A course record round of 8-under-par 62, which included two eagles and six birdies, gave Mee a one-shot victory over Austin Bautista (NSW) and a pair of Victorians, Ashley Hall and Andre Lautee.

It was a nice confidence boost for Mee who will head to this week’s Webex Players Series Perth hosted by Minjee and Min Woo Lee keen to improve on his 93rd position on the 2024/25 Order of Merit.

His only top-20 so far in his rookie season came in his opening event, the PNG Open.

Turning point

With Lautee waiting in the clubhouse after a morning round of 63, Mee needed a fast finish to take the winner’s cheque at Lonsdale. It came across the 11th to 13th holes, where the Queenslander went eagle-birdie-birdie to move to -8 for the day.

A par on his final hole, the par-3 14th, sealed his third adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win.

Quick quotes

“I came down here on Thursday to play these three pro-ams (Settlers Run, Portsea and Lonsdale Links) before the Tour season starts up again. I didn’t finish off too well at the end of last year.

“I wanted to get some reps in after Christmas because I didn’t touch a club for a couple of weeks.

“It all really started for me on my second hole, the 16th, where I hit a driver on a hole I probably wouldn’t go for if I’d known the course. I hit on to about 15 feet and rolled in the putt for eagle. That kickstarted the round.”

Leading scores

1 James Mee 62

T2 Andre Lautee 63

T2 Austin Bautista 63

T2 Ashley Hall 63

T5 Michael Choi 65

T5 Steven Jones 65

7 Matt Dowling 66

Next up

The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series takes a short break before the three-day Hewison Private Wealth King Island Pro-Am at Cape Wickham Links and Ocean Dunes Golf Course on January 19-21.

January 4: Wood wins by one at Portsea

Queenslander Chris Wood enjoyed more success on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula with a one-stroke win at the $40,000 Peninsula Sotheby’s Portsea Celebrity Pro-Am at Portsea Golf Club.

Winner of the 2020 Victorian PGA Championship at Moonah Links, Wood had six birdies and an eagle in his round of 7-under 64 to finish one clear of Victorian Andrew Kelly.

Eager to make a quick start to the new year on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, Wood’s win is the ideal preparation for next week’s Webex Players Series Perth tournament at Royal Fremantle Golf Club.

“I generally have a bit more of a break and come out of the blocks pretty slow in the new year,” said Wood.

“I wanted to get the clubs in hand and put a bit of work in and the last couple of days have been nice.”

Turning point
Level with the best of the morning wave with a birdie on 16 and eagle at the par-5 third, Wood made his move around the turn at Portsea Golf Club.

Starting with a birdie at the par-4 sixth, Wood added four more on the trot from the par-5 eighth to race out to 8-under before his lone bogey of the day at the short par-3 12th.

Quick quotes
“I got off to a bit of an adventurous start,” said Wood.

“Teeing off on 16, I hit my tee shot straight into a divot and then hit the next shot about 10 or 15 metres.

“I then chipped in for birdie so it was sort of the golfing gods paying me back there.”

Leading scores
1          Chris Wood      64
2          Andrew Kelly    65
T3        Todd Sinnott    67
T3        Brendan Smith 67
T3        Darcy Brereton 67

Next up
Geelong BMW Lonsdale Links Pro-Am at Lonsdale Links, Sunday, January 5.

January 3: Wright triumphs at Settlers Run

Heading into his second season on the Champions Tour in the US, Wright went bogey free in his round of 6-under 66, two clear of Victorian Jack Harrison (68) as nine players finished tied for third at 3-under par.

Starting with a birdie at his opening hole, the short par-4 17th, Wright methodically went about building his round, closing it out with a sixth and final birdie at the par-5 16th.

Turning point

Level with the best of the morning scores at 3-under through 10 holes, Wright made birdie at the 481-metre par-5 ninth and then picked up a further shot at the par-3 11th to build a handy buffer heading into the final few holes.

Quick quotes

“I started off by hitting it into about 12 feet on the 17th hole and rolled that in, so that was a nice start,” said Wright.

“Managed to put another five (birdies) on the card in patches throughout the round and kept the bogeys off the card. It’s always good to not have a bogey and then to finish with a birdie was nice, too.”

Leading scores
1          Michael Wright            66
2          Jack Harrison               68
T3        Cameron Kelly              69
T3        Tim Walker                   69
T3        Michael Choi                69
T3        James Mee                   69
T3        Ruben Lal                     69
T3        Josh Younger               69
T3        David Micheluzzi          69
T3        Douglas Klein               69
T3        Chris Wood                  69

Next up

Peninsula Sotheby’s Portsea Celebrity Pro-Am at Portsea Golf Club, Saturday, January 4.