The PGA National Futures Championship is returning to Ballarat with a new format.
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The first two days of the $60,000 72-hole tournament at Ballarat Golf Club on October 22-23 will be played as a pro-am.
A pro-am was previously played a day before the championship, with trainees using it as a warm-up.
The new format allows amateurs to play alongside professionals in full tournament conditions.
This will be the sixth year Australia's best trainees and a select group of international players, making up a field of 100, have contested the world's richest trainee or apprentice tournament on the Ballarat lay-out.
Ballarat Golf Club president Wayne Hines said the club had worked with the PGA to introduce the new two-day pro-am in response to feedback from members and the Ballarat golfing community wanting more access during the event.
"We believe this format provides a great opportunity for people to get involved and play our course when our greens staff have it in such great condition," he said.
Club vice-president Lesa Gray said the club would be encouraging members and wider community to get involved with the new-look event by playing in the pro-am or attending as a spectator.
Club general manager Ashley Bennet said as one of only a few Australian tournaments where males and females competed side-by-side for prizemoney and a national championship, the event aligned well with the Ballarat Golf Club's objective to promote gender equality within its community.
"Local and interstate visitors who attend to spectate or play in the pro-am are guaranteed to be treated to excellent golf by some of Australia's strongest young trainee professional players," he said.
Ben Stowe from Royal Sydney Golf Club won the championship last year, with his 72-hole nine-under score of 279 featuring course record at seven-under 65 in round three.
As well as the prizemoney, the tournament will offer a start in next year's Australian PGA Championship.