e members of the newly-named Queensland state team will play in the two-day 2016 Sunshine Coast Men's Open amateur golf championship at Headland Golf Club over the Easter weekend.
Defending champion Charlie Dann of Pelican Waters will be joined in the star-studded field by fellow local Shae Wools-Cobb of Maroochy River and Doug Klein (Redcliffe). Only last Monday the three were notified of their selection in the Queensland team.
The 56th staging of the Easter tournament, sponsored by Tate Professional Engineers for the 17th successive year, has attracted another classy field. Of the 220 starters, 72 have a handicap of four or less.
And while the three state team members are justifiably expected to be among the leaders come Sunday evening, five-time champion David Grenfell is the lowest handicapper in the field.
The former Headland member now plays out of Maroochy River and is off plus three, the same handicap as Wools-Cobb. Grenfell, who was the champion in 2014, had first victory back in 1992 aged 19.
Dann, the defending champion who was forced to withdraw from last weekend's Queensland PGA championship in Toowoomba because of a back issue, will play off plus two, as will fellow state team member Klein. Graham Hourn (Kingaroy) and Adam Gemmell (Ipswich) are others in the field playing off plus two.
Despite missing the Queensland PGA, Dann said there will be no excuses going into the weekend.
"My game is in very good shape," he said.
"I really like the Headland layout and enjoy playing this tournament. And with so many top-rated players in the field, defending my title will be a real challenge."
All Sunshine Coast-based clubs will be represented in the tournament plus seven Gold Coast clubs, but the greatest representation will be from Brisbane. Thirteen Brisbane clubs, including Royal Queensland, Brisbane Golf Club and Indooroopilly, will have players in the field. Other visitors heading to Buderim are from Royal Sydney, Toowoomba, Dalby, Goomeri, Ipswich, Kingaroy, 1770, Moranbah and Gladstone.
Despite a weekend drenching the Buderim course will be in superb condition for the tournament with the 328 couch greens expected to be running at between 10 and 10 ½.
Players will tee off in from both tees from 6.30am on Saturday, while the top seeded 12 for the second round (Sunday) will tee off from noon.