Nov. 4, 2004 – Peter Senior, Paul Gow, Peter Lonard, Euan Walters, Nick Flanagan and World Junior Champion Jason Day are just some of the names who will take part in the Von Nida Tour, showcasing the depth of talent on the PGA Tour of Australasia this summer.

In just its second year, the Von Nida Tour has proven to be an important vehicle in the growth of young golfers, by giving them the opportunity to gain experience and opportunities to play against the top players and ultimately move up into the elite ranks of the PGA Tour.

Just this year, Scott Hend, last years leading Money Winner, lined up in the US Open. There are three events remaining in 2004, the QLD Group Queensland Open (Nov 4-7), the Toyota Queensland PGA Championship (Nov 11-14) and the NSW Open Championship (Nov 18-21).

The three 2003 tournament champions will return to this years events. Scott Hend will be back to defend his Queensland Open title this week, as will the Queensland PGA defending Champion David Diaz when the event starts on November 11 and Craig Carmichael, the NSW Open champion, who will be at Liverpool Golf Club to take on a tough field on November 18.

The 2004 Von Nida Tour resumes tomorrow with the QLD Group Queensland Open, starting at the Ipswich Golf Club. Hend will take on a field including current Cadbury Schweppes Australian PGA Champion Peter Senior, World Junior Champion Jason Day, Lucas Parsons, Adam LeVesconte, Andrew Bonhomme and former tennis player Scott Draper, in the 68th Queensland Open, sponsored by The Q.L.D Group, developers of one of Ipswich's largest residential estates.

In yet another boost to the event, it was confirmed today that two of Australia’s most successful amateur golfers in recent years, James Nitties and Gavin Flint, will make their professional debuts. Nitties has already played in several professional events including last year’s MasterCard Masters where he finished a brilliant 8th and the 2001 and 2003 Australian Open's, where he was the leading amateur on both occasions.

Flint is the current New Zealand, New South Wales and Victorian Amateur Champion and at one stage earlier this year, held these titles and the Queensland Amateur Championship he won in mid 2003. Gavin narrowly missed graduating to stage two at the recent USPGA Tour School.

In its third consecutive year at the Ipswich Golf Club, the event has become a big part of the regional centre's sporting calendar alongside the Queensland 300 (premier touring car event) and the biggest drag racing event, the Winter Nationals at Willowbank Raceway.

One person usually found at Willowbank, but swapping the wheels for clubs is reigning V8 Supercar champion Marcus Ambrose. Ambrose, a keen golfer is expected to caddie for good friend Chris Travers. They played together at this years Queensland Masters Pro-Am in Townsville.

Wayne Grady entered the event but had to pull out after he broke his hand.

Past winners of the Queensland Open include: Norman Von Nida (1935,36,37,40,49,53 & 61), Greg Norman (1983, 86), Peter Senior (1984) David Graham (1985, 87) Brett Ogle (1989), Stuart Appleby (1991) and Terry Price (1993).

The winner of the 2004 Toyota Queensland PGA Championship, has a little more to play for this year with the inclusion of a Toyota Echo car as part of the package to be collected on Sunday November 14.

The event will begin on November 11 at the Emerald Lakes Golf Club on the Gold Coast and will feature Peter Senior, Scott Hend, the number two in driving distance on the USPGA Tour in 2003, Scott Gardiner, who is currently fourth on the 2004 Australasian Tour money list, and Gold Coast golfer and European Tour player Terry Price.

The world, Australian and New Zealand Junior Champion in 2004, Jason Day, has also accepted an invitation to play.

The Queensland PGA Championship has produced many a champion who has gone on to win on the international scene.

Past winners have included David Graham (1967) Greg Norman (1979) and Ian Baker-Finch (1984) who each went on to win Majors.

Meanwhile 1997 and 1998 winner Lucas Parsons, took full advantage of the boost his game received at that time to go on and win twice on the European Challenge Tour in 1999 and ultimately gain access to the European Tour in 2000.

He won the Greg Norman Holden International in February of 2000, but the confidence, experience and tournament preparation he was afforded as a result of his two Queensland PGA wins in those years, played a key role in eventually winning the co-sanctioned event in Sydney.

Andre Stolz, the 2002 winner, recorded his Queensland PGA Championship win at the Gold Coast Country Club after a nine-week break from tournament golf.

After success in Japan and the US Nationwide Tour, Stolz gained a US PGA Tour card via the Nationwide Tour and in October he won the Michelin Championship on the USPGA Tour earning a massive US$720,000 for that win.

Again it was tournaments on the Von Nida Tour that has helped players keep the momentum going and assisted them in succeeding on the lucrative USPGA and European Tours.

The final event on the Von Nida Tour is the NSW Open, to be held at the Liverpool Golf Club from November 18-21. It's taken more than 18 years of preparation, but Liverpool Golf Club will at last host a big event, the NSW Open.

All set to host the Australian PGA in 1986, it was a year of heavy rainfall and dramatic flooding that hit western Sydney and the course was all but washed away. But the announcement of Liverpool hosting the event earlier this year was just the start. The line up for the event is impressive.

Tournament officials are planning a marquis three-ball, with Australian Open Champion and crowd favourite Peter Lonard and 2005 PGA TOUR member Paul Gow expected to have star amateur and former rugby league international Paul 'Fatty' Vautin playing beside them in their three-ball for the first two days.

Also in the line up at this stage is 2003 US Amateur Champion Nick Flanagan, who will make his Australian professional debut at the NSW Open, Brad McIntosh (hailed as the best left hander in the state at the moment) and new professionals James Nitties and Andrew McKenzie, who finished second to current champion Craig Carmichael last year.

1983 Australian Open champion Peter Fowler has entered and will no doubt look to adding this famous trophy to his haul of past victories. Gavin Coles, 2002 winner of the Jacobs Creek Open & 2004 NZPGA Championship has also entered. Past winners of the NSW Open include golfing legends like Jim Ferrier (five time winner), Norman von Nida (six times), Frank Phillips (five times), Kel Nagle (twice), Billy Dunk (twice), Greg Norman (four times), Craig Parry (twice) and Jack Newton.

Kim Felton, the current leader on the Von Nida Tour Order of Merit and winner of three events on the Tour this year, will not be playing at these events.

Felton is a prime example of how success on the Von Nida Tour can ensure security for players on the PGA Tour of Australasia and in doing so provides opportunities and the confidence for them to pursue success on the international Tours. Felton, whose success has earned him exemption on the PGA Tour of Australasia for 2005, will instead be taking part in the second stage of the US PGA Tour Qualifying School in mid November, in pursuit of a coveted 2005 US PGA Tour Card.

Winners on the 2004 Von Nida Tour this year are:
Gareth Paddison (NZ) Mitsubishi Motors Victorian Open Championship
Mahal Pearce (NZ) Dunedin Classic
Matthew Ecob (NSW) Bega Cheese NSW PGA Championship
Brad McIntosh (NSW) Toyota Southern Classic at Woolooware
Martin Doyle (Vic) Schweppes South Australian PGA Championship
Kim Felton (WA) Western Australian PGA Championship
Kim Felton (WA) Queensland Masters
Kim Felton (WA) Cairns Classic
The first event for the Von Nida Tour in 2005 is the Mitsubishi Motors Victorian Open Championship at Woodlands Golf Club, Mordialloc, from January 28-30.