Like the VIC PGA last week, the Queensland equivalent was played early this year in the COVID affected schedule, however has moved to the week ahead of the Fortinet Australian PGA at Royal Queensland.

Starting as a match play event back in 1926 before transitioning to stroke play like so many other PGA Championships around the world, the QLD PGA has major winners Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch and David Graham on its honour roll along with a host of Aussie legends and current stars of the PGA Tour of Australasia.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Born in the Northern Territory but now based in and representing Queensland, Anthony Quayle completed the Queensland double by adding this title to his 2020 Queensland Open at the start of the year.

Following a good week at the Australian PGA, Quayle took a six shot lead into the final round, but it was anything but a cruise to victory after he took double bogey at the 1st on Sunday.

At first it was Justin Warren who took it to the Japan Tour regular, before Louis Dobbelaar threw down the gauntlet. But Quayle was able to maintain his composure and find some better golf as the final day went on, eventually signing for a 73 and 12-under total that gave him a two shot buffer over Daniel Gale.

RIGHT: Anthony Quayle won't be at Nudgee to defend the Charles Bonham trophy he won earlier in the year. PHOTO: Australian Golf.

Quayle won’t be at Nudgee this week however to defend his title.

COURSE: Those who teed it up earlier this year in this event will be at an advantage this week with the same Kurrai Course at Nudgee Golf Club playing host.

Long time Nudgee member Scott Hend is back at his home club for the first time since the redesign by James Wilcher and noted earlier this week that any home field advantage is gone so significant are the changes.

Located 20 minutes drive from the middle of Brisbane, the par-72 features humps and hollows, as well as elevated greens that add a new dimension of interest to the flat piece of land, while the bunkering and putting surfaces present most of the challenge.

Measuring 6,453 metres and grassed with TifEagle greens and wintergreen couch fairways, Kurrai closes with a 175 metre par-3 over water that means no leader feels truly comfortable until their tee shot safely finds dry land.

PRIZEMONEY: $250,000
RELATED: So-called expert tips for this week

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Local member Scott Hend might not have a course based advantage anymore at Nudgee but he will have plenty of support and has recently found some form.

Losing his DP World Tour playing privileges after returning quickly from a health issue and operation, the Queensland veteran opened last week’s Asian Tour event in Egypt with a 62 and eventually finished in a share of 13th.

Playing a tournament at his home club and with plenty of winning experience and some recent form, Scott Hend is one to watch this week. PHOTO: Jan Kruger/LIV Golf/Getty Images.

That result was one better than the week prior in Morocco and Hend is clearly still hungry for success as he approaches the magical age of 50 and the potential second career burst on offer.

Joining the one-time World No.59 in the field this week are two other players who have had plenty of success around the world and at home.

Greg Chalmers is back home and as well as being a PGA Tour winner, the left hander has a knack for winning titles in his homeland. It doesn’t hurt that the Chalmers is one of the best putters to have set foot on short grass.

Playing far less competitive golf in recent years than Chalmers and Hend, Mat Goggin is off the tools at his 7 Mile Beach development in Tasmania and playing a run of Aussie events.

It was a missed cut at Moonah Links last week, but Goggin is an experienced campaigner with plenty of international wins under his belt, and blowing off the rust last week will have helped.

Another who will be worth watching based on Moonah Links last week is runner-up at the Vic PGA Lincoln Tighe.

The big hitting New South Welshman must still be wondering how you beat Andrew Martin after last week’s five hole play-off, and although this week presents a very different course challenge, he clearly is in good form.

Martin too will be confident after a second PGA Tour of Australasia title, while Brett Coletta was bundled out of sudden death early last week and has shown some very positive signs of the early stages of the season.

72-HOLE RECORD: 254, (Brad Kennedy, 2013).

RECENT WINNERS: Anthony Quayle (2022), Michael Sim (2020), Daniel Nisbet (2019), Daniel Fox (2018), Daniel Pearce (2017)

TV TIMES*
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 505 2:30pm – 5:30pm)
Round 4: Sunday Fox Sports 505 12:30pm – 5:30pm)
*AEDT, check local guides