Peter Culross (pictured) created a slice of history at Concord Golf Club recently, becoming the first superintendent from a Queensland golf club to win the ASTMA Golf Championship stroke title. After more than 30 years of the tournament being dominated by superintendents from New South Wales (12 wins), South Australia (six), Western Australia (five) and Victoria and the ACT (three apiece), the Nudgee Golf Club superintendent finally staked Queensland’s claim on the trophy with a two shot win over Tura Beach Country Club’s Brad Foster.

Culross, who has hosted the past four Queensland PGA Championships on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, shot a 77 on a very challenging Concord layout that had been superbly presented by superintendent Chris Howe, assistant Adrian Kuipers and their team. Played under blue skies and sunny conditions, a marked contrast to the weather in Sydney this week, Concord’s bentgrass greens rolled true and fast, with their many undulations and subtle nuances making for some difficult reads.

A 5-handicapper, Culross had a day to remember (like this birdie putt, pictured) and was just one of two players in the stroke field to break 80, with Foster (a +2 marker) shooting 79. To make things even better, Culross helped to anchor the Queensland team which collected the state teams title for the second time in four years. Culross was joined by ASTMA president Ben Tilley (Headland GC), Jason Bushell (Rowes Bay GC) and Mick McCombe (Maleny GC) as they posted 86 points to romp home by six points over Tasmania.

Elsewhere, 4-handicapper Hagen Faith (ground manager, Sky Stadium, NZ) won the stableford trophy with an impressive 39 points, beating home Oliver Davis from Royal Adelaide Golf Club by one point. Thomas North (superintendent, Royal Hobart GC) took out the nett title (75), edging home defending nett champion Matt Campbell (Numurkah GC, Vic) by a single shot. Nearest the pin prizes went to Kenton Boyd (Shotmakers) and Shay Tasker (Carnarvon GC), while 2023 Red Jacket winner Ben Hallam (Tea Tree Gully GC) smacked the longest drive.

The ASTMA congratulations all winners and sincerely thanks Platinum Partner Toro Australia for again sponsoring the event and Chris Howe and the team at Concord for a fantastic day.

Pictured below (from left): Stableford winner Hagen Faith, Culross with fellow past Toro Red Jack winners and Nett winner Tom North