Veteran Rod Pampling has compared the tee shot at Royal Queensland Golf Club’s party hole to that of the iconic 17th at TPC Sawgrass… with one significant exception.
Up to 3,000 golf fans a day will be able to experience the electric atmosphere of the Southern Comfort Party Hole at this week’s Fortinet Australian PGA Championship, capacity expanded by 50 per cent compared to last year.
Hospitality suites are close to sold out for both Friday and Saturday while the new grandstand holding 638 reserved seats and space for 1,328 fans in the general admission areas both have limited availability.
It is expected that more than 50,000 drinks will be served, more than 31 hours of music played and over 442 golf shots taken over the course of the four days, raising the energy to levels previously unseen.
At just 125 metres (137 yards), Royal Queensland’s 17th measures the exact same distance of its counterpart at THE PLAYERS Championship on the PGA TOUR, but sits in an island of sand rather than one of water.
“Very similar distance-wise,” said Pampling, who had a best finish of tied for 27th in 11 starts at THE PLAYERS Championship.
“Obviously the wind is a factor, the big difference there is that you can’t miss that green. There’s water.
“It’s the walk of shame to the drop area, which is the difficult part. Being able to distract yourself from the water and just focus on your shot.
“Both very difficult shots but that’s part of it. We want to make things difficult and whoever can pull off the good shot then they’re going to get rewarded for it.
“It’s a great little hole. When you have a wedge in your hand you have high expectations from yourself. It’s more putting pressure on yourself to hit a good shot.”
West Australian Haydn Barron was on debut as a professional when he played Royal Queensland’s 17th for the first time in the 2021 Australian PGA played in January 2022.
Barron, who obtained a DP World Tour card at Q School last week in Spain, was tied for 12th on debut at RQ, thanks in part to a more aggressive approach on 17 on the final day.
“I remember saying to my caddie all week that I was just going for the middle of the green,” Barron recalled.
“On the final day, to the back-right pin, he told me to have a crack and I hit it close and made two to finish off the event.
“That was a wild feeling. There’s estimated to be about 3,000 people a day here in the Southern Comfort Party Hole so really looking forward to getting here and trying to hit one close.”
Pampling had a taste of what to expect when the tournament begins on Thursday by participating in an invitational event at Royal Queensland last Friday.
A winner for the second time on the PGA TOUR Champions this year and a three-time PGA TOUR winner, the 54-year-old is back in Queensland with the belief that he can still match it with stars such as defending champion Cameron Smith and Adam Scott.
“That’s the great thing with the Champions Tour and the great thing with golf, at 54 you can still play competitively against everyone,” said Pampling, who missed last year’s tournament with a knee injury.
“You’re meeting different athletes across the world and they wish they could be competing at that age still.
“It’s not like we’re old men playing the game for the sake of it. We’re out there working hard, working on the game which then, when you come back home, I feel like I can compete out here.
“I know the golf course, which is a huge advantage, so looking forward to a good week.”
Superstar siblings Minjee Lee and Min Woo Lee are headed home for the summer of golf in Australia on the back of outstanding seasons around the world and strong finishes at the weekend.
Women’s world No. 5 Minjee Lee logged another top 10, her fifth of the season, in the LPGA Tour’s Tour Championship in Florida today.
The Royal Fremantle product was in contention after an opening 64 but drifted over the final three days to finish nine shots from Amy Yang’s winning score, but she ultimately finished fifth on the tour’s year-long points calculation and is primed for a shot at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open at The Australian and The Lakes in Sydney next week.
The 27-year-old Lee won two LPGA Tour tournaments this year and will be one of the favourites for next week’s Greg Norman Medal to be held in Brisbane as part of the PGA Awards.
She earned more than $US1.5 million this year on the main tour.
Hannah Green was tied-23rd, while rookie Grace Kim completed an outstanding year with a T47 finish in her first appearance in the tour championship. Sarah Kemp was T50 and Steph Kyriacou, also in the season-ender for the first time, finished T57.
Ironically one of Minjee Lee’s main rivals for the players’ major award in Brisbane this week will be brother Min Woo, who shot a final-round 69 in Dubai to finish tied-15th in the DP World Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship, won by Nicolai Hojgaard.
His 2023 season on the DP World Tour includes 14 cuts made from 15 starts and 2.4 million Euros in prizemoney, and he will be one of the marquee players at this week’s Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland, as well as at the Australian Open in Sydney the week after.
Min Woo Lee finished 10th on the DP World Tour rankings and won a tournament on the Asian Tour.
He is headed for America next year with a full playing card on the PGA TOUR, having earned enough points as a non-member this year to qualify.
Meanwhile in Japan, Brad Kennedy logged a T4 finish in the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament to keep himself close to the top 20 on the money list.
PHOTO: Min Woo Lee blasts from the sand in Dubai during his final round of the DP World Tour’s season-ender. Image: Getty
RESULTS
PGA TOUR
RSM Classic, Sea Island, Georgia
Japan Tour
Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, Miyazaki, Japan
LPGA Tour
CME Group Tour Championship, Florida
DP World Tour
DP World Tour Championship, Dubai
Asian Tour
Indonesian Masters, Djakarta
Ladies European Tour
Mallorca Open, Spain
Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia
Vic PGA Championship, Moonah Links
David Micheluzzi has overcome a seven shot deficit early in the final round to stage an incredible come-from-behind win the 2023 Vic PGA at Moonah Links.
After a break-out season last year, winning three times and claiming the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, his latest win further outlines Micheluzzi as one of the most exciting emerging Australian talents.
Recording a final round four-under 68 to finish on a total of 14-under, Micheluzzi edged out Ben Eccles by a solitary stroke. His latest win not without some hiccups along the way.
The Victorian started the day six shots behind Kazuma Kobori, and after a double bogey on the second, he found himself even further behind.
Bouncing back quickly, Micheluzzi birdied his next three holes, and as he edged closer, Kobori finally slowed.
At the turn, Kobori’s six-shot lead was gone, the Kiwi and Micheluzzi tied at the top, with Eccles in the group ahead making moves of his own.
After four bogeys, Kobori’s first birdie came at the par-5 13th keeping hope of a first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia win alive, but three more bogeys coming in put an end to his chances. Kobori’s impeccable golf in the first three rounds, in just his second tournament as a professional, showing why the young Kiwi is going to be a force to be reckoned with in future events.
As Kobori struggled coming home, Micheluzzi added four more birdies against a solitary dropped shot, with a bogey at the par-4 15th signalling the end of Eccles’ charge and yet another trophy for the man known as Micha’s mantlepiece.
This win particularly special in his home state and in front of friends and family. Something Micheluzzi has been dreaming of since he was a child.
“I’m stoked with how everything went, and yeah to have friends and family here just tops everything,” he said.
“The putter got so hot, it’s probably the best I’ve putted in quite a long time.”
His Order of Merit win from last season has gained Micheluzzi DP World Tour status for next year, but performing well in Australia is still high on his priorities.
“I wanted to come back and play a couple of events, especially before Aus PGA and Aus Open,” he said.
Playing with Kobori on Sunday, Micheluzzi had nothing but praise for the rookie professional.
“He’s so good … that’s definitely not the last time you’ll see him, he can only grow, he’s a great kid.”
Next week’s Fortinet Australian PGA Championship will be Micheluzzi’s first event as a DP World Tour player, with the next two events on the Australasian calendar co-sectioned with the circuit, and on current form he’ll definitely be one to watch.
With a lot of the focus on Micheluzzi and Kobori in the final group, Eccles had his chances to move up the leaderboard, however, his runner-up finish this week coupled with his win at the WA PGA last month moves him to the top of the Order of Merit standings.
“I’m really proud of how I got myself into the mix, and I holed a few good putts coming in which I’m really proud of,” he said.
“I spoke to my coach yesterday and we just said, ‘Keep moving forward’, and that’s kind of been the message all season really.
“Two big weeks coming up, so again it’ll be the same sort of message just keep moving forward.”
In the amateur teams event, Konrad Ciupek and partner Sang Jun Lee took home the trophy with a score of 35-under-par, with amateur Lee’s hole-in-one at the par-3 17th a crucial factor in their success.
Praising the conditioning of the courses this week during his acceptance speech, Micheluzzi will surely be excited by today’s announcement that the Vic PGA will be headed back to Moonah Links for another three years.
Full scores HERE.
The latest addition to the PGA Legends Tour has made his maiden win one to remember with David Bransdon taking out the $100,000 David Mercer Senior Classic at Killara Golf Club.
Runner-up at the Cowra Legends Pro-Am on debut two weeks ago, Bransdon immediately established that he would be a regular contender among the over-50s.
Top-10 at the Australian PGA Senior Championship last weekend, Bransdon was tied for fourth at the Glenn Joyner Legends Pro-Am at The Australian before clinching his breakthrough win with a birdie at the final hole at Killara.
Bransdon’s round of 4-under 68 was just enough to finish one stroke clear of Order of Merit leader Andre Stolz, Anthony Summers, David Van Raalte and Brendan Chant.
Given Mercer’s standing within the Australian golf community, Bransdon was thrilled that his name will now be added to a trophy previously won by the likes of Lyndsay Stephen, Mike Harwood and Peter Fowler.
“It’s pretty awesome because he’s a legend of our industry,” said Bransdon, pictured with Richard Mercer and Greg Hohnen.
“To add myself to that list is a pretty awesome feeling.”
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
A birdie to start, a birdie to finish and no bogeys in between.
It was a winning formula for Bransdon as he kept mistakes to a minimum and picked off two further birdie opportunities during his round to finish one shot in front.
Starting from the short par-4 13th, the Victorian patiently picked off 11 pars before launching a late birdie blitz, surging to the top of the leaderboard with birdies on seven and nine, the clincher coming with a final birdie at the par-5 12th.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“It was awesome actually. It was nice to get the first win under the belt.
“I nearly snagged a win in my first event but came down to someone else making a nice putt on the last.
“And I two-putted from long range to sneak over the line myself.
“Any time you keep a clean card it’s awesome,” Bransdon said of going bogey-free.
“That’s the idea. Keep the mistakes off the card and hopefully make a few birds.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 David Bransdon 68
T2 Anthony Summers 69
T2 David Van Raalte 69
T2 Brendan Chant 69
T2 Andre Stolz 69
NEXT UP
The PGA Legends Tour continues its Sydney stretch with the $30,000 Col Crawford BMW NSW Senior PGA Championship over two days at Cromer Golf Club starting Monday.
Kazuma Kobori shot his best round of the week, a six-under 66, to expand his lead heading into the final round of the Vic PGA at Moonah Links.
The young Kiwi now leads by six shots heading into Sunday, as he continues to put on a masterclass around the Peter Thomson designed layout.
“I’m pretty tired so I’m looking forward to a good rest,” he said after his efforts.
“I got some good breaks today … but took advantage of those breaks as well.
“I hit 17 greens (in regulation), so it was pretty stress free for the most part.”
Kobori’s round really got going at the turn, with four consecutive threes from holes 9 through 12, before almost holing out for eagle on 13.
“Spewing! That would’ve been unreal … I’ll take birdie there any day though,” he said.
Kobori’s closest challenger is last year’s Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner David Micheluzzi, who stands alone in second place at 10-under.
Micheluzzi’s order of merit win from last season has granted him status to play on the DP World Tour in 2024, something Kobori hopes to do in the future.
“Doing what he did, through a pathway that hasn’t existed before, so I’m looking forward to hopefully doing the same thing he did,” said Kobori.
Micheluzzi started his Saturday round relatively slowly, but got it going on the back-nine to card a five-under 67.
The Victorian is happy to be playing back home in Australia, and after coming agonisingly close at the Queensland PGA Championship a few weeks back, he’ll be hungry to chase down Kobori and go one better tomorrow.
“On the back-nine I said to myself I just got to trust it (the wind),” Micheluzzi said.
“We holed some putts which was nice. I did that a little bit on the back-nine yesterday as well.
“I don’t think the gameplan will change at all tomorrow, but at the same time, it is freedom golf because you are chasing.”
Micheluzzi is playing with Hawthorn star Mitch Lewis in the pro-am team event this week, and says the pair feed off each other well.
“It just makes it more chilled out and we kind of rallied off each other,” he said.
“He made a great birdie on, I think it was 11 … then I birdied my next three.”
There are three players in a tie for third at nine-under par, with Ben Eccles, Darcy Brereton and Maverick Antcliff all in hot pursuit of the leaders.
Eccles matched Kobori’s 66 on Saturday, racing up the leaderboard with a bogey-free penultimate round.
There are new leaders after round three in the teams section, with Brett Coletta and amateur partner Rick Watson on top at 27-under-par.
Full scores HERE.
Kiwi Kazuma Kobori has shot a second consecutive 5-under 67, this time on the Open course at Moonah Links, to stand alone atop the Vic PGA leaderboard at the halfway mark.
Kobori is at 10-under, and leads by three, with James Gibellini and Maverick Antcliff tied second at 7-under.
The 22-year-old rookie pro was happy to be back on the Open course, where he won twice as an amateur.
The Open course this week has been altered slightly, set up in the original Peter Thomson designed routing.
As he points out though, it’s still the same course.
“It was a lot nicer conditions than yesterday, so I probably got the good side of the draw and made good use of it too,” he said.
Kobori made dive consecutive birdies from hole 12 through 16 and it looked like he might go really low, but a bogey on 17 brought him back down to earth, slightly.
“Yeah the putter got hot. I hit it close on 12, four-feet and hit it close on the next (6-inches).”
Kobori then got the putter going, rolling in three lengthy birdie putts on his way to carding 67.
Earlier in the year, Kobori claimed the Australian Men’s Amateur title in strong winds at New South Wales Golf Club, and seems to thrive on the tough conditions.
“I’m not the longest hitter, but if you take the positives out of that, it means my golf ball’s in the air for less right, so the wind’s not going to affect it as much,” he laughed.
“I don’t necessarily enjoy playing in the wind, but I think it does suit my game.”
In only his second event since turning professional, Kobori is still settling in.
“The first two rounds definitely feel a bit different… if you don’t make the cut you don’t get paid!
“If you don’t make the cut as an amateur you just caddie for your buddies.
“I think I enjoy it, there’s a bit more meaning to every round I play, whereas in amateur golf I was starting to lose that a bit.”
Kobori has already qualified for both the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship, and the ISPS Handa Australian Open in the next two weeks, but his focus this week is firmly on securing his first win as a professional.
Gibellini shot up the leaderboard today with a bogey-free 65 on the Legends course today, following an even-par 72 on the Open yesterday.
“Just a couple (putts) that just shaved the edge. Could’ve been a couple better but it’s always like that isn’t it,” he said.
“I’ve been playing well, so hopefully we can finish it off over the weekend, but it’s going to be pretty contested.”
Maverick Antcliff and amateur partner Phil Bannister are leading the team’s event at 19-under.
Notable players to miss the cut were defending champion Andrew Martin, Dimi Papadatos, and last week’s champion Kerry Mountcastle.
Full scores HERE.
The PGA of Australia and Golf Australia announce industry conference to help shape the future of Australian Golf.
Golf in Australia is booming. With more than 3.2 million people playing some form of golf, the future has never been brighter for our sport.
To ensure the entire golf industry takes advantage of this boom, Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia are working together to deliver a combined event for the entire industry to help shape the future of the sport.
The Golf Summit is an innovative golf thought leadership conference that will connect and inspire the diverse range of PGA Professionals, golf clubs and facilities and organisations across the industry to help shape the future of Australian Golf.
SAVE THE DATE – 16 – 17 October | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
This is the destination to meet other golf business professionals, expand your knowledge through learning from world-class industry leaders, be inspired by new ways of thinking and develop the tools to improve performance, whatever your role in the industry.
“As the golf industry continues to grow, we are seeing both the number and variety of roles our PGA Members successfully fulfilling increasing every year, and the Golf Summit 2024 will provide everyone in the industry the opportunity collaborate, network and learn,” explained PGA General Manager – Membership and Education, Geoff Stewart.
“PGA Member delegates will have the opportunity to hear from a variety of world class presenters across multiple streams to complement their expanding roles within the industry.”
The social and networking event will bring together delegates, industry leaders and partners in a welcoming and relaxed environment to foster the connections that ensure engagement continues well beyond the event.
With over 700 expected to attend – the Golf Summit is not to be missed.
BE THE FIRST TO KNOW – Golf Summit
Looking to exhibit or showcase your products to the golf industry? Exhibitor partnership opportunities will be available soon. Please reach out to Matt McBain – [email protected] for more information.
Who will be there?
We welcome everyone involved in the golf industry and beyond – including a collection of global and domestic leaders:
Find out more here http://www.golfsummit.com.au
Callaway Golf, an industry leader in golf equipment design, performance, and innovation has joined the growing list of organisations to partner with all three of Australian golf’s national bodies – Golf Australia, the PGA of Australia and WPGA Tour of Australasia.
Whilst Callaway has long been a partner of all three organisations, this new three-year agreement extends this commitment further and sees Callaway become the first golf equipment partner to undertake an Australian Golf partnership.
This new agreement will include an official partnership with both the men’s and women’s professional tours; the ISPS HANDA Australian Open; the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship; The Athena and other future tournaments.
Callaway will also provide investment into the PGA Women in Golf Scholarship Fund which was launched late 2021 with the goal of increasing the number of female golf professionals and growing female leaders within the golf industry in Australia.
On the amateur and community side of the sport, which continues to experience record-setting participation numbers, Callaway Golf will continue as a partner of the PGA’s long-running Scramble teams event and has linked with junior golf community program Tee Mates which encourages kids to have fun and go play.
Callaway Golf will also be a major partner of the golf industry’s leading national event, the Golf Summit, in 2024.
PGA of Australia Commercial Director Michael McDonald said Callaway Golf was providing a long-term commitment that underpinned the growth of the game in Australia.
”Callaway Golf has been a wonderful supporter of Australian golf for many years and a great supporter of both PGA Member and industry initiatives with our highly skilled PGA Professionals, who are at the forefront of promoting and growing golf in the places that we play.” he said.
“With this new agreement, they are taking their long-term commitment to the next level by becoming the sixth partner overall to sign an Australian Golf Partnership, this is a great show of support and confidence in the sport across professional and amateur golf.”
Golf Australia General Manager Commercial Anthony Everard said: “Callaway Golf shares our purpose in the Strategy for Australian Golf – to have more Australians playing more golf and discovering and enjoying all the benefits of being a golfer.
“This new partnership supports juniors who are starting off in the sport, hopefully beginning a lifetime in the game, through to our elite professionals and major Summer of Golf events which are the front window of Australian golf.”
WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO, Karen Lunn said “We are delighted to be able to add a quality brand like Callaway Golf to our portfolio of sponsors.
“We have worked closely with the team at Callaway Golf on both The Athena and the Women’s Golf Network over the last three years, and it is really exciting for us to be able to expand our relationship across all areas of the WPGA Tour.
“Collaborating closely with the PGA of Australia and Golf Australia on commercial opportunities is proving to be a game changer for the women’s arm of professional golf in Australia, and we are thrilled to welcome Callaway Golf as the first golf equipment partner to undertake an Australian Golf partnership.
Matt Meredith Managing Director of Callaway Golf South Pacific said: “Callaway Golf are proud to be an official partner of Golf Australia, the PGA of Australia and the WPGA of Australia, and to collaborate with their teams on outstanding events and initiatives to continue the great progress the game is making.
“Callaway Golf has a proven history of supporting golfers of all abilities and backgrounds all over the world.
“Being able to contribute to both amateur and professional male and female golfers all together is testament to the great work Australia is doing bringing the game together.
“We look forward to many more years supporting the sport we all love and the benefits it provides to all of us that play”.
ABOUT CALLAWAY GOLF
Callaway Golf is the leading manufacturer of premium golf clubs, balls, performance gear and accessories worldwide. Through an unwavering commitment to innovation, Callaway pushes the limits of performance and creates demonstrably superior products designed to make every golfer a better golfer. For more information, please visit www.callawaygolf.com.au
The spectacular setting and stern challenge posed by New South Wales Golf Club brought the best out in Stephen Allan as he recorded his maiden win on the PGA Legends Tour.
Allan, who turned 50 in October, is using the Legends Tour in Australia as preparation for the PGA TOUR Champions Qualifying School in Arizona from December 5-8.
There’s no form like winning form and Allan was able to recall on past tournament performances at NSW Golf Club to post 3-under 69 and record a one stroke win in the New South Wales Golf Club Legends Pro-Am presented by Porsche Centre Sydney South.
“Once the schedules all came out and the dates for the Champions Tour Q school came out, I looked to come down and play as much as I can,” Allan said of his appearances on the PGA Legends Tour.
“The last couple of years I haven’t played as much as I would like but with these in the lead-up it’s a great preparation to try and sharpen up your game.
“Hopefully I can join some of the other Aussies over there on the Champions Tour.”
Now a highly-regarded PGA Professional in Western Australia, Scott Barr (70) continued his recent good form to finish outright second with former Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia tournament winner Scott Laycock and four-time Order of Merit winner Brad Burns sharing third at even par 72.
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
Out in the second group off the first tee in the afternoon wave, Allan was forced to contend with the ever-present winds that buffet the NSW Golf Club layout.
He went out in 1-under thanks to a birdie at the par-5 fifth and eight pars but dropped back to even par with a bogey on the par-4 10th.
It would be his only step backwards, though, picking up birdies on the par-5 12th and 18th holes as well as a birdie at the par-4 15th to finish one clear of Barr.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“It was tough; it’s just hard work. Just keep grinding, keep hitting good shots and make pars and hopefully snag a couple of birdies.
“Coming in, luckily I was able to do that.
“It’s just an enjoyable place to play and I think you really have to get focused on your shots. There’s a few shots out there where you have to hit great shots.
“You stand on the fifth tee and that wind is blowing straight into you, it’s pretty nerve-wracking.
“I managed to hit some good ones today and rolled a couple of putts in.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Stephen Allan 69
2 Scott Barr 70
T3 Scott Laycock 72
T3 Brad Burns 72
NEXT UP
The PGA Legends Tour continues in Sydney on Friday with day one of the $25,000 Roseville Golf Club Mashie & Pro-Am at Roseville Golf Club.
Kiwi pair Kazuma Kobori and Tyler Hodge are tied at the top of the Vic PGA leaderboard after both shooting 5-under 67s today, albeit on different courses.
The first two days of the Vic PGA are played across both the Legends and Open courses at Moonah Links, with Hodge taming the Open, while Kobori looked after the Legends.
It’s been a good couple of weeks to be a Kiwi golfer, with Kerry Mountcastle’s win in Gippsland last week seeming to be the catalyst for further success worldwide including Ben Campbell’s win on the Asian Tour last Sunday.
“Yeah it was cool, I stayed with Kerry (Mountcastle) a couple of weeks ago… Kiwi golf’s going pretty good, with him and Ben (Campbell), and we had a Kiwi Sam Jones who got his DP World card last night,” said Hodge.
Playing in the morning, Hodge navigated the cold and windy weather on his way to the top of the leaderboard, and stood there alone for most of the day with Kobori in the afternoon groupings.
“It wasn’t easy conditions, so definitely a good score out there,” he said.
“This is only my third event on the Aussie tour this year, I’ve been playing mostly in New Zealand.
“I’ve been going good in New Zealand, I’m ranked second on our order of merit so it’s been a good season so far.”
With is 67 on the Legends course, Kobori’s love affair with Moonah Links continues. During his decorated amateur career, he won both the 2018 Victorian Junior Amateur round here, and later won the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia qualifying school at Moonah.
In only his second event after turning professional, it hasn’t taken Kobori long to find his feet, and his way back to the top of the leaderboard, where he spent the majority of his amateur career.
“I put a couple new clubs in the bag: driver, 3-wood, and 4-iron, and they worked out pretty good so I’m happy,” he said.
“For me, the Legends course was a bit tricky because I’ve played Open quite a few times but I’d never played Legends in a tournament before.
“I’m looking forward to the Open course tomorrow as I’m pretty familiar with it.”
Victorian Darcy Brereton shot 4-under on the Legends course, and sits alone at third, with six players in a tied-fourth at three-under.
Defending champion Andrew Martin shot a steady one-under on the Legends, while star David Micheluzzi finished at two-under after his round on the Legends.
In the amateur teams event, Tyler Hodge and Greg Mitchell are tied at the top on 11-under with Maverick Antcliff and Phil Bannister.
PHOTO: Kazuma Kobori on his way to a 67 in the wind at Moonah Links today. Image: Daniel Pockett