Finalists Named for 2026 Queensland Golf Industry Awards

Finalists have been officially announced for the 2026 Queensland Golf Industry Awards, scheduled to take place on Thursday, October 8, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The annual event—jointly organized by the PGA of Australia, Golf Australia, the Queensland Sports Turf Management Association, and Golf Management Australia—returns to Brisbane to recognize the top individuals, tournaments, and golf facilities across the state over the past 12 months.

Early Bird tickets available till 15 September – click here for info.

Strong Representation from Northern Queensland

Townsville Golf Club leads the nominations this year, securing a total of seven finalist positions across various award categories.

The club’s presence is prominent across multiple divisions, including nominations for GM Distinguished Manager (Mitch Bligh), Golf Club Staff Member of the Year (Joshua Eastment), Golf Club Board Member of the Year (Geoffrey Eales), Assistant Superintendent Recognition (Cameron Gray), Volunteer of the Year (Vollies – Townsville GC Volunteers), Get into Golf Venue of the Year, and the Regional Facility category.

Woodford Golf Club also stands out with five nominations. Their finalists include PGA Professional Jack Day, Board Member Andre Le Huray, General Manager Dean Dagan, the club’s PGA Management Professional entry, and its junior golf program.

Major Club and Facility Categories

The flagship venue awards feature a competitive mix of regional and metropolitan facilities.

Queensland Golf Industry Award finalists (in alphabetical order)

Most Outstanding Queensland Club, Facility or Place to Play (Metropolitan) presented by MiClub

• Keperra CGC
• Pacific GC
• Maroochy River GC
• Sanctuary Cove G&CC

Most Outstanding Queensland Club, Facility or Place to Play (Regional) presented by Inside Golf

• Cairns GC
• City GC
• Half Moon Bay GC
• Kingaroy GC
• Maleny GC
• Pacific Harbour G&CC
• Stanthorpe GC
• Townsville GC
• Woodford GC

Most Outstanding Queensland Club, Facility or Place to Play (Off-Course) presented by Future Golf

• Big Swing – Virginia
• Birdie and Shank
• Cairns Golf Academy
• Golf 24
• Landers Pocket
• The Golf Nest
• X-Golf Mackay

GMA Distinguished Manager Award presented by Asahi Schweppes

• Mitch Bligh – Townsville GC
• Jason Looker – Caloundra GC
• Chris Richards – Tropics GC

Club Professional of the Year presented by Coca Cola Europacific Partners

• James Corkill – Yamba G&CC
• Craig Davis – Parkwood GC
• Jack Day – Woodford GC
• Chris Duke – Nudgee GC
• Drew McLellan – McLeod CGC

Superintendents Achievement Award presented by Water Wise Consulting

• Shaun Bowden – RACV Royal Pines Resort
• Matt Hartup – Pacific Harbour G&CC
• Cameron Smith – Sanctuary Cove G&CC

Golf Club Staff Member of the Year Award presented by Avenue Press

• Joshua Eastment – Townsville GC
• Caitlin Hawkins – Carbrook GC
• Jenny Lawrence – Nudgee GC
• Leigh Robertson – Yamba G&CC
• Hollie Westbrook – Pacific Harbour G&CC

Golf Club Board Member of the Year Award presented by CPRG

• Sam Bush – Cairns GC
• Geoffrey Eales – Townsville GC
• John Howarth – Half Moon Bay GC
• Andrew Johnson – Maleny GC
• Andre Le Huray – Woodford GC
• Christopher Sarquis – Kingaroy GC

Volunteer of the Year

• David Barrow – Babinda GC
• Chris Barker – Half Moon Bay GC
• Scott Bell – Middlemount GC
• Gary Ellis – Glasshouse Mountains Junior Golf
• Jane Franklin – Kingaroy GC
• Kaye Hosking – Beerwah GC
• Tom McEwan – Atherton GC
• Mareeba GC Volunteers
• Steve Pisani – McLeod CGC
• Helen Ricciardi – Isis GC
• William (Billy) Ricketts – Tieri GC
• Vollies – Townsville GC Volunteers
• Hans Van Sambeek – Maleny GC

Women and Girls in Golf Award

• Half Moon Bay GC
• Kingaroy GC
• Pacific GC
• Nudgee GC
• Southport GC
• The Brisbane GC

Get into Golf Venue of the Year

• Beerwah GC
• Half Moon Bay GC
• Nudgee GC
• Townsville GC

Golf Supplier of the Year Award

• Acushnet
• CPRG
• Empower Golf
• Red Tape Busters
• Top Tracer Range
• Trackman

Coach of the Year (High Performance)

• Dominic Azzopardi – Dom Azzopardi Golf
• Brett Maxwell – Virginia GC
• Wayne Rostron – Drummond Golf (Virginia)
• Ian Triggs – Brookwater GCC
• John Wright – Maroochy River GC

PGA Management Professional of the Year

• Dean Dagan – Woodford GC
• Craig Davis – Parkwood GC
• Chris Duke – Nudgee GC
• Tim Porter – Golf 24
• Wayne Rostron – Drummond Golf (Virginia)
• Paul Sanders – Sanctuary Cove G&CC

Coach of the Year (Game Development)

• Janine Barney – The Golf Nest
• Joshua Bevan – Golf Central
• Glenn Domigan – The Brisbane GC
• Asha Flynn – The Brisbane GC
• Jake Newbery – Keperra CGC
• John Wright – Maroochy River GC

Metropolitan Tournament of the Year

• Panasonic Air Conditioning Burleigh Pro-Am
• Coolangatta Tweed Heads Pro-Am presented by Battery World
• Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am
• EC Pohl & Co Southport Pro-Am
• One Percent Property Sales Virginia Pro-Am
• Bartons/BMD Wynnum Pro-Am

Regional Tournament of the Year

• Bolt Off Clermont Pro-Am
• PIMS Mackay Festival of Golf
• Lion Nathan Murwillumbah Pro-Am
• Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton
• XXXX Tin Can Bay Pro-Am
• Ray White Yamba Pro-Am

Legends Tournament of the Year

• Australian PGA Senior 9 Hole Championship Pro-Am
• Urangan Smash Repairs Fraser Coast Classic
• Pimpama City Gold Coast Senior PGA Championship
• Sanctuary Cove Legends Pro-Am hosted by Adam Scott and Peter Senior
• Sunshine Coast Masters
• CNW Wolston Park Legends Pro-Am

Golf Course Turf Apprentice of the Year Award presented by Toro

• James Bazzana – Teven GC
• Julian Sinardi – Sanctuary Cove G&CC
• Finlay Sneddon – RACV Royal Pines Resort
• Dan Spary – Oxley GC

Golf Course Assistant Superintendents Recognition Award

• Cameron Gray – Townsville GC
• Brent Johnston – RACV Royal Pines Resort
• Marc Launer – Beenleigh RSL & GC

Superintendents Environment & Safety Excellence Award presented by Husqvarna

• Jason Lavender – Beenleigh RSL and GC
• Keith Johnston – Keperra CGC

Junior Golf Program of the Year Award

• Bowen GC
• Brisbane GC
• Cairns Golf Academy
• Cairns GC
• KDV Driving Range
• Keperra CGC
• Maroochy River GC
• Meadowbrook GC
• Pacific GC
• Redcliffe GC
• Wantima CC
• Woodford GC

Additional awards presented at the QLD Golf Industry Awards Night that don’t attract finalists include:

• Services to Golf Award
• Superintendents Industry Recognition Award
• Male Amateur Golfer of the Year
• Female Amateur Golfer of the Year
• Junior Female Amateur Golfer of the Year
• Junior Male Amateur Golfer of the Year