Coffs Harbour Golf Club hosting NSW Open qualifier next week

A STRONG field of 76 professionals are preparing to tee off at Coffs Harbour Golf Club next week in the North Coast Open.

Along with 20 hot amateurs, the field will not only be chasing a share of the $50,000 prize pool on offer but the top-three finishers will qualify to play in the NSW Open in November.

Defending his title next week is Queenslander Brett Rankin, who used his victory last year to springboard himself onto the Asian Tour for 2025.

“Results like his regional qualification and his subsequent win in the World Sand Greens title certainly helped Brett to one of his best years on tour,” said Graeme Phillipson, General Manager of Operations Golf NSW.

The big week of golf starts on Monday with a Pro-Am event which always brings a lot of fun for those that play before the 36-hole tournament is played on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Joining Rankin in the Open field will be fellow pros who’ve been no stranger to Coffs Harbour in the past such as Sam Brazel, Deyen Lawson, Corey Lamb and Nathan Barbieri.

For those who take advantage of the free entry fee to join the spectator galleries around the course, there’ll also be a strong local flavour in the field to watch next week.

Jack Pountney, Amelia Mehmet Grohn, Harry McMillan and Andrew Campbell are among the professionals teeing-off while local amateurs Aden Louez, David Newick, Cameron Pollard, Billy Flanagan and Jacob Cross will also be chasing a place at the top of the leaderboard.

Coffs Harbour Golf Club general manager Paul McAra said hopes are high for a Coffs Harbour local to be among the action when the whips are cracking late on Wednesday.

“A lot of local hopefuls are in the field and there are high expectations that one or more of the local contingent will finish up near the top of the leaderboard this year,” McAra said.