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After recording matching 4-under-par opening rounds, Elvis Smylie and Lucas Higgins again signed for the same score, with 66 seeing them on top of a congested leaderboard at the CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics heading into the weekend.
Sitting on a total of 10-under, Smylie and Higgins hold a two-shot advantage over Tom Power Horan who led for most of the day before the co-leaders surged past late Friday at Kalgoorlie Golf Course as they chase a first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
Smylie’s second round was a case of more of the same, with his new putter that went into the bag in September helping him to four birdies on the par-5s having recorded three eagles on Thursday, while Higgins made his first bogey of Friday at the par-5 18th to make it a tie at the top.
“I played really well. I felt like today was a bit more of a solid round,” Smylie said.
“I didn’t have as many bogeys and the time that I did make the bogeys that were just kind of soft. But yeah, lots of good stuff, especially coming in on the back nine.”
Making birdies in bunches in the middle of his round, including six in seven holes starting at the par-5 sixth, Higgins will count himself a little unlucky at the last, but with a new mindset will hope to continue his recent good play.
Hitting his tee shot right at 18, Higgins’ attempt to extricate himself from the red dirt and trees that border Kalgoorlie’s fairways found wood before a sprinkler stopped his approach getting closer.
“It’s been really solid. Today was really good. Holed a few longish birdie putts, and then just holed a lot of six footers for birdie as well, and a couple of nice par saves in there,” Higgins said.
Arriving in good form, with a recent adidas Pro-Am Series win to his name, the New South Wales North Coast product, who represented both his home state and Queensland as an amateur, knows good golf and his adjusted approach will put thoughts of other future employment to the back of his mind.
“I think for me at the moment, I’m just trying to really just take it as it comes and just trying not to make dumb decisions,” Higgins said.
“I usually try not to just miss it on the wrong side and stuff like that, so I’ve really just been trying to do that. So if I have a bogey or two, I’m not following it up with a lot. I’m trying to just get myself a chance of birdie and make a putt or two and then get myself back in the round.”
Achieving that so far this week, it will make an interesting contrast to Smylie, who is taking a more aggressive approach since joining the Ritchie Smith coaching stable almost 12 months ago.
“Obviously I’ve been out here for, I think this is my third full year playing on this Tour now. So I’ve also used what other guys do as well, how they play and how aggressive they play,” Smylie said.
“I’ve played with winners on this Tour before, and I think the one thing that I’ve noticed is I’m pulling out the more aggressive club and stepping up and hitting the right shot rather than the comfortable shot.”
Planning to continue taking on the course over the final 36 holes, Smylie, as well as Higgins, will have plenty of pursuers from the chasing pack headed by three-time Tour winner Power Horan.
Powered by improved ball striking and a chip-in birdie, the Victorian signed for an eight birdie, one eagle round of 65, that was the equal low round of the day and is one in front of overnight leader Kyle Michel, Lincoln Tighe, Jordan Doull, Jack Buchanan and amateur Abel Eduard.
Power Horan hoping to use what he has learned over the past two years playing the DP World and Asian Tours to his advantage as he chases a fourth win.
“I think you definitely learn a lot off the course with the travel and overseas … and then the golf, you’re obviously seeing some of the best players in the world this year on DP (World Tour), which was great to see and sort of realise what good is,” Power Horan said.
Of the group another shot in arrears, Tighe would like to repeat his Friday start when he birdied his first three holes during a 5-under 67 that could have been better had his wedge game behaved slightly better.
“Just a couple of weak sand wedge shots that I’ve made bogeys with both days, so that’s sort of killing me,” Tighe said.
Noting the difficulty of backing up a low round, it was a grinding day for Michel, whose driver that played a key role in taking the first round lead finding the red dirt more often than he would have liked in a 1-under 71.
“Kind of felt myself on the red dirt a fair bit and yeah, just scrambled around, made it sort of still hold my fair share of putts, but I kind of a lot of par putts today, so still hung in there,” Michel said.
Eight players sit at 6-under, including plenty with experience like Tour winners Brett Rankin and Cameron John, while the cut fell at 2-under, with former WA PGA champion Jarryd Felton making the weekend in remarkable fashion after a hole-in-one at the par-3 fourth hole brought him back inside the mark before finishing at 3-under.
The CKB WA PGA presented by TX Civil & Logistics is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
Wynnum Golf Club proved to be the night’s big winners as they took home three awards from the 2024 Queensland Golf Industry Awards on the Gold Coast.
Shane Tempest (Burleigh Golf Club) was named PGA Qld Management Professional of the Year and Angus Porter (Carbrook Golf Club) PGA Qld Club Professional of the Year as more than 400 guests celebrated another magnificent year for golf in Queensland.
Wynnum’s reputation as one of the best tournament venues in the state was evident in their dual victories for Metropolitan PGA Tournament of the Year for the Bartons/BMD Wynnum Pro-Am and PGA Legends Tournament of the Year for the Bartons/BMD Paul King Memorial Legends Pro-Am.
General Manager Bernard Wilson made it a hat-trick of wins for Wynnum when he received the Distinguished Manager Award for the stability and vision he has provided Wynnum since coming to the club in 2021.
Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club also went home with multiple wins.
The inaugural Sanctuary Cove Legends Pro-Am hosted by Adam Scott and Peter Senior was named PGA Tournament of the Year and Sanctuary Cove’s Andrew Lothian claimed the Assistant Superintendent Achievement Award.
Justice Bosio and Quinn Croker signed off on their amateur careers with Female and Male Amateur Golfer of the Year respectively, Sarah Hammett and Chase Oberle won the Junior Female and Male Amateur Golfer of the Year awards and Asha Flynn (Game Development) and Richard Woodhouse (High Performance) took out the major coaching awards.
Victoria Park Golf Complex was the inaugural winner of the Off-Course Golf Facility of the Year while it was the expansion of the offering and connection to the local community that saw Pacific crowned Club of the Year.
The opening of a new clubhouse has made Pacific Golf Club an entertainment venue that is welcoming to all while the construction of a mini golf course and installation of indoor simulators in conjunction with targeted marketing campaigns have made it a family-friendly facility for all.
2024 Queensland Golf Industry Awards
PGA (QLD) Coach of the Year (High Performance)
Richard Woodhouse (KDV Sport)
PGA (QLD) Coach of the Year (Game Development)
Asha Flynn (The Brisbane Golf Club)
PGA (QLD) Club Professional of the Year presented by Coca-Cola
Angus Porter (Carbrook Golf Club)
PGA (QLD) Management Professional of the Year
Shane Tempest (Burleigh Golf Club)
PGA Tournament of the Year
Sanctuary Cove Legends Pro-Am hosted by Adam Scott and Peter Senior
Metropolitan PGA Tournament of the Year
Bartons/BMD Wynnum Pro-Am
Regional PGA Tournament of the Year
PIMS Group Mackay Pro-Am
PGA Legends Tournament of the Year
Bartons/BMD Paul King Memorial Legends Pro-Am (Wynnum GC)
Assistant Superintendent Achievement Award presented by Greenway Turf Solutions
Andrew Lothian (Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club)
Superintendents Achievement Award presented by Living Turf
Graeme Andrews (Tamborine Mountain Golf Club)
Superintendents Environment and Safety Excellence Award
Mick McCombe (Maleny Golf Club)
Golf Course Turf Apprentice of the Year presented by Toro
Dylan Buttigieg (Windaroo Lakes Golf Club)
Golf Club Staff Member of the Year Award presented by CPR Group
Teegan Negreira (Redcliffe Golf Club)
Golf Club Board Member of the Year Award
Dr Max Whitten AM (Maleny Golf Club)
Golf Club of the Year Award presented by MiClub
Pacific Golf Club
Distinguished Manager Award presented by Asahi Schweppes
Bernard Wilson (Wynnum Golf Club)
Volunteer of the Year
Christopher Sarquis (Kingaroy Golf Club)
Golf Club of the Year (Under 400 Members) presented by Inside Golf
Kingaroy Golf Club
Golf Supplier of the Year Award
Greenway Turf Solutions
Junior Golf Program of the Year Award
Cairns Golf Club
Off-Course Golf Facility of The Year
Victoria Park Golf Complex
Services to Golf Award
Judy Logan (Golf Queensland/Laidley GC), Iris Thompson (Downs and South West Ladies Golf District), Gurney Clamp (Central Qld District), Steve King (BDGA/Nudgee GC)
Superintendents Industry Recognition Award
Paul Bevan
Male Amateur Golfer of the Year
Quinn Croker
Female Amateur Golfer of the Year
Justice Bosio
Junior Female Amateur Golfer of the Year
Sarah Hammett
Junior Male Amateur Golfer of the Year
Chase Oberle
Kyle Michel made the most of the lower scoring afternoon conditions at the 2024 CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics, where he leads by one after an opening 6-under 66 at Kalgoorlie.
The Victorian making seven birdies on Thursday to move past Andrew Kelly, who led for much of the day. Kelly joined by Michel’s fellow afternoon players Cory Crawford and Charlie Robbins in equal second after 5-under 67s.
Starting on the 10th tee, Michel got straight into his first start of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season with back-to-back birdies at the par-4 and par-5 next before he dropped his lone shot of the day at the par-3 13th.
Michel resuming his birdie making at the 16th and 18th to turn in 3-under, before the 28-year-old birdied both front nine par-5s, as well as the par-4 fifth to sit atop the leaderboard.
The former amateur standout offering up a simple reason for his hot start.
“I just drove the ball really well. Just gave myself a lot of looks and seemed to roll in a few putts,” Michel said.
“I didn’t really find myself in much trouble, mainly on the fairway all day. That’s kind of the secret around here. You can give yourself some looks if you can do that.”
Finishing last season with a share of eighth at The National Tournament, Michel has kept his competitive edge sharp with events on the adidas Pro-Am Series and two Asian Development Tour starts.
The Shepparton product sharing 16th in Vietnam last month ahead of a busy stretch leading into Christmas as the season gets underway in earnest.
“Pro-Ams are great to keep your game sharp and everything, but you want to be playing the bigger events and I think everyone gets excited for the five or six month stretch from October through to March,” Michel said.
“Play a lot of golf and you feel like you can gain a bit of momentum if you’re playing well.”
For Kelly his first round was a mix of experience and the continuation of recent form on the Pro-Am circuit and at the World Sand Greens Championship in Binalong, where he shared runner-up honours after Brett Rankin pipped him in a play-off.
“I think it’s the experience. I looked at the book a little bit today, but I know most of the holes, none of the pin placements I’m not really familiar with,” Kelly said.
“I know most of the venues and that helps a lot.”
Unlike Kelly and Crawford, who notched two recent Pro-Am wins on the mid-north coast of New South Wales as he continues his return from a back injury, Robbins arrived in the West with less awareness of where his game might be.
The former contestant on Ninja Warrior spending more time cutting holes than playing them at Moonah Links before teeing it up at the WA PGA, where he tied for fifth last year.
“I think coming to somewhere where you’ve got good memories, really helped I think relax me knowing that I can do it if I just sort of let the golf take care of itself,” Robbins said.
“I haven’t been playing a whole lot of competition golf just the last month cause I’ve been working on ground staff, just dropped it back to a couple of days there so I can play a few more just club comps just to get some 18 hole rounds under my belt.”
Six players sit one back of Kelly, Crawford and Robbins, with Elvis Smylie’s more aggressive mindset helping him to reach the 4-under mark after three eagles in his 68 as he approaches almost a year of working with coach Ritchie Smith.
“I’ve taken on a bit more of an aggressive attitude, especially towards the par-5s,” Smylie said.
“I feel like if I don’t at least be aggressive on those and go for the eagles, then I’m kind of losing shots.”
The first winner of the season, PNG Open champion Will Bruyeres, one of four players a further shot adrift at 3-under, while Ben Eccles opened his title defence with a 1-under 71.
The CKB WA PGA presented by TX Civil & Logistics is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
Victorians Lucas Herbert and Marc Leishman will return to their home state for the 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open as part of multiple Australian appearances to end the year.
Bendigo’s Herbert will play three Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia events in a row in 2024, starting at the NSW Open, followed by the BMW Australian PGA Championship and then the Australian Open.
He will then return early in 2025 at the Webex Players Series Murray River at Cobram Barooga Golf Club in the second half of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season announced earlier today.
Meanwhile, Leishman will contest the two Australian majors, first at Royal Queensland for the Australian PGA from November 21–24 before heading to Kingston Heath and The Victoria Golf Clubs for the Australian Open, starting November 28.
“Playing tournaments in Australia is right up there for me, and I can’t wait for the three-tournament run to end 2024, and also to get back underway early in 2025,” Herbert, who announced his schedule in person at the Australian Golf Centre today, said.
Added Leishman: “I’m really happy to be heading home again after what’s been a successful 2024.
“Finishing my year at the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open, two events I have always loved playing, is always good fun with great competition and I would love to add to my resume with a big Aussie win.”
Starting his career on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, which will co-sanction the Australian PGA and Australian Open with the DP World Tour again in 2024, Herbert’s three-week stretch will be alongside Cameron Smith and start close to his hometown with the NSW Open.
Played at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club from November 14, 28-year-old Herbert returns to a course where he had success as a teenager to challenge for the Kel Nagle Cup he nearly won early in his career, before heading back to the Murray River region and Cobram Barooga on January 30 to February 2 to play a Webex Players Series event for the first time.
Pitting men and women against one another for one trophy and prize fund, the innovative series brings juniors into the fold over the weekend, with the Murray River event one of nine in the second half of the men’s Tour schedule.
“Getting the chance to play alongside women and juniors at the Webex Players Series is something I am really looking forward to, especially given how close it is to home in Bendigo, so hopefully plenty of people come out to watch,” said Herbert, whose four-event commitment means he is eligible for the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit title and all the benefits on offer.
Hailing from Warrnambool, Leishman is chasing his first big piece of silverware in Australia after being a regular challenger for the country’s biggest titles over the course of his career.
Making his 29th and 30th combined Australian PGA and Australian Open starts this year, Leishman returns home after a strong appearance in 2023 when he was third at Royal Queensland and tied for 27th at The Australian and The Lakes.
Growing up in regional Victoria and playing representative golf on the famed Sandbelt, both Herbert and Leishman would no doubt agree an Australian Open in Melbourne presents a special opportunity.
“Winning one would mean the world to me, especially on the Melbourne Sandbelt where I have played so much golf and absolutely love teeing it up,” Herbert said.
“Kingston Heath and Victoria are incredible courses that I think suit my game perfectly.”
Herbert and Leishman continue to add to fields that will include Min Woo Lee, Cameron Smith, Jason Day, Hannah Green, Cam Davis, Joaquin Niemann, Ash Buhai and more over the Australian Summer of Golf.
“Anticipation continues to build as we excitedly prepare for the return of the Australian Open to the brilliant Melbourne Sandbelt. The addition of Lucas and Marc to the field has heightened that excitement, and we can’t wait to see them in action at Kingston Heath and Victoria,” Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said.
Joining Smith in playing four events of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season, Herbert will compete alongside the rising stars of Australian golf in a 19-event season.
“The support of players like Cam and Lucas for the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia is tremendous and will help to bring added attention to the amazing group of players contesting 19 events across the season,” PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said.
“The second half of the season has shaped up tremendously as our players chase the pathways on offer and historic titles such as the New Zealand Open.”
The 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship and ISPS HANDA Australian Open will be broadcast on Fox Sports and Kayo, as well as the NINE Network, with tickets available now via Ticketek.
2024/25 CHALLENGER PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA 2025 DATES
Webex Players Series Perth hosted by Minjee and Min Woo Lee (January 9 – 12)
Webex Players Series Victoria (January 23 – 26)
Webex Players Series Murray River in honour of Jarrod Lyle (January 30 – February 2)
Tournament TBC (February 6 – 9)
Webex Players Series Sydney (February 20 – 23)
NZ Open presented by Sky Sports (February 27 – March 2)
NZ PGA (March 6 – 9)
Heritage Classic (March 20 – 23)
The National Tournament (March 27 – 30)
Tura Beach Country Club defended par with everything it had but Peter Lonard, Guy Wall and Mark Boulton dealt with it best to share victory at the Sapphire Coast Legends Pro-Am.
Played across Merimbula Golf Club (par 71) and Tura Beach (par 73) over two days, Lonard, Wall and Boulton finished the 36 holes at even par, Wall, Boulton and Mike Harwood the only players to play Tura Beach in even par.
For Wall, the difficulty of the challenge brought him into the frame for his first PGA Legends Tour win in more than a year.
“If a pair of 5-unders wins the tournament, I’m not really going to be a chance,” said Wall.
“I’m kind of steady, good control of distances on the iron shots, and that’s important around here.
“When it gets tough and par’s a good score, then that lifts my chances.”
HOW THE WINNING ROUNDS UNFOLDED
A brilliant round of 5-under 66 gave Peter Jones a three-stroke lead after Round 1 at Merimbula but, like many, he would fall foul to the test of Tura Beach.
One-under on arrival at Tura Beach, Lonard made two bogeys in his first six holes but responded with late birdies at 13 and 16 in a round of 1-over 74 to finish square after 36.
Boulton and Wall both shot even-par 71 at Merimbula but endured some ups and downs on their way to even-par 73s at Tura Beach.
Boulton was hot out of the blocks with three birdies in his first seven holes but a run of four bogeys and two birdies across six holes late in his round brought him back to the pack.
He maintained a one-stroke advantage but a dropped shot at his penultimate hole – the par 4 first – would drop him back to even par.
Wall also had three birdies in his six holes – along with a lone bogey – but would have to conjure something late to join Boulton and Lonard on top.
A double-bogey at the par-4 seventh left Wall with work to do and he answered with a closing birdie at the par-4 12th.
WHAT THE WINNERS SAID
“It was good to begin with,” said Mark Boulton.
“I seemed to find greens and make putts and then, towards the afternoon, the greens firmed up and found them a bit harder to hold. That made it a bit difficult, but in the end, got over the line with just enough numbers.
“I’ve said it many times, but to be in amongst the fraternity with some of these real legends that played for many years and been everywhere, it’s an absolute privilege to be a part of.”
“Played the par 5s well,” said Guy Wall.
“Didn’t reach them all, but you’ve just got to lay back to a yardage sometimes and relied on my wedge game.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
T1 Mark Boulton 71-73—144
T1 Peter Lonard 70-74—144
T1 Guy Wall 71-73—144
T4 Andre Stolz 70-75—145
T4 Brad Burns 71-74—145
T6 Michael Harwood 73-73—146
T6 Grahame Stinson 72-74—146
NEXT UP
The South Coast swing continues on Friday with the 36-hole Mollymook NSW Senior Masters at Mollymook Golf Club’s Hilltop Course to be followed by the ACT Senior PGA Championship starting Tuesday at Fairbairn Golf Club.
After the journey Jasper Stubbs undertook to make his professional debut at this week’s CKB WA PGA presented by TX Civil & Logistics you’d forgive him for not smiling from ear-to-ear on Wednesday after a practice round in the heat.
However, powered by the “nervous excitement” of playing his first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia event with money on the line, the former amateur star detailed his trip from the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan to Kalgoorlie with a laugh.
“Started in Gotemba, which is about two and a half hours southwest of Tokyo,” said Stubbs ahead of his 7:25am tee time alongside Cameron John and Louis Dobbelaar.
“Then the drive to the airport began, 10 hour flight down to Melbourne at 8:30, overnight, landed at 8:30 in the morning in Melbourne.
“Got into Perth at 1:30pm and then I had five and a half hours there before I got to leave to come here to Kal last night and got in at 7:00pm.
“So it’s over a day of travel. But yeah, it’s worth it to be back here again at the WA PGA.”
Asked whether the long journey had taken a toll before he chases status on his home Tour via tournament invites, Stubbs was upbeat and headed for more practice in the West Australian sun after 14 holes to start the day.
“I’m a pretty good plane sleeper, so I slept like a baby on there, so I’m not too physically exhausted, but the body held up and I’ve sort of done everything I can last night and this morning to get it ready for the next few days,” he said.
Playing the WA PGA for a second time after a share of 50th in 2023, the Victorian spoke of the anticipation of entering the next stage of a career after his time as an amateur where he claimed the Asia Pacific Amateur at Royal Melbourne and teed it up at The Masters and The Open.
“It’s a little bit sort of like a nervous excitement. It’s a big step,” the 22-year-old said when asked of potential butterflies.
“I have played a lot of professional events, but not with a card on the line or potentially money on the line yet. So it’s sort of going to be different in that respect. But yeah, I’ve played a lot of these events before and I feel pretty at home out here with a lot of these guys.”
Another player who feels right at home, especially this week, is defending champion Ben Eccles, who Stubbs might do well to chat with about the transition from amateur to professional.
Claiming the NSW Open as an amateur back in 2015, Eccles waited eight years before he won again with an emotional victory last year.
“A little bit of a different scenario. He obviously had a lot more success than I did,” the ever modest Eccles said when asked if he had advice for his fellow Victorian.
“I think looking back when I first turned, I sort of thought it was going to be pretty easy and I thought things were always going to be sort of on the up when I turned pro, and that’s definitely not the case.
“So my advice would just be, just take it in as it comes and just keep trying to get better each year and make smart decisions as well.”
Eccles’ words similar in sentiment to the approach to this week that Stubbs has laid out with his team.
“Not really too much of a goal setter of I have to finish in the top 10 to feel like I’ve had a good week,” Stubbs said.
“I’m more just little targets based, little things that I’m doing with my coach and my team back home that we set, little wins that aren’t necessarily a win of the golf tournament that I can feel like I’ve accomplished something here this week.
“On the golf course, just you’ve got to just play as best I can and I know my good golf is really good, so a win isn’t out of the question for me, I don’t think.”
The CKB WA PGA presented by TX Civil & Logistics is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia gets back into action this week, with the CKB WA PGA presented by Civil TX & Logistics returning to Kalgoorlie Golf Course and the ‘Gold Capital of Australia’.
The second event of the season after Will Bruyeres claimed the PNG Open, the WA PGA kick-starts a two-week swing in Western Australia and a run of nine events in 10 weeks as players seek not just titles, but the rewards on offer via the Order of Merit that will again offer pathways overseas, including to the DP World Tour.
Bruyeres has made the trip to the oasis-like fairways and greens set amongst the red dirt of the region, and will be joined by the likes of past champions Ben Eccles, Dimi Papadatos, Jarryd Felton and Brett Rumford.
Meanwhile, players have returned from overseas, with Haydn Barron back home in WA after his rookie season on the DP World Tour, Cameron John fresh off his challenge for the Alfred Dunhill Links in Scotland and Jasper Stubbs, Ryan Ang and Connor Fewkes all teeing it up following the Asia-Pacific Amateur in Japan.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Ben Eccles (Victoria)
PRIZEMONEY: $250,000
LIVE SCORES: www.pga.org.au
TV COVERAGE: The CKB WA PGA presented by TX Civil & Logistics is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
*All times AEDT.
Round 3: Saturday 4pm-7pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
Final Round: Sunday 2pm-7pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
THE COURSE
Designed by Graham Marsh on the site of an old garbage dump, Kalgoorlie Golf Course came into existence in 2010 after the concept had been in planning for almost a decade. Kalgoorlie-born Marsh went on to create a uniquely Australian layout.
The natural red dirt, native trees and brush present on the site before the course remain a strong feature, and potential hazard, surrounding the undulating fairways and elevated greens that present a range of short game options and treachery if the wrong choice is made.
Measuring more than 6,700 metres from the back tees, the par-72’s red dirt bunkers standout visually and as part of the challenge, while the closing three-hole stretches to both nines provide plenty of excitement.
On the front nine, a dogleg left par-4 of 365 metres at the seventh is followed by a long uphill par-3 before the testing par-4 ninth, where Eccles holed a bunker shot on the final day in 2023 to ignite his charge.
To close out the back nine, the par-4 16th features one of the native trees in the fairway as an added hazard, while the par-3 17th will again offer up a car for the first player to record a hole-in-one over the weekend. The final hole is a journey of more than 528 metres that includes a dramatically three-tiered green.
HEADLINERS
Ben Eccles – 2023 WA PGA champion
Will Bruyeres – 2024 PNG Open winner
Dimi Papadatos – Four-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner
Cameron John – 2023 winner of The National Tournament
Jak Carter – Sixth on the 2023 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit
Jake McLeod – Former Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner
Jasper Stubbs – 2023 Asia Pacific Amateur Championship winner
Brett Rumford – Six-time DP World Tour winner
Haydn Barron – DP World Tour player
Tom Power Horan – Three-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner
A practice round with Adam Scott and a spot in the field at one of world golf’s most feted championships will mark the perfect way for Victorian Phoenix Campbell to farewell the amateur ranks.
The Queensland PGA champion at Nudgee last year and winner of the Master of the Amateurs in January, Campbell will play this week’s Japan Open as an amateur before making his professional debut at the Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open at Mandurah Country Club next week.
With an honour roll that boasts Seve Ballesteros, Isao Aoki, Craig Parry and Hideki Matsuyama, the Japan Open is renowned for the challenge it presents.
The famed Tokyo Golf Club will be no different this week, Scott’s guidance in a Wednesday practice round an ideal introduction to what Campbell can expect a Japan Open to throw at him.
Although thrilled to share the experience with Scott, it is not the first time that Campbell has been inside the ropes with the 2013 Masters champion.
“I have met him. I was actually the carry-boarder for the Masters at Huntingdale in 2015,” Campbell shared.
“I met him on the tee, which was the first time I met him. I’m sure he won’t remember that, but I’ll remind him.”
The top Aussie at last week’s Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Campbell is one of three young Australians who will turn professional in the coming weeks.
The 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur champion, Jasper Stubbs, makes his pro debut at this week’s WA PGA Championship in Kalgoorlie to be followed by Campbell at the WA Open and finally Quinn Croker at Webex Players Series South Australia the week after.
For Campbell, it represents a chance to create a shared experience in relatively familiar surrounds.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Campbell, who has a two-year exemption on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia by virtue of his win at Nudgee.
“I’ve been preparing the last six to 12 months at least to make the switch. I’m looking forward to doing it on home soil where I feel comfortable and excited to get underway.
“We’ve been overseas the last three months travelling together, so we’ve gotten to know each other really well.
“It’s cool to do it with your peers and know that there’s other people coming along for the ride with you.”
Min Woo Lee will have 19 fellow Australians trying to deny him a successful defence of his SJM Macao Open title on the Asian Tour, David Micheluzzi is the lone Aussie in the field at the FedEx Open de France at Le Golf National and Hannah Green and Minjee Lee resume their LPGA seasons at the Buick LPGA Shanghai event in China.
Round 1 tee times AEDT
PGA TOUR
Black Desert Championship
Black Desert Resort, Ivins, Utah
2:02am* Aaron Baddeley
2:08am Ryan Fox (NZ)
5:35am* Tim Wilkinson
Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US7.5 million
TV times: Live 3:30am-11am Friday, Saturday; Live 8am-11am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
LPGA Tour
Buick LPGA Shanghai
Qizhong Garden Golf Club, Shanghai, China
12:26pm Hira Naveed
1:10pm Hannah Green
1:21pm Minjee Lee
Defending champion: Angel Yin
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US2.1 million
TV times: Live 2pm-7pm Thursday, Friday on Fox Sports 503; Live 2pm-7pm Saturday, Sunday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.
DP World Tour
FedEx Open de France
Le Golf National, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France
6:55pm David Micheluzzi
Defending champion: Ryo Hisatsune
Past Aussie winners: Greg Norman (1980), Robert Allenby (1996)
Prize money: $US2.1 million
TV times: Live 10:30pm-3:30am Thursday, Friday; Live 10pm-2:30am Saturday; Live 9:30pm-2:30am Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Asian Tour
SJM Macao Open
Macau Golf and Country Club, Macao, China
9:35am* Deyen Lawson
9:40am Nick Voke (NZ)
10am Jack Thompson
10:15am* Maverick Antcliff
10:30am Marcus Fraser
10:40am Andrew Dodt
10:50am Justin Warren
11am Aaron Wilkin
11:10am Lachlan Barker
2:30pm* Jordan Zunic
2:35pm Brendan Jones
2:45pm Min Woo Lee
2:55pm Wade Ormsby
3pm* Kevin Yuan
3:05pm Jed Morgan
3:10pm* Zach Murray
3:15pm Scott Hend
3:20pm* Todd Sinnott
3:25pm Doug Klein
3:35pm Denzel Ieremia (NZ), Sam Brazel
3:40pm* Harrison Crowe
Defending champion: Min Woo Lee
Past Aussie winners: Kane Webber (2006), David Gleeson (2008), Scott Hend (2013, 2015), Min Woo Lee (2023)
Prize money: $US1 million
TV times: Live 4pm-8pm Thursday, Friday; Live 3pm-7pm Saturday, Sunday on Fox Sports 507 and Kayo.
Ladies European Tour
Wistron Ladies Open – Taiwan
Sunrise Golf and Country Club, Chinese Taipei
10:12am* Kirsten Rudgeley
Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US1 million
Japan Golf Tour
Japan Open
Tokyo Golf Club, Saitama
8:55am* Brad Kennedy
9:05am* Michael Hendry (NZ)
1:55pm Adam Scott
2:05pm Phoenix Campbell (a)
Defending champion: Akuryu Iwasaki
Past Aussie winners: Craig Parry (1997), Paul Sheehan (2006)
Prize money: ¥210 million
PGA TOUR Champions
SAS Championship
Prestonwood CC, Cary, North Carolina
Australasians in the field: Steven Alker (NZ), Steve Allan, Stuart Appleby, David Bransdon, Greg Chalmers, Richard Green, Mark Hensby, Rod Pampling, Cameron Percy, John Senden, Michael Wright.
Defending champion: Rod Pampling
Past Aussie winners: Rod Pampling (2023)
Prize money: $US2.1 million
TV times: Live 5am-8am Saturday on Fox Sports 507; Live 5am-8am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Challenge Tour
Hainan Open 2024
Sanya Luhuitou GC, Donghai Bay, China
2:35pm* Hayden Hopewell
4:05pm* George Worrall
Defending champion: Ricardo Gouveia
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US500,00
Korean PGA Tour
Baeksong Holdings-Asiad CC Busan Open
Asiad Country Club, Korea
9:10am Changgi Lee (NZ)
10:40am* Junseok Lee
1:30pm* Kevin Chun (NZ)
1:40pm Wonjoon Lee
1:40pm* Sungjin Yeo (NZ)
Defending champion: Eom Jae-woong
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: KRW1 billion
Sunshine Tour
Vodacom Origins of Golf – Wild Coast
Wild Coast Sun Country Club, Port Edward, South Africa
Australasians in the field: Austin Bautista
Defending champion: Pieter Moolman
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: R2 million
Major championship winner Cameron Smith will complete a four-week stretch of Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia tournaments by confirming his place in the field at the 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
Set to play the Queensland PGA, NSW Open and BMW Australian PGA Championship, Smith will then head to Melbourne’s famed Sandbelt and the Kingston Heath and The Victoria Golf Clubs for the Australian Open, which once again combines men, women and all abilities on one stage.
Smith will be chasing his first Stonehaven Cup in his 12th appearance at his national Open from November 28 – December 1.
A three-time winner of the Australian PGA Championship and victor of the 150th Open Championship at St Andrews, Smith has been a huge supporter of the Australian Open throughout his career, with his closest call coming in 2016 when he lost out in a play-off to Jordan Spieth.
“I think most people would know how much I want to win an Australian Open, so I am looking forward to challenging for the Stonehaven Cup again this year in Melbourne,” Smith said.
Enjoying a year highlighted by team success with his Ripper GC side, Smith has a long history on the Melbourne Sandbelt, with the 31-year-old claiming the adidas Australian Amateur title in 2013 at Commonwealth Golf Club and taking out medallist honours the previous year at Woodlands Golf Club.
Also teeing it up on the Melbourne Sandbelt in 2019 as part of the Presidents Cup and at the first Australian Open played with the new format in 2022 at Victoria and Kingston Heath, Smith has long been a fan favourite at home and around the world.
His loyal band of followers, often imitating his signature look, will no doubt come out in force again this year after record crowds were on hand in 2023 when the Wantima Country Club product finished in a tie for 17th.
Smith joins the likes of fellow Australians Min Woo Lee, Cam Davis, Hannah Green and defending champions Joaquin Niemann and Ashleigh Buhai in the field at Kingston Heath and Victoria, where the men’s event will be co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the women’s tournament the feature of the WPGA Tour of Australasia schedule.
“Cam has been a tremendous supporter of not just the Australian Open, but Australian golf, so we are very much looking forward to him returning home for a month of tournaments,” Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said.
“Having Cam join the already announced players is extremely exciting for everyone involved as we prepare to watch some of the best players in the world on some of the best courses in the sport, all watched by the best fans in golf.”
The presence of Smith an exciting prospect for the people of Victoria according to the government.
“Victoria’s reputation as the sporting capital of Australia continues to grow and having star players like Cameron Smith here for the Australian Open will help draw strong visitation to our state,” Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said.
“Golf is worth about $1 billion per year to the Victorian economy and attracting world-class players to showcase our Sandbelt courses on the world stage will be a huge driver for our visitor economy.”
The 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open will be broadcast on Fox Sports and Kayo, as well as the NINE Network, while applications to volunteer at the event are now open.
Tickets for the ISPS HANDA Australian Open are available now via Ticketek.
Former World Deaf Golf champion Jack McLeod hopes to break down barriers for deaf people within golf when he joins the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia as an exempt player this week.
A graduate of the Qualifying School staged at Moonah Links in April, McLeod joins defending champion Ben Eccles, DP World Tour rookie Haydn Barron, former winners Brett Rumford and Jarryd Felton and 2023/2024 tournament winners Cameron John and Kerry Mountcastle at the CKB WA PGA Championship at Kalgoorlie Golf Course starting Thursday.
It is a remarkable moment for the 28-year-old who was born profoundly deaf and received his first Cochlear implant when just 11 months old.
McLeod received a second implant for his left ear at the age of 11 and since then has lived a life largely unencumbered by his inability to hear without assistance.
A talented soccer player growing up on Sydney’s northern beaches, McLeod chose to pursue golf as a career, first trying his hand at greenkeeping before undertaking the PGA of Australia’s Membership Pathway Program.
He became a full Vocational Member of the PGA in 2023 and had been working as the Assistant Professional at Mona Vale Golf Club before dedicating himself to playing full-time this year.
It was only at the insistence of Mona Vale Head Professional, Gerard Kelly, that McLeod entered Q School. He finished tied 17th at First Stage and then tied 29th at Final Stage to earn status for the 2024/2025 season.
“The last thing I want is to be five years down the track going, I wish I gave it a go, but that week was so stressful,” McLeod said of his Q School experience.
“I thought I was gone after 12 holes in the last round (of Final Stage).
“One of the boys came up and asked if I’d made par on the last and I said, ‘Yeah, that’s me done’.
“He goes, ‘No, you’re in. You’re on the same score as me. You’re in’.
“It didn’t sink in until a couple of days later that I was like, Wow. I’ve got a Tour card. I’m a Tour player.”
To his playing partners this summer, McLeod will present as just another competitor.
With his implants connected to the external units that sit behind his ears, McLeod has 95 per cent hearing in his right ear and 42 per cent hearing in his left.
Background noise is an issue when he works in the Mona Vale pro shop and when he takes them off – in the shower, swimming at the beach and to sleep – he is completely deaf.
Somewhat ironically, the only time McLeod has played golf without his implants was when he played the World Deaf Golf Championship for the first time in 2012… and won by 13 strokes.
“A week before we went my coach said, ‘We’re going to spend every afternoon after school on the golf course without them on’,” McLeod recalled of his first experience playing golf in complete silence.
“It was so different. So different. You lose your balance a little bit, but I think it’s more so relying on feel to know if you’ve hit a good shot.
“And obviously it’s peaceful. You can have a car drive past you and not hear a thing.”
McLeod has played two PGA Tour of Australasia events in the past 18 months through the Associate program prior to attaining his full PGA qualifications and made the cut at the 2021 Queensland Open.
Since obtaining his Tour card, he has played extensively on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series, registering top-five finishes at Teven Valley and Ocean Shores and was runner-up at Ballina in August.
It has instilled a sense of confidence that he can enter his rookie season knowing his best golf is more than good enough to compete with the elite of Australian golf.
“At Q School I was going down there to have a crack, whereas after the last couple of results I’ve had, I’m starting to feel more confident that I can play with these guys,” said McLeod.
“The mentality sort of changed a little bit. Now it’s gone from hoping to make cuts to now wanting to win.
“That’s a different mentality I’ve got to have.”
His primary goal this season will be to retain his card, but McLeod knows that he represents something more.
“Just being an example of what we can achieve is a big thing,” he added.
“Losing one of your senses is pretty hard. And I think hearing is probably one of the bad ones that you can lose because you’ve got to communicate.
“Being an example would be a good title to have. We’re all ambassadors in our own right. We’re all trying to promote golf together; we just don’t quite get the recognition that we deserve.”
That might be about to change.
