Former World No.1 Golfers Line Up For New Gold Coast Challenge at Royal Pines

THE long-running Australian Ladies Masters will be replaced by the inaugural RACV Gold Coast Challenge at Royal Pines next year.

The Challenge will be held over three days from February 2-4, with the opening two days to be played in a pro-am format in conjunction with the individual professional contest.

Former world No.1 and 2016 Ladies Masters winner Jiyai Shin has committed to the event, as has two-time Aus­tralian Open winner Laura Davies, another former world No.1.

Australian LPGA players Katherine Kirk, Sarah Jane Smith and Sarah Kemp and Ladies European Tour winner Rebecca Artis will also be part of the crack field.

ALPG boss Karen Lunn said she had been delighted with the response to the new event from players and sponsors alike.

“We are really excited that we have managed to secure players of the calibre of Jiyai Shin and Laura Davies to the 2017 RACV Gold Coast Challenge,’’ Lunn said.

English golfing great Laura Davies. Photo: AP/Kamran Jebreili
“Apart from being great characters, both of these ladies have reached the pinnacle in women’s golf, having been the No.1 ranked player in the world.”

Sponsors such as Volvik, Cutter and Buck, Schweppes and the City of the Gold Coast have also given their support to the new event, to be held on the revamped Royal Pines layout that hosted the Australian PGA earlier this month.

Meanwhile, the annual Greg Norman Junior Masters will conclude today as rising young golfers compete in the fourth and final round at Palmer Gold Coast.

Two hundred and twenty-four players started the tournament and the top 40 per cent have made the final cut for today’s action.

Surfers Paradise golfer Lisa Edgar will take a six-shot lead into the 17-years event after leading at the end of all three rounds so far, despite dropping four shots on the outward nine to card a three-over-par 74.

Josh Armstrong (The Lakes, Sydney) will take a four-shot lead into the 17-years boys final round.

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