South
Australian Peter Cooke has taken out the 2016 BHP Billiton Port Hedland Classic
in far north Western Australia.

It’s a far cry from the lush fairways and slick greens of
Oakmont at this week’s US Open, but in a remote part of the world lies Port Hedland
Golf Club, which for the 21^st time is hosting some of Australia’s
best professional golfers and this year it was another young star adding their
name to the list of champions which include Nick O’Hern and Adam Bland.

Cooke
carded a bogey-free final round of 66 to finish at 13-under-par (131) and
become the second consecutive winner from South Australia, following on from
Max McCardle’s win in 2015.

"It’s a
great event and I am stoked to win it after a few close calls in the past here,"
said Cooke.

The 31-year-old
is a member of the PGA Tour of China but after a lackluster few months in
China, decided against competing in the upcoming two tournaments to focus on an
assault in far north Western Australia.

"It wasn’t
an easy decision to come back to Australia but I love it out here in this part
of the world and there is great prize money on offer so I figured it would
be worth the trip," said Cooke.

After a
steady opening nine of two-under-par, Cooke caught fire on the back nine with
four birdies including a birdie on the final hole to seal the deal.

"I played
well and in these conditions you just need to hit the green and wait for the
putts to drop.

"It’s tough
to get the hang of the sand greens here but if you get comfortable you can make
putts and go low," added Cooke.

Runner-up
was Stuart Beaumont, who closed with the equal low round of the day with a 65,
while the 2013 champion Simon Houston fired rounds of 66-68 to finish in third
place three shots back.

Players
faced another day of testing conditions with winds reaching gusts of 40 km/h
for the final round in Port Hedland and with temperatures in the low 30’s, it
was a challenge from the opening hole.

"Port
Hedland has a reputation of being a windswept place and it certainly lived up
to it this week."  

Joint
overnight leader Robert Farley was unable to keep in touch with the hot scoring
in the windy conditions and ended in a tie for 16^th.

The next
stop on the 2016 WA/SA PGA Pro-Am Series presented by Subaru is The Broome
Furnishings/Carpet Paint & Tile Pro-Am beginning on Friday.

For scores and news from the PGA Pro-Am Series and
updates from Western Australian Outback, please visit www.pga.org.au/tourns/pro-am