There is no doubting the importance of this coming Friday’s Ford & Dougherty Property Pro-Am with a field of 60 golf Professionals formally entered for the tournament. Due to the popularity of the event the original limit of 50 Professionals had to be extended to 60 to enable host Club, Grafton Golf Club to extend to all those Professionals wanting to participate, the opportunity to do so. Leading the large field of Professionals, and regarded as a leading contender is James Nittes, an ex USPGA and European Tour player who has regularly played in both of these tours in past years.  Nittes is currently a regular player on the Australasian PGA Tour for which his present ranking status is at No. 3. At this time Simon Hawkes is ranked No. 1 on the tour, his most recent win being in the Oates Bic Victorian Open earlier this year.  As with all the golf Professionals taking part he will be keen to claim his share of the $11,000 plus prize money on offer.  Previous Grafton Pro-Am winner, Brett Rankin will be returning to try and repeat his earlier success.  Rankin has contested many Professional events and is highly regarded amongst his peers.  Playing in his rookie year, Robert Hogan will be a player to watch as he makes his Ford & Dougherty Real Estate Pro-Am debut.  Hogan has a currant No. 2 ranking and cannot be discounted and will feature in the final results. Two lady golf Professionals will also be taking part, Reanna Matthews representing Victoria and Molly Lavercombe who plays for NSW.  Reanna has been playing in various Professional events over the past three or so months.  Molly also has been a regular tournament player, finishing mid field most weeks and will be out to impress and improve on those finishers. The field of 60 Professionals are made up of all representations from all Australian States as well as one International player, Young Hyun Kim from Korea. Spectators are urged to come out and watch these players in action; entry to the course is free. Should you prefer to watch these future champions “within the Ropes” Mark Harvison would appreciate if you could give your times as a spotter, which will not only assist those playing, but enable the huge field of Professionals, and there Amateur golfers to receive an invite, to complete their rounds without any undue delay. The golf action will commence with a shotgun start at 9.30am. At the completion of the 18 hole competition a shootout will be held on the par 3 1st hole. The Professionals will be vying for a $500 prize, with the Amateur who achieves the nearest the pin prize to receive four rounds of golf through the courtesy of the Bonville International Golf Resort. For any information relating to the Ford & Dougherty Property Pro-Am just contact Grafton Golf Club Professional, Mark Harvison on 4442 5413. Ray Hopwood