The field is set for the Srixon Australian Men’sand Women’s Amateur Championships which commence next week in Brisbane. Over 260 men and 85 women will contest the Australian Stroke Play Championships at Virginia, Royal Queensland and Brisbane Golf Clubs, with the top 32 players qualifying for the Amateur Championships at Royal Queensland Golf Club. With the 2008 champions Kristie Smith and Anders Kristiansen both having turned professional, the door is ajar for two new champions. Players contesting the event include National Squad Member Julia Boland, who has already won this year s Lake Macquarie Amateur, and the Victorian Stroke Play Championship, Stacey Keating, our number one ranked female amateur. New Zealanders Zoe-Beth Brake and Emily Perry will provide serious competition from across the Tasman. The men’s field will see National Squad members and Australia s number one and two ranked players, Scott Arnold and Matt Jager, head the Australia contingent which includes Tasmanian Open champion Ryan McCarthy and New Zealand s number one Ryan Fox, heading the international players. With players from around Australia joined by players from England, Germany, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, and USA, this year s events are sure to go down to the wire. With the Championships dating back to over 100 years, the honour roll of champions is extensive. This year will also incorporate the Ross Herbert National and International Teams Trophies for the first time in the revised format. Each State and International body may nominate two males and two females, with the winner being the national and international teams with the lowest aggregate score over the first two stroke play rounds. Ross Herbert was the inaugural head coach of the Australian Institute of Sport Golf program. A PGA member for 20 years, Ross pursued the highest ideals of personal integrity as a tour player, coach, friend, colleague, father and husband. Ross had a great passion and enthusiasm for the game of golf and for life. Ross passed away in January 2001 at the age of 42.