Presnell returns to the site of his first professional victory - when he claimed  the 2009 Nationwide Tour co-sanctioned Moonah Classic by a shot from fellow Aussie Peter O'Malley – with fond memories of the tournament that changed his life.

“My win at Moonah absolutely changed everything for me,” said the 30-year-old whose 2009 rookie season on the Nationwide Tour included his victory and six top ten finishes.

“Before the event I had goals that I wanted to be in America in five years and I hadn’t done that. I had been to the Asian Tour School earlier on in the year and missed there so I came into the Moonah Classic just trying to get money up to be able to compete in Monday qualifiers in the US which is a really tough thing to do from Australia.”

“When I won it gave me a massive boost. I had been out there, a pro for five years and I hadn’t achieved a great deal. I wanted to try to get out on one of the main stages so winning the Moonah Classic last year was my ticket!”

Presnell immediately earned an exemption until the end of 2010 on both the Australasian and Nationwide Tours with his win, living the reality of the event’s tagline “where dreams are made.”

Whilst he narrowly missed out on a 2010 USPGA Tour card after finishing 28th on the 2009 Nationwide Tour Money List (the top 25 at season’s end graduate,) Presnell finished runner up on the Australasian Tour Order of Merit and is looking forward to next week’s Moonah Classic as a kick-start to 2010.

“When I look back now at where I was before my win last year I am really proud of what I achieved,” said Presnell.
“Having missed the Top 25 is a great disappointment but my win gave me a great opportunity and a fantastic year and I am looking forward to doing it all again this year. I’m obviously heading back to Moonah with fond memories and I’m feeling confident.”  
Presnell leads a strong contingent of Aussie young guns who will line up at next week’s event including the PGA Tour’s longest driver in 2009, Sydney’s Won Joon Lee. The big hitting 24-year-old’s average driving distance in 2009 was an impressive 286 metres. Also taking to the Peter Thomson designed layout is 28-year-old Kurt Barnes who became the first Australian to win on the Omega China Tour in 2009 after closing with an even-par 72 to seal a one-stroke victory in the RMB1.2 million Sofitel Zhongshan IGC Open in Nanjing. Barnes most recently claimed a maiden birth for the 2010 Open Championship at IFQ Australasia and heads to Moonah alongside fellow qualifier Ewan Porter who claimed the inaugural Moonah Classic in 2008, and two time Nationwide Tour winner Jarrod Lyle.  
The Aussie young guns will line up against a quality experienced field including eight time Australasian Tour winner Peter Lonard, three time Australian Masters champion Craig Parry, two time NZ PGA Championship winner Peter O’Malley, four time European Tour winner Stephen Leaney and Nationwide Tour winners Paul Gow and Jarrod Lyle.

The 2010 Moonah Classic will be held at Moonah Links in Victoria from February 4-7. Held for the third straight year at the famed Victorian layout on the Mornington Peninsula, this year’s event will feature an increased prize purse of US$700,000, up US$100,000 from 2009. For the first year the tournament will also be accompanied by the Moonah Amateur Classic where amateurs will line up alongside the pros during the pro-am as well as during the final amateur competition round on Saturday. A celebrity will also join each amateur team on the Friday.

Entry to the Moonah Classic is free.