wagga Country Club Pro-Am will be played from 28-29 March, 2019.

This event is sanctioned by the PGA of Australia on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series. Entry is free for this event.

The most well-credentialed player in the field, former PGA TOUR winner Nathan Green has set the early pace at the final stage of Qualifying School for the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

Being played on the open course at Moonah Links, Green fired 5-under 67 thanks to some good golf on the back-9 after he started his day on the 10^th tee.

Making the turn at 5-under, Green got it to 6-under with a birdie at the par-5 2^nd before hanging on across the front-9 as conditions turned difficult. A dropped shot at the 8^th saw him safely in the clubhouse in 67 shots.

“I played well. I got off to a good start, I think it’s a bit easier on that backside and the wind is a bit better on that back-9. I took advantage of it. I struggled a bit that second nine, coming in, but I was happy with the round,” said Green.

“Once you have to start reading wind into your putting it definitely makes it harder here. You just have to get through about four or five holes that play really tough with that wind, the 8^th hole is one of them.

“It was just one of those days, I haven’t had many of them lately, so it was good that I was able to hold it together,” added Green, who believes his extensive career experience held him in good stead today.

“I think having had Tour School experience, I have probably done 10 or so in my life, helped. It’s the mindset that you need to have, it’s a long week and everyone is feeling the pressure. That is probably an advantage.

“But the fact I am not playing a lot of golf at the moment is probably a disadvantage. My good golf is still really good; my bad golf is really poor.

“It’s going to be tough the next few days, especially if we get the weather that is expected, so hopefully I can keep hitting it alright.”

Having played the PGA TOUR for most of his career, Green returned to Australia with his young family to pursue other opportunities.

Now a fully qualified vocational PGA Professional after having completed the PGA Bridging Program, Green is enjoying his career change but admits to still enjoying the competitive side of tournament golf.

“I still love playing but I love being at home and I enjoy my job,” added Green.

“I am working at Toronto where my brother is the head pro. I do about 20 hours in the shop per week and give about four or five lessons. I coach a few of the juniors which I really enjoy.

“I always thought coaching would be tough, and it is. If I give someone a lesson, I sort of ride how they play for the next month. It can be a bit tough when they really aren’t getting what you are trying to teach them. But when they do have some success, I feel really good about it.

“But I just always like having some sort of Tour status, I like having the opportunity to play if it comes around.

“I only played four events this year on the status I had and I really enjoyed them, it’s good to catch up with the guys.

“If I get through again this week, I am not going to play a full schedule, just when I feel like going away and playing hopefully I will have that opportunity.”

Sitting a shot adrift of Green is Fijian professional Sam Lee who fired 4-under 68 which featured five birdies and a bogey.

At 3-under 69 are Ben Stowe, Chang Gi Lee from Korea and New Zealand amateur Mark Hutson while a further shot back is DJ Loypur and amateur Justin Warren.

Rounding out the top-10 on 1-under the card is a group of nine players.

The second round of ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Qualifying School tees off at 7.30am with Nathan Green on course at 8.50am.