Hunter based Greater Building Society has announced it will renew its major sponsorship of the Queensland PGA Championship at today's launch of the event on the Gold Coast.

The Von Nida Tour event will be held at Emerald Lakes Golf Club, Gold Coast, from 2 -5 November.

Greater Building Society assistant general manager, Don Magin, said the company would renew its sponsorship for a further two years following the tournament's success in supporting its rapid expansion into South East Queensland.

Mr Magin said that the championship also provided an opportunity to continue its long and proud history of supporting the development of sport in the communities in which the Greater operates.

"We wanted to support this important Queensland sporting event because it provides a stepping stone for players wanting to be stars on the world golfing stage," Mr Magin said.

Mr Magin said that last year's tournament offered plenty of good golf. Brad McIntosh recorded the first ever sub 60 round in a professional tournament in Australia. Scott Gardiner's and Jason Day's four hole play off ensured an exciting finish.

The 2006 Greater Building Society Queensland PGA Championship will bring a week of golfing activities at Emerald Lakes to a climax. The popular Night Shootout will be held on Tuesday October 31. A new addition will be the "Family Fun Day" on Saturday November 4.

Gavin Kirkman, Senior Executive Officer of the Qld Division of PGA Australia said tournaments such as the Greater Building Society Queensland PGA Championship helped to grow the game.

"This event attracts over 200 golf professionals from Australia and New Zealand to the Gold Coast," Mr Kirkman said.

The event was voted by players as the best of the eleven Von Nida tournaments.

This will be the fourth year that the event has been held at the Graham Marsh refurbished Emerald Lakes course.

The Greater Building Society is one of the fastest growing financial institutions in the country. It currently has four branches on the Gold Coast. It will open a new branch at Pacific Pines in June and one at Nerang in July. Further branches are planned as appropriate sites become available.