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 ?
Nudgee Golf Club and Yarrawonga-Mulwala Golf Club have both overcome slow starts to complete wire-to-wire wins at The Scramble Championship Final at Sanctuary Cove.
Both Nudgee (Women’s Scramble) and Yarrawonga (Mixed Scramble) began the third and final rounds at The Palms Golf Course at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club with slightly more than a five-shot advantage.
It would prove to be a crucial buffer as contenders threw down the gauntlet throughout the front nine.
Led by 2016 champion with Balaklava Golf Club, PGA Professional Chris Duke, the Nudgee women’s team of Lisa-Maree Jones, Lara Forster, Wendy Edmiston and Brooke O’Keeffe saw their overnight lead eaten away as both Mosman Park Golf Club and Lucindale Country Club made their charge.
After kicking off their final round with ‘Red’ by Taylor Swift, the team switched the playlist mid-round to AC/DC.
It helped to ignite a charge around the turn that saw them return a score of 61 for nett 55.3 and a total of 48.1-under par for the three days and a three-shot win. With a nett score of 53 in Round 3, Lucindale claimed second spot at 45-under par with Mosman Park third at 41.4-under.
With just two birdies in their first eight holes, the Nudgee team needed a spark as they moved into the back nine.
They got a boost with a birdie for a nett eagle on nine and then made eagle when Brooke chipped in from 40 metres out at the par-5 10th.
“There was a bit of indecision about clubs and the like,” Chris said of their third shot on 10.
“Brooke stepped up and said she would go first and proceeded to chip it straight in.
“Never looked like missing as soon as it left the clubface.”
“I used a sand wedge and thought that there was a little ridge behind the hole so I could be aggressive because if it went long it was going to roll back,” said Brooke.
“Checked perfectly, released and straight in the centre of the cup. Best shot all day.”
Yarrawonga, too, answered the challenge laid down by Ulverstone Golf Club and Kooindah Waters Golf Club with a timely eagle on 10.
With four holes to play, the team of PGA Associate Dale Crothers, Fletcher Kelly, Jason Hanson and Scott and Lachie Thom trailed Koondah Waters by 1.8 shots. They then made birdie for a nett eagle on the par-4 15th and converted Dale’s tee shot to 10 feet for birdie at the par-3 16th.
With three nett eagles and a nett birdie in their final five holes, Ulverstone set the mark in the clubhouse at 59.7-under par.
Although he didn’t tell his team-mates, Dale knew that their lead was just 0.3 of a shot standing on the 18th tee but the leading team all week completed their victory in style, making birdie for a nett eagle and a total for the three days of 62-under par for a win by 2.3 shots.
Dale is a two-time Victoria/Tasmania PGA Associate champion but said that there was something special about winning in a team of boys spread along the Murray River.
“Jason has been into me all week about that, he thinks this is the biggest win of my career now,” said Dale.
“Definitely the most fun. Sanctuary Cove has put on a really good show for us so pretty happy to come out of it with a win with the guys.”
In the Women’s Consolation Final, Rossdale Golf Club’s nett score of 56.8 saw them pip defending champions Launceston by just 0.3 of a shot with Muirfield Golf Club third with a score of 57.9.
In The Scramble Consolation Final, Portsea Golf Club’s nett score of 51.6 saw them finish a shot clear of Townsville Golf Club (52.7) with Geelong Golf Club (53.2) snatching third from Meadowbrook Golf Club by just 0.1 of a shot.
The R&A and United States Golf Association (USGA) last night announced the revision of testing for conforming golf balls, with the change to come into effect January 1, 2028.
As a member of the PGA World Alliance that brings together leading vocational Professional Golf Associations around the globe, the PGA of Australia initially raised concerns over some of the proposed changes, and we are pleased that The R&A and USGA continue to take our views into consideration that will cover the entirety of the game with a view toward protecting the courses and skills required that are the fabric of our great game.
The PGA of Australia are also encouraged that while changes will come into effect at the elite level in 2028, the changes for recreational golfers become active at January 1, 2030 allowing our PGA Members, both vocational and tournament, time to plan and adjust.
As one of the many organisations working for the betterment of the game of golf globally, the PGA of Australia has great respect for The R&A and USGA as the rule makers of golf and appreciates the opportunity for involvement in this process following the Distance Insights Project that has ultimately resulted in this decision.
Detail on the changes can be found HERE
Australian Robyn Choi has played her way back onto the LPGA Tour in 2024 in emphatic fashion, winning the LPGA Q-Series in Alabama by three strokes.
Choi was one of two Aussies who will add to our LPGA contingent in 2024 with Perth’s Hira Naveed shooting 65 in the final round to climb from 43rd to 15th and earn her elevation from the Epson Tour.
Securing a return to the LPGA Tour for the first time since 2019 is particularly sweet for Choi, who looked all but guaranteed a card via the Epson Tour moneylist.
Having not missed a cut all season, Choi entered the Tour Championship 11th on the moneylist, the top 10 receiving LPGA Tour cards.
Despite finishing tied for 14th at the season finale, Choi was overtaken by two others and fell to 12th, sending her to the six-round Q-Series to try and qualify for the LPGA Tour.
After a quick trip home to play the Webex Players Series South Australia and with Mum on the bag, Choi was never far from the top of the leaderboard at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.
The Gold Coaster led after rounds of 64 in both Round 3 and Round 4 and closed out the seven-day marathon with rounds of 68 and 68 to finish three clear and erase the disappointment of her Epson Tour near-miss.
“A win out here, it means a lot,” said Choi.
“Just when I’m playing on Epson, we really just get to play along with the Epson girls, but to play with kind of like all around LPGA, Epson, and like from other tours, you know, just to win… Now I know where I would stand against the rest of the players out there, so that’s good for me.
“We’ve all been working for this week and to show that I have that this week is pretty good.”
Choi started her day two shots out of the lead behind So Mi Lee.
After starting her round with three straight pars, the 25-year-old made birdie at the par-5 fourth before reeling off a further three pars.
It was three birdies in succession from the eighth hole and then responded to bogeys at 13 and 15 with birdies at 16 and 17 to post 29-under for the six rounds.
Choi was the only player in the entire field to record scores in the 60s all six days while Naveed had to produce her best on the final day to secure a LPGA Tour card.
A graduate of Pepperdine University, Naveed has progressed each year since her rookie season on the Epson Tour in 2020.
She finished 30th on the moneylist this year to qualify for the Q-Series and produced one of the rounds of her life – a bogey-free 7-under 65 – under immense pressure to join Choi and the other Aussies on the LPGA Tour in 2024.
The Final Stage of the PGA TOUR Champions Q School has reached the halfway mark with Cameron Percy and Stephen Allan both inside the top 10, the top five at the completion of the tournament to earn a Champions Tour card for 2024.
Jason Day is partnering with Kiwi Lydia Ko at the inaugural Grant Thornton Invitational and there are 11 Aussies attending the LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi.
Photos: Isaiah Bell/LPGA
Results
LPGA TOUR
Q-Series
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove, Mobile, Alabama
1 Robyn Choi 69-68-64-64-68-68—401 $US15,000
15 Hira Naveed 72-67-71-70-70-65—415 $2,800
T56 Amelia Garvey (NZ) 73-69-70-71-71-70—424
MC Su Oh 75-70-72-73—290
PGA TOUR Champions
Qualifying Tournament-Final Stage
TPC Scottsdale (Champions Cse), Scottsdale, Arizona
Through two rounds
1 Wes Short Jr 67-63—130
T2 Cameron Percy 65-66—131
T7 Steve Allan 68-66—134
T15 Greg Chalmers 70-67—137
T26 David Bransdon 69-70—139
T26 David McKenzie 72-67—139
T32 Michael Wright 68-72—140
WD Mick Smith 67
Round 1 tee times AEST
PGA TOUR Champions
World Champions Cup
The Concession Golf Club, Bradenton, Florida
Australasians in the field: Stuart Appleby, Steven Alker (NZ)
Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
TV times: Live 4am-8am Friday on Fox Sports 503; Live 4am-8am Saturday on Fox Sports 506; Live 4am-6am Sunday on Fox Sports 503; Live 5am-9am Monday on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo.
PGA TOUR/LPGA Tour
Grant Thornton Invitational
Tiburón Golf Club (Gold Cse), Naples, Florida
2:40am Jason Day/Lydia Ko (NZ), Charley Hull/Justin Rose
Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
TV times: Live 5am-8am Saturday; Live 6am-9am Sunday; Live 5am-8am Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Promotions
Abu Dhabi Golf Club, United Arab Emirates
Australasians in the field: Jed Morgan, Wade Ormsby, Ben Campbell (NZ), Scott Hend, Austin Bautista, Lachlan Barker, Kerry Mountcastle (NZ), Andrew Dodt, Brendan Jones, Zach Murray, Ryan Ruffels, Travis Smyth, Kevin Yuan.
TV times: Live from 2pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday on 7 Plus.
The ISPS HANDA Australian Open and the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship have rounded off two exciting weeks for Australian golf, with Min Woo Lee’s wizardry driving huge ratings and attendance results.
The final day of both events were rating winners with both days significantly up on last year, headlined by a 187% increase on Free To Air Television for the Sunday of the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
Lee’s Fortinet Australian PGA Championship victory at Royal Queensland and the drama of the men’s and women’s Australian Opens where Joaquin Niemann and Ashleigh Buhai prevailed at The Australian and The Lakes golf clubs proved a hit with crowds, with more than 110,000 spectators in attendance across the two championships. Both events were highlighted by the following statistics:
PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said the figures were reflective of the groundswell of interest that golf is experiencing at every level and the thrilling nature of the golf being played at the highest level.
“The enormous galleries we saw fill the fairways at both events created an electric atmosphere that I have no doubt enhanced the viewing experience of those at home,” Mr Kirkman said.
“With our leading players such as Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee, Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert bringing their best along with a wonderful mix of international visitors, the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia delivered compelling television.
“Both men’s fields were very strong and up year on year, something that Min Woo Lee has taken full advantage of after moving all the way up to number 35 in the world after his outstanding two weeks.
“The level of interest in the broadcast and following of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia in the lead-up to the major events helped us set a platform for these two outstanding weeks, and we can’t wait to capitilise on these results for the remainder of the 2023/24 season, particularly with five co-sanctioned events between the men’s and women’s Tours.
“I don’t think anyone will forget Min Woo’s chip-in on the last day at Royal Queensland and both men’s and women’s Australian Open championships came down to the very last putt on the 72nd hole.”
In the second year of a united format that crowns an Australian Open champion for men, women and All Abilities, Golf Australia CEO, James Sutherland, was ecstatic to see viewership surpass the numbers of 2022.
“We set a high benchmark at Victoria and Kingston Heath last year but the Sydney fans who flooded into The Australian and The Lakes over the past week were nothing short of exceptional,” Mr Sutherland said.
“Certainly, in conjunction with the PGA of Australia and the DP World Tour, the quality of the fields have improved, 40 per cent better based on world rankings. We’re very grateful to be working with the PGA of Australia via the men’s and women’s Tours, and the DP World Tour, who helped us deliver one of the strongest fields in recent memory.
“It’s a fantastic result to see just shy of 58,000 golf fans in attendance over the two courses over the four days and certainly the atmosphere on Sunday when more than 18,000 were in the house was absolutely superb.
“Golf is being enjoyed by more Australians than ever before and the appetite to watch world-class golf either live or on TV continues to grow. That’s shown in the numbers domestically which show unprecedented growth across the whole tournament in a time where TV ratings are declining.
“It’s quite remarkable to think there were more than 400,000 watching on the Nine Network and more than 100,000 on Foxtel, along with a massive global audience via the DP World Tour’s broadcast partnerships.”
Photo: Gregg Porteous/Golf Australia
The Cathedral Invitational was always going to mark the end of Adam Scott’s competitive year, and far from coasting through, the Queenslander showed up to win. Scott doing just that and picking up some inspiration for 2024 along the way.
By Jimmy Emanuel
The Cathedral Invitational was always going to mark the end of Adam Scott’s competitive year, and far from coasting through, the Queenslander showed up to win. Scott doing just that and picking up some inspiration for 2024 along the way.
Out in the blockbuster final group alongside Cameron Smith and Geoff Ogilvy, a result that had Cathedral Lodge and Golf Club founder David Evans pleased beyond measure, Scott stood head and shoulders above his highly credentialed challengers Wednesday.
Opening with a birdie to stretch his one shot overnight advantage over Smith to two, Scott appeared in complete control until a club error at the par-5 11th resulted in bogey. The dropped shot helping the former World No.1 to refocus and eventually sign for a four-under 68 and 12-under total.
Todd Sinnott and Jeffrey Guan the nearest chases at the end of 36 holes on nine-under, three shots back of Scott who lifted his first trophy since the 2020 Genesis Invitational.
“It feels good, it’s just really satisfying to just keep playing good golf,” Scott said.
“I am out here to play, I am going to try my best, and to win something is good for the confidence.”
The confidence boost to be applied when the 2013 Masters champion starts his campaign next year, with Scott buoyant on his prospects moving forward after a stretch where he finished sixth at the Australian PGA, tied fourth at the Australian Open and became the second ever champion of the Cathedral Invitational.
“I’m sure if I get in some kind of contention position for next time, I will have to draw on the experience of closing it out here nicely,” he said.
“I think, I’d sum it up by saying I’m trending pretty good.”
Similarly trending during the final round were Guan, Sinnott and Justin Warren who emerged as Scott’s most likely pursuers on the final day.
As Scott reached the turn in three-under, Smith and Ogilvy sat one-over for the day while the less heralded trio began pressing. Smith eventually signing for a level par round and share of fourth with Blake Collyer, who closed with 65, while Ogilvy shared 12th on five-under.
Guan’s charge coming via hitting greens with regularity as Sinnott continued to play bogey-free golf and Warren reached 10-under through 12 holes.
The New South Welshman the first to drop back and allow Scott breathing room after he made double bogey at the 13th and triple at the next.
Warren’s assessment a simple one.
“That’s golf, it’s just brutal,” he said.
Guan’s challenge didn’t come to as dramatic an end, his bogey-free 69 concealing just how close he came to at the least forcing Scott’s hand at the last having played in the group in front.
Reaching the par-5 last in two, Guan gave his eagle try everything, with a low side lip out followed by a missed birdie meaning the new pro had to settle for a share of second with Sinnott, whose own hopes were dashed when he finally dropped a shot on the 35th hole to finish on nine-under.
Nineteen year old Guan’s assessment of competing with the likes of the “big three” final group and very nearly trumping them a perfect encapsulation of the overall feel of the tournament.
“It felt surreal,” he said.
As the challengers faded, Scott only got better. His birdie at the par-3 17th the result of a “perfect club” that also allowed him to conservatively play the last, even knowing the thousands watching would have preferred a different strategy.
“We were playing it as a three-shotter anyway,” Scott said. “I know it’s not super exciting, but you kind of have to do what you have to do to make sure you win.”
Win he did, with Scott presented the trophy by Evans, who he was once again full of praise for following the involvement of the Adam Scott Foundation. The 43-year-old planning for a much quieter period in Australia.
“Hopefully relaxing,” he said.
“I’ve really enjoyed the last couple of weeks playing down here, it’s been great atmospheres. I can’t say enough about how many people have come out and supported all these events down here.
“These few weeks are inspiring for me going into next year to do big things and come back with lots of trophies.”
As for whether he will be back next year to defend his most recent trophy.
“I’m sure I’ll be back next year.”
Photo credit: Stuart Kerr/Cathedral Invitational
Nudgee Golf Club and Yarrawonga-Mulwala Golf Club will try to go wire-to-wire at the Women’s Scramble and Championship Final respectively at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club on Thursday.
Leading by two shots each after the opening round, Nudgee and Yarrawonga both extended their advantage on their respective leaderboards to more than five shots in Wednesday’s second round at The Palms Golf Course at Sanctuary Cove.
The leaders of the Women’s Scramble Championship Final by two after Round 1, Nudgee (pictured) matched their round of 16.7-under 53.3 on day two to be 33.4-under par ahead of the third and final round on Thursday.
Lucindale Country Club (54) are their nearest challengers 5.4 shots back with Mosman Park Golf Club (55.2) making birdie on their final hole to snatch the third and final spot inside the cut-line by 0.2 of a shot from Rossdale Golf Club.
Highlighted by a holed bunker shot by Lara Forster for a nett albatross at the par-5 14th and a superb birdie from Wendy Edmiston at the par-3 third, Nudgee had 11-under off the stick on Wednesday to move further ahead.
Starting from the par-4 11th, the Nudgee team began with seven straight threes to start their second round.
A nett eagle at the par-5 first was followed by three further birdies before the finished with a nett eagle at the par-4 ninth and birdie at the par-5 10th.
They picked up three shots with their eagle on 14, PGA Professional Chris Duke revealing that they discussed whether taking their third shot from the bunker was the right play.
“We were debating whether or not we should play it out of the bunker or play a wedge shot in,” Duke said.
“I just said to the girls, ‘You’ve got this, you’ve played plenty of bunker shots so let’s give it a go.’
“I had to check before we played the shot on whether we could rake bunker in between shots. We were told that we couldn’t and then Lara stepped up and holed it.
“Definitely a good boost that one.”
Leaders by two after posting 22-under in Round 1, Yarrawonga went out in an adjusted score of 12-under on Wednesday morning and then played the back nine in 9-under to finish day two at 43-under par, 5.2 shots clear of Ulverstone Golf Club (52.1) from Tasmania.
Led by prolific PGA Legends Tour winner Chris Taylor, Hervey Bay Golf Club moved up 10 spots in Round 2 with a score of 49.1, pipped by Yarrawonga by 0.1 of a shot for the best of the day.
In danger of missing the 36-hole cut after a score of 54.1 in Round 1, Hervey Bay went out in 10-under in ideal conditions, coming home with four nett eagles in their final 10 holes to put themselves in championship contention.
Needing to take the final drive of Brook Combes on the par-4 18th, Hervey Bay benefited from a stroke of good luck when his tee shot bounced clear of the trees flanking the right side of the fairway.
Taylor called upon all of his tournament experience to hit the approach shot from the rough to just four feet, the birdie putt dropping for a final nett eagle at the second attempt.
“On the last two holes we had to take both of Brook’s drives,” Taylor said.
“He leaked it a little bit to the right on the wind on 18 but we were fortunate enough that it got through the trees and we got away with it.
“I said to the boys after Round 1 not to be disheartened because they don’t give out trophies until the final day.
“Every team wants to come here and win but it is such a great week.”
Two-under through four holes, Ulverstone entered the mix by tallying three nett eagles and two birdies to close out a front nine of 10-under.
Although they had pars on 10 and the par-3 16th, the team of PGA Professional Darren Spencer, Troy Purton, Lachlan Murfet, Ethan Miles and Jeremy Adams combined for a back nine of 7.9-under par to sit in second spot with one round to play.
At 36-under par, Willunga Golf Club is seven shots from the lead in fourth position followed closely by Yeppoon Golf Club (35.8 under), Cumberland Country Club (35.4 under) and Kooindah Waters Golf CLub (35.2 under).
Photo: Jason O’Brien
The NSW/ACT PGA Associate Championship is headed back to Tura Beach Country Club for three more years.
After a successful championship at the venue this year, the PGA of Australia (NSW/ACT division) has partnered with Tura Beach Country Club to be the host venue of the NSW/ACT championship from 2024 to 2026.
Players, PGA staff and the Tura Beach community gave overwhelming positive feedback following the 2023 event this August and are more than happy to be back.
PGA Membership Manager for NSW/ACT, Paul Sainsbury is pleased to be headed back to Tura Beach for the next three years.
“Tura Beach Country Club hosted us earlier this year for our State PGA Associate Championship and they did an amazing job at doing so,” he said.
“The players, their support personnel and PGA were welcomed to their club and community with open arms, and it was certainly a reason why we expressed an interest in going back.
“We wanted to enter a long-term agreement with a golf club for this championship to secure the future of the event over the next three years with a view of increasing prize money as well to attract the best PGA Associates from around the country to play our event.”
Along with the venue partnership, the prize purse for the next three-years will increase to $50,000, from the current $35,000, to match the Queensland and Victoria PGA Associate Championship events.
The community at Tura Beach Country Club are also pleased to have their beautiful course and facilities showcased for the long-term. Head professional, Loraine Lambert says the club is excited.
“Tura Beach is not just a pure challenge but a delight to play whether you’re the next Australian Open Champion or a newbie to the game of golf,” she said.
“As a proud PGA member and current head professional, I’m delighted to host the up-and-coming NSW/ ACT Associates Championships to Tura Beach Country Club for the next 3 years.”
The Cathedral Invitational is the end of the year for much of the field, with the relaxed atmosphere presenting a chance to catch up with friends and wind down.
By Jimmy Emanuel
Make no mistake, however, for Wednesday’s final round, things will get competitive. Especially if leader Adam Scott at eight-under and his nearest chaser Cam Smith (-7) keep their outstanding play going.
Smith’s opening round of seven-under coming with a new caddie, coach Grant Field’s son Cooper filling in for regular looper Sam Pinfold for the week.
Riding along in carts Tuesday during the Member-Pro section of the event, Cooper will get a more realistic experience of the job Pinfold does week-to-week Wednesday when he will be carrying Smith’s bag. The 2022 Open Champion dishing out some high praise for his young caddie and once again reminding why he is so popular with the next generation.
“That was cool, it’s been something that we have been talking about doing for a little bit. I think this is just the perfect scenario for him to step in and see what it’s like,” Smith said.
“He was great, I hope he learnt a little bit today. He gave me a few reads.”
Cooper’s dad Grant is also on caddie duties this week, with the highly rated swing guru on the bag for another student in Louis Dobbelaar, while Gabi Ruffels’ five-under opening round was aided by some local knowledge from her looper.
The 2024 LPGA Tour rookie’s caddie sharing her background of parents famous for tennis rather than golf.
“I’m lucky this is my second year, and Zara Woodbridge is my caddie too,” Ruffels said. “She’s a member here and two-time club champ, and so I was kind of relying on her for a couple of the reads and to help me just around the course.”
Not in similar position caddie wise this week, Jasper Stubbs did have the intel advantage of playing alongside founder of Cathedral Lodge and Golf Club David Evans. Stubbs’ focus likely more directed toward the other pro in his group.
The Asia-Pacific Amateur champion picking the brain of Adam Scott about Augusta National ahead of next year’s Masters and doing his best to setup a practice round during tournament week.
“We had a few chats about Augusta and when I’m heading over, and I asked what he was doing and I think we will sort some stuff out for Masters week.”
Photo credit: Stuart Kerr/Cathedral Invitational.
It’s hard to imagine a first day going better at the Cathedral Invitational than what transpired Tuesday at Cathedral Lodge and Golf Club, where Adam Scott leads the tournament on eight-under, one clear of Cameron Smith.
By Jimmy Emanuel
The pair of marquee stars part of a “super group” when they go out as a three ball with fellow major champion Geoff Ogilvy on the second and final day. The 2006 U.S. Open champion on six-under alongside one of Australia’s brightest prospects Jeffrey Guan.
Scott compiled his 64 alongside Cathedral Lodge founder David Evans in the Member-Pro format, his round equalling the course record of Tournament Director Matt Jager who opened with a two-under 70.
“It was all pretty straight forward stuff, I think I rolled in a lot of nice putts in,” Scott said.
“If I was to brag on myself on anything, I rolled the putts really nice, not everything was from close range, so I am pretty happy with that.”
The only thing that slightly displeased the former World No.1 was double bogey at the par-3 9th after “a trip to the bushes”, yet with the relaxed atmosphere Scott was full of smiles.
Scott’s enjoyment of the event and week increased by the involvement of the Adam Scott Foundation as a beneficiary of the tournament dinner on Monday night.
“It’s very special that he (Evans) has included my foundation in this, that has a lot of meaning for me,” Scott said.
“It’s great that the club has embraced that as well, it was fun last night at the auction, and I think we can do some fabulous stuff in this region.”
Following Scott from the 1st tee in the shotgun start, Smith looked back to his old self after a relaxed start to the day where he spent time chatting with members and friends before bolting out of the blocks.
Regulation pars on the first two holes were followed by a birdie barrage from the 2022 Open Champion, Smith making four in a row starting at the 3rd before he added two more to close the front nine in 29 before a far less eventful back nine of one-under.
“It was good, it was enjoyable. Course was in great nick, managed to see some putts go in, ended up pretty good,” Smith said.
“Probably could have had a couple less, bit scratchy there on the back nine for a bit. But happy with it.”
Smith also happy with the grouping for the final day that he joked would see him playing with “two old boys”, his sentiment echoed by Scott and Ogilvy, who will provide a thrilling experience for the crowds when the gates are opened Wednesday and the winner will walk away with $100,000.
“That’s good that I’m not the old bloke in the group, I like that,” Scott said with a wry smile.
Added Ogilvy: “It’ll be fun, I haven’t played with those two for a while … I will try and stitch them up, up the hill tonight and keep them up late.”
Perhaps benefitting, at least competitively, from missing the last group, Guan couldn’t have asked for a better start to his first ever Cathedral round. The Sydneysider getting his day underway from the 12th and making an eagle two holes later after he “stuck a 5-wood to two feet”.
Leaning on his member partner for guidance during the round, Guan made one slip up with bogey at the par-3 17th that Ogilvy mused is the hardest one-shotter on the course. Guan’s 66 setting up another ideal three ball for what Evans and Jager are trying to create.
Guan off at 12:19pm (AEDT) alongside Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion Jasper Stubbs and Gabi Ruffels.
The soon to be Masters debutant and LPGA rookie tied with Karis Davidson, Jarryd Felton, Ben Eccles, Daniel Gale, Darcy Brereton and Justin Warren on five-under. The next wave of Australian golfing talent hoping to upset the major winners, with Stubbs getting a yet another once in a lifetime experience Tuesday.
“It was pretty awesome. It’s a pretty grand setting, it’s probably the grandest setting we play. It’s pretty awesome and it was made even better by getting to play with Scotty today, he was awesome,” Stubbs said.
Scott hoping to be similarly awesome with his play tomorrow to cap off his year with a win. Any concerns of fatigue dispelled with another wry smile.
“I think I’ve got one more day in me,” he joked.
Photo credit: Stuart Kerr/Cathedral Invitational.
Nudgee Golf Club and Yarrawonga-Mulwala Golf Club will both take a two-shot advantage into day two of The Scramble Championship Final at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club on the Gold Coast.
Two nett eagles to start and four closing birdies gave Nudgee the Round 1 lead of the Women’s Scramble Championship Final as Yarrawonga tallied seven net eagles in their round to lead The Scramble Championship Final.
Led by PGA Professional Chris Duke, the team of Lisa-Maree Jones, Lara Forster, Wendy Edmiston and Brooke O’Keeffe had 11-under par off the stick for a 16.7-under par 53.3 total with their cumulative 5.7 handicap.
With shots on the two opening holes which they birdied, the Nudgee team were 4-under through two holes before coolling off slightly with four straight pars.
They would have only one par, though, in their final 12 holes, finishing with a flurry of four birdies on holes they did not get shots on.
They will start the second round on Wednesday 2.8 shots ahead of defending champions Launceston Golf Club (56.1) with less than a shot separating Lucindale Country Club (58), Mosman Park Golf Club (58.2) and Rossdale Golf Club (58.8).
“Definitely a nice way to start things off,” Chris Duke said of their two early birdies.
“We had a good practice round yesterday and had a good look at the course and it’s always nice to get off to a good, strong start to start the week off.”
Round 1 of The Scramble Championship Final is in the books 📙#SCF23 pic.twitter.com/fIa9OA2giy
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) December 5, 2023
Making full use of their combined handicap of nine, the Yarrawonga team of PGA Associate Dale Crothers, Fletcher Kelly, Jason Hanson, Lachlan Thompson and Scott Thompson made seven net eagles and eight further birdies for an adjusted total of 22-under par 48.
That gives them a 2.1-shot buffer from Tasmania’s Ulverstone Golf Club (50.1) with Kooindah Waters (50.4), Ballina (50.9), Willunga (51) and Concord (51.1) all well within reach heading into Round 2.
A two-time winner of the PGA Victorian/Tasmanian Associate Championship, Crothers was given the major credit for providing so many birdie opportunities but it was his amateur partners who delivered on the greens.
“I only had three putts for the day, one of which was from off the green so that shows how well these guys putted,” Crothers said.
“We had a good mix off the tee. Got them all done pretty early and from there our iron game was pretty good too.
“It was just a good all round team effort.”
Four teams had the rare feat of recording a nett albatross during their opening rounds.
Ulverstone and Concord both made eagles with a shot at the par-5 first, Bunbury made eagle at the par-5 14th while Willunga made eagle at the par-4 15th with a shot.
Round 2 of The Scramble Championship Final tees off at The Palms Golf Course at Sanctuary Cove from 7:15am Wednesday morning.
