Sixty-one players from 15 countries spread across the globe will attempt to secure their spot for the upcoming WPGA Tour of Australasia season at Qualifying School on the Gold Coast starting Monday.

The first half of the 2024 WPGA Tour season consists of 15 events worth a combined $2.9 million in prize money, the Women’s NSW Open and Australian Women’s Classic once again co-sanctioned with the Ladies European Tour and worth $500,000 apiece.

The bolstered schedule and increase in prize funds have proved enticing to players from around the world who will play 36 holes at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Golf Club over the next two days along with 21 Aussies also determined to earn status for the season ahead.

Among the visitors are Ladies European Tour winners Felicity Johnson and Lydia Hall from the UK, world No.303 Mizuki Oide (pictured) who leads a nine-strong contingent from Japan, Thai sisters and US college stars Peerada and Tunrada Piddon and Epson Tour-bound Fiona Xu, who is one of five New Zealanders in the field.

Familiar faces Amy Walsh, Stefanie Hall and Grace Lennon headline the Australian players to tee it up for what WPGA Tour CEO Karen Lunn believes is a fitting precursor to a reinvigorated domestic schedule.

“We’re thrilled with the schedule we have put together for 2024 but we’re even more excited by the response of the players,” said Lunn.

“The success of our tournaments is dependent on the quality of fields that we can attract.

“If Q School at Coolangatta is anything to go by, we look certain to have high-quality fields for each and every event this season featuring players from all around the world.”

Behind Australia’s 21, Japan’s nine players is the next highest representation from a single country followed by New Zealand (five), Korea (five), Thailand (four) and Malaysia (four).

Other countries who will be represented at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Golf Club are the UK (three), USA (two), Indonesia (two), South Africa, France, Northern Ireland, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Singapore.

It marks the second year in succession that Coolangatta-Tweed has hosted Q School and continues the club's strong tradition of staging tournaments of significance.

"Coolangatta-Tweed has a proud history of hosting major Australian tournaments and we couldn't be happier to be starting our 2024 season there again," said Lunn.

"Both the River and West courses are outstanding tests of golf and the club and its members always get behind the events.

"We staged the inaugural Athena at Coolangatta in 2021 and Swedish star Maja Stark won the Women's NSW Open there in 2022.

"I'm sure whoever earns medallist honours on Tuesday will add to the legacy of Coolangatta-Tweed as a magnificent tournament venue."

The return of two co-sanctioned events with the Ladies European Tour for the first time since February 2020 is yet another boost to the WPGA Tour and its members.

Now a star on the LPGA Tour in the US, Stephanie Kyriacou played her way onto the LET with victory at the Australian Women’s Classic at Bonville Golf Resort in 2020 while still an amateur.

Now a new wave of players will have that opportunity.

“Our tour is here to develop players who have aspirations of playing in the biggest events in world golf,” Lunn added.

“The resumption of our partnership with the Ladies European Tour not only provides direct access to our domestic members but allows players such as Kirsten Rudgeley, Whitney Hillier, Kelsey Bennett and Kristalle Blum to play LET events on home soil.”

Bennett was medallist at Q School 12 months ago and then just days later lost to close friend Cassie Porter in a playoff at the Melbourne International at Latrobe Golf Club.

Those who earn their cards on Tuesday will have the same opportunity with the $50,000 Melbourne International to tee off on Saturday at Latrobe.

Among those already entered for the Melbourne International are 2023 playoff combatants Porter and Bennett, Women’s NSW Open champion Momoka Kobori, LPGA Tour player Karis Davidson and Stephanie Bunque.

First tee time on Monday will be 7:30am AEDT with qualifiers to be determined after Tuesday’s second round.

The top five qualifiers after two rounds will be exempt into the two LET co-sanctioned events.

Photo: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images