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Fox eager to repay Kiwi fans at BMW Australian PGA


The All Whites were on site for his RBC Canadian Open win, the Kiwi contingent was strong at The Open at Royal Portrush and now New Zealand No.1 Ryan Fox is looking forward to something of a home-town crowd at the BMW Australian PGA Championship in November.

Led by world No.34 Fox, the top three Kiwis on the Official World Golf Ranking all confirmed on Tuesday their places at Royal Queensland Golf Club from November 27-30, a tournament no New Zealander has won since Greg Turner in 1999 at Victoria Golf Club.

Ten years later, Fox made it all the way to the semi-finals of the Australian Amateur at Royal Queensland and this year makes his return to the BMW Australian PGA for the first time since 2022.

Tickets and hospitality packages are available at ticketek.com.au

A two-time winner on the PGA TOUR this season, Fox’s commitments in the US creates uncertainty around playing the New Zealand Open early next year. The 38-year-old is therefore hopeful that Kiwi golf fans will again be out in force when he tees it up at RQ.

“There always seems to be a bunch of random Kiwis at events,” said Fox, who broke through on the PGA TOUR at the ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic in May.

“You can hear the New Zealand accent from a mile away and at The Open at Portrush this year, it was unbelievable how many Kiwis were over there for that.

“I feel the love every week. I know there’s a pretty strong Kiwi contingent up in Queensland and hopefully there’s a few Kiwis fly over to watch the PGA as well.

“It’ll feel a little bit like playing at home maybe, just with some slightly better weather than we get the end of November.”

With his future now secure in the United States, Fox will have a significant break back home in New Zealand at the completion of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

It will ensure that he arrives at Royal Queensland in November fresh and primed to accumulate some early points on the DP World Tour season, a far cry from when he last stepped straight off a plane from Dubai to play the 2022 BMW Australian PGA.

“I’ve always wanted to play the events at the end of the year. It just hasn’t worked that well the last couple of years,” said Fox, the 2019 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner.

“I did it in ‘22 after a really big year and was absolutely cooked and struggled early ’23, not having enough of a break.

“Obviously Brisbane’s a great city, Royal Queensland’s a great golf course and I’m looking forward to coming back and giving it a crack at the end of the year.”

With Adam Scott confirming his place in the field last week and defending champion Elvis Smylie also locked in, Fox knows his potential status as the highest-ranked player in the field will count for little.

He is also aware of the recent success of his fellow Kiwis on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, including 2023-2024 Order of Merit winner Kazuma Kobori and recent tournament winners Tyler Hodge (NZ PGA), Josh Geary (Vic Open), Nick Voke (Webex Players Series Sydney) and Kerry Mountcastle (Gippsland Super 6).

“We’ve obviously got a lot of really good players at the moment,” said Fox.

“It was great to see Josh Geary get a win earlier this year, Kazuma’s obviously playing great and played great on the DP World Tour this year.

“Dan Hillier is another one, Mike Hendry is still carrying the flag nicely, Kerry’s turned himself into a great young player so we’ve got a lot of chances.

“It’s been 26 years (since Turner’s win) so hopefully we can change that this year. I’ll certainly be giving it my best crack and I’m sure all the other Kiwis in the field will be doing the same.”

Photo: Stuart Franklin/R&A/R&A via Getty Images

The BMW Australian PGA Championship is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, and Brisbane City Council via Brisbane Economic Development Agency.


The very best of New Zealand men’s golf are en route to the BMW Australian PGA Championship with two-time PGA TOUR winner Ryan Fox to lead a resurgent Kiwi assault at Royal Queensland Golf Club.

The winner of the Canadian Open and Myrtle Beach Classic in 2025, Fox will return to Australia for the first time since 2022, joining fellow Kiwis Daniel Hillier and Kazuma Kobori as confirmed contenders for the Joe Kirkwood Cup from November 27-30.

The trio have a combined 31 victories worldwide in professional events, two Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit titles and will be trying to break a 26-year drought for New Zealanders at the BMW Australian PGA Championship.

Tickets and hospitality packages are available at ticketek.com.

Enjoying a career-best year, Fox’s Official World Golf Ranking has climbed to No.34 and he is currently ranked No.32 in the PGA TOUR’s FedEx Cup standings.

His list of 19 wins worldwide includes three Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia titles – the 2014 WA Open, 2015 Queensland PGA and 2019 World Super Six – on the way to becoming NZ’s long-time No.1 men’s professional and an established star on the DP World Tour and now the PGA TOUR.

Fox said: “It’s going to be a great Summer of Golf in Australia and being part of it at the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland is something I’m very much looking forward to.

“I had some good success on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia in my very early days on Tour which helped to give my career a nice kick along. Winning one of the big tournaments like the PGA would be a real highlight.

“Brisbane is also close to home so lots of friends and family will hopefully get the chance to come out which should make for a really enjoyable week.”

Bound for the PGA TOUR if he continues his 2025 form on the DP World Tour, Hillier has seven professional victories on his resume, including the 2023 British Masters, and is currently 13th on the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai standings.

Hillier almost secured a second DP World Tour title earlier this year, finishing as the runner-up in the Dubai Desert Classic.

Like Fox, Kobori is a past winner of the Order of Merit and Player of the Year titles on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, claiming the honour for the 2023/24 season when he won three tournaments in his rookie year as a professional.

Kobori has consolidated his position on the DP World Tour, recently posting a season-best third place at the BMW International in Germany.

PGA of Australia Nick Dastey General Manager of Tournaments & Global Tour Relationships said he was delighted the top three Kiwis on the Official World Golf Ranking had signed on for this year’s BMW Australian PGA Championship.

“Having Ryan, Daniel and Kazuma in our field, representing the best of New Zealand men’s golf, is a huge plus for this year’s tournament,” Dastey said.

“Ryan is in the middle of the best year of his career, proving once again what an outstanding competitor he is by winning twice against the best in the world on the PGA TOUR.

“His presence is going to add tremendous interest, especially from Kiwi golf fans who will get to see their No.1 back on his home tour, the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.

“Likewise, Daniel and Kazuma have already had great results in 2025 and would no doubt love to add the BMW Australian PGA Championship to their list of achievements.

“We haven’t had a Kiwi winner since Greg Turner in 1999, but with these three great contenders in the field, plus the other New Zealand pros who will join them from our Tour, you definitely can’t discount it this year.”

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said fans were ecstatic about the world-class talent coming to the iconic Royal Queensland fairways.

“As Australia’s lifestyle capital, Brisbane is proud to welcome some of New Zealand’s top golfing talent as part of this much-loved event,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Hosting the Australian PGA Championship isn’t just a sporting highlight – it’s a major economic win for our city, creating more to see and do for residents and visitors.

“With thousands of visitors expected to attend the tournament, our lifestyle precincts will be buzzing with people ready to support local businesses and explore everything Brisbane has to offer.”

The BMW Australian PGA Championship is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, and Brisbane City Council via Brisbane Economic Development Agency.


A third straight LPGA major may have eluded the Aussie contingent but Stephanie Kyriacou ensured there was an Australian inside the top 10 at the AIG Women’s Open.

Kyriacou, who had a hole-in-one in Round 2, added to her top-15 finish at the Amundi Evian Championship with a tie for eighth to make it three women inside the top four in this week’s Australian Golf Power Rankings.

Named the 20205 Rolex ANNIKA Major Award winner, Minjee Lee rounded out a sensational majors campaign with a tie for 13th, Evian Championship winner Grace Kim the only other Aussie to make it to the weekend.

With the majors season now complete, attention turns back to the United States where Cam Davis, Min Woo Lee and Jason Day will contest the FedEx Cup Playoffs while the LPGA Tour will resume with The Standard Portland Classic next week.

10. Min Woo Lee (10)

Tees it up for the first time since The Open Championship in week one of the FedEx Cup Playoffs at the FedEx St Jude Championship. Needs to protect his current ranking of No.50 to advance to week two, the BMW Championship.

9. Karl Vilips (new)

Fighting for a spot in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, Vilips had a hole-in-one in the final round of the Wyndham Championship on his way to finishing in a tie for 19th. Completes an outstanding rookie season on the PGA TOUR highlighted by his win at the Puerto Rico Open.

8. Karis Davidson (8)

With rounds of 76-77 missed the halfway cut at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl. Currently 70th in the Race to the CME Globe ranking with her next tournament The Standard Portland Classic next week.

7. Jason Day (6)

Two top-five finishes this season sees Day begin the FedEx Cup Playoffs in 37th position. Will be eager to advance that even further as he looks to lock in a spot inside the top 30 who will make it to the TOUR Championship.

6. Lucas Herbert (5)

Comes into this week’s LIV Golf Chicago event as the highest-ranked Ripper GC player on the individual LIV Golf standings in ninth place. With just two events left before the Team Championship in Michigan, the defending champion Ripper GC team is currently fifth on the team standings.

5. Adam Scott (4)

Was quick out of the blocks with 65 in Round 1 of the Wyndham Championship but faded to a tie for 55th, failing to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs for just the second time in his career.

4. Stephanie Kyriacou (7)

Signed off on her 2025 major campaign with a tie for eighth at the AIG Women’s Open to lead the Aussies home. Comes on the back of a tie for 14th at the Amundi Evian Championship, form she will look to carry into the back half of the LPGA Tour season.

3. Marc Leishman (3)

Just one spot behind Herbert on the individual LIV Golf standings heading to LIV Golf Chicago. The LIV Golf Miami winner was the lone Aussie to make the cut at The Open Championship.

2. Grace Kim (2)

One of just three Aussies to play all four rounds at the AIG Women’s Open. The Amundi Evian Championship winner, Kim birdied her final hole in Round 2 to make the cut on the number, eventually finishing tied 67th.

1. Minjee Lee (1)

Crowned the first two-time winner of the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award on the back of her tie for 13th at Royal Porthcawl. The KPMG Women’s PGA champion was also tied third at the Amundi Evian Championship, tied 14th at the Chevron Championship and tied 22nd at the US Women’s Open.

The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.


Stephanie Kyriacou produced a second miracle shot and Minjee Lee received a major honour as an historic season of majors reached its conclusion at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl.

Arriving at Wales on the back of consecutive wins by Australians in LPGA major championships, Kyriacou and Lee ensured the Australian flag remained prominent on the final day.

After making an ace at the par-3 eighth in Round 2, Kyriacou came within inches of a second inside three days at the par-3 fifth on Sunday.

What happened next almost defied belief.

As Kyriacou’s ball sat just to the left of the hole, playing partner Mim Rhodes also took dead aim, bouncing off the Australian’s ball and into the hole for a major championship ace of her own.

“We actually just watched the video, and it hit my ball, and it went in. So I’m kind of claiming it, even though Mimi is probably not going to say that,” said the 24-year-old.

 The good karma obviously rubbed off, Kyriacou tapping in for the first of five birdies on her run home to a tie for eighth, the fourth major championship top 10 of her career.

“The first hole was quite rough. It’s not ideal when you hit your second ball OB, onto the beach,” Kyriacou added with a laugh.

“I stuck in there, showed some grit, and finished 1-under today. I’m very happy.”

Winner of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June, Lee completed an outstanding major season with a tie for 13th, becoming the first two-time winner of the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award.

Although finishing outside the top 10 meant that Lee didn’t add to her points tally, the KPMG win and tie for third at the Amundi Evian Championship gave her 78 points to add to her win in 2022.

“From where I was at the beginning of the year and obviously winning KPMG and played Chevron

and had a good finish at Evian and all right at US Open and all right here… I’m going to say I’ve done pretty well,” was Lee’s summary of her season in the showpiece events after an even-par 72 on Sunday.

“Maybe like an 8.5 (out of 10).”

A tie for 19th by Karl Vilips was the best of the Aussies at the final event of the PGA TOUR’s regular season, not enough to force his way inside the top 70 who will now contest the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Adam Scott (T55) also missed out for just the second time since the inception of the FedEx Cup in 2007 while Cam Davis’s tie for 44th saw him squeeze into the Playoffs in 69th position.

Results

AIG Women’s Open
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Porthcawl, Wales
1          Miyu Yamashita            68-65-74-70—277       $US1.4625m
T8        Stephanie Kyriacou      74-70-69-71—284       $228,359
T13      Minjee Lee                   70-76-68-72—286       $145,533
T36      Lydia Ko (NZ)                73-73-70-75—291       $57,632
T67      Grace Kim                    71-75-74-80—300       $19,006
MC       Amelia Garvey (NZ)      74-73—147
MC       Gabriela Ruffels           71-76—147
MC       Hira Naveed                 78-71—149
MC       Momoka Kobori (NZ)   74-77—151
MC       Cassie Porter                79-73—152
MC       Karis Davidson             76-77—153
MC       Hannah Green              79-77—156
MC       Kirsten Rudgeley          78-79—157

PGA TOUR
Wyndham Championship
Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, North Carolina
1          Cameron Young           63-62-65-68—258       $US1.476m
T19      Karl Vilips                     67-67-69-67—270       $112,750
T44      Cam Davis                   68-68-69-71—276       $23,951\
T55      Adam Scott                  65-71-69-72—277       $19,106
T72      Aaron Baddeley           70-67-74-71—282       $16,564
MC       Ryan Fox (NZ)               68-73—141                            

Japan Golf Tour
Richard Mille Charity Tournament
Noto Country Club, Ishikawa
1          Tomoyo Ikemura          65-66-69-64—264       ¥19m
MC       Brad Kennedy              72-68—140

Korn Ferry Tour
Utah Championship
Ogden Golf & Country Club, Ogden, Utah
MC       Rhein Gibson               70-69—139
WD      Harry Hillier

HotelPlanner Tour
Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A
SCHLOSS Roxburghe, Heiton by Kelso, Scotland
1          Daniel Young               64-67-64-70—265       €46,196
T62      Hayden Hopewell        67-72-72-72—283       €851.74
T72      Tom Power Horan        71-69-71-76—287       €563.01

LET Access Series
Q-Tour Himmerland Championship
Himmerland Resort, Denmark
1          Fernanda Lira               74-64-69—207 €8,000
Won in sudden-death playoff
T26      Justice Bosio                74-71-73—218 €665.83                      
T26      Abbie Teasdale             68-78-72—218 €665.83
T36      Stephanie Bunque        73-74-74—221 €501.25
MC       Belinda Ji                      77-79—156

Epson Tour
Four Winds Invitational
South Bend Country Club, South Bend, Indiana
1          Leah John                    63-70-74—207 $33,750
MC       Jess Whitting               74-73—147
MC       Su Oh                          73-77—150
MC       Jennifer Elliott              76-77—153

Legends Tour
Staysure PGA Seniors Championship
Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeen, Scotland
1          Bo Van Pelt                   74-72-68-71—285
Won on first hole of sudden death playoff
3          Scott Hend                   76-73-71-69—289
T24      Mark Brown (NZ)          79-75-74-70—298
T33      Michael Long (NZ)        75-77-68-81—301
MC       Andre Stolz                  78-83—161
MC       Michael Campbell (NZ) 83-79—162                

PGA TOUR Americas
Osprey Valley Open
TPC Toronto (Heathlands), Caledon, Ontario
1          Carson Bacha               65-67-65-64—261
Won on second hole of sudden death
MC       Grant Booth                 69-70—139
MC       Tony Chen                    74-69—143


St Michael’s Golf Club amateur Daley Loumanis has delivered the biggest performance of his career, producing a scintillating front-nine charge to claim a one shot win at the Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifying Tournament at South West Rocks Country Club.

The 21-year-old Sydneysider, who began the final round three shots behind overnight leader Lincoln Tighe, delivered when it mattered most with a tearaway opening nine, 5-under-par 31, to set the foundation for his barnstorming win.

Starting on the 10th hole, Loumanis wasted no time showing his intent. The university student fired off birdies on the 12th, 13th, 15th and 17th holes before producing the shot of the day – a spectacular eagle from off the green on the 18th hole, his ninth.

The youngster extended his advantage to three shots until the penultimate hole, when a very ill-timed double-bogey crushed any thought of a final hole victory lap.

“I hit some really nice approach shots in, and then hit a great pitch shot on 17 (his eighth) to just over a foot and tapped in for birdie,” Loumanis added.

“Yeah, 18 (his ninth) was a shot I probably didn’t expect to make, or even try making so that was a big bonus there.”

The win caps off what has been a breakthrough year for the young amateur, who earlier this year finished runner-up to Declan O’Donovan in the NSW Amateur Championship at Stonecutters Ridge.

Today’s result, however, came against some very well-credentialled players.

“Incredible, especially to be up against the pros. The goal was to make the top three to get into the NSW Open but winning is definitely a big bonus,” he added.

Currently in his final year at the University of Technology Sydney, studying Business with a major in marketing and minors in sports management and finance, Loumanis has only two subjects remaining before graduation. His development has been guided by legendary coach Johnny Serhan, who is currently in the UK with LET and Golf NSW Future Program member, Kelsey Bennett.

“Johnny sent me a message last night. He’s over in the UK with Kelsey at the moment, and reminded me to hold my nerve, play my game and then see how it goes,” Loumanis grinned. “I think I did that pretty well.”

When the dust settled at South West Rocks Country Club, it was Loumanis, Queenslander Louis Dobbelaar and Sydney’s Jayden Cripps who secured the coveted spots in the Ford NSW Open this November at The Vintage.

No one was more elated than Cripps, who, after 27 starts and “three or four” losses on a countback, had finally secured an incredible first start in his home state championship.

“My first one was at Murray Downs (2021),” Cripps beamed of his Regional Qualifying history.

“I missed out twice last year. Fifth and tied, beaten on a countback, then fifth again and didn’t get in,”

“I’m a bit lost for words, it feels pretty unreal.

“I’ve been working with a sports Psychologist, Jamie Glazier about acceptance and writing two things down and whatever happens happens.

“I knew I had to forget about the prize at the end of the day and just embrace the process, and achieving that today was the most pleasing thing.”

Leading scores
1 Daley Loumanis (a) 69-69–138
T2 Cameron John 68-71–139
T2 Jayden Cripps 68-71–139
T4 Louis Dobbelaar 73-67–140
T4 Deyen Lawson 71-69–140
T4 Tim Hart 71-69–140
T4 Harry McMillan 69-71–140
T4 Aiden Didone 69-71–140

Next up
North Coast Regional Open, Coffs Harbour Golf Club, August 5-6

July 31

Klein’s commanding win at Windaroo Lakes

A late decision to play the Zigcrete Constructions Windaroo Lakes Pro-Am proved to be the correct one as Brisbane’s Doug Klein completed a commanding three-stroke win at Windaroo Lakes Golf Course.

Tied second at the Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifier at Lismore on Tuesday, Klein opted for the comfort of his own bed rather than head further south for the two-day regional qualifier at South West Rocks.

The result was a round of 6-under 66 and a first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win in more than two years.

“I was a late entry into this just to see how Windaroo was looking,” said Klein.

“I always sort of play well here so I thought it’d be a nice opportunity to come see a place and play some good golf.

“Game’s in a good spot. Been trending nicely for a long while now. It’s just a matter of it all happening and coming together and staying healthy.”

Two-over through three holes, Shae Wools-Cobb birdied his final two holes to snare second place with a round of 3-under 69, one clear of Pacific Pro-Am joint winner Michael Sim (70).

Turning point
Klein built momentum early in his round and never once took a step backwards.

Under par after an opening birdie at the par-4 ninth, Klein picked off further birdies at back-to-back par 5s at 12 and 13 and then headed for the front nine at 4-under on the back of a birdie at the par-4 18th.

Quick quotes
“Had a couple of par 5s early so it was nice to capitalise and make birdie there,” said Klein.

“Get off to a nice start and then keep it out of the water on the tough holes.

“It certainly gives a nice feel, this golf club, and nice membership base as well.

“It’s nice for them to give up their course for a day and a lot of smiles around so it’s nice.”

Leading scores
1          Doug Klein                   66
2          Shae Wools-Cobb        69
3          Michael Sim                 70
T4        Ben Hollis                    71
T4        Mitchell Smith              71
T4        Hayden Gulliver            71
T4        Cooper Eccleston         71
T4        James Tauariki              71

Next up
South West Rocks Regional Open, South West Rocks Golf Club, August 1

July 29

Campbell cashes in with Lismore Regional Qualifying win

Young gun Phoenix Campbell has risen to the occasion, producing a stunning back-nine charge to claim a one-shot victory at the Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifying tournament at Lismore Workers Golf Club.

Already a two-time winner of the Queensland PGA Championship, the Victorian travelled north specifically to gain tournament experience in challenging conditions and delivered when it mattered most.

He made birdie at the 10th, 13th, 14th, and 15th holes to surge clear of local favourite Sam Brazel and a fast-charging Doug Klein to secure his first Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifying Series title.

The final round was a tale of two nines. Overnight leader Sam Brazel squandered his advantage with a costly double-bogey on the second, an error that opened up the tournament to several challengers, including Campbell.

However, it was on the homeward nine where Campbell pounced, admitting that the nerves had returned, just like they had during his back-to-back wins at Nudgee Golf Club on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.

“It was great practice for me out there. I felt nervous, like I did at Queensland at Nudgee and that’s exactly what I came up here for,” Campbell said after his victory.

The pressure intensified down the stretch as Brazel mounted a withering fightback in the fading afternoon light. The local hero had a golden opportunity to force a playoff, but agonisingly missed his birdie putt on the 18th hole that would have sent the tournament into extra holes.

“I got a bit tired at the end there. Obviously Sam holed some good putts and made me really work for it, but I’m excited to come out on top today,” Campbell reflected on the nail-biting finish.

Adding to the competitive field was Doug Klein, who stormed home with a spectacular 6-under-par round of 60 on the weather-modified course to finish tied for second at 6-under alongside Brazel.

From Left, Dean Jamieson, Doug Klein and Caleb Bovalina

When the hostilities ended on course, it was Klein, Caleb Bovalina and Dean Jamieson who had secured the all-important spots in the Ford NSW Open this November.

For both Bovalina and Jamieson, it will be a first appearance in the revered Open championship.

“It feels great,” Bovalina said. “I’ve never qualified for the NSW Open before, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Jamieson, meanwhile, said the qualification was probably the biggest thing that had happened in his six-year pro golf career.

“It should be a great test and a lot of fun. It will be only the second tour event I’ve played, so I’m looking forward to it,” Jamieson grinned.

Leading scores
1 Phoenix Campbell 64-61–125
T2 Douglas Klein 66-60–126
T2 Sam Brazel 62-64–126
T4 Andrew Campbell 67-61–128
T4 James Conran 66-62–128

July 28

Ion honoured to share Pacific win with ‘legend’

Michael Sim helped to make Zac Ion’s maiden adidas PGA Pro-Am Series one to remember after the pair shared top spot at the Pacific Pro-Am at Pacific Golf Club in Brisbane.

The combination of winds that gusted upward of 40km/h and Pacific’s firm winter putting surfaces kept scoring in check, Sim and Ion the only players to break par with rounds of 1-under 71.

The pair finished one stroke clear of Wade Hooper with Will Florimo, fresh off his second career albatross at the Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifier at Teven, fourth at 1-over 73.

In his first year since completing the PGA’s Membership Pathway Program, Ion earned a category for the upcoming Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season at Qualifying School in April and took another step forward with his first victory as a professional.

That he shared it with a former top 50 player in the world only added to the occasion.

“To be checking the leaderboard on the last couple and seeing that it’s Michael, knowing that I had to try to do something and being able to share a trophy and win an event with a legend, that’s awesome.”

Spending the majority of time coaching at Lakelands Golf Club on the Gold Coast these days, Sim showed his class by following up his top-10 finish at Redcliffe with another tournament win.

“I haven’t been playing at all,” Sim revealed.

“I’ve been doing a little bit of stuff with Golf Queensland. Matt Ballard’s had me playing a few games with the squad so the last two or three months I’ve probably had a dozen games but prior to that, between that and November, I’d hardly played at all.

“My expectations are lower and I’m just playing golf and whatever score I shoot, I shoot.”

Turning point
With a scorecard consisting of two birdies, one bogey and 15 pars, Sim said that it was a par save on the par-3 third that helped keep his round in red figures.

“I hit a poor shot on the third and got away with it to the right but got up and down and then I birded the fourth,” said Sim.

“Then I had three tough holes in a row – five, six and seven – and I played them in 1-over. If you went through everyone’s round there, I reckon that would’ve been pretty good golf.”

In contrast to Sim’s round, Ion had five birdies along with four bogeys, dropping a shot on his final hole, the par-3 17th, to miss out on an outright win.

“Bogeyed the last with the crosswind and felt like I didn’t hit a bad shot at all on the hole,” said Ion.

Quick quotes
“I’ve been feeling pretty confident since I’ve come back after Q School,” said Ion.

“I feel like I’ve got new motivation, new motivators, and this is the tick off that I needed to see before going to PNG to start my rookie year.

“Maybe not a sigh of relief, but kind of something I needed to see before starting the season up properly.”

“I hit it pretty straight and hit a lot of greens, so I didn’t really have to test myself too much on or around the greens,” said Sim.

“I hit the ball pretty well but it was obviously 40-50km wind. I hit a 3-iron on the fifth from 180 and it would’ve gone 150.

“It was pretty windy.”

Leading scores
T1        Michael Sim                 71
T1        Zach Ion                      71
3          Wade Hooper              72
4          Will Florimo                 73
T5        Charles Wright             74
T5        Adam Hatch                 74
T5        Justin Morley               74
T5        Mitchell Smith              74
T5        Jamie Rooney              74

July 26

Henkel wins as rain wreaks havoc at Teven Valley

Victorian Ben Henkel has secured his second Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifying title after severe weather forced officials to abandon the final round at Teven Valley Golf Course on Saturday.

A two-stroke leader overnight after taking advantage of idyllic conditions on Friday with a round of 7-under 51, Henkel was declared the winner when play was called off for the third and final time late on Saturday.

Still feeling the affects of 100mm of rain that inundated the picturesque nine-holer last Sunday, torrential rain deposited a further 50mm in under two hours on Saturday to push the surfaces beyond playable.

“I would have loved to obviously win playing 36 holes,” Henkel admitted in his post-victory interview.

“I was going all right today. I think I was even par and maybe one or two ahead still and had a good birdie chance before the final siren went.”

The victory continues a strong run of form for Henkel, who also claimed last week’s $90,000 Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am having earned a breakthrough Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title late last year with victory at the Gippsland Super 6. HIs first Regional Qualifying win came last year at Bateman’s Bay on the NSW South Coast.

“Winning this and last week’s win, so two in a row for ones I’ve entered. It’s really good for my confidence against some good fields,” he said. “This is definitely a big, good step forward.”

The win underscores some significant progress for the Victorian, who acknowledged the lessons learned from his debut season on tour have been invaluable in developing his approach to competitive golf.

“Last year’s Regional Open Win was important, and I’m coming in this year with a lot more confidence in myself,” he said.

With the weather ensuring an early end to the day, the coveted Ford NSW Open Qualifying spots were decided on a countback from scores in yesterday’s opening round.

Queenslander Dillon Hart (-5), Kiama’s Wil Daibarra (-3) and Sydneysider Neven Basic (-3) took the spots.

For Daibarra, the Ford NSW Open will be his first state championship appearance.

“I’m over the moon, but I would have liked to have done the right way, but that’s all right. You can’t predict these things,” Daibbara said.

Basic, meanwhile, has earned his way to the Open via Regional Qualifying a couple of times before.

“The NSW Open was my first pro event in 2002 I believe, which is probably before half the field was born. So I’m looking forward to it.”

“I enjoyed the Vintage, and I’m really looking forward to playing another state open.”

Despite the weather, the day did provide some highlights, with a couple of aces to Queenslanders Jack Munro and Will Florimo sending a buzz through the assembled spectators.

Shot of the day was courtesy of Florimo, who set a piece of course history, acing the 236-metre par-4 fourth on the Craig Parry-designed layout, the first albatross ever recorded at Teven.

The laid-back Queenslander took the rare feat in stride, revealing it was his second career albatross.

Asked if he had put the ball away for safekeeping, Florimo casually replied, “Nah it’s still in play. It certainly helped git rid of the bogey-bogey-bogey start I made.”

Leading scores
1 Ben Henkel 51
2 Dillon Hart 53
T3 Jayden Cripps 55
T3 Wil Daibarra 55
T3 Aiden Didone 55
T3 Corey Lamb 55
T3 Neven Basic 55

Next up
Lismore Regional Open, Lismore Workers Golf Club, July 28-29 and Pacific Pro-Am, Pacific Golf Club, July 28

July 25

Henkel builds handy lead at Teven Valley

Ben Henkel has put himself in a prime position at the Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifying event at Teven Valley Golf Course after carding a brilliant 7-under-par 51 to take a two-shot lead into Saturday’s final round.

On a Friday afternoon perfect for scoring, Henkel pushed out to a two-shot lead from Queenslander Dillon Hart (53). Another five golfers are tied for third at 3-under, including Jayden Cripps, Corey Lamb, Will Diabarra, Victorian Aiden Didone (all from the morning half of the draw), and Neven Basic, who rolled in a couple of birdies late in his round to stay in touch with the lead.

Henkel, however, was the star of the day, combining clever iron play with some inspired putting to compile a bogey-free 51. Aside from the fact that preferred lies were in operation, this could well have been an equal course record alongside last year’s winner, Matt Millar.

Starting his round on the fifth, Henkel rolled in consecutive birdies on holes six, seven and eight to set the tone for what would be an impressive round of golf on the deceptive Craig Parry-designed layout.

If the Victorian was playing a high-percentage, big-target style of game with no room for silly errors, then it was his closing stretch that caught the eye.

On the third, his second-to-last hole of the day, Henkel produced the shot of his round, holing a 20-footer from off the green for birdie.

“It was a bit cheeky,” Henkel grinned. “Other than that I just hit it really good off the tee and hit it really good with my irons.”

He wrapped up his round with another birdie on the fourth, capping off what he described as a far smarter approach than in previous years.

“I just really played solidly,” a wiser Henkel said after his round.

“I think I learned from my mistakes in last year’s event here. I played well in the first round and then went chasing pins in the final round, when you can just hit it to the middle of the green and have a decent look.”

Having earned his opportunity through a Regional Qualifying win at Catalina last year before going on to claim the Gippsland Super 6s, Henkel said he appreciated the benefit of a full season on tour under his belt.

“I’m coming in this year with a lot more confidence in myself,” he said, acknowledging that his first year on tour taught him valuable lessons about consistency.

“Just go out and play the hole, play the shot. Keep it simple.”

Words that perfectly sum up the approach that served him so well on Friday.

Leading scores
1 Ben Henkel 51
2 Dillon Hart 53
T3 Jayden Cripps 55
T3 Wil Daibarra 55
T3 Aiden Didone 55
T3 Corey Lamb 55
T3 Neven Basic 55

The final round of the Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifier at Teven Valley will be broadcast live on Kayo Sports from 12pm-5pm Saturday AEST.

July 23

Photos by Addison Rudicile / NZ Open

Barbieri goes back-to-back at Howeston

Nathan Barbieri jumped to second place on the National Pro-Am Order of Merit with his second joint victory of the week in the adidas Pro-Am Series.

After featuring in a three-way tie at McLeod on Monday, Barbieri moved from Brisbane’s west to east to share top spot in the Howeston Pro-Am with fellow New South Wales professional Lucas Higgins after both fired rounds of 6-under-par 65.

One shot behind was Queenslander Tim Hart who still leads the OOM standings.

Preparing for the start of the new Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season next month, Barbieri, who also won at Howeston in 2024, has now secured four pro-am victories in July, while Higgins claimed his first title for 2025.

Higgins’ mixed bag 65 featured 10 birdies to sit alongside four bogeys and just the four pars, while Barbieri’s bogey-free round included an eagle and four birdies.

Turning point

Starting from the 10th tee, Barbieri’s hot streak came with a 5-under-par run from the 12th to 17th holes.

Higgins was quick off the mark with three straight birdies and turned in just 29 strokes. He was at 7-under-par until he bogeyed the par-4 18th.

Quick quotes

Higgins said: “I was playing really awesome early. Managed to chip in on both the par-3s and holed a couple of nice putts. I got a couple of bad breaks on 10 and 11 and then brought her back with a few birdies and just made a bit of a sloppy bogey on 18.”

Barbieri said: “I actually haven’t had a bogey in two years here, which is unbelievable I think for myself. I managed my ball really well today.”

Leading scores

T1 Lucas Higgins 65

T1 Nathan Barbieri 65

3 Tim Hart 66

4 Dillon Hart 67

5 Cory Crawford 68

T6 Will Florimo 69

T6 Zachary Maxwell 69

T6 James Conran 69

T6 Brett Rankin 69

T6 Alexander Simpson 69

Next up

The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series heads north of Brisbane to Bribie Island and the Pacific Harbour Pro-Am on Friday. South of the border, the 36-hole Teven Valley Regional Open will be played on Friday and Saturday with starts in the Ford NSW Open on the line.

July 21

Gardner shares maiden win at McLeod

Nathan Barbieri has won twice this month, Brett Rankin has lost count yet Dylan Gardner’s share of victory was one to savour at The Lion Richlands McLeod Pro-Am.

The variety found within the McLeod Country Golf Club layout in Brisbane’s western suburbs brought the best out of a Tour-quality field, Gardner, Barbieri and Rankin tied at the top with rounds of 6-under 65, one clear of Heritage Classic champion James Conran (66) with Corey Lamb fifth (68).

Rankin made a birdie from 15 feet at his final hole, the par-4-fourth, while Gardner made a three-putt bogey on his closing hole, relieved that his 65 from the morning wave held up at day’s end.

“Feels like I needed it before going into the Tour season, get that win,” said Gardner, a graduate of the Membership Pathway Program who has been top 10 in recent adidas PGA Pro-Am Series events in Rockhampton, Tin Can Bay and Redcliffe.

“Haven’t really had a win since during my traineeship, so it was definitely good.”

Back during a break in the Asian Tour season, Rankin knows that winning Pro-Am Series events can translate into good performances in four-rounders.

“I’ve won quite a few by now,” said Rankin.

“I still enjoy winning. It’s kind of why you practise every day, right? You always want to win.

“My coach and I, we’ve always said that I’ve always played pretty well after a stretch of pro-ams when I’m playing competitively week in, week out.

“It’s good to play the next few weeks and play some pro-ams and get ready for a pretty busy schedule at the back end of the year.”

Turning point
Gardner’s three-putt bogey at the par-3 sixth set the target at 6-under for the players in the afternoon.

Bogey-free, Rankin was 5-under through 11 holes but had to wait until his final hole to match Gardner, holing a 15-footer for birdie at the par-4 fourth.

Conversely, Barbieri was 3-under through 13 in his round, making birdie at three of his final five holes to add to recent wins at Emu Park and Tin Can Bay.

Quick quotes
“I felt like it’s all been moving in the right direction for quite a while now,” said Gardner.

“Just a lot more consistent in the last six months, so I knew it was eventually going to happen.

“The last two years since I’ve been playing the Pro-Am Series and a few Tour events, the standard’s been going up each year.

“You can’t really get away with not being at your best all the time.”

“The game feels good, really solid,” said Barbieri. “And the putter’s working the wand right now.

“This is obviously just the start. I want to obviously play well at the start of the Tour season, that’s the main focus, but these are really good to play and keep you competitive.”

“I was pretty filthy on the par 5,” Rankin said of his par on the third.

“I hit a decent second shot in and it just took a wicked bounce and finished in a pretty horrible spot. I actually did really well just to make par.

“I was a bit dirty but I was able to bounce back straight away after a bit of frustration on the previous hold to make a nice, solid birdie on four.”

Leading scores
T1        Dylan Gardner              65
T1        Brett Rankin                 65
T1        Nathan Barbieri            65
4          James Conran              66
5          Corey Lamb                 67
T6        Blaike Perkins               68
T6        Max Ford                     68
T6        Marcus Fraser              68
T6        Will Florimo                 68
T6        Blake Proverbs             68

Next up
Howeston Pro-Am, Howeston Golf Course, July 23

July 18

Henkel shoots 60, wins Redcliffe in playoff

Victorian Ben Henkel applied what he learned from his first round to shoot 60 in Round 2 and ultimately claim victory at the second playoff hole of the OptiLease Redcliffe Pro-Am at Redcliffe Golf Club.

One of the richest events on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series schedule drew a Tour-calibre field, Henkel adding to his win at the Gippsland Super 6 on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia in December with a fifth Pro-Am Series victory.

Arriving late into Brisbane on Wednesday, Henkel didn’t see the entirety of the abridged Redcliffe layout playing to a par of 68 until Round 1.

He shot 2-under 66 to start day two five strokes back of Dillon Hart but had eight birdies in a bogey-free 8-under 60 in Round 2, missing out on the chance to shoot 59 on his final hole.

“I had a birdie chance on the last to shoot the 59 but didn’t put too good of a roll on it,” Henkel conceded.

Finishing tied with Hart (65), Chris Wood (63) and Andrew Kelly (63), Henkel lipped out a birdie try from 15 feet at the first playoff hole but made the most of a look from eight feet the second time around to seal the win.

Turning point

Paired with Queenslander Tim Hart and starting his round from the 15th tee, Henkel left it late to make his move up the leaderboard.

Four-under through his first 14 holes, Henkel made his charge towards 59 with four straight birdies from the par-3 10th, settling for 60 with a par at his final hole, the par-4 14th.

Quick quotes

“Yesterday I kind of fell victim to a few traps and a few little slip-ups,” said Henkel.

“Today I felt a lot more confident going out there, seeing the course fully and knowing where to attack and where to defend.

“The guys in the playoff all play on Tour and walking around the clubhouse you’re seeing everyone you’re seeing on the Tour.

“It did have a Tour feel to it and the course was amazing too.

“The course set-up was so good for the event. The greens are rolling pure, fairways and surrounds are amazing and even the temporary holes we had to play were pretty damn good too.”

Leading scores
1          Ben Henkel                  66-60—126
Won on second hole of sudden-death playoff
T2        Andrew Kelly                63-63—126
T2        Chris Wood                  63-63—126
T2        Dillon Hart                   61-65—126
T5        Daniel Gale                  65-62—127
T5        Lucas Higgins              62-65—127

Next up

The Lion Richlands McLeod Pro-Am, McLeod Country Golf Club, July 21

July 17

Hart leads Redcliffe Pro-Am with 61

Two late birdies have given Gold Coast’s Dillon Hart a one-stroke lead heading into the final round of the $90,000 Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am.

With work being done on course, Redcliffe Golf Club is playing at an abridged par of 68, Hart’s bogey-free 7-under 61 putting him one clear of Dylan Gardner, Michael Sim and Lucas Higgins.

Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winners Blake Windred, Chris Wood and Cory Crawford are part of a five-way tie for fifth at 5-under with good friends Andrew Campbell and Simon Hawkes ties for 10th at 4-under.

Turning point

Two-under through his first eight holes, Hart made back-to-back birdies at 15 and 16 but it would be a late surge that propelled him to the outright lead.

A birdie at the par-4 first got Hart to 5-under which he followed soon after with consecutive birdies at four and five to establish a one-stroke advantage ahead of Round 2 on Friday.

Quick quotes

“It was just very consistent,” was Hart’s Round 1 summary.

“Kind of kept it pretty simple, just kind of had the ball on a string and a few putts went in, which was nice.

“Just very consistent which has been a long time coming.

“I’ve had a bit of a back injury so I’ve put a lot of work into my short game, so that’s obviously paying off a little bit.”

Leading scores
1          Dillon Hart       61
T2        Dylan Gardner  62
T2        Lucas Higgins  62
T2        Michael Sim     62
T5        Jye Pickin         63
T5        Blake Windred 63
T5        Chris Wood      63
T5        Andrew Kelly    63
T5        Cory Crawford 63

July 15

Barbieri shoots 63 to win Tin Can Bay

New South Welshman Nathan Barbieri has produced an outward nine of 29 for the second time inside a week to win the Konami Gaming Tin Can Bay Pro-Am by two strokes.

Devoid of the 50km/h wind that buffeted Tin Can Bay Country Club 12 months ago, Barbieri backed up his victory at Emu Park Golf Club with a bogey-free 9-under 63 to finish two clear of Victorian Nathan Page and Queenslander Blaike Perkins.

A hole-out for eagle from 100 metres at the 386-metre par-4 fourth was the centrepiece of Barbieri’s front nine of 6-under 29, moving to 7-under with birdie at the par-5 10th.

The brakes were then somewhat applied, securing his second adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win of the year with closing birdies at the par-5 15th and par-5 18th.

Turning point

The hole-out eagle at the fourth marked the start of a run that yielded 5-under over the course of five holes.

After a par at five, Barbieri peeled off three straight birdies to build a buffer that would hold up over the course of a back nine of 3-under par.

Quick quotes

“Last year was 50k wind, so it was a bit different today,” said Barbieri.

“I’ve really enjoyed the course. It’s quite hilly, but the greens are always nice and fairways are nice.

“I had a hole-out there as well from a hundred metres. And then the rest of them was just sort of straight golf. Hit a couple close, made a couple long ones here and there, how 9-under would normally go.”

Leading scores
1          Nathan Barbieri            63
T2        Nathan Page                65
T2        Blaike Perkins               65
T4        Alex Simpson               66
T4        James Tauariki              66
6          Bradley Kivimets          67

Next up

$90,000 Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am at Redcliffe Golf Club, July 17-18

July 12

Duo shoot 11-under to share Biloela win

New South Welshman James Conran had to conjure an 11th birdie on his final hole to earn a share of victory with Victorian Nathan Page at the Biloela Pro-Am at Biloela Golf Club in Central Queensland.

Winner of the Heritage Classic on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia earlier this year, Conran was cruising to victory when he birdied the par-5 18th to reach 10-under with three holes to play.

There were whispers of 59 as he waited on the first tee but Conran had to quickly reset when he became aware of the birdie blitz being unleashed by Page.

That run of birdies would end at seven as Page posted 11-under 61, Conran converting a birdie putt from 10 feet at his final hole, the par-4 third, to match Page’s extraordinary score.

It is the best score either have recorded in a professional tournament, the pair left slightly perplexed that 11-under wasn’t enough for an outright win.

“I mean, it would’ve been good to nip it from him, but I can’t do much more than 11-under,” said Page, who finished second to Conran at the Heritage Classic.

“There’s no gimme holes, that’s for sure. You’ve got to earn every birdie, but they’re marginally easier to come across here than some other places, you could say.”

“There are a couple holes that are driveable, but you still have to hit good chips from the right angles into these greens,” added Conran, the pair pictured with Stephen Gibson (Elders Finance, Head of Broker), Randall Coulthurst (Elders Finance, Agri Relationship Manager) and Ron Dilger (Dyno Nobel, Plant Manager).

“But 11-under is still a joke.”

Turning point

When Page stood on the 12th tee at 3-under par, Conran was four strokes clear and showing no signs of taking his foot off the gas.

Page birdied the short par-4 12th to move to 4-under as Conran made one of his own to stay four clear.

But as Conran continued to add birdies, so too did Page, his birdie at 12 the start of a career-best seven-birdie run that would see the pair locked together at 11-under at day’s end.

Quick quotes

“In terms of processes, not at all whatsoever,” said Page of how Conran’s score affected his own game.

“But obviously, subconsciously, might bring a bit more out here knowing that there’s someone just there and you’re not cruising home to a two or three-shot win.

“You’ve just got to go up and hit your shot and whether you’re even par or 11-under, you’re still trying to hole every shot or hit every shot as good as you can.”

“I’d birded the par-5 18th to get to 10-under and I look at my phone and I was three shots ahead,” said Conran.

“And then I’m on the third tee, I look at my phone again and he’s 10-under and I realise that he’s got the par-5 still to play.

“I’m thinking, Oh my god, I’m about to lose.”

Leading scores
T1        Nathan Page                61
T1        James Conran              61
3          Nathan Barbieri            65
T4        Matt Jager                    66
T4        Riley Taylor                  66
T4        Joshua Holbrook         66
T4        Blaike Perkins               66

Next up
Konami Gaming Tin Can Bay Pro-Am at Tin Can Bay Country Club on Tuesday, July 15

July 9

Barbieri prevails at Emu Park

Morning fog that delayed the start of Round 2 would prove beneficial as New South Welshman Nathan Barbieri completed a wire-to-wire win at the JRT Group Emu Park Pro-Am.

The fog that blanketed Emu Park Golf Club on Wednesday morning forced groups to double-up in the afternoon, buying Barbieri crucial time after making double-bogey at the par-4 12th.

“When we finished that hole we had probably 20, 25-minute wait to tee off on the next hole so I almost forgot about it,” said Barbieri, pictured with JRT Group Executive Manager, Brad Neven.

“You can obviously dwell on it a bit if you’re straight to the tee, but I actually think it helped having a bit of a break and just sort of reset.”

The bounce-back was immediate, making birdie at the par-5 13th and then picking up shots at 16 and 17 to finish at 15-under, two strokes clear of Victorian Nathan Page (67) and New South Wales pair Alex Edge (67) and Kieren Jones (66).

Tied for third at the Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am, Barbieri shot 9-under 63 in Round 1 at Emu Park and followed it up with 6-under 66 in Round 2.

Turning point

Cruising to victory when he was 14-under having made back-to-back birdies at 10 and 11, Barbieri brought a host of players back into the mix when he made six at the par-4 12th.

He’d made bogey on the short par-4 the day prior, also, the only hole Barbieri dropped shots on across the two days.

A wait on the 13th tee gave Barbieri enough time to compose himself and go on to claim his first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win in almost a year.

Quick quotes

“I played well at Rockhampton and then these last two days have been pretty good,” said Barbieri.

“I played really solid tee to green both at Rocky and here and hit a couple of really close shots that had less stress in it.

“I holed a couple of good putts as well, made some good up-and-downs and got over the line.”

Leading scores
1          Nathan Barbieri            63-66—129
T2        Nathan Page                64-67—131
T2        Kieren Jones                65-66—131
T2        Alex Edge                    64-67—131
5          Bradley Kivimets          64-68—132
T6        Caleb Bovalina             67-66—133
T6        Lincoln Tighe               68-65—133

July 5

Hart wins Rockhampton for second time

A long-awaited Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title is in Tim Hart’s sights after the Queenslander claimed a second Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am title in four years.

Rising from his sick bed to trail Will Florimo and Nathan Barbieri by one after Round 1, Hart took the outright lead with a second straight 67 in Round 2 but saved his best for last, closing out a three-stroke win with a superb 7-under 65 in Saturday’s final round.

With birdies at 15 and 17, Lismore’s Sam Brazel pushed Hart to the very end, the 36-year-old prolific adidas PGA Pro-Am Series winner responding with birdies at 17 and 18 for a 17-under total to add to his 2022 victory.

“I still haven’t managed to get a win (on Tour) yet, so that’s definitely something I’m looking forward to this year with how consistent I’ve been playing,” said Hart.

“I’ve been doing a lot of mental work again this year and it just helps a lot out there to calm my nervous system down when I’m under pressure.

“I’m just starting to know how to control that a lot better than what I used to.”

Barbieri (68) and 2024 champion Chris Wood (68) shared third at 12-under, Doug Klein (68) outright fifth at 11-under.

Turning point
Leading Brazel and Jack Pountney by one at the start of the final round, Hart made birdie at the par-5 first yet found himself tied for the lead as Brazel began his day with an eagle.

There was a two-shot swing Hart’s way when he made birdie and Brazel dropped a shot at the par-4 fourth, Hart moving a further shot clear with a further birdie at the par-4 fifth.

He would head to the back nine with a four-stroke advantage, a comfortable buffer Brazel could never rein in.

Quick quotes
“I was feeling pretty good coming up here, other than being completely sick,” said Hart.

“I didn’t actually practise the day before the tournament because I couldn’t get out of bed, but maybe that could be a blessing for me.

“Trying not to try too hard, I guess, and not think about it too much.

“I came out here with a very relaxed sort of outlook on the week, knowing that I’ve played here and won here before.

“It was just a good head space that I started with and then managed to just finished it off nicely with a couple of birdies, which is really nice.”

Leading scores
1          Tim Hart                       67-67-65—199
2          Sam Brazel                   72-63-67—202
T3        Chris Wood                  69-67-68—204
T3        Nathan Barbieri            66-70-68—204
5          Douglas Klein               69-68-68—205
6          Jack Pountney              69-66-72—207
T7        Braden Becker              72-74-62—208
T7        Samuel Slater               69-70-69—208

Next up

The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series continues its Central Queensland swing on Tuesday with the two-day JRT Group Emu Park Pro-Am at Emu Park Golf Club.

June 22

Ford wins wild shootout in Clermont

Rookie Max Ford birdied his final three holes to claim a second straight adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win at the Bolt Off Clermont Pro-Am at Clermont Golf Club.

Ford was one of a number of players to flirt with 59 across the two days at the par-71 layout, posting rounds of 63-61 for an 18-under par total and a two-stroke win.

In-form Victorian Connor McDade had the chance to reduce the deficit to one and shoot 59 in Round 2 but could only manage par at his final hole, the par-5 eighth, taking three putts from just off the green.

Playing alongside Ford in Round 1, 59-year-old Legends Tour star Brad Burns had thoughts of shooting 59 when he was 9-under with three holes to play but finished bogey-par-birdie for a round of 62.

Burns would shoot 65 in Round 2 to earn a share of third alongside Harrison Wills (62) and Kieren Jones (64).

Turning point
Hopes of a second consecutive win were fading when Ford followed up an eagle at the par-5 14th with a bogey at the par-4 15th. But after par at the par-3 16th Ford once again when on a birdie streak, making three on the trot to close out his round and finish two strokes clear of McDade.

Quick quotes
“I’ve been taking advantage of driving it well,” said Ford.

“Especially on short golf courses, I think that’s the key and that’s showed.

“(The scoring) was unbelievable. I was refreshing the scores and I saw (McDade) had creeped up the leaderboard.

“I couldn’t believe the scores he was posting out there and gave me a bit of a run for my money, but it was nice to birdie the last two coming home to lock it away.”

Leading scores
1          Max Ford                     63-61—124
2          Connor McDade           66-60—126
T3        Brad Burns                   62-65—127
T3        Harrison Wills               65-62—127
T3        Kieren Jones                63-64—127
T6        Jay Mackenzie              64-64—128
T6        Nathan Page                64-64—128

Next up
Players now have a week off before the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series resumes with the 54-hole $60,000 Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am from July 3-5.

June 18

Rookie Ford stuns with 10-under at Tieri

Rookie professional Max Ford has won his first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series in impressive fashion, shooting 10-under 63 to win the JET Engineering Tieri Pro-Am at Tieri Country Club.

The reigning club champion at Royal Queensland Golf Club and the 2022 Riversdale Cup winner, Ford started with two straight birdies and never took his foot off the gas.

With a host of accomplished Tour players in the field, Ford never blinked, keeping a clean card and racking up 10 birdies to finish one shot clear of fellow Queensland Chris Wood (64) with Blackwater champion Connor McDade (66) third.

Turning point
Although setting a cracking pace of his own, Ford trailed Wood by a stroke as both players neared the end of their rounds.

Having started from the fourth hole, Wood was 9-under with two holes to play yet could only come up with two pars to finish.

Ford, on the other hand, birdied both of his final holes – the par-4 fourth and par-4 fifth – to reach 10-under and record a one-stroke win.

Quick quotes
“It was good to put it all together out there,” said Ford.

“It was good to take advantage of the short holes and I certainly did.

“I drove it really well. Pretty close to a couple of greens and then it’s just down to chipping and putting and I took advantage of that.

“Really stoked with it.”

Leading scores
1          Max Ford                     63
2          Christopher Wood       64
3          Connor McDade          66
4          Brad Burns                   67
T5        Nathan Page                68
T5        Kieren Jones                68
T5        Brendan Smith             68

Next up
The WA swing resumes on Friday with the Carpet Paint & Tile – Broome Furnishings Broome Pro-Am while the Central Queensland run moves on to Clermont for the Bolt Off Clermont Pro-Am starting Saturday.

June 16

Blackwater finishes with joint winners

A Sunday surge gave NSW professional Kieren Jones his first adidas PGA Pro-Series title as he shared top spot with Victorian Connor McDade at the ABM Blackwater Pro-Am.

After an even-par first round at Blackwater Golf Club, Jones started day two five shots out of the lead, but he fired a 7-under-par 65 to match McDade (69-68) on 7-under for the 36 holes, the former amateur star securing his second title in three weeks in Queensland.

First-round leader Riley Taylor (67-71) finished a shot behind the top two alongside Brendan Smith (73-65).

Turning point

Continuing his fightback from making an eight on the par-4 fifth hole in round one, Jones went birdie-eagle over his first two holes on Sunday and eventually caught McDade by picking up shots on his final two holes.

Meanwhile, the Victorian’s second round featured seven birdies and three bogeys.

Quick quotes

Connor McDade: “I’m loving it up here. It’s nice to play some summer golf in winter, but I guess I came up here to kind of get some wins under my belt and take that into the regular Tour season later in the year.

“I found it pretty tough out there around the greens to be honest so I was just trying to get the ball on the smooth surface as much as possible. Any time I missed a green, I felt a lot of pressure.”

Kieran Jones: “The day started pretty solid and then yeah, just had a few putts finally go in. It’s been a long time since they’ve gone in. The coach should be happy.

“I’ve been working hard on the short game. It’s been one of those things I’ve been battling with of late. The chipping went well this weekend, can’t complain about that.”

Leading scores
T1 Connor McDade 69-68 -137
T1 Kieran Jones 72-65 – 137
T3 Riley Taylor 67-71 – 138
T3 Brendan Smith 73-65 -138
T3 Ben Hollis 69-69 – 138
6 Samuel Slater 75-64 – 139
7 Brad Burns 71-69 – 140
8 Jay Mackenzie 69-72 – 141

Next up
The Central Queensland swing continues with the JET Engineering Tieri Pro-Am at Tieri Country Club on Wednesday.


A career-first albatross and two-shot swing on the final hole has earned Peter Jones victory at the Centenary Legends Pro-Am in Brisbane.

Played across two days at Gailes and Wolston Park golf clubs in Brisbane’s south west, Jones shared the day one lead with Jason Norris after the pair navigated Gailes in even-par 73 on Thursday.

Starting from the first tee at Wolston Park on Friday, Jones and Norris were both 1-under through the first four holes before a Norris bogey on five and Jones’s two at the par-5 seventh changed the landscape dramatically.

Playing in the group ahead, Mark Boulton bogeyed the par-4 18th to post 3-under, Jones and Norris also at 3-under as they stood on the 18th tee.

Jones would go on to make birdie at the final hole for a 4-under 63 and 4-under total, Norris (65) dropping a shot to fall into a tie for third at 2-under par.

Turning point
Any time you pick up three shots to par on a single hole is going to have a positive impact on your fortunes.

One-under on his round after an early birdie at the par-4 second, Jones holed his second shot at the 452-metre par-5 seventh to rocket to 4-under, playing his final 11 holes in even par to hold on for a one-stroke win.

Quick quotes
“Things went my way,” was Jones’s summation.

“I made a two on a par 5 today. I’ve never had an albatross before, so that was a good first to have.

“Obviously there’s some different conditions and different courses, but I loved it. It’s nice to be out here playing two rounds of golf on different courses.”

Leading scores
1          Peter Jones      73-63—136
2          Mark Boulton   74-63—137
T3        Simon Tooman 76-62—138
T3        Jason Norris     73-65—138
5          Brad Burns       76-63—139
6          Grahame Stinson         75-66—141

Next up
Queensland PGA Senior Foursomes Championship, City Golf Club, Toowoomba, August 4

July 27

Boulton crowned Senior 9 Hole champion

Only one player broke par all three days as Victorian Mark Boulton claimed the Australian PGA Senior 9 Hole Championships Pro-Am at the Town of 1770 Golf Course.

A pocket of serenity 90 minutes north of Bundaberg, Town of 1770 is always one of the most popular stops on the PGA Legends Tour, 47 players making the trip to play the nine-holer three days in succession.

Coming off a win at Bargara, Tim Elliott’s 4-under 30 led after day one, Boulton moving one clear at the completion of Round 2 when he followed up 31 in Round 1 with 30 on day two to be 7-under entering the final round.

A bogey by Elliott at the first and then birdie by Boulton at two extended his advantage to three strokes, pars all the way home good enough to hold off Elliott for a two-stroke win.

Turning point
Falling three strokes back early in the final round, Elliott reignited his championship hopes with back-to-back birdies at three and four to draw within one of Boulton.

But bogeys at five and seven either side of a birdie at six prevented Elliott from making further inroads, two closing pars not enough draw level.

Quick quotes
“The course is just fantastic,” said Boulton.

“The setting’s just so relaxing. The course is testing – narrow fairways, firm greens – it’s a test of golf. Got to get the putts rolling but if you get all those right, it’s a pleasure to not necessarily beat this course, but play well here.

“You’ve got to keep it within the parameters of the fairway because if you go beyond the fairway, it’s in the trees.

“You’ve got to hit good shots to hold the greens and then putt well.

“I had a couple of good days doing that and it’s all come good at the end.”

Leading scores
1          Mark Boulton               31-30-33—94
2          Tim Elliott                     30-32-34—96
T3        Gregory Smith             35-32-31—98
T3        Jason Norris                 31-36-31—98
T5        Grahame Stinson         33-33-34—100
T5        Brad Burns                   35-34-31—100

Next up
Centenary Legends Pro-Am, Gailes Golf Club & Wolston Park Golf Club, July 31-August 1

July 22

Elliott flashes home to win Bargara

Four birdies in the space of five holes has propelled Victorian Tim Elliott to a one-stroke win at the Bargara Legends Pro-Am at Bargara Golf Course near Bundaberg.

A recent winner of the PGA Professionals Championship of Victoria at Portsea Golf Club, Elliott timed his run at Bargara to perfection, making three straight birdies from the par-4 first and then adding a fourth in quick succession at the par-3 fifth.

Having started his second round from the ninth tee, Elliott closed out Round 2 with three pars on the trot for a round of 6-under 65 and 3-under total for the 36 holes.

Medallist at Qualifying School at the start of the year, Trenerry (68) had opportunities to match Elliott’s 3-under total but made pars at all seven of his final holes.

Turning point
Three-over entering day two after 74 in Round 1, Elliott was 2-under on his round but still on the wrong side of par for the tournament through 10 holes on Tuesday.

The birdie at the par-4 first would signal the start of his charge to the clubhouse, playing his last eight holes in 4-under to edge one clear of Trenerry.

Quick quotes
“I was looking at the scoreboard, but I looked at the scoreboard at Hervey Bay and hit the lead there by one or two shots and then crashed,” said Elliott.

“I said, ‘I’ve got to stop looking at the leaderboard.’ So when I started making the birdies, I thought, Do not look at that board.

“I played pretty good yesterday, but I putted terribly. I got to 1, 2-under, and then I started three-putting. I had like four three-putts and just got scared of the putts.

“I had the clubface open but sort of straightened that up a bit and went out today and started to hole a few and kept holing them.”

Leading scores
1          Tim Elliott         74-65—139
2          Leon Trenerry   72-68—140
T3        Chris Taylor      67-74—141
T3        Mark Boulton   70-71—141
5          Terry Price        74-68—142
6          David Crawford 69-74—143

Next up
Australian PGA Senior 9 Hole Championships Pro-Am, Town of 1770 Golf Course, July 25-27

July 20

Senior adds to winning tally at Hervey Bay

Almost 50 years since his first professional win, Peter Senior is at it again, joking that his latest victory was a long time coming.

Four strokes back of Nigel Weldon at the start of Round 2 of the Urangan Smash Repairs Fraser Coast Classic, the ageless legend made three straight birdies late on day two for a round of 4-under 66 and a three-stroke win at Hervey Bay Golf and Country Club.

A winner on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia across five different decades starting with the 1979 South Australian Open, Senior has made just five starts on the PGA Legends Tour and added to his Hervey Bay triumphs in 2019 and 2022.

“I haven’t won anything for ages, so it was nice to actually pop my head up and win,” said Senior.

Turning point
Brought back into the mix when Nigel Weldon started Round 2 with a double-bogey at the par-3 second, Senior himself took time to make forward progress.

As Weldon gave up two more shots at the par-4 fifth, Senior began his round with four straight pars and his first birdie at 13 was wedged in between bogeys at 12 and 14.

A run of three birdies in the space of four holes starting at the par-4 16th put Senior in contention, the 65-year-old closing it out with three birdies on the trot at four, five and six for the second straight day.

Quick quotes
“The first round I was 3-over at one stage and birdied the same three holes to finish as I did today, so it was nice to finish like that,” said Senior.

“The course played very difficult. The greens are probably not as good as they have been because of all the bad weather that they’ve had, but the course always plays difficult.

“Scoring’s always pretty hard to come by, and it was very nice to come out and play well today.

“Just remembered how to play for a change.”

Leading scores
1          Peter Senior                 70-66—136
T2        Douglas Gardner          70-69—139
T2        Brad Burns                   71-68—139
T2        Tim Elliott                     68-71—139
T2        Matthew Rogers          71-68—139
T2        Leon Trenerry               71-68—139

Next up
Bargara Legends Pro-Am, Bargara Golf Course, July 21-22

July 17

Burns wins on debut at Isis

Two trips around the nine-hole Isis Golf Club left a big impression on Brad Burns who shot 6-under 64 to win the Jabb Mining Isis Legends Pro-Am.

The first time that the PGA Legends Tour has visited Isis Golf Club 40 minutes south of Bundaberg attracted a field of 45 Professionals with a familiar name coming out on top.

Already a six-time winner this season, the four-time Order of Merit winner went 2-under on his first time around the Isis layout before closing with three birdies in his final five holes to finish two strokes clear of Lucien Tinkler (66).

Turning point

After starting his day with a birdie, Burns picked up just one more in his next nine holes.

He moved to 3-under with a birdie at the par-4 11th but it was his back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15 that gave Burns the winning edge.

Quick quotes

“You’ve got to drive it very nicely out there. I drove it very well and putted pretty well as well,” said Burns.

“The course is fantastic out there. The greens are just a pleasure to putt on. It’s amazing that they’re actually done by all voluntary labour.

“I’ve driven past here quite often; I’ll stop a little bit more often now.”

Leading scores
1          Brad Burns                   64
2          Lucien Tinkler               66
3          Grahame Stinson         67
T4        Matthew Rogers          68
T4        Mark Boulton               68
T4        David Crawford            68

Next up

Urangan Smash Repairs Fraser Coast Classic, Hervey Bay Golf and Country Club, July 19-20

July 11

Burns taps into Queensland spirit for Tropics win

In the heart of Cowboys country, Brad Burns drew inspiration from Queensland’s spirited Origin Series win to take out the Carmichael Ford Tropics Legends Pro-Am at Tropics Golf Club.

Hours after North Queensland half Tom Dearden delivered a man-of-the-match display in Sydney, Burns took to the Tropics fairways in Townsville to post 6-under 66 to lead by two after Round 1.

Backing that up proved challenging on Friday but Burns did just enough in a round of 2-under 70 to finish at 8-under par, one clear of PGA Legends Tour Q School winner Leon Trenerry (68). There was a three-way tie for third between Murray Lott (71), John Onions (68) and Nigel Lane (68).

“I’ll tell you what, there’s a lot of Queenslanders here and yeah, I was one of them barracking on Wednesday night,” said Burns.

“I’m stoked that I’ve got up today.”

Turning point

Like the Queensland Origin team, Burns made an early statement and barely gave his challengers a look-in.

Starting his tournament on the 10th tee on Thursday, Burns opened with a par and then went eagle-birdie to reach 3-under after as many holes.

With further birdies at 16 and 17, Burns turned in 5-under and was never headed.

Quick quotes

“I played very good yesterday,” said Burns after his sixth win of the 2025 season.

“A little bit patchy on the last nine today but the first nine was nice.

“It’s a pleasure to come up here and play in Townsville. All the people are fantastic and the course is improving day to day.”

Leading scores
1          Brad Burns       66-70—136
2          Leon Trenerry   69-68—137
T3        Murray Lott      68-71—139
T3        John Onions    71-68—139
T3        Nigel Lane        71-68—139
T6        David Fearns    71-69—140
T6        Scott Barr         68-72—140

Next up

Players on the PGA Legends Tour will now enjoy a short break before resuming with the Jabb Mining Isis Legends Pro-Am at Isis Golf Club on Thursday, July 17.

July 8

Timely win for Stolz at Rowes Bay

It’s late in the season for Andre Stolz to claim his first victory of the year yet the timing of his Rowes Bay Legends Pro-Am win could not have been better.

Soon to head to the UK to try and qualify for both the Senior Open Championship and the British Senior PGA Championship, the four-time PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit winner produced a superb 8-under 65 on day two to finish two strokes clear of Nigel Lane at Rowes Bay Golf Club in Townsville.

Not only is the prize money welcome ahead of another international venture, Stolz said his bogey-free round was indicative of the work he has been doing on the practice tee.

“I felt like I was playing pretty good and everything was going good in practice but you’ve got to come out and do it when it counts,” said Stolz.

“That’s probably the most gratifying thing, all the hard work I’ve been doing has showed up when it mattered.”

Turning point

The third hole of a 36-hole tournament may be early in terms of a turning point but that would mark the start of Stolz’s charge to the title.

Two-over after back-to-back bogeys to start Round 1 on Monday, Stolz made birdie at the par-5 fourth hole and didn’t take a backward step from that point on.

He would play the final 34 holes in 12-under par, reeling in the four-shot deficit he began Round 2 with five birdies in his opening seven holes.

Quick quotes

“I had a good look at the start of the year about where I was going to play this year and I wanted to have a good crack at going overseas,” Stolz said.

“Unfortunately, I looked at it and every time there was something on here that’s when I was going to be away.

“I’ve only played five Legends Tour events but I’ve been practising. I feel like I’ve been playing great but I just haven’t been playing much to do anything and to get a win.”

Leading scores
1          Andre Stolz      71-65—136
2          Nigel Lane        68-70—138
T3        Derrin Morgan 71-68—139
T3        Michael Craig   67-72—139
5          Jason Norris     70-70—140
6          Leon Trenerry   72-69—141

Next up

The North Queensland swing of the Legends Tour stays close to Townsville on Thursday with the two-day Carmichael Ford Tropics Legends Pro-Am at Tropics Golf Club.

Photo: Matt Taylor Media

June 12

Lott, Pilkadaris share title at Fiji Legends Classic

Victorian Terry Pilkadaris and Queensland’s Murray Lott have shared the 2025 title at the Vuksich & Borich Fiji Legends Golf Classic, one of the premier events on the PGA Legends Tour.

The duo finished the 54 holes at Denarau Golf and Racquet Club and Natadola Bay Golf Course with 11-under-par totals, Pilkadaris storming home on the final day with a 6-under-par 66 to catch Lott, who led by three shots at the start of the third round.

Pilkadaris, the reigning PNG Senior Open champion, was as far back as tied for 17th, six from the lead, after day one when he started with a 74 before surging into contention with the equal low round of the $70,000 event, a 7-under 65 on day two.

For Lott, the shared title represented his second PGA Legends Tour victory of the year to sit alongside five runner-up finishes.

Close behind in the chasing pack were Andre Stolz, back from playing in the Senior PGA Championship, and former Fiji International winner Jason Norris.

Turning point

With the finish line looming and the light fading, Pilkadaris birdied the 16th and 18th holes at Denarau after earlier making a big dent in Lott’s lead by going 4-under-par through the first six holes.

Quick quotes

Lott said: “I played steady today just didn’t make as many putts as much as I did the other day. Norrie and I, we just didn’t fire – we didn’t play bad, but we didn’t play great. Also thinking about the lead and all that sort of stuff is slightly new territory for me at times.

“You always know someone like Terry or Andre is going to post a good number so I just kept my head in it as best as I could.”

Pilkadaris said: “I was playing with Andre. He was playing nicely so we were sort of just feeding off each other a little bit. It was a great event. Awesome to be part of.”

Leading scores

T1 Terry Pilkadaris (Vic) 74-65-66 – 205

T1 Murray Lott 68-66-71 – 205

3 Andre Stolz (Qld) 71-69-67 – 207

4 Jason Norris (SA) 71-66-71 – 208

T5 Dominic Barson (NZ) 74-66-70 – 210

T5 Marcus Cain (Qld) 71-70-69 – 210

T5 Stuart Beament (WA) 73-72-65- 210

T8 Peter Jones (NSW) 71-71-69 – 211

T8 Martin Petersen (NSW)  73-70-68 – 211

T10 David Fearns (Qld) 72-69-71 – 212

T10 Mark Hale (Vic) 69-73-70 – 212

T10 Peter Senior (Qld) 70-71-71 – 212

T10 Warren Abery (Sth Africa) 74-67-71 – 212

Next up

The PGA Legends Tour heads to North Queensland for the Rowes Bay Legends Classic on July 7-8.

June 10

A superb round of 4-under 68 at a windswept Natadola Bay has given Brisbane’s Murray Lott a handy advantage after day one of the $70,000 Vuksich & Borich Fiji Legends Golf Classic.

The field of 53 players from the PGA Legends Tour are split across Natadola Bay Golf Course and Denarau Golf and Racquet Club for the first two rounds with the third and final round to be played at Denarau on Thursday.

Four of the top six scores on Tuesday came from the Denarau side of the draw, the course Lott will now play for the remaining two rounds after harnessing the challenge presented by the spectacular coastal setting at Natadola Bay.

Fellow Queenslander Brad Cumming (pictured) and New South Welshman Mark Hale both shot 3-under 69 at Denarau to share second spot after Round 1, closely followed by Chris Hollingsworth and Peter Brown who shot 70 at Denarau.

Australian golf icon Peter Senior is also well placed after shooting 70 at Natadola Bay where players were buffeted by heavy winds to only add to the difficulty.

Quick quotes

“The golf course was good considering the rain we had last week at the Sheraton Classic,” said Cumming, who has been in Fiji to play in the Sheraton International Golf Classic Fiji run by Pacific Golf Management.

“It’s good to shoot a good score every now and then.

“It plays a little bit harder, Natadola, so hopefully we’ll get over there tomorrow and it’ll be kind to me.”

Round 1 scores
1          Murray Lott      68
T2        Brad Cumming 69
T2        Mark Hale        69
T4        Chris Hollingsworth     70
T4        Peter Brown     70
T4        Peter Senior     70

April 30

Burns does the double on the NSW sand

Brad Burns consolidated his status as king of the sand greens on the 2025 PGA Legends Tour by sharing the WRL Engineering Warren Legends Pro-Am title with John Onions today.

After winning the Australian PGA Senior Sand Greens Championship at Cobar Bowling and Golf Club in a playoff on Monday, Burns shot a round of 5-under-par 65 to match Onions, who picked up his third victory for 2025.

With a mixture of 12 grass and six sand scrape greens, the 5800m Warren Golf Club layout, north-west of Dubbo in country NSW, provided a unique challenge to the Legends field.

“I want to take all the sand home and start putting on that actually,” Burns joked.

“I putt really good on sand and not so good on grass.

“I was 6-under after 10 and then had a couple of three putts on the grass.”

Just five players broke the par of 70.

Turning point

Looking for his first outright win of the year, Onions was cruising at 5-under through 15 holes before he slipped up with a double-bogey at the par-3 16th hole to hand Burns top spot.

A bounce back birdie on 17 saw the Victorian walk off the last hole one shot behind as Burns came to 16. However he also failed to make a par, his second bogey of the back nine leaving the Queenslander with two holes to regain the solo lead.

Playing in the final group, Burns parred 17 and 18 to settle for a share of the title, his fourth for 2025.

Quick quotes

Burns said: “We always have a great time when we come here. It’s always good coming to the country. They’re all so hospitable and it’s always nice to come back.”

Onions said: “I’m happy to tie with the king of sand”.

Leading scores

T1 John Onions 65

T1 Brad Burns 65

T3 David Crawford 67

T3 Grahame Stinson 67

5 Tim Elliott 68

T6 Mark Boulton 70

T6 John Wade 70

T6 Nigel Weldon 70

April 28

Burns earns Australian PGA Senior Sand Greens title

Queensland’s Brad Burns has played his way into the $140,000 World Sand Greens Championship at Binalong courtesy of a playoff triumph at the Australian PGA Senior Sand Greens Championship at Cobar Bowling and Golf Club.

Forced into a Monday finish after rain prevented any play on Saturday, the PGA Legends Tour players extended their stay in Cobar so that the $50,000 tournament could have its full complement of 36 holes.

Trailing Murray Lott by a single shot after Round 1, Burns had to bounce back from a late bogey at the par-3 15th with consecutive birdies to shoot 68 and join Andre Stolz and Nigel Weldon at 7-under par.

The trio headed back to the par-4 18th where Burns was able to secure his third win for the season.

Quick quotes

“I thought I threw it away,” said Burns.

“Four holes to go, I bogeyed the par 3. Just a very ordinary chip.

“Birdied 16 and 17 and a nice little par on the last.

“It took me a while to get used to the sand greens again but just a great day.

“Great people up here, too. We’ve had a ball. They do a fantastic job of looking after us.”

Final scores
1          Brad Burns                   68-67—135
Won at first hole of sudden-death playoff
T2        Andre Stolz                  69-66—135
T2        Nigel Weldon               69-66—135
T4        David Fearns                71-65—136
T4        Murray Lott                  67-69—136
T6        Mark Hale                    72-66—138
T6        David McKenzie           71-67—138
T6        Adam Henwood          70-68—138
T6        Carl Smedley               69-69—138

Next up: Warren Golf Club Legends Pro-Am on Wednesday

April 6

Pilkadaris prevails in six-hole playoff in PNG

It took six playoff holes for Terry Pilkadaris to prevail over Jason Norris and claim the $100,000 PNG Senior Open at Lae Golf Club.

The Sunday showdown between the two form players of the PGA Legends Tour didn’t fail to disappoint.

A one-stroke leader overnight, Pilkadaris found himself trailing Norris by two strokes after just three holes.

A two-time winner already this season, Pilkadaris steadied and when Norris made double-bogey at the par-5 ninth the pair headed into the back nine level at 3-under par.

Birdies at 10 and 12 gave Norris the ascendancy once again, an advantage he extended to two strokes with birdie at the par-3 17th.

Yet there was a final twist in the tale.

Pilkadaris made birdie for the first time all week at the par-5 18th and when Norris missed a short putt for par and the tournament, extra holes were called for.

Both players had their chances – Pilkadaris saw a two-foot putt for the win dive left on him – before the Victorian claimed his third victory of the year.

Quick quotes

“That’s golf, it fluctuates,” said Pilkadaris.

“I didn’t have a good front nine – hit a couple of loose shots and made bogeys – and then back nine was really steady.

“Just kept plugging away, giving myself chances and then ‘Norrey’ made a mistake on 18 to let me in and so I sort of capitalised there.”

Final scores
1          Terry Pilkadaris             68-68-71—207
Won on sixth hole of sudden-death playoff
2          Jason Norris                 71-66-70—207
T3        Grahame Stinson         72-69-69—210
T3        Carl Smedley               66-75-69—210
5          Brad Burns                   72-71-68—211
T6        Murray Lott                  77-73-65—215
T6        Peter Senior                 74-71-70—215

April 5

Showdown looms at PNG Senior Open

The two form players of the 2025 PGA Legends Tour season to date will go toe-to-toe in the final round of the $100,000 PNG Senior Open at Lae Golf Club.

A two-time winner already this season, Terry Pilkadaris will start the third and final round with a slender one-stroke advantage at 6-under par from recent Murray Bridge Legends Pro-Am winner Jason Norris.

Given there is a four-stroke gap to Round 1 leader Carl Smedley (75) and Grahame Stinson (69), it is hard to see anyone other than Pilkadaris or Norris coming out on top.

Trailing Smedley by two at the start of Round 2, Pilkadaris made it back-to-back 68s as Norris stormed into outright second with an equal tournament best 5-under 66.

Quick quotes

“It’s a tight, tree-lined course and I kept it on the fairway most of the time and then just hit it on the green and give yourself the opportunities,” said Pilkadaris.

“I holed a nice putt on the ninth from about 20 feet and then hit a couple close to about four or five feet, which was good.

“Just didn’t make too many mistakes. I think I had one three-putt but apart from that it was all pretty cruisy.”

Leading scores (after Round 2)
1          Terry Pilkadaris             68-68—136
2          Jason Norris                 71-66—137
T3        Carl Smedley               66-75—141
T3        Grahame Stinson         72-69—141
5          Brad Burns                   72-71—143
6          Robert Farley                75-69—144

March 29

Henwood, Onions share Aston Hills win

Adam Henwood birdied the final hole to tie John Onions after an untimely lost ball on his penultimate hole at the QUBE Logistics Legends Pro-Am at Aston Hills Golf Club.

Perplexed that a ball he expected to finish just left of the fairway at the par-5 sixth could not be found, Henwood headed to the seventh tee on the back of a bogey and somewhat hot under the collar.

He ripped driver down the 315-metre par 4 to leave himself just 40 metres in, very nearly holing his pitch shot that would have secured an outright win.

As it was, a tap-in birdie was enough to match Onions’ round of 4-under 65 for a share of victory, one clear of John Wade (66) with David Diaz (67) outright fourth.

Quick quotes

“I got off to a pretty ordinary start,” said Onions.

“I hit it in the lake on the first hole but managed to make par out of there.

“I’ve been putting really well and had a run through the middle of the round where I burned 4-under for three holes.

“A couple of mistakes coming in but I managed to save something with a putter.”

“I nearly holed the second shot,” Henwood said of his approach into the final hole.

“There was nothing else but birdie. I mean, it could have been, but in my mind I was so upset might be the right word. There was nowhere to lose it there.

“Hit the best drive of the day, went miles down, and only had like a 40-metre pitch and nearly holed it.

“I was lucky it didn’t hit the pin actually because then it would’ve finished somewhere not great. But just left me a little tap in which was good.”

Leading scores
T1        John Onions                65
T1        Adam Henwood          65
3          John Wade                   66
4          David Diaz                   67
T5        Peter Lonard                69
T5        Tim Elliott                     69

March 28

Walters’ winning ways continue at Glenn Joyner Pro-Am

Euan Walters paid tribute to the PGA Legends Tour legacy left by the late Glenn Joyner after taking out the Metro Homes Glenn Joyner Memorial Legends Pro-Am.

Walters’ round of 6-under 64 at Thaxted Park Golf Course was enough to finish one clear of John Onions (65), his second straight PGA Legends Tour victory.

Trading two birdies with a bogey to be 1-under after three holes, Walters kept a clean card for the remainder of his round.

Starting from the 10th tee, he turned in 3-under and then picked up further birdies at one, two and five to post 6-under.

Onions birdied his second-to-last hole – the par-3 eighth – but had to settle for second after making par at the par-4 ninth.

Peter Lonard had eight birdies in his round of 4-under 66 to snare third, Murray Lott and Simon Pope tied for fourth with rounds of 67.

Quick quotes

“I’ve known Glenn for probably 30 years,” said Walters.

“We used to play on tour against one another so obviously it was sad to see Glenn pass away a couple of years ago.

“The other side of the coin is that I think he actually played some of his best golf towards the end.

“He got to fulfil some of his dreams and was very successful on the Legends tour, and obviously he’s part of the reason why a lot of these events continue on.

“It’s been a good journey, but hard work. I had to make a lot of changes in my swing and stuff like that but very grateful for the win.

“I know it’s not going to last forever, but we’ll keep practising.”

Leading scores
1          Euan Walters                64
2          John Onions                65
3          Peter Lonard                66
T4        Simon Pope                 67
T4        Murray Lott                  67

March 27

Walters wins second Flagstaff Hill title

A run of three birdies in four holes provided Euan Walters the foundation to go one better than last year and claim an outright victory at the Living Choice Flagstaff Hill Legends Pro-Am at Flagstaff Hill Golf Club.

Joint winner with Jason Norris and Nicholas Robb 12 months ago, Walters’ early hot streak gave him enough of an edge to absorb a three-putt bogey on his final hole for a round of 3-under 67 a one-stroke win.

Playing in the same group as Walters, Murray Lott (68) birdied his final hole to claim outright second, Brad Burns (69), Michael Long (69) and Peter Brown (69) tied third.

Quick quotes
“I tied with a couple of others last year, so it’s good to get a solo win. Pays a little bit better, too,” said Walters.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had a win, so it’s good to get it done.

“I’ve been playing pretty good but not really finishing it off but played really well today.

“Still didn’t finish it off. Had a three-putt on the last, which was disappointing, but fortunate enough to get the job done.”

Leading scores
1          Euan Walters                67
2          Murray Lott                  68
T3        Brad Burns                   69
T3        Michael Long (NZ)        69
T3        Peter Brown                 69

March 24

Joint winners at SA PGA Senior Foursomes

The vagaries of foursomes once again came to the fore, resulting in joint winners of the SA PGA Senior Foursomes Championship at The Vines Golf Club of Reynella.

A number of groups had chances to claim the outright victory over the final few holes yet in the end two could not be separated, Mike Zilko and Guy Wall sharing top spot with Brendan Chant and Simon Pope.

Zilko and Wall and Chant and Pope both returned scores of 1-over 72 to be declared joint winners, two strokes clear of Brad Burns and Bryan Milligan.

Quick quotes

“Would’ve probably been nice to win outright, but ‘Chanty’ stuffed up a bit and I stuffed up a bit, so we’ll give it both ways,” said Pope.

“The course is in really, really good nick. This golf course, it was struggling about 20 years ago and now with the couch covering it’s awesome.

“Well done to the golf club and thanks to them for letting us play.”

Leading scores
T1        Mike Zilko/Guy Wall                 72
T1        Brendan Chant/Simon Pope     72
3          Brad Burns/Bryan Milligan        74
4          Glenn Roberts/Wayne Rogers  78

March 20

Norris defends at Murray Bridge Legends

Defending champion Jason Norris bettered the course record set by Murray Lott 24 hours earlier to claim a second straight victory at the Spry Civil Construction Murray Bridge GC Legends Pro-Am.

With two new holes in play at Murray Bridge this year, Lott’s 5-under 65 in Round 1 established a new course record, Norris going one better on day two with a superb 6-under 64.

Victorious at Murray Bridge two years ago – and a course where he played a lot when based in Adelaide – Norris posted 9-under for two rounds to finish five strokes clear of Lott and Peter Lonard.

Four birdies in the space of five holes on the front nine got Norris moving in the right direction, the lure of Lott’s new course low mark encouraging him to push on through the back nine.

“I forgot about the new holes in the new course record when I heard Murray had it,” Norris said.

“It actually inspired me today when I was 4-under early. I started struggling but worked hard and made a couple of putts coming in.”

Quick quotes

“I love looking at the scores, being under pressure,” said Norris.

“Sometimes you bugger up, but it’s good fun to try and beat that.

“I’m always a score looker, so I saw the lead, but it doesn’t mean anything around here. You can easily make a double or triple around this place.

“I just love this place. I’ve played here a lot. It’s sort of my second club when I used to live here, so I know a lot of the club members here and it was just a great day.”

Leading scores
1          Jason Norris                 67-64—131
T2        Murray Lott                  65-71—136
T2        Peter Lonard                66-70—136
T4        Carl Smedley               68-70—138
T4        Nigel Lane                    69-69—138
6          Adam Henwood          70-69—139

March 11

Lonard triumphs at Maffra Legends

Peter Lonard picked apart the par 5s and came away a two-shot winner at the inaugural Maffra Legends Pro-Am at Maffra Golf Club.

Playing the Maffra layout for the first time, Lonard birdied consecutive par 5s at four and five and then added a third in succession at the par-4 sixth.

He made it a clean sweep of the three-shotters with further birdies at 14 and 18 in his round of 6-under 66.

It was enough to finish two strokes clear of the field, David Tapping, Carl Smedley, David Fearns and Tim Elliott all sharing second at 4-under, players speaking effusively during presentations about the presentation and playability of the putting surfaces presented by Maffra Golf Club.

Quick quotes

“Yeah not bad. Never played here before,” said Lonard of his round.

“There were a few little doglegs there and I probably got away with a few and got a bit lucky but I played pretty solidly.

“I’ve played pretty well the past week or so so it was nice to finish it off.”

Leading scores
1          Peter Lonard                66
T2        David Tapping              68
T2        Carl Smedley               68
T2        David Fearns                68
T2        Tim Elliott                     68

March 9

Four to the fore at Bairnsdale

Birdie putts slid by and par putts dropped late to leave four players tied at the top at The Big Garage Bairnsdale Golf Club Legends Pro-Am at Bairnsdale Golf Club.

One of the best presented regional courses in Victoria was  lauded by every player who teed it up, none more so than the four who finished locked together at 3-under 68 at day’s end.

The resurgent Brad Burns holed a par putt from just inside 30 feet to stay at 3-under, David Crawford let an opportunity slip on his penultimate hole, John Onions holed a pitch shot for eagle at the par-4 fifth and David McKenzie birdied his final hole – the par-5 18th – to also join the winner’s circle.

The quartet finished one clear of another group of four players, Peter Lonard, Terry Pilkadaris, Neale Smith and Paul Griffiths all posting 2-under 69.

Quick quotes

“I got off to a pretty poor start,” said Onions.

“I had a couple of three-putts early on, but just fought back. I holed a pitch shot for eagle which got me to a couple under and then after that, just lots of fairways, lots of greens.

“Course was beautiful.”

“Tthere’s a lot of stuff to make it hard to play, but it’s in great condition,” said McKenzie.

“The greens are fantastic. They firmed up the last few holes, so it’s a tricky little course to play, but a lot of fun at the same time.

“I don’t know how many times I could count playing down here. I always love coming down to Bairnsdale. It’s a great little town.”

“I had a putt on the second last hole, the par 5 going down the hill,” Crawford said of his chance to win outright.

“I had a three-footer, allowed a little bit of break. Thought if I get 4-under going up the last, I thought I got a chance of taking it out outright, but it didn’t happen.

“It was a fantastic golf course and the golf course was set up beautifully.”

“It’s quite strong actually,” Burns said of the Bairnsdale layout. “There’s some strong fours out there, you’ve got to shape the ball around the corners and if you don’t drive it well you’re going to have heaps.

“The greens are great. The hospitality’s fantastic as well.”

Leading scores
T1        Brad Burns                   68
T1        John Onions                68
T1        David McKenzie           68
T1        David Crawford            68
T5        Paul Griffiths                69
T5        Neale Smith                 69
T5        Peter Lonard                69
T5        Terry Pilkadaris             69

March 7

McKenzie, Long share Gardiners Run win

Stellar putting displays have earned David McKenzie and Michael Long a share of victory at the Gardiners Run Legends Pro-Am.

Two experienced players on international seniors tours, McKenzie and Long both hailed the quality of the golf course – in particular, the putting surfaces – as they each shot 7-under 65 at Gardiners Run Golf Course.

McKenzie actually played with the course superintendent and credited his win for not doing “anything stupid”.

McKenzie and Long finished three shots clear of Tim Elliott (68) with a four-way tie for fourth between Mark Sheppard, Brad Burns, Brendan Chant and Richard Backwell.

Quick quotes

“It’s been a tough week actually,” said Long.

“The first four rounds, you wouldn’t have thought I was going to do that today.

“It hasn’t felt that far away and then today it just turned around.

“Course is great; it’s improving all the time. Obviously I’m going to say the greens are great – I did hole a lot of putts – but the course is maturing and just getting better and better.”

“I got off to a nice little start with a couple of birdies early,” said McKenzie.

“It wasn’t pretty golf for the most part, but I managed it really well.

“Made all the putts that I needed to and didn’t really do anything stupid.

“It seems like it’s really easy when you just don’t miss anything and don’t do anything stupid.”

Leading scores
T1        Michael Long               65
T1        David McKenzie           65
3          Tim Elliott                     68
T4        Mark Sheppard            69
T4        Brad Burns                   69
T4        Brendan Chant             69
T4        Richard Backwell          69

March 6

Lonard, Burns joint winners at Mandalay

Brad Burns birdied his final hole as Peter Lonard narrowly missed doing the same as the pair shared victory at the Undercover Roasters Legends Pro-Am at Club Mandalay Golf Course.

Burns and Lonard separated themselves from the rest of the field with rounds of 6-under 66 but couldn’t be split from each other.

One-over after two bogeys early in his round, Burns made eagle at the par-3 17th but needed birdie at the par-5 second to get to 6-under.

Lonard was 7-under on his round when he made bogey at the par-3 seventh and then just missed his birdie try at his final hole, the par-4 eighth, to finish level with Burns.

Grahame Stinson went bogey free in his round of 3-under 68 to snare third, one clear of Euan Walters and Bryan Milligan.

Quick quotes

“The members are fantastic and the greenkeepers do a great job,” said Burns.

“I had seven birdies and an eagle and a couple of three-putts unfortunately.

“That’s the best I’ve played in quite some time, so it’s a pleasure to play here.

“I’ve had the putting woes for the last four or five rounds, but today I actually started actually holing some putts again.”

“I got to seven, which is the par 3, and I just misjudged the wind,” said Lonard of his only bogey of the round.

“I thought the wind was into me and apparently it wasn’t. Then I had to chip it out of the rocks, 20 yards over the back, so I was actually lucky to make bogey.

“I had a chance for birdie on the last from about 10, 15 feet and missed it, but I hit a good putt.

“The course was fantastic. The fairways were really good. I hit a couple of them and the greens were magnificent.”

Leading scores
T1        Brad Burns                   66
T1        Peter Lonard                66
3          Grahame Stinson         68
T4        Bryan Milligan              69
T4        Euan Walters                69

March 5

Fearns finds form at Portsea

Queenslander David Fearns broke a six-year drought in fine fashion with a two-stroke victory at the Higgins Coatings Portsea Legends Pro-Am at Portsea Golf Club.

Not since 2019 at Concord and Pymble had Fearns found himself in the winner’s circle but a hot start provided the foundation to a round of 4-under 67, two clear of Euan Walters (69) and Peter Lonard (69).

Starting his round with pars at 17 and 18, Fearns caught fire with three straight birdies from the par-4 first and then countered a bogey on six with a birdie on eight.

Further birdies at 14 and 15 built enough of a buffer that a closing bogey was little more than a blip.

Quick quotes

“I’m really happy every time we come to Portsea,” said Fearns.

“It’s difficult, so it’s nice to play well at Portsea.

“The fairways were actually pretty fast. There was lots of run out there.

“The greens were beautiful; it was nice.”

Leading scores
1          David Fearns                67
T2        Euan Walters                69
T2        Peter Lonard                69
T4        Terry Pilkadaris             70
T4        Tim Elliott                     70

March 4

Lane back on track at Settlers Run

Nigel Lane shrugged off some indifferent form and a shaky start to take out the Settlers Run Legends Pro-Am at Settlers Run Golf and Country Club.

Starting from the third tee, Lane made a bright start with a birdie at the par-4 fourth but dropped back to 1-over with consecutive bogeys at five and six.

It would be just a temporary setback though as he responded with birdies at seven and nine on his way to a round of 5-under 67 and a two-stroke victory.

On the back of his win at Settlers Run the day prior Scott Barr backed up with a round of 3-under 69 to finish second, one clear of Carl Smedley.

Quick quotes

“That was about two feet away,” Lane said of his shot into 18 to set up birdie.

“That was really nice. From the left side of the fairway, maybe just a little bit in the rough. That was probably actually the shot of the day.

“Struck the ball really nicely today actually, which is a bit different to recently. The last few days I couldn’t hit it hard at all, but today I found something and it went straight at it most of the time.”

Leading scores
1          Nigel Lane                    67
2          Scott Barr                     69
3          Carl Smedley               70
T4        Gavin Coyle                  71
T4        Derrin Morgan             71
T4        John Onions                71
T4        Murray Lott                  71

March 3

Barr triumphs ahead of US campaign

A timely win on home soil will fuel Scott Barr to attack opportunities on offer through the PGA TOUR Champions in the US.

Denied a full 2025 card in heartbreaking circumstances at Q School in December, Barr will tee it up in Monday qualifiers on the back of a one-stroke win at the Southern Golf Club Legends Pro-Am.

A four-time winner on the PGA Legends Tour in 2024, Barr found something in his swing and navigated Southern Golf Club’s immaculate putting surfaces to finish one clear of Grahame Stinson (69) with Simon Pope (70) outright third.

Barr will soon head to the US, aware that trying to play his way into tournaments will come with its challenges.

“It’s a pretty brutal way to do it, so I am aware of that,” said Barr.

“There could be some mental damage going through that so I’m really trying to strategise how I don’t throw all my eggs in one basket.

“I’ll just do it at a pace that I feel confident with.”

Quick quotes

“I got off to a hot start, birdied the first three, so I was in the race from the word go,” said Barr.

“I did a bit of work on the range yesterday and figured something out with my swing, which had been coming for a while.

“I felt in control of the ball most of the day with my hitting; I hit it very well actually. And these greens were saucy. They were fast; super-fast.
“You had to keep your nerve. I holed a couple of mid-range eight-footers but I did blunder a few times, which let the field in down the stretch.

“I was watching the leaderboard coming in, which is a habit that I’m going to start to do. I think I need to do that just to know where you are in the field so you can finish off rounds better.”

Leading scores
1          Scott Barr                     68
2          Grahame Stinson         69
3          Simon Pope                 70
T4        David Diaz                   71
T4        Terry Pilkadaris             71
T4        Mark Boulton               71
T4        David McKenzie           71
T4        Derrin Morgan             71
T4        Stuart Beament            71

March 1

Hobbled Isherwood victorious at The Valley

His tortured feet almost failed him but Michael Isherwood was able to snare his first Legends Tour win in close to a year at The Valley Legends Pro-Am on the Mornington Peninsula.

The new shoes that Isherwood wore on Tuesday did enough damage to consider not playing at all but the use of a cart enabled the 53-year-old to shoot 5-under 62 for a one-stroke win.

Teeing off from the 14th hole alongside Scott Ford, Isherwood was 4-under through seven holes courtesy of birdies at 15, 16, 18 and two.

Eagle at the par-4 eighth countered bogeys at five and nine, birdies at 10 and 11 enough to build a winning advantage ahead of the in-form Terry Pilkadaris (63) with West Australian Brendan Chant (64) outright third.

Quick quotes

“Being not a very smart individual, I managed to wear a brand new pair of shoes on Tuesday and completely destroyed my heel,” said Isherwood.

“And when you get old man skin, you’ll realise you rip your whole foot off. Unless I got put in a cart today, I don’t think I would’ve even made it around.

“Pretty happy that I managed to grab a win out of it considering I didn’t even think I’d be able to walk around.”

Leading scores
1          Michael Isherwood      62
2          Terry Pilkadaris             63
3          Brendan Chant             64
T4        Mark Boulton               66
T4        Scott Barr                     66
T4        Lucien Tinkler               66
T4        Terry Price                    66

February 26

Pilkadaris tops again at Portarlington

Stars were out in force yet Terry Pilkadaris proved again why he is the hottest player on the PGA Legends Tour with a one-stroke win at the Sheen Panel Service Legends Pro-Am.

Portarlington Golf Club is always a popular stop on the Legends Tour calendar with the likes of Peter Lonard and PGA TOUR Champions players Richard Green and David McKenzie thrilling Portarlington members with their presence.

McKenzie is now one of them, made an honorary member after making an almost mythical ace on a par-4 for albatross, just carrying the front bunker and scurrying up the green before hitting the pin and dropping for his first career albatross at the 241-metre 13th.

“I’ve never had a ‘3-under’ one before, I’ll take that every time!” beamed McKenzie, who owns eight career hole-in-ones.

“What a day – I’m loving it!”

Conversely, Pilkadaris compiled a round of 5-under 67 with six birdies and a lone bogey to finish one clear of Lonard (68) with Green sharing third with Tim Elliott at 3-under 69.

Quick quotes

“It was a good day. Great weather, course was in really good condition,” said Pilkadaris.

“If you hit the ball in the right position, you’d capitalise. And that’s what I did.

“I capitalised on the par 5s coming in, managed to make birdies on those and consolidate the score.

“I’ve been doing some work with a putting specialist in the US, Geoff Mangum. I’m bringing him out – he arrives on Thursday – and he’s going to help me with my putting and also do some clinics and lessons for anyone.

“I think I had the yips and he’s starting to fix that. Now I’m starting to hole some putts and it’s going along nicely.”

Leading scores
1          Terry Pilkadaris             67
2          Peter Lonard                68
T3        Tim Elliott                     69
T3        Richard Green              69
T5        Chris Hynes                  71
T5        Shane Johnson            71
T5        Peter Woodward          71
T5        Tony Page                    71

February 25

McKenzie makes rarest of birds

He’s done a lot of things in golf, David McKenzie, but never an albatross.

That was until today at Portarlington when the Victorian drilled a driver 241 metres for the almost mythical ace on a par-4 during the Sheen Panel Service Legends Pro-Am on the PGA Legends Tour.

McKenzie’s drive just carried the front bunker and scurried up the green before hitting the pin and dropping for his first career albatross.

But from the tee, with the bunker obscuring his view, the 57-year-old thought it had landed in the sand when a puff of sand arose as his ball landed.

It wasn’t until the crowd erupted as he approached the green – and he was urged to do a “shooey” in celebration – that he realised the magic that had unfolded.

“There’s no way I’m doing a shooey,” McKenzie said as he guzzled a drink in a far more customary manner to celebrate.

“That’s unbelievable … and turns a terrible day into a much better one.

“I hit a driver because I was a bit cranky so that’s why I wasn’t hitting 3-wood, but I was sure it went into the bunker.

“I saw sand come up and (thought nothing of it). That’s crazy.”

McKenzie, the reigning NSW Senior Open champion, estimated that it was his eighth hole-in-one.

“But I’ve never had a ‘3-under, one before, I‘ll take that every time!” he beamed.

“What a day – I’m loving it!”

McKenzie tipped a casual five points into his team’s stableford balance and also won 20 points for the bullseye-style competition on offer for the second shot on that hole in one of the events separate competitions.

He was later presented with an honorary Portarlington Golf Club membership for his history-making shot.

Leading scores
1 Terry Pilkadaris
-5 67

2
AUS NSW Peter Lonard
-4 68

T3
AUS VIC Tim Elliott
-3 69

T3
AUS VIC Richard Green
-3 69

T5
AUS VIC Christopher Hynes
-1 71

T5
AUS VIC Shane Johnson
-1 71

T5
AUS VIC Peter Woodward
-1 71

T5
AUS VIC Tony Page
-1 71

Legends Tour: Pilkadaris masterful at Moama

He spends much of his time coaching these days but some tips from American ‘putting theorist’ Geoff Mangum propelled Terry Pilkadaris to a commanding win at the Moama Masters Rich River.

A second eagle on his round at the final hole saw Pilkadaris earn a share of the Round 1 lead with fellow Victorian Shane Johnson at 7-under 65 at Rich River Golf Club.

They had a two-stroke buffer but it was Pilkadaris who kept the foot to the floor, backing it up with a 6-under 66 for a 13-under total and six-stroke win.

Reigning PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit winner Andre Stolz finished outright second at 7-under par with 66-year-old Michael Harwood winding back the clock to snare third.

Quick quotes

“I’ve been doing some work online with an American guy, Geoff Mangum. I’m actually bringing him out next week and we’ve just been working hard on holing putts. I haven’t been holing any putts for the last four or five years, so finally holed some putts, which was nice.

“Hit some good iron shots and drove it well and all adds up to a good score.

“I was a bit nervous because the scores weren’t getting updated and I saw Andre (Stolz) was playing nicely.

“The scores hadn’t updated and he was on the 13th hole. I’m trying to work out what I am and what have you but I hit some nice shots coming in and capitalised.”

Leading scores
1          Terry Pilkadaris             65-66—131
2          Andre Stolz                  69-68—137
3          Michael Harwood        69-69—138
T4        David McKenzie           70-69—139
T4        Shane Johnson            65-74—139

February 19

Burns, Taylor claim Vic Foursomes again

Queensland pair Brad Burns and Chris Taylor have teamed up for a second win in three years at the ‘The Jack Harris & Brian Twite’ Victorian PGA Seniors Foursomes Championship.

Played at Rich River Golf Club’s East Course ahead of the $30,000 Moama Masters, Burns and Taylor bounced back from a shaky start to post 4-under 68 for a four-stroke win.

The winners in 2023 and tied for fourth 12 months ago, the Queenslanders rode Taylor’s hot putter over their final nine holes for a comfortable win ahead of Andre Stolz and David Crawford.

Quick quotes

“We started off fairly unsteady,” conceded Burns.

“We three-putted the first hole so we were 1-over after the first nine holes.

“Chris hit a lot of good putts that didn’t go in and then the last nine we holed a few putts and shot 5-under.

“Chris is a great ball-striker and when he gets that putter hot, he’s away.

“We just gel on the golf course and it’s a pleasure to play with him all the time.”

Leading scores
1          Brad Burns/Chris Taylor            68
T2        Andre Stolz/David Crawford    72
T3        Brendan Chant/Simon Pope     73
T3        Terry Pilkadaris/Neale Smith     73
T3        David McKenzie/Wayne Rogers            73
T3        Chris Hynes/Carl Smedley        73

February 18

Guy’s walk in the Park

A birdie-birdie finish has clinched Guy Wall a second win on the PGA Legends Tour season at The White Glove Mover Legends Pro-Am at Albert Park Golf Course in Melbourne.

Victorious at the Waihi Legends Pro-Am on the New Zealand swing, Wall shot 5-under 65 at Albert Park to edge Peter Brown (66) with tournament host David Diaz tied for third along with Andre Stolz, Peter Woodward and Simon Pope at 3-under par.

Wall credited his work on the putting green with coach John Serhan and time spent using Keiser gym equipment in the off-season for his strong start to the year.

“I’m a Keiser convert,” said Wall.

“If you’re looking after the body, looking after the swing, looking after the putting, it’s got to work.”

Starting his round with a par at the par-5 11th, Wall advanced up the leaderboard with birdies at 12, 14 and 16.

An errant tee shot led to a lone bogey at the par-4 fifth but he responded with a birdie on six and then two closing birdies at nine and 10 to finish one-stroke clear.

Quick quotes

“I’ve been working hard on the putter in our off-season,” said Wall.

“Changed putters to an even roll and putted awesome. I think I had 26 putts for the day.

“We were talking coming down the last couple with David Hill and he said, are you a scoreboard watcher? And I said, no, I’m just going to try and hit the best shots possible over the last couple of holes and see what happens.

“As it turned out, I’ve finished birdie-birdie.”

Leading scores
1          Guy Wall                      65
2          Peter Brown                 66
T3        Andre Stolz                  67
T3        Peter Woodward          67
T3        Simon Pope                 67
T3        David Diaz                   67

February 7

Barson wins again at St Clair Legends

A new force is emerging on the PGA Legends Tour with Kiwi Dominic Barson winning for a second time this season in dominant fashion at the St Clair Legends Pro-Am in Dunedin.

A three-stroke winner at the Pegasus Legends Pro-Am, Barson shot 7-under 64 at St Clair Golf Club to win by five strokes from in-form Queenslander Murray Lott (69) with three players sharing third place at even par.

Fifth at Legends Tour Q School last January, Barson joined the Tour late last year and had top-10 finishes at Moss Vale and Pymble.

He got through First Stage of PGA TOUR Champions School in the US and now looks set to challenge for the Order of Merit title in 2025.

Barson made the perfect start to his round at St Clair, opening with a bogey at the par-5 14th.

That was followed by birdies at 15, 18 and one to be 5-under through six holes.

He backed up a birdie at 5 with three on the trot from the eighth hole to reach 9-under par, bogeys at two of his final three holes reducing the winning margin by two.

Leading scores
1          Dominic Barson           64
2          Murray Lott                  69
T3        Brad Burns                   71
T3        Ben Jackson                 71
T3        Roland Baglin               71

February 5

Powell, Lott share honours at Gleniti

A birdie on his final hole has seen Victorian Paul Powell match Murray Lott’s total of 3-under 69 and share victory at the Gleniti Legends Pro-Am near Timaru on New Zealand’s South Island.

Starting from the 11th hole, Powell had birdies at 13, 17 and one before dropping back to 2-under with a bogey at the par-4 third.

After three birdies and three bogeys in his opening seven holes, Lott started the front nine at Gleniti Golf Club even par but peeled off birdies at two, four, six and nine to be 4-under and two strokes ahead.

But Lott’s bogey on 10 and Powell’s birdie at the same hole saw the pair finished locked together at 3-under.

Lott and Powell both finished one stroke clear of a quartet of players at 2-under.

Leading scores
T1        Paul Powell       69
T1        Murray Lott      69
T3        James Kupa      70
T3        Brad Burns       70
T3        Mark Sandri     70
T3        Martin Pettigrew          70

February 4

Barson wins by three at Pegasus Pro-Am

Kiwi Dominic Barson displayed the type of form that got him into Final Stage of PGA TOUR Champions Q School to take out the Pegasus Legends Pro-Am at Pegasus Golf Club near Christchurch.

The third individual event of the New Zealand swing to kick off the 2025 PGA Legends Tour season, Barson made it a win for the locals with a superb round of 6-under 66.

The 50-year-old made it through to Final Stage last November by finishing tied for 15th at First Stage, level with Australian Brendan Jones who went on to secure his card at Final Stage in Arizona.

Although Barson was not successful in earning full playing rights for 2025, the experience appeared to pay off as he bounced back from an early bogey to post five birdies and an eagle to finish three clear of Brisbane’s Murray Lott (69).

There was a three-way tie for third with Waihi Legends Pro-Am winner Guy Wall tied with Brad Burns and Martin Pettigrew.

Leading scores
1          Dominic Barson           66
2          Murray Lott                  69
T3        Brad Burns                   70
T3        Martin Pettigrew          70
T3        Guy Wall                      70
6          Christopher Massie      71

February 3

Australia retains Charles-Nagle Trophy

The Charles-Nagle Trophy remains in Australian hands after an enthralling contest that went down to the final match at Harewood Golf Club.

With Sir Bob Charles on hand to present the winning team with the trophy, the Aussies got off to a fast start as Brad Burns and David Fearns completed a 5&4 win over Dominic Barson and Martin Pettigrew.

The Kiwis got a point on the board thanks to Dean Sipson and Craig Mitchell’s 4&2 win over Ben Jackson and Roland Baglin, the match square at 1.5 points each when Guy Wall and Murray Lott halved their match with Dell Bain and Peter Giles.

The final result would hinge on the last match, Scott Ford and John Onions prevailing over Malcolm Wells and Mike Gainsford 3&2 to secure the win for the Australians.

Final scores
Brad Burns/David Fearns def. Dominic Barson/Martin Pettigrew (NZ) 5&4
Dean Sipson/Craig Mitchell (NZ) def. Ben Jackson/Roland Baglin 4&2
Guy Wall/Murray Lott halved Dell Bain/Peter Giles (NZ)
Scott Ford/John Onions def. Malcolm Wells/Mike Gainsford (NZ) 3&2

February 2

Massie stuns with NZ PGA Seniors Pro-Am win

Two superb rounds have earned Queenslander Chris Massie a maiden PGA Legends Tour win at the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools NZ PGA Seniors Pro-Am Championship at Hamner Springs Golf Club.

In his second year on the seniors circuit, Massie opened up a two-stroke lead with a round of 6-under 62 on day one and then followed that up with a 4-under 64 in Round 2 for a 10-under total.

Massie’s best finish in his rookie season was a tie for 13th at Tin Can Bay but he showed few signs of nerves as he held off Murray Lott (64-63) by one stroke with Brad Burns (64-66) and Dominic Barson (64-66) three shots further back in third.

Leading scores
1          Chris Massie                 62-64—126
2          Murray Lott                  64-63—127
T3        Brad Burns                   64-66—130
T3        Dominic Barson           64-66—130
5          Ben Jackson                 67-67—134

January 30

Wall has his way at Waihi Legends

Pymble’s Guy Wall made the perfect start to the 2025 PGA Legends Tour season with a two-stroke victory at the Expol Waihi Legends Pro-Am at Waihi Golf Club.

It is the third year in succession that the Legends Tour season has kicked off on New Zealand’s North Island and the second time in three years that Wall has won the season-opener.

A winner at Hanmer Springs two years ago, Wall shot 6-under 66 at Waihi to claim victory from West Australian Rob Farley (68) with Kiwi pair Dell Bain and Dominic Barson sharing third with rounds of 2-under 70.

Leading scores
1          Guy Wall          66
2          Robert Farley    68
T3        Dell Bain          70
T3        Dom Barson     70
T5        Justin Hooper  71
T5        Ben Jackson     71


Defending national champion Samuel Eaves is on course to go back-to-back after a commanding victory at the PGA Professionals Championship of South-East Queensland at Nudgee Golf Club on Tuesday.

As winner of the PPC National Final at The Heritage Golf and Country Club last November, Eaves’s place in the field for the 2025 National Final (November 1-13) was already secure.

Selected in the Four Nations Cup team that will travel to Canada next month, Eaves was a late entry in the field at Nudgee but ended the day first on the leaderboard with a superb 8-under 62 on the Bulka Course.

While he had played the adjacent Kurrai host that is home to the Queensland PGA Championship, Eaves was taking his first look at the Bulka, inhaling a hamburger on his way to the 10th tee before unleashing a four-stroke win in the field of 80 PGA Professionals.

“I didn’t necessarily know where the trouble was so was able to commit to a lot of the shots and gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities,” said Eaves, pictured with Club Car Vice President for Oceania, Kevin Gates.

“It was a late decision to play the local event knowing I had already qualified for the National Final although I am extremely glad I did and gives me plenty of confidence heading into the back half of the year.

“It’s a really big year for me not only representing Australia at the Four Nations Cup and being defending champion at the PGA Professionals Championship National Final though now also a start in the Queensland PGA Championship which is exciting.”

Nudgee’s own resident Professional Chris Duke shot 66 to finish second and secure the second exemption into the Queensland PGA and a spot in the National Final, Steve Vail (67) edging Andrew Brennan (67) on a countback to claim the third and final Queensland PGA exemption.

Matt Guyatt was the leading Professional over the age of 50 and therefore receives an exemption into the 2025 Australian PGA Senior Championship while Emily Byrne is also headed to the PPC National Final as the leading female Professional.

A big thank you to event partners Club Car, CCEP and Acushnet who help to make the day such a success, a day that also incorporates the Annual State Member Forum.

Queensland qualifiers for PPC National Final
1          Samuel Eaves               62
2          Chris Duke                   66
T3        Steve Vail                     67
T3        Andrew Brennan          67
T5        Cameron Bell                68
T5        Craig Davis                  68
T5        Mitchell Smith              68
T8        Brenton Fowler            69
T8        Matthew Guyatt           69
T8        Luke Parker                  69
T8        TJ King                         69
T8        Zach Ion                      69
T8        Peter Martin                 69
T14      Dale Walker                  70
T14      Leon Trenerry               70
T14      Zac Chipperfield          70
Emily Byrne (Leading Female Professional)

Qualifiers went down to 16th place as Eaves was already exempt into National Final


Minjee Lee can move one step closer to her ambition of the LPGA ‘Super Slam’ with a victory at this week’s AIG Women’s Open that would make her a career grand slam winner.

With five majors each year since the elevation of the Amundi Evian Championship in 2013, the best players in women’s golf aspire to the Super Career Grand Slam.

Karrie Webb is the only player in history to complete the ‘Super Slam’ while those who win four of the five are bestowed Career Grand Slam status.

Only seven women have ever won four of the five, Lee now with the opportunity to become No.8 having won the 2021 Amundi Evian Championship, 2022 US Women’s Open and this year’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Texas.

With consecutive top-five finishes from 2020-2022 the 29-year-old has not been without her chances and, given her exceptional season to date in 2025, knows there is another this week at the stunning Royal Porthcawl.

“All the majors are a great motivator for me,” said Lee, who was third at the Evian Championship and tied 21st at last week’s Women’s Scottish Open.

“Yes, I definitely want to win it at some stage and be able to get the career grand slam. That would be absolutely amazing.

“Lydia (Ko) is in the Hall of Fame and, now that I look back at it, what I can say is that’s quite a big motivation for me, to try and get those over the line.”

Lee is one of nine Australians in the final field for the final golf major of 2025, a far cry from when she joined the LPGA Tour a decade ago alongside veterans such as Karrie Webb, Sarah Jane Smith and Katherine Kirk.

With an influx driven by Grace Kim, Stephanie Kyriacou, Karis Davidson, Gabriela Ruffels, Hira Naveed and Cassie Porter – all of whom are in the field at Porthcawl – Lee reflected on her changing role within the Australian contingent on Tour.

“Obviously I’m a little older than the girls coming through now,” she added

“I don’t know how to say it. I’m not a veteran, but more of an older sister to these guys so it just feels a little bit different.

“I’ve seen them since their amateur days and junior days and now they’re on circuit with me so it kind of feels like more of a full circle moment.

“It’s really great to see them all doing pretty well and settling down on the Tour now.”

Australia’s latest major winner, Grace Kim, will be the first of the Aussies out on Thursday at 5:09pm AEST alongside Ruoning Yin and Brooke Henderson.

This week is also the final opportunity to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs with three Aussies sitting on the bubble and in danger of missing out.

Adam Scott has missed the Playoffs just once in his career and needs a two-way tie for third or better at the Wyndham Championship to move into the top 70 who advance.

Puerto Rico Open champion Karl Vilips also needs a strong showing to improve on his current position of 83rd while Cam Davis will be doing all he can to protect his current position of 67th.

Photo: Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images

Round 1 tee times AEST

AIG Women’s Open
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Porthcawl, Wales
5:09pm            Grace Kim
5:31pm            Minjee Lee
5:47pm            Hannah Green
5:58pm            Gabriela Ruffels
6:31pm            Kirsten Rudgeley
7:26pm            Karis Davidson
7:48pm            Momoka Kobori (NZ)
9:54pm            Lydia Ko (NZ)
10:32pm          Steph Kyriacou
11:49pm          Hira Naveed
12:11am          Amelia Garvey (NZ)
12:22am          Cassie Porter

Recent champion: Lydia Ko
Past Aussie winners: Corinne Dibnah (1988), Karen Lunn (1993), Karrie Webb (1995, 1997, 2002)
TV times: Live 9pm-4am Thursday, Friday; Live 9:45pm-4am Saturday; Live 9pm-4am Sunday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo Sports.

PGA TOUR
Wyndham Championship
Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, North Carolina
9:23pm*          Adam Scott
10:18pm*         Cam Davis
2:21am            Aaron Baddeley
3:27am            Ryan Fox (NZ)
3:27am*           Karl Vilips

Recent champion: Aaron Rai
Past Aussie winners: Steve Elkington (1990)
Prize money: $US8.2m
TV times: Live 8:30pm-8am Thursday, Friday; Live 9:30pm-8am Saturday, Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo Sports.

Japan Golf Tour
Richard Mille Charity Tournament
Noto Country Club, Ishikawa
9:15am*           Brad Kennedy

Recent champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: ¥100m

Korn Ferry Tour
Utah Championship
Ogden Golf & Country Club, Ogden, Utah
12:25am          Harry Hillier (NZ)
5:10am            Rhein Gibson

Recent champion: Karl Vilips
Past Aussie winners: Jeff Woodland (1992), Karl Vilips (2024)
Prize money: $US1m

HotelPlanner Tour
Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A
SCHLOSS Roxburghe, Heiton by Kelso, Scotland
10:10pm          Hayden Hopewell

Recent champion: Brandon Robinson Thompson
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: £250,000

LET Access Series
Q-Tour Himmerland Championship
Himmerland Resort, Denmark
8:46pm*          Stephanie Bunque
9:08pm            Justice Bosio
9:08pm*          Belinda Ji
9:30pm            Abbie Teasdale

Recent champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €50,000

Epson Tour
Four Winds Invitational
South Bend Country Club, South Bend, Indiana
Australians in the field: Su Oh, Jess Whitting, Jennifer Elliott

Recent champion: Yahui Zhang
Past Aussie winners: Julia Boland (2012), Gabriela Ruffels (2023)
Prize money: $US225,000

Legends Tour
Staysure PGA Seniors Championship
Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeen, Scotland
5:25pm*          Michael Long (NZ)
10:03pm          Scott Hend
10:25pm          Michael Campbell (NZ)
11:09pm*         Mark Brown (NZ)
11:20pm          Andre Stolz

Recent champion: Robert Coles
Past Aussie winners: Nil

PGA TOUR Americas
Osprey Valley Open
TPC Toronto (Heathlands), Caledon, Ontario
10:12pm          Grant Booth
4am                 Tony Chen

Recent champion: Davis Shore (2023)
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US225,000


One of Australia’s most decorated golfers, and fan favourite, Adam Scott has today confirmed he will return home in 2025 as one of the headliners for the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club from November 27-30.

The first Australian to win The Masters at Augusta National, Scott is a two-time winner of the Kirkwood Cup in his home state of Queensland but has yet to win at Royal Queensland, where he was a junior member.

“Australia will always be home and returning to compete in front of the passionate and knowledgeable fans is always a nice way to end the year,” Scott said today.

“It is always exciting to play in Queensland, and especially at RQ where I spent time developing my game.”

Currently on track to join Jack Nicklaus as the only players to contest 100 consecutive major championships, with the 2026 US Open the potential century celebration, Scott returns home having recorded top-10s in his last appearances at Australia’s two major events – the BMW Australian PGA and Australian Open.

Tied for sixth at the 2023 PGA Championship, Scott was in the mix late on Sunday for a second Australian Open crown, with more silverware in his home country in Scott’s sights as he seeks to add to his 28 official wins worldwide.

He will also contest this year’s Australian Open at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

“It is an honour to have both the BMW Australian PGA and Australian Open on my resume, and I would love nothing more than to win again at home in front of family and friends,” the 44-year-old said.

“Both trophies have honour rolls full of the biggest names in not just Australian golf, but world golf, and anytime you can have success at the end of the year always makes for a nice break and sense of satisfaction.

“The Summer of Golf at home has been a constant talking point on Tour recently, and it will be great to have a truly international field showcasing our world-class courses and players.”

Joined as a confirmed starter for the BMW Australian PGA Championship by defending champion Elvis Smylie, Scott will make his 17th appearance in his home state event where he owns nine top 10s and claimed the title in 2019.

“Adam has always been one of the great supporters of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, and it is a huge boost for both tournaments that he will be teeing it up in 2025, starting at the BMW Australian PGA Championship,” PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said.

“The effort of our overseas based players to return home after a long year is highly appreciated, and after again contending at the majors in 2025, I am sure Adam will be targeting another of our biggest trophies in Australian golf.”

Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said: “We’re thrilled to again be hosting Australia’s oldest professional golf tournament in 2025, an event that always assembles world-class fields, attracts massive galleries and further cements Queensland’s reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events”.

Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said: “Last year’s tournament welcomed tens of thousands of people to the manicured lawns of the Royal Queensland Golf Club, making an economic contribution of more than $15 million.  We can’t wait to see what the 2025 tournament holds.”

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said: “Adam Scott’s return to the world-class Royal Queensland fairways will make this November’s Championship truly unmissable, especially for Queenslanders.

“The Australian PGA Championship is shaping up to be a major highlight on our sporting calendar, drawing fans from near and far to enjoy not just the action on the green, but everything Brisbane has to offer.

“As Australia’s lifestyle capital, Brisbane is the perfect backdrop for this blockbuster event, which is set to deliver millions of dollars in economic benefits for our restaurants, hotels and tourism operators.”

Tickets for the BMW Australian PGA Championship and men’s Australian Open are on sale now at www.ticketek.com.au

The BMW Australian PGA Championship is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, and Brisbane City Council via Brisbane Economic Development Agency.


The PGA of Australia has joined the golf world in mourning the passing of groundbreaking jewellery magnate and golf visionary, Sir Michael Hill.

The driving force behind Michael Hill Jewellers passed at the age of 86 following a battle with cancer and will be remembered not only for his jewellery empire, but for channelling his passion for golf and his homeland into the resurrection of the New Zealand Open.

Now one of the marquee events on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia schedule, the New Zealand Open was first staged at The Hills golf course near Queenstown in 2007 and Sir Michael was pivotal in its evolution into its current pro-am format.

Its success over the past decade has made it one of the most popular events each summer, for both professionals and their amateur playing partners alike, drawing titans of industry and sporting superstars from across the globe to tee it up in Queenstown.

The CEO of the PGA of Australia, Gavin Kirkman, shared his condolences on the passing of such an important figure for golf in the Asia-Pacific region.

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sir Michael,” Mr Kirkman said.

“The success of the New Zealand Open on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia owes so much not only to his generosity, but the spirit in which he gave it.

“I have no doubt that the growing stature of the New Zealand Open on the global stage has been inspirational to young golfers in New Zealand and to those professionals currently playing around the world.

“He has left an indelible mark on everyone who has had the good fortune to play the New Zealand Open over the past two decades and The Hills golf course that Sir Michael so lovingly created was a magnificent venue for the 10 occasions that it hosted and co-hosted the New Zealand Open.

“Sir Michael’s legacy will live on through the New Zealand Open and through the players he impacted along the way.”

A keen student of the violin who founded the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, Sir Michael spoke in a 2009 interview with Australian Golf Digest on not just his passion for golf, but why the New Zealand Open held such an important place in his heart.

“What is really great is being able to give something back to two extremely difficult things, golf and music,” Sir Michael said.

“That is a very odd combination and, just as important, with the New Zealand Open we are giving back to the community. To New Zealand and Australasia really, because I think our Australasian ties are becoming more and more important.”

With parents who were avid golfers, Sir Michael took up the sport at a young age and quickly turned his hand to course design.

He mowed 18 greens at the family’s property north of Whangarei and created holes using baked bean tins, the Red Star Golf Club soon becoming a popular hangout for fellow young golfers in the region.

“Looking back now it’s quite funny,” he added.

“The local boys would come along and would have to pay 1-and-6 to be a member and we had tournaments, just chipping and putting.

“It’s funny how these things come back later in life.”

Photo: Sir Michael Hill (right) with 2016 New Zealand Open champion Matthew Griffin and the late Mr Ishii, founder of Millbrook Resort. Credit: Photosport NZ


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