Want to recieve exclusive news, videos, tournament highlights, golf important tips and more ?
Want to recieve exclusive news, videos, tournament highlights, golf important tips and more ?
Premium golf gear brand OGIO has joined Australian Golf as its Official Luggage Partner in a new two-year agreement that expands its parent company Callaway Golf’s contribution to the game.
With a product range that includes travel bags, backpacks, golf bags, chill coolers and travel covers, OGIO has become an Official Partner of all three of Australian golf’s national bodies – the PGA of Australia, Golf Australia and the WPGA Tour of Australasia.
OGIO is owned by Callaway Golf whose commitment to supporting Australian golf was renewed and extended last year when it signed a new three-year agreement – the first by an golf equipment partner with the Australian Golf family and the country’s major professional tournaments.
Commercial Director Australasia, PGA of Australia, Michael McDonald said: ‘We are thrilled that our Australian Golf partnership with Callaway continues to grow through this expansion into luggage with OGIO.
“OGIO’s luggage is innovative and has a unique fun style that we are excited to both be aligned with, and also bring to life through the combined assets of Australian Golf.”
Callaway Golf South Pacific Managing Director Matt Meredith said: “All of us at Callaway Golf South Pacific are excited to further our strong partnership with the Professional Golfers Association of Australia, the WPGA Tour of Australasia and Golf Australia. OGIO is now the official luggage partner of all three.
“For over 35 years, OGIO has been making innovative and extreme luggage and golf bags in particular. What a perfect product and brand to be the official luggage of golf in Australia.”
Undisputed king of the Onsite Rental Group Mining Towns Series, Tim Hart, will begin his quest for a sixth straight title on Tuesday at a course that has treated him well.
The two-day IMS Moranbah Pro-Am tees off at Moranbah Golf Club on Tuesday morning, marking the start of a six-event Series worth a total of $135,000 in prize money and the lure of a $6,500 bonus for the overall winner.
For the past five years that has been Hart, who since making his Mining Towns Series debut 10 years ago has four wins at Moranbah, three at both Emerald and Middlemount and two each at Blackwater and Tieri.
While he has enjoyed success at each stop along the Mining Towns schedule, Hart admits he has a special affinity for Moranbah having won each of the past four tournaments dating back to 2019.
“For some reason, every year there I always just tear it up and I think I’ve won the last four at Moranbah,” Hart said.
“I guess it’s like anywhere you go back and you have good memories. Even if you’re not playing too well or striking it too well, if you go back to a course you’ve done well in the past, you always seem to find something there.
“For me, when I’m hitting driver well, I can take advantage and when I’m not hitting it so well around those sort of courses you get away with a lot.
“You can just aim one side of the course and you’re always going to have a shot or you can manoeuvre something.”
The Mining Towns Series takes on special significance for Brendan Smith, who splits his time playing events on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series with a full-time job working as a warehouse supervisor for the Oaky Creek coal mine outside Tieri.
When golf’s travelling circus rolls into Tieri, Smith serves a number of roles, serving as a player liaison, working to prepare the golf course each day and then teeing it up in his home event.
“You sort of blow them away a little bit with what the clubs produce, what they put on for them,” said Smith, who met his current employers while playing the Middlemount Pro-Am and is the defending champion at Blackwater.
“We try and treat them like kings and queens really because we want them to come back. If they don’t come back, we’ll still have an event, but it wouldn’t be the same.”
2024 Mining Towns Series
June 11-12
IMS Moranbah Pro-Am $26,500
June 15
Foxleigh Mine Middlemount Pro-Am $14,000
June 19-20
JET Group Tieri Pro-Am $29,000
June 22-23
Lunar Mining Emerald Pro-Am $26,500
June 26
JET Group Clermont Pro-Am $13,000
June 29-30
Blackwater Pro-Am $26,500
Brady Watt had to put down his celebratory beer and better Braden Becker in a playoff in a thrilling finish to the $35,000 Bennco Karratha Pro-Am at Karratha Country Club in WA’s Pilbara region.
A one-stroke leader after Round 1, Watt posted 10-under par with a second consecutive round of 5-under 68.
But after a bite to eat and halfway into his first post-round beer, Watt had to switch back into game mode as Becker made his charge.
The 2022 WA Open champion birdied his final three holes in a course-record round of 9-under 64 to force the tournament into extra-time.
HOW THE PLAYOFF UNFOLDED
After putting his beer aside, Watt headed back out on course to go toe-to-toe with Becker.
The pair both hit good drives but it would be Watt who took command with a brilliant approach shot.
Perhaps infused with additional adrenaline, Becker’s wedge shot went through the back of the green and he was unable to get up-and-down, Watt two-putting from five feet for his second win of the season.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I had a look at the scores with three to go and I saw I was a couple clear,” said Watt.
“I saw Braden had a few holes left but on the app you can’t see which holes he had to go.
“When I birdied 18 to finish, I thought I was probably going to win by one or whatever so I had some food, had a beer.
“To have a playoff, it’s so awesome. It’s a great thing to be a part of and to get all the members out and watch it. Anyone that did see it, it’s such a cool spectacle.
“Everyone just wants to see good shots. We both hit two good drives and he hit a pretty good wedge shot that went over the back. I hit a really nice shot in there and he made five, but he didn’t really hit a bad shot.
“That ending is a fitting way to finish such a great event.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Brady Watt 68-68—136
Won on first hole of sudden death playoff
2 Braden Becker 72-64—136
3 Rick Kulacz 69-69—138
T4 Scott Barr 72-67—139
T4 Scott Strange 71-68—139
6 Jordan Doull 74-66—140
NEXT UP
The annual Mining Towns Series in Central Queensland begins on Tuesday in Moranbah while the WA swing will continue this weekend at Port Hedland for the Roy Hill Golf Classic.
Golf store proprietor and local Mackay legend Anthony Johnson joined the hottest players on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series with a share of victory at the Roy Powell Security Pioneer Valley Pro-Am.
Just 35 minutes from the Golf King Superstore that he operates in Mackay, Johnson treated a rare pro-am appearance like a Sunday members comp with his mates.
It proved to be a prudent approach as his score of 7-under 65 matched Lexus Townsville Classic winner John Lyras and Mackay Pro-Am champion Brett Rankin for a winning total.
The trio finished one stroke clear of in-form players James Mee (66) and Darcy Boyd (66) along with Ben Henkel (66), five players finishing in a tie for seventh at 5-under par.
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
Coming in hot after his dominant win at Mackay, Rankin began his round at Pioneer Valley Golf Club with two early birdies at 16 and 17.
He added three further birdies on the front nine but after a bogey on 12 needed a birdie on his final hole, the par-5 15th, to post 7-under.
Lyras found himself 1-over after an opening bogey on 10 but got it back at the next hole and then collated three further birdies before heading to the front nine where the birdie blitz continued.
He had five birdies and a bogey on the par-4 fifth to finish his round at 7-under.
Johnson began his round at the 12th hole and was 3-under through four after a birdie on 13 and eagle at 15.
The two-time Mackay Open winner kept bogeys off the card as the scoring somewhat stalled but finished in a flurry, making birdies at six, seven, eight and 11 for a 7-under total.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“Obviously made a nice putt for eagle on the sixth from 30-odd feet, but didn’t really get into too much trouble, which was surprising,” said Johnson.
“I’ve got a wife, kids, mortgage, generally weekends involve basketball and tennis. Nothing’s about me anymore so it’s good to for a change to play on the weekend.
“I was lucky enough to play with three of my buddies today, so it was just basically a normal Saturday. We were playing for drinks at the end like we do every week. I was more worried about not losing money to them rather than winning the event.
“Happy to hole a few putts and be in the winner’s circle again. It doesn’t happen too often, but yeah, it was good.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
T1 John Lyras 65
T1 Anthony Johnson 65
T1 Brett Rankin 65
T4 Darcy Boyd 66
T4 Ben Henkel 66
T4 James Mee 66
T7 Harvey Young 67
T7 Tyler Duncan 67
T7 Jye Pickin 67
T7 Brendan Smith 67
T7 Aaron Townsend 67
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series now moves into the annual Onsite Rental Group Mining Towns Series, starting on Tuesday with the two-day IMS Moranbah Pro-Am.
Australian Cassie Porter’s dream of graduating to the LPGA Tour is one step closer to becoming a reality after a maiden Epson Tour victory at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Battle Creek, Michigan.
Trailing by two heading into a windy final round at Battle Creek Country Club, Porter used three straight birdies around the turn to play her way into contention.
A fourth birdie for the day at the par-5 15th elevated Porter to 7-under, a total she thought she shared with two others.
The 21-year-old was, in fact, two strokes clear, providing the buffer she needed to absorb a closing a bogey and still record a one-stroke win with close friend and former Tour player Stephanie Na on the bag.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m feeling amazing,” said Porter, a member of the Golf Australia Rookie Squad and winner of the 2023 Melbourne International on the WPGA Tour of Australasia.
“It was really cool to do it here this week with Steph, my caddie. I leaned on Steph so much today.
“I said to her probably on the 11th hole after I made a good par, ‘Hey Steph, like I’m really nervous’ and she was like, ‘Why?’
“Steph was amazing. She’s like my sister. Honestly, I’ve done a lot of work on my mental game recently, and you know, this week, the wind was really, really testing.
“It was nice to be able to put that to the test and get a good result out of it.”
Final leaderboard at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship! ☄️ pic.twitter.com/Jh9Vpa6LRb
— Epson Tour (@EpsonTour) June 9, 2024
Even par starting the back nine in Round 2, Porter generated momentum heading into Sunday with a 3-under par finish to her second round.
As the leaders struggled in the blustery conditions on Sunday, Porter opened with seven straight pars before the run of birdies that led to a 3-under 69 and 6-under total.
In her second year on the Epson Tour and coached by PGA Professional Daniel Morrison on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, Porter now moves into second spot in the Race to the Card that awards the top 15 promotion to the LPGA at season’s end.
Amidst Porter’s joy was disappointment for both Kelsey Bennett and Scott Hend.
Playing on the Ladies European Tour Access Series and European Legends Tour respectively, both Bennett and Hend began their events with course records.
Bennett opened with 63 at the Montauban Ladies Open in France and led by one heading into the final round, dropping back into third with a closing round of 74.
Hend and England’s Robert Coles both broke the course record with matching 11-under 60s in Round 1 of the Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy, Hend bouncing back from a 76 on day two with a final round of 66 to finish second behind American Clark Dennis.
Victorian Cameron Percy’s third-place finish at the American Family Insurance Championship is his best result in his first month on the PGA TOUR Champions while Lucas Herbert’s tie for sixth was the best of the Aussies at LIV Golf Houston.
Results
Epson Tour
FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship
Battle Creek Country Club, Michigan
1 Cassie Porter 73-68-69—210 $US30,000
T2 Amelia Garvey (NZ) 73-68-70—211 $13,273
MC Maddison Hinson-Tolchard 75-74—149
MC Fiona Xu (NZ) 72-77—149
MC Soo Jin Lee 73-77—150
MC Su Oh 78-74—152
MC Amy Chu 77-77—154
PGA TOUR
The Memorial Tournament
Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio
1 Scottie Scheffler 67-68-71-74—280 $US4m
T33 Jason Day 73-75-69-77—294 $106,500
T50 Cam Davis 73-72-77-79—301 $51,500
LPGA Tour
Shoprite LPGA Classic
Seaview (Bay Cse), Galloway, New Jersey
1 Linnea Strom 69-70-60—199 $US262,500
T12 Stephanie Kyriacou 65-70-70—205 $25,365
T27 Hannah Green 71-68-68—207 $12,687
T60 Hira Naveed 67-69-75—211 $4,700
T63 Robyn Choi 66-72-75—213 $4,383
MC Sarah Kemp 69-71—140
MC Grace Kim 71-71—142
MC Karrie Webb 73-75—148
WD Karis Davidson 71
DP World Tour/Ladies European Tour
Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed
Vasatorps Golfklubb, Helsingborg, Sweden
1 Linn Grant 67-68-71-65—271 €312,188.68
T63 Daniel Hillier (NZ) 70-71-73-73—287 €5,050.11
MC Jason Scrivener 72-72—144
Japan Tour
BMW Tour Championship
Shishido Hills Country Club, Ibaraki
1 Hiroshi Iwata 71-65-67-68—271 ¥30m
Won on first hole of sudden death playoff
T24 Brad Kennedy 71-70-69-71—281 ¥1.23m
T56 Michael Hendry (NZ) 73-69-75-71—288 ¥357,000
MC Anthony Quayle 72-74—146
PGA TOUR Champions
American Family Insurance Championship
University Ridge GC, Wisconsin
1 Ernie Els 71-64-69—204 $US360,000
Won on first hole of sudden death playoff
3 Cameron Percy 70-70-67—207 $172,800
T7 Mark Hensby 73-67-69—209 $76,800
T7 Greg Chalmers 71-68-70—209 $76,800
T19 Steve Allan 70-69-73—212 $31,760
T22 John Senden 72-70-71—213 $23,093
T31 Rod Pampling 76-69-69—214 $15,840
T42 David Bransdon 74-72-70—216 $10,320
T42 Michael Wright 72-69-75—216 $10,320
T47 Stuart Appleby 75-68-74—217 $7,920
T64 Richard Green 73-74-74—221 $3,000
Challenge Tour
Challenge de Cadiz
Iberostar Real Golf Novo Sancti Petri, Cadiz, Spain
1 Jonathan Goth-Rasmussen 69-69-66-69—273 €43,200
T50 Blake Windred 72-72-71-71—286 €1,058.40
T60 Connor McKinney 69-69-75-76—289 €810
T74 Hayden Hopewell 69-72-79-79—299 €445.50
MC Andrew Martin 72-74—146
MC Tom Power Horan 74-74—148
Korn Ferry Tour
BMW Charity Pro Am
Thornblade Club, South Carolina
1 Ryan Gerard 64-66-63-66—259 $US180,000
MC Rhein Gibson 64-75—139
MC Dimi Papadatos 73-72—145
MC Brett Drewitt 77-68—145
LET Access Series
Montauban Ladies Open
Golf de Montauban, France
1 Helen Briem (a) 70-70-69—209 —–
3 Kelsey Bennett 63-74-74—211 €4,770
T16 Stephanie Bunque 71-75-72—218 €814.50
MC Munchin Keh (NZ) 74-78—152
MC Wenyung Keh (NZ) 78-75—153
MC Laura Hoskin (NZ) 80-79—159
LIV Golf
LIV Houston
Golf Club of Houston, Houston, Texas
1 Carlos Ortiz 66-68-67—201 $US4m
T6 Lucas Herbert 69-68-69—206 $608,333
T24 Marc Leishman 67-75-70—212 $182,500
T39 Matt Jones 68-74-73—215 $136,500
T48 Cameron Smith 71-69-80—220 $90,000
50 Danny Lee (NZ) 70-72-79—221 $60,000
Legends Tour
Costa Navarino Legends Tour Trophy
Costa Navarino, Greece
1 Clark Dennis 66-66-66—198
2 Scott Hend 60-76-66—202
T18 Peter Fowler 71-67-71—209
T32 Michael Campbell (NZ) 71-71-71—213
T32 Michael Long (NZ) 71-67-75—213
Korean PGA Tour
KPGA Championship
Seoul, South Korea
1 Jeon Garam 63-70-69-65—267
T31 Changi Lee (NZ) 70-72-70-68—280
T31 Matthew Griffin 68-71-71-70—280
T40 Kevin Chun (NZ) 67-75-69-70—281
T52 Junseok Lee 69-72-72-72—285
WD Wonjoon Lee 70-66-77—213
Australian golf legend Peter Senior headlines a list of golfers, media members and golf administrators to be included in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours List announced today by Governor-General David Hurley.
Among 737 Australians honoured with awards in the Order of Australia, meritorious awards and recognition for conspicuous service, Senior received an Order of Australia (OAM) for service to golf.
The Queenslander was named alongside legendary commentator Sandy Roberts and nine other recipients with a connection to the game.
Senior, whose longevity has been marvelled at across the golf world, won 35 times as a professional, including 21 victories on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, as well as wins on the DP World Tour and Japan Golf Tour.
Three times a winner of the Australian PGA Championship, and twice the ISPS HANDA Australian Open, Senior’s first and last PGA Tour of Australasia wins remarkably came 36 years apart, with the 64-year-old winning on Tour in five different decades.
“Peter is one of the most highly regarded professionals of his era not only domestically but internationally and continues to support the game via our PGA Legends Tour,” PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said.
“Since turning professional in 1978, Peter has built a tremendous record around the world, but especially at home in Australia where we have loved watching him play our tournaments across so many years.
“Peter’s remarkable 1989 run when he claimed the Australian PGA Championship, Australian Open and Johnnie Walker Classic is some of the best golf played in this country, and the manner in which he has conducted himself over his career is also worthy of mention.
“His contribution to the game also includes being Chair of the PGA of Australia and serving on the PGA board as a playing director.
“I can’t think of a more deserving recipient of this accolade for services to golf.”
Born in Singapore, and following older brother Jeff into the professional golf world, Senior’s success continued into the over-50s game including as a two-time winner of the Australian PGA Seniors Championship. His memorable 2015 Australian Masters with son Mitch as caddie is a standout moment in Australian golf.
During many of Senior’s victorious walks down the final hole in Australia, Sandy Roberts formed part of the commentary team, with the broadcaster among those on this year’s King’s Birthday Honours List. Roberts receiving an OAM for service to media as a sports commentator.
Among the other recipients, Robert Dean, who followed his father and mother as a life member of Red Cliffs Golf Club, has been awarded an OAM for service to the community of Red Cliffs.
Mr. Dean served as both President (1972, 1973, 2874) and Captain (1980, 1981) of the club and has contributed a great deal to the regional Victorian club, while Rhonda Parker has been honoured with an OAM for service to the community of Boyup Brook in Western Australian. A valued member of her local community. Ms. Parker has served as Handicap Manager at the Boyup Brook Golf Club.
The winner of the Western Australian Veteran Golfers Association Championship in 2005, Michael Litis is another of the golf linked honourees with his OAM for service to the community through sports organisations.
“To see such a significant and varied range of golfers and golf associated Australians be honoured in this way is a significant moment, and thrill for all of us in Australian golf,” Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said.
“Peter Senior is of course a legendary champion and standout on the list for all, however, it is heartening to see recognition across all parts of the Australian golf landscape, especially those who have devoted their time to volunteer run clubs or associations.
“From all at Golf Australia, and the broader golf community, I wish to extend our sincere congratulations to all on this year’s Honours List, and particularly those who have impacted the game of golf.”
The full list of King’s Birthday Honours List recipients associated with golf is listed below.
Mr. David Guthrie Willersdorf AM – For significant service to the community of the Greater Dandenong region.
Mr. Lance Raymond Boswell OAM – For service to the communities of Albury and Howlong
Mr. Robert James Dean OAM – For service to the community of Red Cliffs
Mr. William Edward Faint OAM – For service to the community of Clermont
Mr. William Clifford Gee OAM – For service to surf lifesaving, and to the community
Mr. John Francis Henderson OAM – For service to the community of Inverell
Mr. Michael Nicholas Litis OAM – For service to the community through sports organisations
Ms. Rhonda Joan Parker OAM – For service to the community of Boyup Brook
Mr. Sandy Roberts OAM – For service to media as a sports commentator
Mr. Peter Albert Senior OAM – For service to golf
Mr. Bernard James Sinnott OAM – For service to the community of Camperdown
After two rounds of meeting his goal of bogey-free golf, Brett Rankin grabbed a five-shot win at the PIMS Group Mackay Pro-Am.
The Queenslander followed up his Mackay Golf Club course record of 10-under-par 61 in round one on Thursday with a 5-under 66 today to earn his first win of 2024 and repeat his Mackay success from 2022.
Reigning adidas PGA Pro-Am Series champion Andrew Campbell (64-68) birdied two of his final three holes to claim second with a group of five players – Jay Mackenzie, Connor McDade, Lincoln Tighe, Nathan Page and Jack Pountney – a further shot behind.
The low round of Friday came from Ben Henkel whose 8-under 63 lifted him to eighth place, seven shots from the lead.
While the Victorian’s first round of 71 included five bogeys – as well as an albatross on the par-5 ninth – he was bogey-free today in a round which featured a run of four birdies in five holes on the back nine.
Rookie Queensland pro Blaike Perkins was the other big mover in the morning groups, carding a 65, highlighted by an eagle on the ninth, to move to 7-under.
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
By the time Rankin stood on the 10th tee this afternoon, the 2022 Mackay winner had built his two-shot overnight lead to a five-shot advantage with birdies on the first, fourth and ninth.
An eagle at the par-5 10th sent him further in front.
After looking at the size of his lead, Rankin adjusted his game plan and “shut up shop”, opting for a more conservative approach. The 37-year-old closed with eight straight pars to confirm his runaway win.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“It’s been a great two days. I went bogey-free for 36 holes,” Rankin said. “It’s hard to beat someone when they go 36 holes without a bogey.
“I’ve been playing really well back home and it’s just nice to continue that form, although tournament golf is a little different.
“It’s probably the best I’ve chipped and putted for some time.”
FINAL LEADERBOARD
-15: Brett Rankin (Qld) 61-66
-10: Andrew Campbell (NSW) 64-68
-9: Lincoln Tighe (NSW) 67-66; Nathan Page (Vic) 67-66; Jack Pountney (NSW) 67-66; Jay Mackenzie (NSW) 65-68; Connor McDade (Vic) 63-70
-8: Ben Henkel (Vic) 71-63
-7: Blaike Perkins (Qld) 70-65; Riley Taylor (NSW) 67-68
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series stays in the Mackay region for the Roy Powell Security Pioneer Valley Pro-Am on Sunday.
There’s also a two-day event in Western Australia, the Bennco Karratha Pro-Am, starting tomorrow
Queenslander Brett Rankin is the new course record holder at Mackay Golf Club after shooting a scintillating 10-under-par 61 on day one of the PIMS Group Mackay Pro-Am.
The winner in Mackay two years ago, who says he has always felt comfortable on the North Queensland layout, has a two-shot lead over rookie professional Connor McDade (Vic) with last season’s adidas Pro-Am Series national Order of Merit leader Andrew Campbell (NSW) a further shot back.
Starting his round on the 10th hole and feeling “a bit dusty” after some State of Origin beers last night, Rankin turned in 4-under 32 and then collected six birdies on a front nine of just 29 strokes.
He birdied each of the par-5s and had a couple of good par saves to keep his momentum going.
“It was a little bit unexpected,” Rankin said.
“I kind of got hot on the front nine and hit a lot of quality shots.
“I was bogey-free which is always one of my goals even when I’m playing with my mates back home. The No.1 goal is to go bogey-free and I take a lot of pride in that.”
The field of 62 players produced 37 under-par rounds on day one, including a 69 for defending champion Sam Brazel (NSW), while Victorian Ben Henkel (71) provided the shot of the day, holing out for an albatross on the 448m par-5 ninth.
Play in the second round of the 54-hole event starts at 6.30am.
Leaderboard
61: Brett Rankin (Qld)
63: Connor McDade (Vic)
64: Andrew Campbell (NSW)
65: Caleb Bovalina (Vic), Jay Mackenzie (NSW)
66: Jye Pickin (NSW)
Andre Stolz holed out from a greenside bunker on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to beat Jason Norris and Peter Senior and claim the Vuksich & Boric Fiji Legends Golf Classic for the first time today.
The trio headed to Denarau Golf and Country Club’s par-5 18th hole after finishing level at 8-under-par after 54 holes, with Senior catching the joint overnight leaders by carding a final day 6-under 66.
Trying to emulate a victory at Denarau back when he was in his 20s in 1997, Stolz put himself in some trouble when he flew his third shot into the back bunker. Meanwhile Norris was in a greenside trap in just two and Senior had made it safely aboard in three after laying up.
“I’d actually had two of those bunker shots during the round, exactly the same with no lip which is so strange in a bunker,” Stolz said.
“I’d hit two great shots out already and I said to ‘Norrey’ going up to the green that ‘you know I’m going to hole mine out of here’.”
The 54-year-old made good on his prediction, splashing out of the sand before the ball rolled out with perfect pace into the cup to claim his four. Senior and then Norris missed with their birdie attempts to extend the playoff from four metres and two metres out respectively.
The win moves back Stolz back to a familiar position on top of the PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit.
HOW THE WINNER’S SCORE UNFOLDED
After sharing the lead with Norris at the start of the day, Stolz turned in 3-under-par 33 to take a two-shot advantage.
Birdies on the par-3 11th and par-5 14th brought Norris back to level and the two cartmates couldn’t be separated after 54 holes after they posted pars on each of the final four holes for matching rounds of 69.
Meanwhile, defending champion Senior’s round in the group ahead featured a front nine of 32 and he eventually caught the top two by making a birdie on the par-3 17th. His 66 was the low round of the day.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I was pretty out of sorts over in WA and putting poorly so I went to the local Golf Box and bought a putter. It just felt good and on these greens you’ve got to a get a good roll on them to get them going across the top of the surface,” Stolz said.
“I did some good work at home at Pelican Waters and was feeling good actually when I got over here.
“I love coming to Fiji, as everyone else does, but been a bit frustrated at this event before with two seconds without winning. Now I can tick this one off the list.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
-8: Andre Stolz (74-65-69)*; Jason Norris (71-68-69); Peter Senior (72-70-66)
(* Stolz won with birdie on first playoff hole)
-4: Mark Boulton (73-70-69)
-3: John Onions (74-67-72); Christopher Taylor (73-70-70)
-2: Roland Baglin (73-68-73); Chris Hollingsworth (73-73-68); Grahame Stinson (74-71-69)
NEXT UP
The PGA Legends Series heads to Queensland for the Australian PGA Nine-Hole Championships at the Town of 1770 on June 28-30.
The PGA Institute has made crucial updates to its flagship course to provide the most up-to-date educational experience that reflects the current golf industry.
As of July 1, the Diploma of Golf Management will be replaced by the updated Diploma of Golf Business and Management.
With the current course’s period of currency coming to an end, a committee of both PGA of Australia and Golf Australia staff, as well as managers from the broader golf industry, reviewed the curriculum, noted alumni feedback, the industry relevance of the course and the subjects it included.
The new course better reflects the current industry, while continuing the PGA Institute’s focus of providing the only nationally recognised qualification in the golf industry.
“The new Diploma of Golf Business and Management is reflective of industry best practice,” said Suzanne Burns, PGA of Australia’s Senior Manager – RTO.
“It’s reflective of the current needs of industry, upskilling and empowering staff, ensuring we have a skilled workforce and are providing further career and educational opportunities for students.”
The curriculum has altered slightly to include only 15 units, removing some of the units that were no longer the most relevant for the golfing industry.
The new course structure focuses on the skills and knowledge required for career success in the industry, including golf operations and management, human resource management and critical business skills.
The existing pathways to higher education for PGA Institute students are still available, including advancement into various bachelor degrees with Holmesglen Tafe; Torrens, Deakin and Griffith universities; as well as the internal pathway into the PGA’s Membership Pathway Program.
To find out more about the PGA Institute click here.
