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A sudden change in fortunes with the flatstick has carried Tim Elliott to a one-stroke victory at the Toronto Legends Pro-Am at Toronto Golf Club and Driving Range.
With a solitary PGA Legends Tour win to his name this season back in March, Elliott shrugged off his struggles to post 5-under 66 and edge Order of Merit leader Andre Stolz (67) by a shot with Peter Lonard (68) and Leigh McKechnie (68) sharing third.
Yet early on an Elliott triumph looked highly unlikely.
Out in the morning field off the 11th tee, Elliott was 2-over through six holes before the putts began to drop.
“I probably one putted – I haven’t worked it out – 12 of the last 13 holes,” said Elliott.
“Putting was just totally different.”
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
Bogeys at 13 and 14 had Elliott on the back foot early.
Back-to-back birdies at 17 and 18 sent him to the Toronto front nine square with the card where he quickly added two more at holes one and three.
Elliott made successive birdies again at seven and eight before closing with a birdie at the par-4 10th to edge one clear of the field and claim victory.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I haven’t been playing that well lately,” Elliott conceded.
“Putted terrible the day before and came out today and was 2-over early.
“Then started putting really good and managed to shoot 5-under.
“Course was great. The greens were just immaculate. Fantastic.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Tim Elliott 66
2 Andre Stolz 67
T3 Leigh McKechnie 68
T3 Peter Lonard 68
T5 Paul Powell 69
T5 Grahame Stinson 69
NEXT UP
The PGA Legends Tour sets up on the Central Coast for three straight days, starting with the Austbrokers Wyong Legends Pro-Am at Wyong Golf Club on Wednesday followed by the Magenta Shores Legends Pro-Am at Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club.
West Australian Haydn Barron has confirmed that he will play two events coming up on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia schedule.
The 28-year-old Western Australian Golf Club product has spent much of 2024 competing on the DP World Tour after earning his playing rights at Qualifying School late last year.
After a promising start to his rookie year, which included a top-10 finish at the Qatar Masters in February, Barron endured a tough run of results and will return to Q-School in November.
Prior to that, Barron will return to the PGA Tour of Australasia to play two events in his home state.
He will first play the CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics at Kalgoorlie Golf Course from October 10-13 and then back up a week later for the 100th staging of the Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open from October 17-20 at Mandurah Country Club.
A former WA state captain, Barron’s best finish at the WA Open came in 2020, where he finished as runner-up to fellow amateur Hayden Hopewell at Royal Fremantle. Last year, after embarking on a whirlwind trip home from St Andrews to the Kalgoorlie desert, Barron was runner-up to Ben Eccles in the WA PGA Championship.
“I’m excited to be able to come home and play in the state open,” Barron said.
“I’ve played well previously around Mandurah Country Club and am looking forward to getting back there in front of some familiar faces.”
On his rookie season on tour, Barron added: “This season has been nothing short of incredible. I’ve made so many new friends, learnt a heap of life lessons and experienced new and different places and cultures all around the world. I’ve just had a genuine all-round blast, and it’s hard to put the journey into words.
“It’s also been the toughest year I’ve had so far. I’ve spent nine of the last 12 months away from home, family and friends. There’s been laughs, smiles, frustration and tears. It’s been a rollercoaster.”
Gary Thomas, GolfWA’s Chief Executive, welcomed Barron’s participation in the WA Open, saying: “Baz is a hugely popular figure in WA golf and it’s great for the tournament and for local golf fans to be able to see him in action at Mandurah Country Club.
“I’m sure he’ll get a very warm reception and his experiences on the DP World Tour this year will hold him in good stead for the WA Open.”
Grahame Stinson played the back nine in 29 strokes and Andre Stolz birdied his final four holes to share top spot at the New Era Technology East’s Legends Charity Pro Am at Easts Leisure and Golf in Maitland.
Without a PGA Legends Tour victory in close to two years, Stinson set the course alight with a brilliant back nine that had him 7-under with four holes to play.
A bogey at the difficult par-4 second saw Stinson finish at 6-under 65, a mark that forced Stolz to conjure a fantastic finish in order to match it.
“I thought it was playing pretty hard out there so I was surprised to see the scoring was that hot,” said Stolz.
“I said to the missus with a few holes to go, ‘How many do I have to make?’
“She said, ‘Four’ and then I went and birdied the last four.”
With matching 65s, Stinson and Stolz finished two strokes clear of Simon Tooman (67) and Chris Taylor (67) with Brad Burns fifth after a round of 3-under 68.
HOW THE WINNING ROUNDS UNFOLDED
The back nine at Easts Leisure and Golf would prove to yield the bulk of the birdies for both Stinson and Stolz.
Beginning his round from the par-3 fifth, Stinson opened with a birdie but had to wait until the par-4 10th to register his second. They came with a flurry from that point, picking up shots at 11, 13, 15, 16 and 18 to play the back nine in 6-under 29.
One-under through his first 11 holes, Stolz, too, made his score on the latter holes.
A birdie at the par-4 12th moved the current Order of Merit leader to 2-under on his round before his quartet of birdies to finish and join Stinson at 6-under par.
WHAT THE WINNERS SAID
“I think I’ve only had 29 once and that’s when I had the 59,” said Stinson.
“I had a ball. The guys with us today were so good. Funny, funny guys. Had a great time.
“I didn’t realise I had a putt to win it outright and missed it from about 10 feet.
“All in all I putted well. You’ve got to miss a few.”
“This is how it is in the shotguns, depending on where you start, you’ve got a hard stretch and an easy stretch,” added Stolz.
“The last few holes weren’t playing as hard as some of the others. I drove it great on all the into-the-wind tee shots, which were really tough.
“I actually hit some great drives on all those holes today so I’m happy.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
T1 Andre Stolz 65
T1 Grahame Stinson 65
T3 Simon Tooman 67
T3 Chris Taylor 67
5 Brad Burns 68
T6 Anthony Summers 69
T6 Michael Harwood 69
NEXT UP
The Hunter swing continues on Tuesday with the Toronto Legends Pro-Am at Toronto Country Club before heading south to Wyong Golf Club on Wednesday for the Austbrokers Wyong Legends Pro-Am.
Kew Golf Club Assistant Professional Ben Jewell is urging fellow PGA Professionals to sign up for Will Robins’ keynote address at the 2024 Golf Summit after transforming his business under Robins’ guidance.
Focusing on the power of on-course coaching, Robins (pictured) will present multiple times during the two-day conference, hosted by Golf Australia and PGA of Australia, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on October 16-17.
It was the announcement of Robins’ attendance that led Jewell to investigate his background, ultimately reaching out to learn more of his philosophy.
Jewell implemented Robins’ strategies from April and has not only transformed his business, but been infused with a new-found enthusiasm for coaching.
“It was pretty disillusioned with my coaching business at that point,” said Jewell.
“It had been a while, probably 12 months, of starting to lose any passion I had for it. It was so transactional.
“It wasn’t giving me any pleasure at all to be doing it that way.
“I reached out to Will and it’s just absolutely changed my coaching outlook and the results I’m getting and the people I’m working with.
“I’ve turned it around in well under six months and I’m so excited to come to work now.
“I’m probably going to make three times the amount of money I did in this season of golf that I did last year. It’s just unbelievable.”
At the heart of Robins’ coaching methodology is to position the PGA Professional as the expert in golf, not someone employed purely to serve the membership.
“We’re in the pro shop, we’re serving the members and we’ve got to make sure they’re happy but when we go down to the driving range, it doesn’t work,” says Robins.
“The member says what they want to work on and, as such, they don’t get given true expert advice because we’re having to put it into a broken framework.
“The impression is that they are paying for our time when what they should really be paying for is our expertise.”
With a coaching program now booked out until Christmas, Jewell has had no problem in transitioning those who he coaches to longer-term programs that deliver the result every golfer is seeking; lower scores.
“I’ve only completed one group so far and in that group of four I’ve saved 30 shots between them in six weeks,” Jewell added.
“It is really easy to fall into the trap of being a servant and then no one gets results.
“It’s a long-term commitment. This is your best chance to score lower; are you in or not?
“If they’re not, then I say, ‘Thanks, see you later.’ And if they are, ‘Let’s go do it.’”
Joining Robins as keynote speakers at the 2024 Golf Summit is NRL legend and Queensland Maroons coach, Billy Slater, NBL CEO, David Stevenson, Former PGA Tour caddie, Steve Williams,
Paralympian, Elle Steele, Richmond Football Club triple-premiership player, Bachar Houli, PING VP Engineering, Dr Paul Wood, CEO PGA of Australia, Gavin Kirkman, CEO Golf Australia, James Sutherland, CEO WPGA Tour of Australasia, Karen Lunn, Deputy General Manager – 13th Beach Golf Links, Sally McKenna, 2023 PGA National Coach of the Year – Game Development, Asha Flynn, General Manager – Pacific Golf Club, Amber Williams, PGA Professional – Golf coach and golf educator, Hugh Marr, Biodiversity and Sustainability expert, Monina Gilbey, Biodiversity and Sustainability expert, Kate Torgersen and Lecturer – The University of Melbourne, Emma Power.
Limited tickets to the 2024 Golf Summit are still available by visiting golfsummit.com.au.
Photo: Courtesy PGA of America
Kirsten Rudgeley was denied a maiden Ladies European Tour in a playoff as fellow West Australian Hayden Hopewell recorded his second Challenge Tour top-five finish of the season.
As the Aussie trio of Adam Scott, Jason Day and Min Woo Lee went down to the US as part of the International Team contesting the Presidents Cup in Canada, Rudgeley and Hopewell flew the Aussie flag in Europe.
Four shots back of Switzerland’s Chiari Tamburlini at the start of the third and final round, Rudgeley took advantage of the leader’s struggles with a back-nine surge to take the outright lead.
Boasting five top-five finishes in her two years on the LET to date, Rudgeley made birdies at 11, 12, 15 and 16 to apply the blowtorch to Tamburlini.
Winner of the Joburg Ladies Open earlier in the season, the Swiss rookie responded with a brilliant approach to set up birdie at the par-3 17th before making par at the last to match Rudgeley’s total of 7-under par.
The pair headed back to the 18th hole for the playoff where Tamburlini holed the winning putt after Rudgeley’s birdie try came up just short.
Shoutout to Kirsten Rudgeley on an excellent performance to force the playoff. That win is just around the corner 💪#RaiseOurGame | #LLODF pic.twitter.com/7biacjjyAj
— Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) September 29, 2024
Tamburlini came within a whisker of winning in spectacular fashion when her approach shot at the playoff hole spun back past the hole before settling seven feet away.
Rudgeley did well to hit the green after pulling her drive left but with her birdie effort failing to get the full distance, Tamburlini was able to hole her putt for victory.
“It was way too stressful!” said Tamburlini.
“Kirsten played so well today, especially on the back nine. She really lit it up and it was tough for me to keep up.”
Rudgeley’s career-best finish elevates her to 10th on the LET Order of Merit and within reach of an LPGA Tour card that is awarded to the top four finishers at season’s end.
It was a strong week too for fellow Aussie Kelsey Bennett, who finished tied for seventh to enhance her chances of a full LET card in 2025.
Tied for seventh a week ago in Italy, Hopewell continued his strong form with a tie for fifth at the Swiss Challenge.
Rain forced the event to be reduced to just 36 holes, Hopewell picked up late birdies at 15 and 17 in a round of 3-under 69 to finish top five to finish five shots back of Scotsman Euan Walker.
Five birdies in her first seven holes set Grace Kim on a path to a final round of 5-under 66 to earn a tie for 12th at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship and Aaron Wilkin’s tie for 23rd was the best of the Aussies at the Yeangder TPC on the Asian Tour.
Results
Asian Tour
Yeangder TPC
Linkou International Golf and Country Club, Chinese Taipei
1 Suteepat Prateeptienchai 64-66-68-69—267 $US180,000
T23 Aaron Wilkin 72-68-71-68—279 $9,700
T40 Justin Warren 72-69-68-74—283 $5,618.75
T52 Brendan Jones 68-72-71-74—285 $3,820
T52 Maverick Antcliff 68-69-75-73—285 $3,820
T57 Travis Smyth 70-71-73-72—286 $3,250
T65 Andrew Dodt 69-70-73-76—288 $2,600
T65 Lachlan Barker 71-70-75-72—288 $2,600
T68 Harrison Crowe 70-71-72-76—289 $2,300
71 Jordan Zunic 66-72-75-77—290 $2,100
MC Kevin Yuan 69-73—142
MC Sam Brazel 75-69—144
MC Jed Morgan 70-74—144
MC Deyen Lawson 74-72—146
MC Jack Thompson 69-78—147
MC Todd Sinnott 76-72—148
MC Zach Murray 78-70—148
Presidents Cup
Royal Montreal Golf Club, Montreal, Canada
United States 18.5 def International 11.5
Sunday Singles
Xander Schauffele def Jason Day 4&3
Sam Burns halved Tom Kim
Hideki Matsuyama def Scottie Scheffler 1 up
Russell Henley def Sungjae Im 3&2
Patrick Cantlay def Taylor Pendrith 3&1
Keegan Bradley def Si Woo Kim 1 up
Corey Conners def Tony Finau 5&3
Min Woo Lee halved Wyndham Clark
Byeong Hun An halved Sahith Theegala
Collin Morikawa def Adam Scott 2&1
Christiaan Bezuidenhout def Brian Harman 2&1
Max Homa def Mackenzie Hughes 2&1
LPGA Tour
Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
Pinnacle Country Club, Rogers, Arkansas\
1 Jasmine Suwannapura 63-72-61—196
Won on the second hole of sudden death playoff
T12 Grace Kim 69-67-66—202
T27 Robyn Choi 68-68-69—205
T37 Stephanie Kyriacou 67-69-70—206
T44 Gabriela Ruffels 71-66-70—207
MC Hira Naveed 72-75—147
DP World Tour
acciona Open de España
Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
1 Angel Hidalgo 65-67-68-70—270 €494,861.54
Won in sudden death playoff
T39 David Micheluzzi 71-69-71-71—282 €17,465.70
T45 Sam Jones (NZ) 69-71-70-73—283 €13,681.47
T57 Jason Scrivener 74-70-70-71—285 €9,169.49
T65 Daniel Hillier (NZ) 71-73-74-71—289 €6,986.28
MC Haydn Barron 75-73—148
MC Andrew Martin 77-76—153
Ladies European Tour
Lacoste Ladies Open de France
Golf Barriere, Deauville, France
1 Chiara Tamburlini 68-67-71—206 €56,250
Won on the first hole of sudden death playoff
2 Kirsten Rudgeley 66-73-67—206 €33,750
T7 Kelsey Bennett 71-71-68—210 €9,150
T52 Momoka Kobori (NZ) 73-74-72—219 €1,650
MC Whitney Hillier 70-79—149
Japan Golf Tour
Vantelin Tokai Classic
Miyoshi Country Club (West Cse), Aichi
1 Takahiro Hatachi 64-69-69-65—267 ¥22 million
T62 Brad Kennedy 70-71-73-71—285 ¥249,700
MC Michael Hendry 75-71—146
MC Anthony Quayle 72-75—147
Challenge Tour
Swiss Challenge
Golf Saint Apollinaire, Folgensbourg, France
Event reduced to 36 holes due to rain
1 Euan Walker 69-66—135 €32,400
T5 Hayden Hopewell 71-69—140 €7,593.75
MC Connor McKinney 79-82—161
Brett Rankin didn’t think life could get any better than when his beloved Brisbane Lions won the AFL Grand Final. Until he became a world champion.
Rankin, 38, rammed in a seven-metre birdie putt to win a three-way sudden-death playoff at Binalong on Sunday to become the inaugural World Sand Greens Championship winner.
“This might be the best weekend of my life,” the affable Queenslander said with the broadest of smiles.
“I was already buzzing about the footy, then to have this, I can’t believe it.
“I think I’m going have to change the resume and all the socials to say world champ.
“I think I might even get that `Champ is here’ thing from Muhammad Ali to play when I go and see the boys.”
A prolific winner on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series, Rankin began his round in the second-last group at 4-under and two off the lead. He emerged as the likely winner when he leapt to the top before the turn as those in the final group stumbled.
But just as he failed to take advantage of some key scoring opportunities midway through the back nine, Victorian Andrew Kelly caught fire ahead with birdies on 15, 16 and 17 to cap a magnificent course-record 63 to post 9-under.
Momentarily, a Cinderella story involving Yass amateur Robbie Furner appeared a possibility, but his birdie attempt from off the back of the 18th green narrowly missed and he signed for 8-under to the thunderous applause of the huge local gallery.
But Rankin steadied behind and he and playing partner Samuel Slater, also of Queensland, each birdied the 17th to reach 9 and 8-under, respectively.
The powerful Slater hit a huge drive almost 100m left of his target coming up the final regulation hole and it didn’t appear much better when his second could only get back to within 25m of the green.
But needing a birdie to join a possible playoff, Slater pulled off the miracle as his third fell in on the last roll to bring the house down.
Rankin missed what would have been the winning birdie putt, but made no such mistake in the playoff from a similar position minutes later.
“This course is great, it really makes you think and hit some shots that require a bit of imagination which I really like,” Rankin said.
“I had an amazing week out here, I really loved it, everything about the sand greens.
“And to cap the whole thing off by doing that in a playoff, it’s just amazing.”
Furner and Dillon Hart shared fourth one shot back, while Matt Dowling, Adam Brady and Blake Windred finished tied sixth at 7-under.
The International Team connected on some wild haymakers yet it was the American Team who claimed a points decision on an ultimately lop-sided day three at the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club.
On the back of an extraordinary sweep of the foursomes matches on Friday, the International Team struggled to keep pace with a resurgent American unit in Saturday’s morning fourballs.
The US team won the morning matches 3-1 and repeated the scoreline in an absorbing afternoon of fourball matches, the star-studded Americans winning two matches on the 18th hole for a 6-2 day and 11-7 overall advantage.
An Adam Scott point with Canadian partner Taylor Pendrith was one of few highlights in the latter matches as the International team fell to a four-point deficit that looked like being as little as two.
A 4&3 win from Si Woo Kim and Tom Kim over Keegan Bradley and Wyndham Clark was the only joy for the Internationals in the morning matches, Aussies Jason Day and Min Woo Lee both sitting out as Scott and Pendrith went down 2&1 to Scottie Scheffler and Collin Morikawa.
In a move that received mixed reactions on social media, captain Mike Weir retained the same four combinations for the afternoon matches, Day and Lee again restricted to cheerleader roles as each match see-sawed in fading light.
A holed bunker shot from Canadian Mackenzie Hughes and an impossible hole-out from deep rough by Si Woo Kim were telling blows for the International Team, yet neither could find the knockout punch.
SI WOO KIM ARE YOU KIDDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/w4rhTGEEJH
— Presidents Cup International Team (@IntlTeam) September 28, 2024
Only one match failed to make it as far as the final hole, the US combinations of Collin Morikawa and Sam Burns and then Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay stealing full points for their team to claim a commanding lead with a day to play.
It leaves the International Team needing a minimum of 8.5 points from the 12 singles matches on Sunday to win for just the second time in Presidents Cup history.
Teaming up with Pendrith for the third straight match in the afternoon fourballs, Scott and his partner went 1 up after a birdie on three but were 1 down two holes later when the American duo of Max Homa and Brian Harman made back-to-back birdies.
The match was halved again when the Internationals made birdie on eight and they would edge ahead with another birdie on nine.
Despite some nervous moments it would be a lead they would never relinquish, closing out a 2 up win with a conceded hole on 18.
“It didn’t quite go our way this morning, but we were really solid this afternoon,” said Scott.
“Maybe a little fatigue kicked in on the last few holes, but we managed to scratch out a point.
“Sometimes they’re pretty unexciting and sometimes they’re just ugly, but a point is a point.
“We’re going to have to be tenacious out there tomorrow and heroic, actually.
“This is a big format tomorrow, 12 matches, 12 points up for grabs, an incredibly strong US Team.
“Our guys are going to have to throw caution to the wind and play their asses off.”
Jason Day will lead off the singles matches for the International Team against Xander Schauffele at 2:02am AEST, Min Woo Lee faces off against 2023 US Open champion Wyndham Clark (3:31am) and Adam Scott plays Collin Morikawa in the 10th match of the final day (3:55am).
Photo: Harry How/Getty Images
Ryan Peake chipped in twice en route to a spectacular 6-under-par 64 and the halfway lead in the World Sand Greens Championship at Binalong Golf Club.
The West Australian lowered the Binalong course record by two strokes with six birdies, an eagle and two bogeys to take a one-shot edge over Lucas Higgins and Peter Cooke into Sunday’s final round.
But on a packed leaderboard, six players share fourth at 4-under with another six just a shot back from them.
Peake had a “pretty serious debrief” after letting slip his chance in the final group at the Queanbeyan regional qualifier for the New South Wales Open earlier this week.
And the left-hander – who once won an international amateur teams event paired with Cam Smith – is eager to make amends when he gets a repeat chance for a world title.
“I knew it was on TV and I really wanted to show something to my family and friends back in WA,” said Peake, a member at Lakelands Country Club north of Perth.
“But it got away from me quickly and I was really disappointed in what I did… I’m looking forward to setting the record straight a bit tomorrow.”
Peake, who began his round on the ninth hole, leapt from the blocks with a chip-in eagle on the short par-4 10th hole, but stagnated for an hour before a bogey on the short 14th triggered his record charge.
He birdied six of the next seven holes, including another greenside chip-in on the 18th.
“I missed a couple, too, but then again, I had a couple drop in for me, so it all evens out on sand greens – you just have to roll with it,” he said.
“I played a lot of state events on sand as an amateur and I really like it.”
South Australian Cooke, also no stranger to sand greens, said his round was “pretty stress-free” as he peeled off six birdies against just one bogey.
“I got up and down pretty well from the sides of most greens and made birdies on the holes you’d expect to,” Cooke said.
“It was just a solid round of golf.”
The X-factor in the final group is Higgins, a sand greens rookie from Murwillumbah who also found six birdies after not looking nearly as comfortable during his Friday pro-am round.
“I spent a lot of time looking at the way the ball was rolling around the greens and tried to take that out today and it worked pretty well,” Higgins said.
“I’m learning as we go, but I’m happy with the way it went.”
Blake Windred and Brett Rankin are the biggest names at 4-under, while veteran Rick Kulacz looms again at 3-under, just days after his runner-up finish at Queanbeyan.
The final group in Sunday’s final round will start at 11:50am, with live coverage on Seven Plus and streamed on the Golf NSW website.
Australians Adam Scott and Jason Day played their part and secured wins in a remarkable International team comeback on day two of the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal today.
With captain Mike Weir pulling the levers and deploying a bunch of different pairings, the Internationals swept the USA in Friday foursomes matches before a raucous and partisan crowd in Canada.
It was 5-0 on the day when South Korea’s Si Woo Kim nailed a 15-foot par-saver at the 18th giving he and Ben An a 1-up win over Scottie Scheffler and Russell Henley. It is the first time ever that Presidents Cup matches have been swept two days in a row.
After a disastrous start on Thursday where the USA swept the four-ball matches 5-0, Weir’s team is now level at 5-5 overall with two days to play.
Scott partnered Canadian Taylor Pendrith in a 5&4 demolition of Sahith Theegala and Collin Morikawa. Day and South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout defeated Max Homa and Brian Harman 1 up.
“We didn’t get defeated,” said Scott. “There’s a lot of fight in this team. We’re not gonna go away.”
Min Woo Lee sat out the day’s contests on his Presidents Cup debut.
It was the veteran Scott’s 22nd point in Presidents Cup matches, making him the ‘winningest’ International player in the history of the event ahead of Ernie Els. This is his 10th appearance, and the Australian closed out the match with a nice putt in close from the fringe at the 14th hole.
Scott and Pendrith made five birdies and never trailed in the match.
Day and Bezuidenhout had a tougher time against Max Homa and Brian Harman with their match going to the 18th hole where Day hit a superb lob shot from the left rough to effectively finish the match.
The Internationals set the tone early with Hideki Matsuyama and Sungjae Im beating Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay 7&6, rolling in seven consecutive birdies to stop the match at the twelfth green. It was the shortest match in Presidents Cup history.
“I had a good feeling about this when we were up here a couple weeks ago scouting,” said Scott. “We played a little bit, felt easy to me. I’ve played with lots of different guys, and I knew that we were going to be a good pairing, and the captains seemingly found a lot of good pairings in this format today.
“But (it) felt easy. The momentum got going our way, and in this format, that’s a big advantage. Happy to close it out like we did.”
The Montreal crowd was a factor today as local heroes Mackenzie Hughes and Corey Conners smashed Wyndham Clark and Tony Finau 6&5.
On Saturday there are eight matches in four-ball and foursomes format followed by 12 singles clashes to close out the contest on Sunday, local time.
The USA is protecting a 12-1 record with one tie, and is chasing a 10th consecutive Presidents Cup win.
Adam Scott celebrates a putt going down at the fifth today in his win. Image: Getty
Golf has a way of drawing you in from your very first swing. For Will Bruyeres, competing in this weekend’s World Sand Greens Championship at Binalong Golf Club, It began with nine holes of family bonding on a sand greens track three hours west of Toowoomba.
By David Tease
“My very first game of golf was on sand greens at Ingleston Golf Club, just outside Meandarra,” Bruyeres recalled with a smile. “My grandparents had a cattle property out there. My dad and grandpa were both playing. It was a family experience, and I had a lot of fun.”
Bruyeres, who said he ‘shot 74 or 75’ for nine holes, had no idea how special the experience was at the time.
“Looking back, it was the perfect initiation into the game,” he added. “I didn’t realise how special the experience was.”
That first day of fun on the sand started a golfing journey for Bruyeres, from junior golf around Logan City in Queensland to a college degree in Iowa, it reached a crescendo with a well-deserved victory on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia last month in Port Moresby.
Following his PNG victory, Bruyeres took a well-earned break for a friend’s wedding in the United States. He returned to action last week at the NSW Open Regional Qualifying events at Catalina Club and Queanbeyan. He is primed for this weekend’s world sand greens championship and relishes the bespoke challenge of the deceptively small putting surfaces at Binalong.
“They look great,” Bruyeres added.
“It’s going to be a mix between some guys going stupid low and some struggling with adjusting to the sand greens.”
“It’s going to be a test to work it out. Where do you land your second shots?”
“If you figure it out, you could go quite low.”
Sand Greens: A Unique Challenge
For those unfamiliar with sand greens, they offer a completely different experience from the typical lush, grass-covered putting surfaces.
‘Smoothing’ your line will be a first for more than a few competitors, as will the challenge of working out how exactly you stop your ball on some of the putting surfaces.
“I know playing sand greens can be tricky,” Bruyeres added. “The nuances can turn a straightforward game into a mental battle.”
“I expect you’ll see a mix of scores. Some players will figure it out and go extremely low, but others will struggle to adapt.”
“The key is managing your approach shots carefully.
“Land your second shot too hard, and the ball will bounce straight over the back and roll away.
“A nine-iron or a smooth run-on shot from inside 100 yards seems to work best.
“Work it out, and you can go quite low, quite quick. If you don’t, it will just be a bit of a head battle.
“I’m just going to try and smooth it around and hope the ball goes in the hole,” Bruyeres smiled.
Tournament Facts:
Host Venue: Binalong Golf Club
Dates: 28 – 29 September, 2024
Prize Fund: AU$140,000
TV Times:
Sunday 29 September 2024 from 12.00 pm on 7Plus
The Venue:
Binalong Golf Club has a long and rich history. Founded in 1857, the club’s original nine-hole layout was carved through the middle of a now-defunct horse racing track.
At 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.
37km northwest of Yass, about one hour from Canberra and three hours from Sydney, Binalong is a hub for sporting activities and an integral part of the surrounding community.
The Men’s World Sand Greens Championship is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
