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Karl Vilips made history by winning on the PGA TOUR in his fourth start, and is now headed for The Players Championship, with the West Australian’s efforts just one of the Australian moments to celebrate from a bountiful weekend.
Vilips set the tournament scoring mark at the Puerto Rico Open to claim his maiden title less than a year removed from graduating college (full story on his win HERE), while it was a runner-up finish on the LPGA Tour for Minjee Lee in China.
The older Australian and Kiwi brigade also representing strongly on the PGA TOUR Champions, where Steven Alker claimed another title and Greg Chalmers and Rod Pampling shared third.
For Minjee, her final round charge at the Blue Bay LPGA truly ignited late on the front nine, when the elder Lee sibling seemed to channel her brother Min Woo and his short game.
Mixing three bogeys with one birdie through six holes of the final round playing alongside fellow Aussie Cassie Porter, Minjee chipped in consecutively on the seventh and eighth holes and motioned to call ‘Dr Chipinski’ her brother’s widely used social media nickname.
“I never left,” she said when asked if there was a new Dr Chipinski in the family post round.
Continuing to look more comfortable with her new long putter, Lee added four more birdies on the back nine to finish at 11-under and six back of Japan’s Rio Takeda. Porter recording her best LPGA finish with a solo fourth place after closing with an even par round of 72.
Playing the Cologuard Classic on the senior circuit, Alker closed with a final round 66 to find himself in a playoff with Jason Caron. The Kiwi triumphing on the first extra hole to claim his ninth PGA TOUR Champions crown.
Falling just one short of the playoff, Pampling bogeyed the 17th hole to finish on 11-under, while Chalmers looked the man to beat as the players made their way to the finish.
Leading into the back nine, Chalmers bogeyed the 12th and 14th to fall back before scrambling for a par at the penultimate hole and just missing a 10 foot birdie try at the 18th hole to join the playoff.
“That’s just part of golf sometimes. It’s been a minute since I’ve been in that situation where I’ve had a chance to win an event,” Chalmers said.
“I think the more I can do it, the more comfortable I’ll be and the better I’ll do.”
Similarly flying the flag on the global stage was Jason Day, who was right in the mix late on Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard.
Two shots back of the lead, Day’s ball found the water at the par-5 16th and eventually the bottom of the cup for a double bogey, with the Queenslander also dropping a shot at the last to share eighth.
Back in action for the first time since Adelaide, the all Australian Ripper GC team shared third place at LIV Golf Hong Kong, with Lucas Herbert the standout in the individual results. The Victorian closing with a 6-under round for a solo fourth place.
PGA TOUR
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard
Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida
1 Russell Henley 72-68-67-70—277 $US4m
T8 Jason Day 76-64-69-74—283 $600,666
T36 Adam Scott 75-72-70-74—291 $96,750
MC Cam Davis 70-80—150
MC Min Woo Lee 78-73—151
Puerto Rico Open
Grand Reserve Golf Club, Rio Grande, Peurto Rico
1 Karl Vilips 65-67-66-64—262 $US720,000
MC Aaron Baddeley 72-75—147
LPGA Tour
Blue Bay LPGA
Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course, Hainan Island, China
1 Rio Takeda 69-69-69-64—271 $US375,000
2 Minjee Lee 70-72-68-67—277 $230,318
4 Cassie Porter 69-68-72-72—281 $129,249
T44 Hira Naveed 71-70-76-76—293 $10,529
MC Karis Davidson 73-76—149
MC Fiona Xu (NZ) 74-78—152
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Hong Kong
Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling, Hong Kong
1 Sergio Garcia 65-64-63—192 $US4m
4 Lucas Herbert 67-66-64—197 $1,000,000
T12 Marc Leishman 70-66-65—201 $312,500
T20 Cameron Smith 69-68-66—203 $202,500
T20 Danny Lee (NZ) 66-71-66—203 $202,500
T35 Matt Jones 69-69-67—205 $145,333
T35 Ben Campbell (NZ) 69-68-68—205 $145,333
DP World Tour
Joburg Open
Houghton GC, Johannesburg, South Africa
1 Callum Hill 69-66-69-62—266 €177,233.16
T3 Danny List 66-73-71-77—287 €1,547.32
MC Kazuma Kobori 70-77—147
PGA TOUR Champions
Cologuard Classic
La Paloma Country Club, Tucson, Arizona
1 Steven Alker (NZ) 69-66-66—201 $US330,000
T3 Rod Pampling 66-69-67—202 $145,200
T3 Greg Chalmers 64-67-71—202 $145,200
T18 Cameron Percy 71-69-68—208 $32,010
T20 David Bransdon 69-70-70—209 $25,828
T20 Mark Hensby 71-68-70—209 $25,828
T20 Matthew Goggin 67-69-73—209 $25,828
T33 Richard Green 75-67-70—212 $13,860
T44 Steve Allan 70-77-67—214 $8,800
T48 Stuart Appleby 70-74-71—214 $7,040
T60 Michael Wright 71-72-75—218 $3,300
T60 Brendan Jones 72-73-63—218 $3,300
Korn Ferry Tour
Astara Chile Classic presented by Scotiabank
Prince of Wales Country Club, Santiago, Chile
1 Logan McAllister 68-70-63-64—265 $US180,000
T57 Harry Hillier (NZ) 71-69-71-70—281 $4,100
MC Rhein Gibson 70-71—141
Epson Tour
Atlantic Beach Classic presented by Access Golf
Atlantic Beach Country Club, Atlantic Beach, Florida
1 Laetitia Beck 71-68-66—205 $US37,500
T13 Robyn Choi 76-71-69—216 $3,868
T54 Caitlin Peirce 78-73-73—224 $1,054
MC Su Oh 81-76—157
Australian Karl Vilips has joined an exclusive club, with the 23-year-old winning the PGA TOUR’s Puerto Rico Open in just his fourth Tour start to become only the 12th player since 1970 to achieve that feat.
Named recently as the first signing to Tiger Woods’ apparel company Sun Day Red and last month as a new member of the Golf Australia Rookie Squad, Vilips entered the final round with the outright lead in Puerto Rico having graduated Stanford University less than 12 months ago.
A winner on the secondary Korn Ferry Tour last year, Vilips was challenged out of the gate on Sunday by Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen as he sought to join the likes of Seve Ballesteros in the four-tournament start winners club on the PGA TOUR.
Birdieing the par-4 third, Vilips then found some magic at the par-5 sixth when holing out his pitch for eagle before two more birdies to close out the front nine in 5-under.
The Australian, who spent parts of his childhood in Melbourne and Perth before completing his schooling in America, truly having to earn his victory on the back nine when he made his only bogey of the final day at the par-4 12th.
As Neergaard-Petersen was in the middle of making six straight birdies from the 10th hole, Vilips first dropped shot, and loss of the lead, seemed to kick the former child prodigy and now Colin Swatton coached player into gear.
“Bogey was pretty careless,” Vilips told Australian media after his win.
“I was pretty frustrated about that with a wedge in the fairway. I was thinking kind of just give myself a bit of a cushion on the leaderboard and then had to just forget about it. It’s already happened, can’t do anything about it and did a good job putting me back in the present.”
Making three consecutive birdies from the 13th, Vilips added another at the 72nd and final hole to reach 26-under and claim a three shot victory over Neergaard-Petersen.
“It’s a dream come true for me and my dad,” Vilips said paying tribute to his father, Paul, immediately after holing his winning putt.
“This is what we dreamed of as a kid.”
Vilips, whose maiden season on the PGA TOUR has been slightly hampered following the discovery of a bulging disk in his back around the time he returned home for a share of 46th at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open, has now secured his playing rights for the next two years.
Setting a tournament scoring record with his 26-under-par total, Vilips will now also receive a start at the PGA TOUR’s showpiece event, next week’s The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, as well as the US PGA Championship in May.
Recently moving to Florida and making TPC Sawgrass his base, the Australian will not be as ill-prepared as many might think for his sudden start next week alongside some of the biggest names in the game.
“I just moved there, been at TPC for five months or four months now,” Vilips said.
“I’m going to be getting in late Monday night, so it’s going to be a bit of a short prep, but thankfully it’s my home course so I don’t really need to do too much. Just see how the greens are rolling, how the rough is. I just kind of get in the right mindset for it.”
Mindset has rarely been an issue for Vilips, who has worked relentlessly to become a PGA TOUR winner, with his calm and mostly mild mannered demeanour only cracking occasionally on Sunday. Firstly, when yelling “Come on” as he celebrated his final birdie, and again when speaking of his genuine excitement and realising a dream
“Even just like being in the final group is something I always wanted to do. Being in the final group of PGA TOUR events and then winning, it’s just everything,” he said.
“It makes me incredibly happy to hoist that trophy on the 18th green … It’s everything that I’ve dreamed of and in the moment, you have to kind of just put all that aside and focus on winning. But I’m sure when I’m back in my hotel I’ll just be smiling and calling my friends.”
Part of the phone attention no doubt going to a potential voice message from the icon that created his clothing sponsor, with Tiger one of the names to pop up during the whirlwind post round commitments.
“I caught a glimpse of it saying something and I’ll have to get back to it. I’ve been bombarded with texts and I’m so grateful for the support, but I’ll have to look back at it after this.”
Kiwi left-hander Tyler Hodge has held his nerve over the closing stages to clinch a one-stroke victory at the Wallace Development New Zealand PGA Championship at Hastings Golf Club.
Leading by four strokes after a birdie at the par-5 10th, Hodge’s advantage from Queensland pair Tim Hart (67) and Shae Wools-Cobb (71) was reduced to three with a bogey at the par-4 11th.
Hart, Wools-Cobb and Kerry Mountcastle (66) all nudged one stroke closer with birdies of their own, Hodge’s lead shrinking to just one when he made a third bogey in the space of eight holes after three-putting the par-3 16th.
The two closing holes at Hastings Golf Club were playing directly into a hefty wind and Hodge came up short with his second into the par-4 17th.
He very nearly chipped in before tapping in for par to head to the 72nd tee with a one-shot advantage as Hart and Mountcastle sat safely in the clubhouse at 15-under par.
A bombed drive into the fairway was the first piece of the puzzle Hodge needed to complete before the 30-year-old hit his best shot of the day, a 7-iron from 161 metres to just 12 feet.
It was after watching playing partner Denzel Ieremia’s shot carry deep into the green that Hodge changed clubs, dropping back to 7-iron to all but seal his first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia victory with a final round of 3-under 69.
He is the third Kiwi winner in the past four events (Josh Geary, Nick Voke) and the third left-hander to win this season (Elvis Smylie, Ryan Peake) and does so in his second stint as a professional.
Originally joining the pro ranks in 2015, Hodge quit in late 2019 and had a year away from the game before returning to amateur golf and caddying for two seasons at Tara Iti.
In 2023 he decided to try again and now, two years later, he is a Tour winner with guaranteed status through until the end of the 2026/2027 season.
“That’s a very cool thought,” said Hodge, who had fiancée Tessa McDonald on the bag as he completed a career highlight.
“We’ll have some in-house conversations and stuff like that about what the future looks like playing golf.
“I had a couple of years off a few years ago and then kind of came back to the game and have been enjoying it.
“But she’s a tough old slog pro golf, so my fiancée and I have been having some chats about possibly giving the pro playing stuff away.
“We’ll have to have a bit more of a chat over the winter about that.”
Tied for second overnight, Hodge continued to forge ahead as the likes of Cameron Harlock (77), Jake McLeod (74), Denzel Ieremia (71) and Wools-Cobb (71) stalled on Sunday.
Challengers emerged from back in the pack in the form of Mountcastle and Hart, but both would ultimately fall one short of forcing a playoff.
It was Hodge’s performances on the Charles Tour in New Zealand last year that earned limited playing rights on the PGA Tour of Australasia this season, a tie for 11th at the Ford NSW Open enhancing his status and providing confirmation that a win was not beyond reach.
“I definitely haven’t played to my potential for most of the season,” said Hodge, who is now 22nd on the Order of Merit.
“That was a little bit of a highlight that week but still felt like I didn’t kind of have it.
“Just to kind of let it go this week and just whatever happens, happens, the game kind of came back to me a little bit naturally, I suppose.
“I’m almost a journeyman now. Golf is different. There’s a lot of learnings that you have to go through yourself.
“People can tell you about it and stuff like that, but you have to experience a few of those things and get through a lot of adversity.
“Slowly but surely got back into it and then obviously enjoyed it enough to have another crack at the pro stuff.”
Mountcastle and Hart shared second at 15-under par, one clear of Wools-Cobb, Anthony Quayle (69) and another Kiwi left-hander, Tim Wilkinson (67).
Photo: Ian Cooper/bwmedia.co.nz
Three Australians are in the hunt for breakthrough wins as major champions Minjee Lee and Jason Day put themselves in the frame for drought-breaking victories on the LPGA and PGA TOUR respectively.
In what shapes as a potentially career-changing 24 hours, Karl Vilips and Greg Chalmers have the outright lead in their respective events on the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions as Cassie Porter hunts down victory in just her second start on the LPGA Tour.
Less than 12 months after graduating from Stanford University, Vilips shot 6-under 66 in Round 3 of the Puerto Rico Open in Rio Grande in just his third start on the PGA TOUR while Porter will start Sunday’s final round of the Blue Bay LPGA in China in a share of second, two strokes back of Japan’s Rio Takeda.
Two-time major winner Minjee Lee is just one stroke further back in a tie for fifth, Day trails Collin Morikawa by three shots at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Chalmers is the outright leader at the Cologuard Classic as he seeks a first win on the PGA TOUR Champions.
Diagnosed with a bulging disc in his back after initially being told he had a stress fracture, Vilips is quickly making up for lost time.
His debut season on the PGA TOUR was subsequently delayed as he received treatment but will now take a one-stroke lead into the final round in Puerto Rico in just his third event.
“I don’t feel that surprised,” said the 23-year-old who is bidding to become just the 12th player to win in one of his first four starts on the PGA TOUR since 1970.
“I feel like my game’s gotten a lot better over the years. I think playing so much out of college and on the Korn Ferry and then just a lot of competitive golf, it just has sharpened me up a lot.
“I’ve been really true to the process and seeing it pay off so far at the moment is nice.”
Porter’s performance is just as impressive.
Admitting to be somewhat starstruck in her LPGA Tour debut, the 22-year-old birdied three of her final four holes on Saturday to play her way into Sunday’s second-to-last group alongside Lee and world No.2, Jeeno Thitikul.
“That was a lot of fight out there,” said the Epson Tour graduate of her finish to Round 3.
“Bit of a mess in the middle of the round there, but we came back, so that’s all that matters.”
In his first season as a fully exempt member of the PGA TOUR Champions, Chalmers leads by one at the tournament where he made his PGA TOUR Champions debut 12 months ago.
The West Australian’s tie for seventh last year after coming through Monday qualifying provided the foundation for a season in which he logged five top-10s and won close to $US900,000 in prize money.
The 51-year-old is now seeking to become Australia’s first winner on the PGA TOUR Champions since Rod Pampling at the SAS Championship in October 2023.
“I have a one-shot lead going into tomorrow now. Some of that may be relatively new territory for me, I don’t think I’ve done that before, certainly not on the Champions Tour,” conceded Chalmers, who will have wife Nicole in the gallery on Sunday.
“I really felt pleased with how I conducted myself today and the shots I chose and predominantly how I executed.
“I’m looking forward to tomorrow. There’s a few guys with a chance to have a good day and see if they can’t have a win, so great to be part of that mix.”
Porter tees off in her final round at 2:11pm AEDT Sunday, Vilips is off in the final group in Puerto Rico at 2:41am AEDT Monday with Chalmers to begin his quest for victory at 6:17am AEDT Monday morning.
Unheralded Kiwi rookie Cameron Harlock has turned a tournament invitation into a potential maiden professional win at the Wallace Development New Zealand PGA Championship at Hastings Golf Club.
On a day in which the leaders stalled and contenders came from the clouds, Harlock’s eagle on the par-5 17th in his round of 5-under 67 was enough to nudge one clear of a congested leaderboard at 14-under par.
Queensland’s Shae Wools-Cobb (67) and Kiwi left-hander Tyler Hodge (70) share second at 13-under par with 16-year-old amateur Cooper Moore (71) and another New Zealander, Denzel Ieremia (66) tied for fourth at 12-under.
Nineteen players will start Sunday within five strokes of the lead, Harlock suddenly thrust to the front in just his second start on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
Out in 3-under, Harlock made bogey at the par-4 11th for the second straight day before forging to the front-running position with a birdie at 14 and eagle at 17.
“I felt like I had a good number and it came out pretty awfully to be honest,” Harlock said of his second shot into the par-5.
“It surprised me a little bit but was probably one of those ones where it was so bad that it was actually in an OK spot.
“I had about 40 metres left and it wasn’t an easy shot but just tried to hit the best shot that I could and it just dropped in the front edge.”
After playing his way into the Vic Open last month by winning the Monday qualifier at Curlewis, Harlock was given a crash course in professional golf education during a practice round with Aussie veterans Sam Brazel, Marcus Fraser and Matt Millar.
Although he would miss the cut at 13th Beach, Harlock said it was an invaluable learning experience less than a year after graduating from Boston College.
“Getting those guys to steer me around and just see how they worked and their practice round was actually a massive benefit,” said the Auckland native
“It feels like a strange thing to say, but they looked like they were relaxed and they had their processes and plans and then outside of that, they were just really, really good guys.”
Another with limited playing opportunities of late has been Wools-Cobb.
Due to his current category, Wools-Cobb has played just two events since the start of the year, a heart-to-heart with coach John Wright unlocking his love for the game again.
“I just feel really happy out there. It’s just a light bulb moment kind of thing,” said Wools-Cobb.
“I feel like I had a really good chat with my coach, John Wright after WA (Webex Players Series Perth). He pretty much pulled me into gear to say, ‘Just work harder.’
“There were a few weaker areas that we noticed in my golf swing that break down when I’m under pressure so I’ve really dedicated myself to gym work, getting a bit more flexibility and movement.”
The biggest moves on Saturday came from Newcastle rookie Jye Pickin and perennial contender this season, Jake McLeod.
Pickin and McLeod both shot rounds of 7-under 65 in Round 3 to be tied for sixth and just three strokes off the lead.
Pickin has missed the cut in each of his previous three starts while McLeod’s runner-up finish to Nick Voke at Webex Players Series Sydney was his third top-five finish of the season.
One-under playing the back nine on Friday, McLeod shot 3-under in his final eight holes to make the cut. He intends to carry through a ‘nothing to lose’ mentality as he chases a first win since the 2018 NSW Open.
“If you just made the cut, you can’t really go backwards so there’s only forwards,” said McLeod, who had six birdies and an eagle in his round of 7-under.
“Obviously running down the leaderboard here is not going to do anything on the Order of Merit so you need to try your luck and push pretty hard I reckon.”
The final round of the Wallace Development PGA Championship tees off at 8:15am AEDT.
Photo: Simon Watts/BW Media
Qualifiers for the PGA Professionals Championship National Final will compete for a record prize purse when it is played at The Heritage Golf and Country Club in November.
The PGA Professionals Championship of Tasmania on April 11 will mark the start of the state qualifiers, leading players from each state to advance to the $100,000 National Final from November 11-13.
In a further boost to the PPC, Heritage Golf and Country Club has extended its role as host venue for the next three years having first staged the National Final in 2023.
“We are very proud of our course and facilities here at The Heritage Golf and Country Club and are equally proud and excited to be staging the PGA Professional Championship over the next three years,” said PGA Professional and Heritage Golf and Country Club Operations Manager, Michael Dean.
“This event, coupled with the Heritage Classic, allows us to showcase what we have achieved and reinstates our position in the industry as a top-class tournament venue.
“We are big advocates for women in golf, so are excited to be a part of an event that recognises women PGA Professionals equally to the men.”
In addition to the support of The Heritage Golf and Country Club, the prize money increase from $65,000 last year to $100,000 in 2025 is only possible thanks to partnerships with Club Car, Acushnet and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
While they spend the majority of their working lives improving the golf experience for others, PGA of Australia CEO, Gavin Kirkman, believes it is important to reward Members who maintain a passion for playing themselves.
“PGA Professionals are the lifeblood of the golf industry so it is only fitting that our Members are afforded the opportunity to compete for a national championship,” said Kirkman.
“The support of our partners, including The Heritage Golf and Country Club, has allowed us to increase total prize money, and the leading two men will qualify for the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland in November.
“The establishment of the Women’s PGA Professionals Championship last year was a welcome addition and I hope to see that grow in the years to come.”
PGA Professionals Championship schedule
Friday April 11
PGA Professionals Championship of Tasmania
Riverside Golf Club
Monday April 28
PGA Professionals Championship of North Queensland
Mirage Country Club
Monday June 16
PGA Professionals Championship of Victoria
Portsea Golf Club
Friday June 20
PGA Professionals Championship of South Australia
Mt Osmond Golf Club
Monday June 30
PGA Professionals Championship of Western Australia
Cottesloe Golf Club
Tuesday July 1
PGA Professionals Championship of NSW/ACT
Castle Hill Golf Club
Tuesday July 29
PGA Professionals Championship of South-East Queensland
Nudgee Golf Club
November 11-13
PGA Professionals Championship National Final
Heritage Golf and Country Club
Teen phenom Cooper Moore is hunting a piece of history after charging into a share of the lead on day two of the Wallace Development New Zealand PGA Championship.
On the back of a round of 5-under 67 in challenging conditions on Thursday, Moore took full advantage of the calmer, warmer weather in Friday’s second round to shoot 6-under 66 to be 11-under through 36 holes at Hastings Golf Club.
He shares top spot with fellow Kiwis Tyler Hodge (64) and Chang Gi Lee (66) and in-form Queenslander Anthony Quayle (66), a two-time winner on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
The quartet have a one-stroke advantage from overnight leader Austin Bautista (69) with another Kiwi, Cameron Harlock, sitting in sixth place at 9-under after a round of 5-under 67.
But all eyes will be on the 16-year-old Year 12 student from Christchurch in Round 3 as he seeks to become the youngest winner on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia in the modern era.
Inspired by the deeds of countryman Kazuma Kobori on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia last season, Moore is currently weighing up whether to attend college in the United States next year or begin his professional career closer to home.
A win this weekend by the reigning New Zealand Amateur champion – the second youngest in championship history – would guarantee a two-year winner’s category before he even joins the pro ranks.
“I’ve got a decision to make soon if I want to go to college or if I want to try and make it as a pro on the Aussie Tour, I guess,” said Moore, who discussed his options with world No.138 Daniel Hillier during a practice round ahead of last week’s New Zealand Open.
“It’s pretty cool what Kazuma has done. I’ve played with him probably the last three years and looked up to him, same as Dan. Seeing what he’s done was pretty cool.”
Second at The R&A Junior Open last July, Moore just missed the cut in his NZ Open debut at Millbrook Resort but suddenly looks very comfortable at the professional level.
Starting Round 2 from the 10th tee, Moore turned in 2-under and then reeled off three birdies in four holes after the turn. After a bogey at the par-4 fifth, he responded by hitting hybrid from 212 metres into the par-5 sixth, going on to convert the eagle chance from 35 feet.
Played as a non-Tour event in 2024 at Hastings Golf Club, Lee was paired with Moore 12 months ago and was stunned to learn his tender age.
“Is that how old he is? Sixteen? Oh, wow. Yeah, I didn’t know that,” said Lee, who has just one bogey through 36 holes and spent much of 2024 playing the Korean PGA Tour.
“He’s obviously a really good golfer and he’s improved a lot since then, too.
“You could see he was really, really good, but he’s just doing his thing and playing well almost every week, it seems like.”
With exceptional playing surfaces and perfect weather, players were free to go on the attack on day two.
Queenslander Tim Hart’s best-of-the-day 8-under 64 elevated him inside the top 10 after starting the day tied for 81st, Hodge matching that to join the four-way tie at the top as both fell one shot shy of the course record.
A total of 15 players shot rounds of 6-under or better on Friday, 52 players making the cut that fell at 3-under par.
Photo: Simon Watts/bwmedia.co.nz
A lesson in wedge-game wizardry from former world No.16 Nick O’Hern has propelled Austin Bautista to a two-shot lead on day one of the Wallace Development New Zealand PGA Championship.
The immaculately presented Hastings Golf Club was buffeted by wind and showers on a cool Thursday in Bridge Pa, yet Bautista got off to a hot start in a round of 7-under 65.
Order of Merit hopeful Anthony Quayle continued his run of good form with a 5-under 67 to sit in second spot alongside Andrew Evans, Victorian Kyle Michel and 16-year-old New Zealand Amateur champion, Cooper Moore.
Three-under through five holes with four birdies and his only bogey of the day, two-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner Bautista birdied three of the four par-3s, his best coming at the 179-metre par-3 eighth when he hit 6-iron directly into the teeth of the wind to 15 feet.
The New South Welshman shot 3-under on the back nine with birdies at 11, 12 and 16, revealing that a pro-am pairing with O’Hern at the Vic Open highlighted the area of his game that needed extra attention.
“He said he was rusty, but he was putting his wedges inside of mine consistently from 100 (metres) in,” said Bautista.
“I can admit it when I need to get better in an area, so I asked him what I needed to work on.
“He very generously gave me a call to really hone in on improving that area from 125 and in. And it was night and day.
“I immediately saw improvement and immediately saw how to practise the correct way.
“Nick said, ‘If you’re going to beat the best, you need to be world-class in this area’. He really helped me in what I need to work on so I can consistently put the ball close to the hole with the scoring clubs.”
Tied for third in brutal conditions at the Vic Open, Bautista is getting more comfortable with a grip change he instituted almost a year ago and is benefiting from an adjustment to his putting setup made by Titleist fitting technician, Alex Dudley-Bateman.
“It’s as good as I’ve seen it ever,” Bautista said of his current run of form. “And it’s been consistent for probably four to five months now.
“I had to get honest and realise the thing that I was not doing correctly.
“This is where I should be. I’m exactly where I need to be.”
With five top-five finishes this season, Quayle is again poised to add to his wins at the 2020 Queensland Open and 2022 Queensland PGA.
He shot 5-under in the morning wave and was joined late by Evans, Moore and Michel two shots off the lead.
Hailing from Christchurch, Moore continues to impress. Second at The R&A Junior Open in Scotland last July, Moore only just missed the cut in his New Zealand Open debut a week ago and closed with three birdies in his final five holes on Thursday to sit two back of Bautista.
Moore became the second youngest winner in NZ Amateur history last November. The youngest, Queenslander and 2023 NZ PGA champion Louis Dobbelaar, is one of six players at 4-under par.
Two players withdrew due to injury on day one, Victorian Andrew Martin unable to continue after playing nine holes while West Australian Josh Greer withdrew after completing his round.
As the seriousness of the threat of Cyclone Alfred hit home for the players at the cancelled Australian WPGA Championship, a logical question for professional golfers served to remind again how the golf industry and community comes together in support.
Following an early morning player meeting on Tuesday at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club, where the combined WPGA Tour of Australasia and Ladies European Tour (LET) field was advised to leave the Gold Coast area, the search for a place to practice began.
As WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO Karen Lunn, PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman and LET staff addressed the players, the PGA of Australia network was already being mobilised to assist.
With the majority of the 80 or so European Tour players, and even interstate WPGA Tour members, set to play next week’s Australian Women’s Classic in Coffs Harbour, and the Women’s NSW Open in Wollongong, the New South Wales region was the target.
The PGA membership of the state not disappointing, with a formal list of 10 clubs and PGA professionals being provided to players as a potential temporary home base, while others headed to other parts and no doubt similar generosity of facility use.
“When I spoke with the playing group around the cancellation of the Australian WPGA Championship, I mentioned that we are a member organisation and that our PGA members would support visiting golf professionals,” Kirkman said.
“We wanted to ensure the players, especially internationals, felt safe during what is set to be a challenging, uncertain period and that while in Australia they are considered part of our PGA and WPGA family alongside the more than 3,000 members.
“This was as our team was starting the conversations with PGA members around New South Wales asking for their assistance, but I was beyond confident anyone that could help, would. It is so heartening to see that proven true, which serves as a reminder of how our industry comes together quickly and immensely during a time of need.”
Although extensive, the list of clubs provided and the associated PGA member deserves to be recognised for their generosity and support that will not only help the players to prepare for the two weeks of co-sanctioned events, but also remind global players why Australia is a special place to visit and play.
Port Macquarie Golf Club – via Head Professional James Single
Forster-Tuncurry Golf Club – via Head Professional Jason Wood
Nelson Bay Golf Club – via General Manager David Lulham and Director of Golf Duard Nel
Magenta Shores Country Club – via General Manger Paul Riley
Horizons Golf Club – via Director of Golf Vince Owen
Kew Country Club – via Head Professional Luke Garel
Hawks Nest Golf Club – via Head Professional Andrew McCormack
Newcastle Golf Club – via Head Professional Andrew Bowles
Tamworth Golf Club – via Head Professional Brock Sampson
Kooindah Waters – via Director of Golf David Stretton
For 21 of the LET players, a familiar landing place was Magenta Shores, where they contested the Women’s NSW Open last year.
The generosity for those headed for the Central Coast of New South Wales extending beyond practice facilities and course access, with the gym and pool facilities able to be used, and those players being billeted out to residents. A common theme for all the supporting clubs, whose members will get an up close look at some of the best talent in women’s golf over the coming days.
“All of us in professional golf know how quickly plans can change, and that finding suitable locations to practice and play on short notice is no easy task. To see the support of golf clubs and facilities and PGA members around New South Wales has helped to remind everyone just what an amazing industry we are in,” Lunn said.
“It was obviously crushing to make the decision to cancel the Australian WPGA Championship in the interest of safety for players, staff, fans and more, especially given how amazing every element of the event looked on the ground. However, the silver lining of support and readiness to act has helped to soften the blow and will only serve to encourage our LET visitors to return again next year.”
Golf Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Rick Kulacz as the new High Performance Manager (HPM) for Western Australia.
Kulacz, a former Golf Australia Rookie Squad member himself and two-time winner on the Asian Tour, brings valuable competitive experience to the role.
He will join the Golf Australia team in early March and undergo several months of integration with the High Performance team before officially commencing in the Golf WA role after the Australian Interstate Teams matches which take place in Perth early May.
Brad James, General Manager of High Performance at Golf Australia, expressed enthusiasm about the new appointment.
“We are excited to have Rick as part of the team and, more importantly, having a full-time role delivering a program that we feel the athletes, both amateur and professional, will benefit from.”
The appointment represents an increased commitment from Golf Australia, which will provide enhanced financial and resource support for the Western Australian high-performance program.
“We are determined to continue the success that WA has had in producing exceptional people and athletes like the current crop of world-class golfers in Hannah Green, Minjee Lee, and Min Woo Lee – alongside rookie athletes such as Kirsten Rudgeley,” added James.
This strategic appointment reinforces Golf Australia’s dedication to developing elite talent across the country and particularly in Western Australia, which has become known for producing world-class golfers.
