Today at Wagga Wagga Country Club, the battle lines were drawn in the first of what is billed to be an annual challenge Australia between Thailand in best ball match play ahead of this week’s Navigate Advisors Wagga Wagga CC Pro-Am.

Australia’s self-appointed team of Steffanie Vogel and Lucy Harris challenged the Thailand team of Pattaraporn Moonchoo and Tunrada ‘Pat’ Piddon in an 18 hole match during Tuesday’s practice round ahead of the $50,000 event on the WPGA Tour of Australasia schedule.

Played from April 3-4, the Wagga Wagga Pro-Am marks the end of the women’s Tour schedule for the first half of the year, before it returns to action in October ahead of the conclusion of the 2025 season.

Upon the Australian Team’s arrival to the first tee, the Thai duo no doubt felt a little underprepared, with Vogel and Harris decked out in matching outfits, complete with Australian flag bucket hats and sunglasses, as well as green and gold socks and hair ribbons. The Aussie pair also draped in boxing kangaroo flags.

The more colourful Australian team using the shock of their “uniforms” to build an early lead and reaching 4-up through six holes.

The Thai team fought back with a birdie barrage that lasted 11 straight holes from the seventh to claim victory by a 2&1 margin.

Team Thailand’s victory speech offering up the opportunity for a return fixture in their homeland later this year, under the proviso the Australians don their country themed paraphernalia again.

Watching on as Tuesday’s match unfolded, the international flavour of the WPGA Tour of Australasia membership suggested next year’s event in Wagga Wagga may expand beyond two teams, with New Zealanders, Japanese and Malaysian players expressing interest.

The camaraderie of the practice round with a difference part of the WPGA playing group attempting to make the visiting players’ time in Australia away from family and friends enjoyable as the Tour continues to grow.

Turning their attention to the tournament proper that gets underway on Wednesday, the players involved in the grudge match and others taking part in more traditional event preparation have widely praised the condition of the course.

The pure condition of the fairways and smooth rolling greens constant talking points among the players, many of whom are staying with Wagga Wagga Country Club members this week,

Tee times begin from 7:45am (AEDT), with live scoring via the WPGA Tour of Australasia website.