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The World Sand Greens Championship for men will return to the national golfing calendar this September, with members of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia set to compete for a $140,000 purse at Binalong Golf Club.
The 36-hole championship at Binalong Golf Club in the NSW Southern Tablelands was a world first for professional men’s golf globally in 2024, when Queensland’s Brett Rankin triumphed in the non-Order of Merit counting event that will be played from September 26-28.
“The concept of playing a men’s professional tournament on sand greens was a first in Australia and captured the imagination of the players,” General Manager of Golf for Golf NSW Olivia Wilson said.
“They thoroughly enjoyed the nuances playing on sand greens created and adapted well.
“Sand greens golf plays an integral part in Australia’s golfing landscape, especially in rural communities, and it will be great to once again showcase this side of our game.”
“Playing and putting on sand is quite a different experience for many players. There are fundamental differences between landing approach shots and knowing how to ‘smooth’ a putting line.
“If a player doubts what to do, plenty of locals will be ready to offer free advice on the correct way to chip, smooth a line, and even hole a putt.”
General Manager of Tournaments and Global Tour Relationships for the PGA of Australia, Nick Dastey, said the Men’s World Sand Greens Championship was well received by the players last year and offers an interesting addition to the schedule.
“All reports from last year were highlighted by how much the players enjoyed the unique challenge, and local hospitality, when contesting the World Sand Greens Championship,” Dastey said.
“Not only does it offer our players another chance to compete and potentially lift a trophy, but the event allows for a unique experience playing tournament golf and highlights the variety on offer in Australian golf.
“As the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia schedule continues to build, we are thrilled to once again include the World Sand Greens Championship and the chance for one of our players to be crowned a world champion.”
Founded in 1857, Binalong Golf Club’s original nine-hole layout was carved through the middle of a now-defunct horse racing track, with the club located 37km northwest of Yass, about one hour from Canberra and three hours from Sydney.
Sitting 500 metres above sea level, the 18-hole, par-72 course is considered one of the best examples of a sand greens layout in regional New South Wales, with the club also hosting this year’s Women’s World Sand Greens.
The Men’s World Sand Greens Championship is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
With First Stage of Qualifying School at Moonah Links underway, two-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner Anthony Quayle takes us inside golf’s most ruthless assignment.
Ask any player who has teed it up at a Qualifying School anywhere in the world and they will tell you the same thing: The pressure is about as much as you’ll ever feel in your life.
The consequences are just so much greater.
Some of the boys who are teeing it up this week at Moonah Links have been working a part-time job in between practising, saving up for their one shot at a spot on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia next season.
Play poorly, and it’s a long wait before you try again.
Play well and, as guys like Kazuma Kobori have shown, you can be playing major championships inside 18 months.
The first time I competed at a Q School was on the Korn Ferry Tour almost 10 years ago.
I got through First Stage quite comfortably and was going OK at Second Stage, when, out of nowhere, I made a triple and then a ‘quad’ on back-to-back holes in Round 3.
You make a mistake and it feels like your world’s ending a little bit.
As tough as that was, one thing that I found really comforting was that a couple of years prior, Jordan Spieth had missed out at Second Stage of Korn Ferry Q School.
Within a year he had won on the PGA TOUR.
A couple of years ago during a press conference at the Masters, Xander Schauffele spoke about how Q School and the Korn Ferry Tour prepared him to win tournaments on the PGA TOUR and, ultimately, majors.
Apart from that first experience in the US, my record at Q Schools has been pretty good.
I got through both stages to get my PGA Tour of Australasia card and went through three stages before getting one of 20 cards at Final Stage for the Japan Golf Tour.
But both times the result could have been very different.
I was 70th going into the final round of Final Stage of Australasian Q School and needed to finish top 30 to get my card.
The weather was horrific that final day – beanie-weather cold, hammering down rain – and I shot 69, which was the low round of the day, to run 20th and get my card.
Every year there are thousands of people who enter Q School in Japan but there are only 20 cards handed out at the end.
I was able to skip First Stage and then I shot 10-under to win Second Stage.
At Third Stage, I knew I was right on the number coming down the stretch.
I was really, really, really nervous. The final hole was a par-5 with a semi-island green so going for it in two was not viable, given the circumstance.
I had about 78 metres to a pin tucked next to the water and finished pin high, eight feet to the left of the flag, and holed that for birdie.
I was the last man get into Final Stage thanks to that birdie.
It’s funny when you look back on things like that because if I had missed that putt, then my past seven years might’ve been totally different.
My coach Ken Berndt always told me that the best way to play Q School is get ahead early… and get further ahead as the week goes on.
It sounds really simple, but that type of thinking has helped me to navigate Q Schools relatively successfully.
As a player, if you can handle the pressure that comes with Q School, imagine how well you can do with an abundance of opportunity.
For me, once I got over that line, I was just so excited at the prospect of having 10 or 12 tournaments to play in.
That overwhelming sense of opportunity felt like a speed ramp into professional golf.
For those at Q School, while it’s one of the most important weeks of your life, you can’t be buying into that narrative.
You have to look at it as one of the hundreds of events that you’re going to play as a pro.
Now, that’ll either turn out to be true or not be true, but your mindset needs to be that this is going to be one of many and I need to go out and compete the best I can.
And follow Ken’s advice: Get ahead early… and get further ahead!
Winner of the 2020 Queensland Open and 2022 Queensland PGA, Anthony Quayle finished fifth on the 2024/2025 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
First Stage of Qualifying School will be conducted over 54 holes over two sections. Section A will play the Legends Course while Section B will play the Open Course at Moonah Links.
It is a love affair that has gone largely unrequited over the past 90 years yet five Australians will seek to woo Augusta National Golf Club when the Masters Tournament tees off late on Thursday night.
The champion in 2013, Adam Scott returns for a 24th time for his 94th consecutive major championship start and will be joined by four fellow Aussies who all finished inside the top 30 12 months ago.
Runner-up to Dustin Johnson in 2020, few players have shown a greater affinity for Augusta National than Cameron Smith.
The 2022 Open champion fell just short of a win in four events on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and has just one top-10 finish in five LIV Golf starts this season.
The new father insists that the results are not reflective of the work he and coach Grant Field have done and that he is ready to match creativity with a technically superior swing.
“I feel like I’ve done a lot of really good stuff,” Smith said on Aussies At The Masters on Fox Sports.
“I feel like I haven’t been as creative. I’ve done a lot of technical work, particularly with the longer clubs.
“Augusta for me, typically brings out my creative side and hitting those weird and wonderful shots that you have to hit around there.
“I’m really looking forward to getting there to take that next step because I feel like my technique is so much better than in years past.”
Few players arrive at Augusta for the 2025 Masters with as much excitement about their prospects as Min Woo Lee.
The 26-year-old shot a record 6-under 30 on the front nine in the final round on his way to a tie for 14th on debut in 2022 and shot a Sunday 69 last year to earn a share of 22nd.
Given his win a fortnight ago at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, the prospect of ‘Chef Woozy’ having an opportunity to set the menu for the Champions Dinner has never looked greater.
He has missed the cut in his past four starts on the PGA TOUR but Cam Davis can call upon the memories of 2024 where he finished tied for 12th while Jason Day has three top-five finishes on his Masters resume.
The Masters
2024 champion: Scottie Scheffler
Past Aussie winners: Adam Scott (2013)
TV times: Live 4am-7am Thursday (Par 3 Contest); Live 12:30am-5am (Featured Groups), Live 5am-9:30am Friday, Saturday; Live 12am-2am (Featured Groups), Live 2am-9am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Aussies in the field
Cameron Davis
Previous appearances: 2 (2022, 2024)
Best finish: T12 (2024)
Last start: T12 in 2024
Low round: 69 (Rd 1, 2024)
Jason Day
Previous appearances: 13 (2011-2021, 2023-2024)
Best finish: T2 (2011)
Last start: T30 in 2024
Low round: 64 (Rd 2, 2011)
Min Woo Lee
Previous appearances: 3 (2022-2024)
Best finish: T14 (2022)
Last start: T22 in 2024
Low round: 69 (Rd 4, 2024)
Adam Scott
Previous appearances: 23 (2002-2024)
Best finish: 1st (2013)
Last start: T22 in 2024
Low round: 66 (Rd 4, 2012)
Cameron Smith
Previous appearances: 8 (2016, 2018-2024)
Best finish: T2 (2020)
Last start: T6 in 2024
Low round: 66 (Rd 4, 2018)
A new national marketing campaign highlighting the expertise of PGA Professionals across all areas of the golf industry has gone live.
‘The Pro Will Know’ is designed highlight that PGA Professionals are there to assist all golfers with everything they need to enjoy the sport.
Whether it’s coaching, equipment, club-fitting, course management, or anything else to do with our sport, PGA Professionals and the ones every golfer should engage with.
“With their extensive knowledge, training, and passion for the sport, PGA Professionals are unquestionably the experts in golf,” said Geoff Stewart, General Manager – Education and Training for the PGA of Australia.
“At every level of the game, PGA Professionals are there to guide all types of golfers in their journey in the sport.
“From beginners just getting started through to the scratch marker looking for the putter that fits them perfectly, PGA Professionals are there to provide friendly, expert advice.
“We hope that this latest campaign emphasises that in a fun way that I’m sure every golfer can relate to.”
With the smell of major championships in the air, two Aussies in particular rose to the challenge this past week.
At the famed ‘Blue Monster’ at Trump National Doral, Marc Leishman produced some of the best golf of his life to storm home with the week’s only bogey-free round to claim the individual title at LIV Golf Miami.
It was double cause for celebration as the Ripper GC team of Leishman, Cameron Smith, Matt Jones and Lucas Herbert completed a commanding eight-stroke win in the team event, moving up to third on the overall season standings.
Although she bowed out in the quarter-finals to eventual runner-up Lauren Coughlin, there was much to like about Stephanie Kyriacou’s display at the T-Mobile Match Play in Las Vegas.
The 24-year-old defeated her Amundi Evian Championship conqueror Ayaka Furue and Nasa Hataoka in the group stage, advancing to the Round of 16 courtesy of a halved match with Auston Kim.
There she edged A Lim Kim to reach the quarter-finals where she lost 1-down to Coughlin.
10. Kirsten Rudgeley (Last week: 9)
The Ford Women’s NSW Open runner-up is not scheduled to return to the Ladies European Tour until the Aramco Korea Championship from May 9-11. Currently ranked No.124 in Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking.
9. Stephanie Kyriacou (New)
Looked focused and formidable in playing her way into the quarter-finals of the T-Mobile Match Play in Las Vegas. Went through the group phase undefeated and, on the back of a tie for 13th at the Ford Championship looks primed for a big year. Moved up five spots to No.52 in the world ranking.
8. Anthony Quayle (7)
Looking ahead to US Open qualifying after finishing fifth on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit. His second-place finish at The National Tournament was his eighth top 10 from his past 13 starts.
7. Elvis Smylie (6)
Will resume his rookie season on the DP World Tour at next week’s Volvo China Open after claiming the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
6. Minjee Lee (5)
Made a promising start to the T-Mobile Match Play in Las Vegas with a 1-up win over Jasmine Suwannapura. Lost to eventual champion Madelene Sagstrom 3&2 in Round 2 and then went down narrowly to Patty Tavatanakit to miss advancing out of the group stage.
5. Marc Leishman (New)
Led Ripper GC to an eight-stroke team win in taking out his first LIV Golf individual title at LIV Golf Miami. Three shots back at the start of the final round, Leishman had drawn level with 36-hole leader Bryson DeChambeau by the eighth hole. A three-metre par putt on the final hole completed the only bogey-free round of the entire week and clinched a one-shot win.
4. Karl Vilips (4)
Another week on the sidelines for the Puerto Rico Open winner who will likely next peg it up at the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links. A Signature Event, Vilips will qualify via the Aon Swing 5 ranking.
3. Hannah Green (2)
With two top-seven finishes already to her name from just four starts, will defend the second of her three titles from 2024 at next week’s JM Eagle LA Championship.
2. Lucas Herbert (3)
Bounced back from a 5-over 77 in Round 1 at Trump National Doral to play a pivotal role in Ripper GC’s team win at LIV Golf Miami. His 3-under 69 was the best of Round 2 and then backed that up with 74 in the final round for a commanding team win.
1. Min Woo Lee (1)
Popped in to see his sister and have a stint in the commentary booth at the T-Mobile Match Play in Las Vegas in the wake of his Texas Children’s Houston Open victory. Australia’s highest-ranked male player looks primed to make a deep run at the Masters.
The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.
Three young Melbourne women have become the first beneficiaries of a new educational initiative between the PGA Institute and the Holmesglen Institute.
With the objective of providing more educational opportunities for Melbourne’s youth, the PGA Institute has deepened its partnership with Holmesglen Institute by launching a scholarship program in conjunction with Launch Housing’s Youth Foyer initiative.
Students from the Holmesglen Youth Foyer can now earn a scholarship to undertake the Diploma of Business through weekly facilitated workshops.
Located in Glen Waverley, the Education First Youth Foyer is run by Launch Housing in partnership with the Brotherhood of St. Laurence and Holmesglen TAFE. It provides young people between the ages of 16-25, who are unable to live at home, access to mainstream education, training and employment opportunities, while living in student-style accommodation. It is one of two Education First Youth Foyers run by Launch Housing in Melbourne.
Students are provided with learning tools and skills, safe and affordable accommodation for up to two years, education and employment opportunities, and the opportunity to develop independent living skills.
They also gain access to work placements, providing a holistic program, with the training to be conducted onsite at the Youth Foyer.
Ebony, Taylor and Tiara are the first scholarship recipients and are already enrolled and eager to begin their studies.
“The program has been really interesting and engaging and it’s not something that I would have thought about doing before. I really enjoy it and am excited to learn more,” said Ebony.
“I enjoy how interactive it is. It’s really engaging for me and talk to people and talk to people in the real world.”
“I really like how its small class and you get one-on-one engagement and it really helps with getting the work done, you can go at your own pace,” added Taylor.
PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman is proud to enhance the PGA Institute’s educational offerings through the program.
“At the PGA Institute, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding educational options and initiatives,” said Kirkman.
“We also aim to empower and nurture, and through this scholarship program in conjunction with Homesglen’s Education First Youth Foyer, we are proud to be able to offer that support to even more young Melbourne students.
“We’re excited to welcome our first three scholarship recipients and we’re eager to build on our relationship with Youth Foyer to expand this program into the future.”
On top of the regular training workshops and workforce placements, the three students will also gain valuable insights through Youth Foyer’s existing relationship with the Hawthorn Football Club.
To find out more about the PGA Institute, CLICK HERE.
To find out more about Education First Youth Foyer, CLICK HERE.
An individual win for Marc Leishman, a commanding win by the team and a brand new baby boy for captain Cameron Smith made it a week to remember for the Ripper GC boys in Miami.
With the notorious ‘Blue Monster’ at Trump National Doral giving the LIV Golf Miami field all it could handle, it was the Aussie boys who navigated the wind and water best, Leishman leading Ripper GC to an eight-shot win in the teams event.
The result wasn’t so clear cut in the individual event.
Leishman made a crucial up-and-down on the final hole as he closed out his round of 4-under 68 with eight consecutive pars in what was the only bogey-free round of the tournament.
He was first in the clubhouse at 6-under and then had to watch on as Sergio Garcia went looking for the birdie he needed to force a playoff.
The Spaniard would ultimately make bogey to finish third, Charl Schwartzel finishing second one stroke behind Leishman.
Without a win since he and Smith teamed up to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in 2021 and coming off a tie for 51st in Singapore, the 41-year-old admitted that he’d started to wonder whether he would ever win again.
“Of course you doubt yourself, especially after a week like I had in Singapore. I played terribly,” said Leishman.
“I’ve played well in a lot of LIV events. I’ve had a chances to win, haven’t won. You wonder if you’re going to win again.
“I’ve been so happy. I’ve been the happiest person out here. I’ve loved every minute of it, but I’ve probably just missed — everyone loves winning.
“I doubted myself, but that just made it all just so much sweeter today, to be able to win and hold up another trophy and then the team winning, as well, is awesome.”
It was a truly team effort on Sunday as Ripper GC ended the week at 4-over par and eight shots clear of Crushers GC.
In addition to Leishman’s 68, Smith climbed into a tie for ninth with a 2-under 70, Matt Jones had 1-under 71 and Lucas Herbert 2-over 74.
Admitting that it was hard to drag himself away from son Remy to lead the team in Miami, Smith reflected on a truly life-changing week.
“It’s so cool. I miss him so much, actually,” Smith said of fatherhood.
“It was hard to come away this week. I mean, I’ve had a few times where it’s been hard to get away from home, but it was a different level this week. I can’t wait to see him tonight.
“He’s the winning formula for the team, obviously. One from one, Remy is.
“People express – I’ve got two great dads next to me (Leishman and Matt Jones) – how cool it is to be a father, but you really can’t put it into words.
“It’s been so awesome.”
There were Aussie top-10s elsewhere this past week.
Stephanie Kyriacou made it to the quarter-finals of the T-Mobile Match Play on the LPGA Tour, Kelsey Bennett was tied for eighth at the Joburg Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour and David Bransdon and Greg Chalmers were tied seventh at the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational on PGA TOUR Champions.
Photo: Michele Eve Sandberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Results
PGA TOUR
Valero Texas Open
TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course), San Antonio, Texas
1 Brian Harman 66-66-72-75—279 $US1.71m
MC Ryan Fox (NZ) 76-73—149
MC Aaron Baddeley 75-76—151
LPGA Tour
T-Mobile Match Play
Shadow Creek Golf Course, North Las Vegas, Nevada
Quarter-finals
Lauren Coughlin def. Stephanie Kyriacou 1 up
Round of 16
Stephanie Kyriacou def. A Lim Kim 2&1
Round Robin-Day 1
Grace Kim def. Amy Yang 2&1
Stephanie Kyriacou def. Nasa Hataoka 4&3
Minjee Lee def. Jasmine Suwannapura 1 up
Hira Naveed def. Lydia Ko (NZ) 6&4
Gabriela Ruffels def. Carlota Ciganda 4&3
Round Robin-Day 2
A Lim Kim def. Grace Kim 2 up
Stephanie Kyriacou def. Ayaka Furue 4&2
Lydia Ko (NZ) def. Gabriela Ruffels 6&5
Carlota Ciganda def. Hira Naveed 2&1
Madelene Sagstrom def. Minjee Lee 3&2
Round Robin-Day 3
Jenny Shin def. Grace Kim 2 up
Stephanie Kyriacou halved Auston Kim
Gabriela Ruffels halved Hira Naveed
Carlota Ciganda def. Lydia Ko (NZ) 2 up
Patty Tavatanakit def. Minjee Lee 1 up
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Miami
Trump National Doral, Florida
1 Marc Leishman 71-71-68—210 $US4m
T9 Cameron Smith 73-74-70—217 $409,167
T9 Danny Lee (NZ) 75-71-71—217 $409,167
T18 Lucas Herbert 77-69-74—220 $250,000
T21 Matt Jones 74-76-71—221 $220,000
T53 Ben Campbell (NZ) 79-76-82—237 $50,000
Ladies European Tour
Joburg Ladies Open
Modderfontein Golf Club, Johannesburg
1 Mimi Rhodes 65-69-71—205 €45,000
T8 Kelsey Bennett 71-72-69—212 €7,350
T33 Momoka Kobori (NZ) 72-73-73—218 €2,415
T39 Maddison Hinson-Tolchard 70-75-74—219 €1,665
MC Amelia Garvey (NZ) 76-73—149
Korn Ferry Tour
Club Car Championship
The Landings Golf & Athletic Club (Deer Creek), Savannah, Georgia
1 Jeremy Gandon 67-70-65-69—271
Won on first hole of sudden-death playoff
T6 Harry Hillier (NZ) 71-68-69-66—274
MC Rhein Gibson 74-71—145
PGA TOUR Champions
James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational
The Old Course at Broken Sound, Boca Raton, Florida
1 Ángel Cabrera 68-66-71—205 $US330,000
T7 David Bransdon 68-72-71—211 $64,240
T7 Greg Chalmers 69-70-72—211 $64,240
T12 Michael Wright 70-71-71—212 $44,733
T32 Cameron Percy 74-71-73—218 $14,520
T41 Stuart Appleby 73-74-73—220 $9,460
T41 Brendan Jones 73-72-75—220 $9,460
T56 Steve Allan 74-71-79—224 $4,620
74 John Senden 80-77-75—232 $1,452
PGA TOUR Americas
70th Brazil Open
Rio Olympic Golf Course, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
1 Maxwell Moldovan 63-67-68-68—266 $US40,500
MC Charlie Hillier (NZ) 69-73—142
WD Grant Booth 70
Simon Hawkes has claimed his home Open for a second time after producing a near flawless final round in windy conditions to win the Men’s Tasmanian Open at Launceston Golf Club.
Co-leader with William Bruyeres and Aaron Pike at the start of Round 3, Hawkes held his nerve and holed a number of crucial par putts to shoot 3-under 69 and finish one stroke clear of Victorian Connor McDade (67) with Caleb Bovalina two strokes further back in third.
In adding to his 2016 win, Hawkes becomes the first two-time Tasmanian winner of the Tasmanian Open since the legendary Peter Toogood won his eighth way back in 1959.
As the gusty wind and pacey putting surfaces put plenty of players under pressure, Hawkes refused to falter until the very last hole of the tournament.
A closing bogey did little to diffuse his satisfaction as he added to his 2016 Tasmanian Open and WA Open and Vic Open wins.
“It’s always a bit of extra nerves,” Hawkes said.
“With the other two state opens, I don’t think I was as nervous as the two I’ve won here.
“It’s a lot bigger to win your home Open; it’s amazing.
“You always come to this event with the goal of winning and to be able to pull it off is amazing.”
It was a rare Tasmanian double on Sunday as Royal Hobart Golf Club’s Mackenzie Thomas (81) held on for a two-stroke win in the Women’s Tasmania Open and South Australian George Vassiliadis completed a convincing win in the Tasmania Inclusive Championship.
Turning point
It was as the lead group approached the turn that Hawkes was able to separate himself from both Pike and Bruyeres.
Two-under on his round through six holes, Hawkes had a one-stroke advantage from Pike and was two clear of Bruyeres.
Pars at the next three holes would put Hawkes on the path to victory as Bruyeres and Pike both lost ground.
Pike made bogeys at both seven and nine to go out in 1-over while Bruyeres followed a bogey on eight with a double-bogey at the par-4 ninth, dropping five shots back of Hawkes.
While Bruyeres would make a late charge with three birdies in his final four holes, Hawkes’ near faultless display gave him enough of a buffer to absorb a closing bogey and hold on for the win.
Quick quotes
“Looking at the forecast this morning, I knew it was going to be a day that you had to really dig deep and focus hard,” said Hawkes.
“That’s sort of the achievement I made today. It was a process goal that was achieved to have the outcome goal, which was winning the tournament.
“With the exception of the blemish up the last, I was bogey free, which at that point I was really proud of.
“My processes were really good today and that’s what helped me get over line the.”
Final scores
1 Simon Hawkes 66-72-69—207
2 Connor McDade 69-72-67—208
3 Caleb Bovalina 70-69-71—210
4 William Bruyeres 70-68-73—211
T5 Mark Panopoulos 73-70-69—212
T5 Aaron Pike 65-73-74—212
A day’s best 4-under 68 has propelled Queenslander Will Bruyeres to a share of the lead heading into the final round of the Tasmanian Open at Launceston Golf Club.
Trailing overnight leader Aaron Pike by five strokes after Round 1, Bruyeres unlocked something with his driver to collect six birdies and join Pike (73) and 2016 champion and Tassie favourite Simon Hawkes (72) at 6-under through 36 holes.
The trio are one shot clear of Lachlan Aylen (69) and Caleb Bovalina followed by Matias Sanchez (71) and Joseph Owen (69) in a share of sixth.
Alex Edge remains in the hunt to become the first back-to-back winner in almost 30 years, just three strokes off the lead and in a tie for eighth at 3-under par.
For Bruyeres, who won a maiden Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title at the PNG Open last year, finding something with the big dog allowed him to capitalise on the other strong parts of his game.
“I just hit the driver way better than I have for the last six months,” said Bruyeres.
“The rest of my game is pretty good. I’ve got the wedges going well, punting well, I just haven’t lately been able to give myself opportunities off the tee.
“For some reason today the driver was friendly to me. Hit some balls in play which just let the wedges and irons kind of flow and holed a couple of putts.”
Only nine players have won multiple Tasmanian Opens since its inception in 1913, Hawkes seeking to become the first Tasmanian to achieve the feat since Peter Toogood’s eighth and final win in 1959.
Understanding the local conditions better than most, Hawkes believes the forecasted winds of up to 50km/h will ensure the 2025 winner is a worthy champion.
“If the weather forecast comes off exactly as it is, it’s anybody’s game, even from a few back,” said Hawkes.
“The winner tomorrow’s going to keep their cool, they’re going to be very, very disciplined in their strategy because there’s probably going to be a few big numbers thrown around in the last group.
“They can just pop up from nowhere so it’s going to be some exciting golf.
“Tomorrow’s really going to prove we’ve got a great champion with those conditions.”
There is a local in the lead, too, in the Tasmanian Women’s Open.
Consecutive rounds of 3-over 76 have given Royal Hobart Golf Club’s Mackenzie Thomas a four-stroke lead from Victorian Grace Yang (83) with another Tasmanian, Hallie Meaburn (79) four strokes further back in third.
Saturday also saw Round 1 of the 2025 Tasmania Inclusive Championship, Western Australian George Vassiliadis to take a seven-stroke lead into the final round.
Photo: Solstice Digital
Leading scores
Men
T1 Simon Hawkes 66-72—138
T1 Aaron Pike 65-73—138
T1 William Bruyeres 70-68—138
T4 Lachlan Aylen 70-69—139
T4 Caleb Bovalina 70-69—139
Women
1 Mackenzie Thomas (a) 76-76—152
2 Grace Yang (a) 73-83—156
3 Hallie Meaburn (a) 81-79—160
4 Riko Danjo 81-81—162
5 Lorissa Dobson (a) 81-82—163
Inclusive
1 George Vassiliadis (a) 81
2 Corey Ackerly (a) 88
3 Leeza Walker (a) 89
Carl Smedley found himself “in the zone” as he took a first-round lead at the PNG Senior Open today.
On his fourth visit to Lae Golf Club, Smedley posted a 5-under-par 66 to head fellow Victorian Terry Pilkadaris by two shots with only other three players under par after day one.
Another 36 holes are to come over the weekend and Smedley is in a great mood as he tries to capture his biggest title on the PGA Legends Tour.
Turning point
After a steady even-par first nine, which included two birdies and two bogeys, Smedley caught fire on the back nine.
He birdied the 10th, 12th, 13th, 15th and 16th holes – part of a run of six consecutive threes – on the way to back nine of 30.
Quick quotes
Smedley said: “The greens are a little slower than what I’m used to. I just told myself to hit it hard. I hit a lot of shots close and had some short birdie putts where I didn’t have to smack them so it was pretty good.
“You know when they talk about being in the zone, I was in the zone. It was just like perfect golf for me and I haven’t played like that for quite some time.”
Leading scores
1 Carl Smedley 66
2 Terry Pilkadaris 68
T3 John Green 70
T3 Mark Boulton 70
T3 Lucien Tinkler 70
T6 Jason Norris 71
T6 Nigel Lane 71
NEXT UP
Round two of the PNG Senior Open will get underway at 8am on Saturday.
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