A close to two-year wait for a win ended in emphatic fashion with Brisbane’s Will Bruyeres taking out the Lunar Mining Emerald Pro-Am at Emerald Golf Club.
Without a victory on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series since the Northbridge Pro-Am in Sydney in October 2022, Bruyeres backed up a round of 6-under 64 on day one with 7-under 63 in Round 2 and 13-under total.
That was three clear of Tim Hart (66) as Blaike Perkins stormed home with a 63 of his own to snare outright third.
Bruyeres had just one bogey across the 36 holes – the par-3 ninth in Round 2 – but responded with birdies at 11 and 13 to keep the chasers at bay.
“I knew I could make a couple more birdies and just get rid of that mistake,” said Bruyeres.
“It was my only bogey of the tournament so I didn’t really think too much of it to be honest.”
Hunting a sixth straight Onsite Rental Group Mining Towns Series title, Hart moved into top spot with his runner-up finish, now two shots clear of Perkins with three rounds left to play.
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
Playing in the group ahead of fellow Round 1 co-leaders Hart and Harrison Wills, Bruyeres played the role of the hunted from the very first hole.
An opening birdie gave him a one-shot buffer from Wills yet it was an eagle at the par-5 sixth and two subsequent birdies that set Bruyeres apart.
The bogey on nine was a temporary hiccup, birdies at 11, 13 and 17 enough to close out a comfortable win.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“That eagle putt on six was a big turning point for me,” said Bruyeres.
“It just gave me that little bit of leeway, a little bit of breathing room and then I could just fly through the rest of the holes.
“I had a steady start and then just got hot through the middle and then just hit the ball quite nicely the rest of the day and holed a couple putts.
“Nothing else to it. Just a simple day. And a lot of putts holed.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 William Bruyeres 64-63—127
2 Tim Hart 64-66—130
3 Blaike Perkins 70-63—133
4 Jay Mackenzie 69-65—134
5 Jayden Cripps 68-67—135
T6 Nathan Page 68-68—136
T6 Caleb Bovalina 65-71—136
NEXT UP
The Onsite Rental Group Mining Towns Series continues on Wednesday with the JET Group Clermont Pro-Am and then concludes with the two-day Blackwater Pro-Am starting Saturday.