Outback Queensland Masters attracts record number of amateur golfers

The fourth leg of the Outback Queensland Masters attracted a record number of amateur golfers to the outback town of Blackall under perfect conditions of big blue skies and warm winter days.

Members of the Hervey Bay Golf Club cheered on men’s winner, Laurie Binstead with 46 points and hailing from the Murrumbidgee Country Club in Canberra, women’s winner with 41 points, Ann Backhouse were awarded the coveted orange jackets at the awards ceremony at the Blackall Golf Club.

Over 200 golfers played 18 holes of golf over the weekend as the fourth leg of the 2021 Outback Queensland Masters, with many becoming accustomed to golf, outback Queensland style, on the sand greens.

In celebration of Naidoc Week, a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony was shared by Keelen Mailman with players and spectators on sunset to cleanse and protect everyone while on Bidgera Country.

Following was dinner under the stars with traditional songstress, creative entrepreneur and founder/director of the Mission Songs Project, Jessie Lloyd who originally hails from the tropics of North Queensland, performing live to enthral the  audience.

Keeping the audience in stitches was ‘the bloke from Moree’ Murray Hartin with his rapid-fire, rhyming recitals.

Queensland Manager, Golf Australia Luke Bates noted “the Blackall Golf Club and community of Blackall have been so welcoming.

“It has really ensured the visitors and players from across Australia who have joined us on this 1,900km journey have rated Blackall so high.  The Outback Queensland Masters was developed to encourage visitors to spread the economic benefit to as much of the outback as possible, and we’ve certainly seen that here in the Blackall Tambo Region.

“The Outback Queensland Masters is presented by Golf Australia and partnered by Tourism & Events Queensland and the PGA with six local government authorities, including this weekend with the Blackall-Tambo Regional Council.”

Joining the 2021 Outback Queensland Masters is the Kirkwood Cup Trophy Tour (the Australian PGA Championship Trophy).

Local communities and players are being encouraged to get up close and personal with this legendary cup, coming up next at the Hughenden Golf Club from 17th to 18th July, and Longreach Golf Club from 23rd to 25th July.

Outback Queensland Masters 2021 Event Schedule
Event 1 Biloela – 19th & 20th June, 2021
Event 2 Charleville – 26th & 27th June, 2021
Event 3 Quilpie – 3rd & 4th July, 2021
Event 4 Blackall – 10th & 11th July, 2021
Event 5 Hughenden – 17th & 18th July, 2021
Event 6 Longreach – 23rd, 24th & 25th July 2021

For Blackall results – leaderboard go to golf.org.au/events#/competition/3024947/results