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Overnight leader Adam Henwood has powered out to an imposing four-shot lead after the second round of the NSW Senior Open at Thurgoona Country Club Resort, setting up a thrilling final round.
By David Tease
The Victorian carded a second-round five-under-par 67 to go with his opening 66 to establish a handy gap from The NSW pair Peter O’Malley and Peter Lonard, who carded rounds of 65 and 68, respectively.
Four golfers sit tied in fourth place: Queenslander Simon Tooman, who added a handy two-under par 70 to his opening round 69, Scott Barr (68), Nigel Lane (68) and Champions Tour Member David McKenzie (70).
In much of a repeat of his opening round, Henwood seemed at ease with the firm Thurgoona layout. Despite starting with a bogey on the 10th, he soon bounced back with a neat birdie on the reachable par-five 11th. Pars followed from the 12th to the 17th before a timely birdie fell on the 18th (his 9th of the day).
Turning for home, Henwood hit the throttle. Birdies at the first, second and fourth saw the 52-year-old get to ten under. An ill-timed bogey on the tricky par-four fifth didn’t stop Henwood’s roll, with birdies on the next two holes more than making up for the error.
“Yeah, nice!” Henwood said when told that he had a four-shot lead after his round. “I didn’t know”
“I wasn’t looking at the scores; I was just trying to hit one shot at a time.”
Despite the ease with which his effort looked to those following, Henwood said the course and wind conditions still made things tricky.
“It would blow and stop and blow and stop. It kept changing directions, and it was tricky to pick the right stick.”
With a final round grouping alongside the pair of Peters, O’Malley and Lonard, Henwood said he was ready for the challenge and something he was looking forward to.
“It will be awesome, playing alongside Lonard and O’Malley. They are great guys and amazing players, so what a treat!”
The chasing pair, Lonard and O’Malley, were equally happy with their day’s efforts.
O’Malley, who carded the equal low round of the day, a seven-under 65, was especially delighted, especially after needing a cortisone injection to his back last week.
“A bit rusty yesterday, but it was vintage POM today,” O’Malley grinned.
“I didn’t do anything really wrong, that was the key.”
” I was having some issues with my back when I got back from Europe, so I went and had an MRI and had a cortisone (injection) last week.”
The Dr said don’t play until Wednesday, so it took a couple of days to get right.”
O’Malley said he would be more than ready when told he was paired alongside Lonard and Henwood in tomorrow’s final grouping.
“Adam’s had a good score today, so yeah, it will be good, and well, between Lonard and I, it will be a bit of a battle of the electric buggies,” he grinned.
Lonard, while quietly satisfied with his second round, was disappointed to have left a couple of opportunities to slip on Thurgoona’s reachable par fives.
“I played the par-fives poorly. If I had played them better, I had a good chance of shooting a really good score.”
Despite Henwood’s lead getting out to four, Lonard said he wasn’t too phased about where would begin tomorrow’s final round.
“If I’m within four (shots) with nine holes to go, that’s all I need to be.”
Poland’s Adrian Meronk will attempt to win the second leg of the Aussie golf majors double – the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship – after confirming he will return to Australia for the Summer of Golf for a second straight year.
The winner of the ISPS HANDA Australian Open at this first attempt last year, Meronk is one of the rising stars of European golf, improving his ranking to inside the top 50 in the world at No.46 in the latest standings.
Since his Open win by five strokes ahead of Australian Adam Scott at Victoria Golf Club last December, Meronk has won two more DP World Tour titles – the Italian Open and last week’s Andalucia Masters – to his career victories total to four.
He has also confirmed he will defend his title at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open at The Australian and The Lakes golf clubs on November 30-December 3.
“I am extremely excited to be heading back to Australia to defend the Stonehaven Cup, as well as returning to Brisbane for the Australian PGA,” Meronk said.
“Hopefully I’ll be leaving with another trophy after a successful two weeks in Australia.”
Meronk joins a strong PGA field that includes defending champion Cameron Smith, as well as fellow leading Australians Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee and Cam Davis.
The entry list also includes the 2022 champion Jed Morgan and reigning Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit champion David Micheluzzi.
PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said Meronk’s entry was just the start of a big international contingent heading to the PGA.
“We’re on the countdown now to what should be another wonderful Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland,” he said.
“We’re delighted to welcome Adrian Meronk back to Australia after his very successful visit here last year which led to even more success for him in Europe in 2023.
“With the co-sanctioning agreement we have in place with the DP World Tour, there will be 60 of Adrian’s counterparts joining us for both the PGA and Open which adds even more quality and depth to both events.”
Tickets for both the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship and ISPS HANDA Australian Open are available via ticketek.com
The Fortinet Australian PGA Championship is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, and Brisbane City Council via Brisbane Economic Development Agency.
The 2023 Victorian Golf Industry Awards Dinner, held last night at Huntingdale Golf Club, celebrated the important work being done in Victorian golf.
Clubs and representatives from all over the state were recognised, with no one club receiving multiple awards, showing the breadth of quality work being done around Victoria.
Melbourne-based clubs made up a significant proportion of award recipients, while the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas had multiple winners, so too the Gippsland region.
The awards were presented in four categories: PGA, Golf Australia, Golf Management Victoria, and Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association (VGCSA).
Michael Moore from Rossdale Golf Club picked up the first PGA gong, taking home the coveted Club Professional of the Year award, following incredible work improving both the women’s and junior programs at his club.
Metropolitan Golf Club’s Brandon Rave was recognised as Coach of the Year (High Performance), following several of his clients seeing impressive national, international and professional results.
Gardiners Run, Portsea and Warragul were all recognised individually for fantastic Pro-Am events held in 2023.
Rounding out the PGA Awards were the 2023 Hall of Fame inductees. Kathleen McEwan and Richard Kirby were both recognised for their long service to Victorian golf.
McEwan was one of the earliest, if not the first female golf writers. She started writing on golf for The Radiator in1937 and then the Sun News – Pictorial in 1938, which she continued – with a break for war service in the Land Army – until she retired in 1966. Aside from her war service, she lobbied strongly for improved conditions for women in the workplace and for women’s sport to receive press coverage.
Kirby is a Former Victorian Golf Association President and received an Order of Australia in the King’s Birthday Honours. Honoured for service to golf, which included five years as President of the VGA from 2002-2007, a long association with the Golf Society of Australia and the Spring Valley Golf Club in Melbourne.
The Golf Australia Awards came next, recognising volunteers, inclusion initiatives, amateur players, as well as the prestigious Club or Facility of the Year award.
The Bellarine’s 13th Beach Golf Club took home the top clubs and facility award, while Jazzy Roberts and Jasper Stubbs received the amateur players of the year. Stubbs currently playing in the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne, and in contention on the weekend.
A terrific night was had by all celebrating everyone working hard in the Victorian Golf Industry. A full list of awards and winners is below:
PGA Awards:
Golf Australia (Victoria) Awards:
Golf Management Victoria Awards:
VGCSA Awards:
Victorian Adam Henwood has defied an ailing body to card an opening round six-under-par 66 in the NSW Senior Open at Thurgoona Country Club Resort.
By David Tease
The Victorian holds a one-shot lead over fellow southerner Roland Baglin (-5) with Orange-based professional Steve Conran in third after a handy opening 68 on the opening day.
In a sign of how well the Thurgoona layout is playing, 26 players in the field are at par or better. Several big names are still in the mix including former NSW Mid-Amateur Champ Mark Boulton, Peter Lonard, Champions Tour Member David Mackenzie 2019 Senior OPen Champ Brad Burns and 2002 NSW Open Champ Terry Price at minus three.
Henwood, however is the man they’ll have to catch; the 52-year-old rolled in birdies on the 4th, 7th, 10th and 13th, before an eagle on the 472-metre par-five 14th which saw him get to six under.
His only bogey of the day on the long par-four 15th threatened to bring the round to a premature halt, but an exquisite approach shot to about three metres on the par-four 17th to set up birdie all but assured him the clubhouse lead.
Henwood, said after his round he was simply glad to be back on course after a long break from the game.
“I stopped for about 13 or 14 years, I just couldn’t get my body right.”
“When I decided to come back, everyone said nah, mate, come on, give it up. You can’t do that.
“And I was like, well, I’d have to. I had a bone to pick, so here we are.”
“It took a long time to get my body good enough to play, but it’s been a good run since I came back.”
“I’d like it to be happier, but I’m enjoying it.”
Henwood admitted today’s round wasn’t precisely copybook, but some sound iron play and a faithful putter did the job.
“I didn’t feel very good over (the ball) today, and I drove it very ordinary, mostly in play and pretty straight, but they were just horrible.
“I hit my irons nicely and putted pretty well, so it was a strange round.”
“I normally drive it pretty good, so, hopefully, I’ll drive it better tomorrow.”
Full scores can be found here.
The PGA of Australia is saddened to advise of the passing of PGA Life Member, Peter Ormsby. Ormsby passed away in his sleep with family by his side on Wednesday, October 25, aged 70.
Part of a legendary sporting family in South Australia, Ormsby impacted the game of golf in countless ways in his 47 years as a member of the PGA of Australia.
Ormsby undertook his PGA apprenticeship at Glenelg Golf Club under legendary South Australian Professional, Murray Crafter, and was then appointed Professional at Riverside Golf Club – now West Lakes Golf Club – in 1975.
For the next nine years he did countless trips to country golf clubs in his bright yellow Sundowner panel van and trailer, giving free clinics and private lessons, merchandising and promoting golf in country regions. Some of the clubs that became regular stops were Port Augusta, Cummins, Kimba, Pinnaroo, Bordertown and Broken Hill to name a few.
He opened the first of four off-course stores in Adelaide in 1982 and a fifth in Darwin in 1989. Having visited the US PGA Merchandise Show on multiple occasions, he could see that a Golf Superstore was the ideal way to showcase a wide variety of equipment, apparel and accessories.
The opening of Pete’s Golf Superstore was the culmination of years of planning and experience and had great support from South Australian golfers. This decision was then the new benchmark within the retail golf industry in Australia.
In 2007, Pete’s Golf was sold, providing Ormsby with the opportunity to build a new pro shop, golf academy and driving range at Adelaide Shores, employing numerous PGA Members.
He developed and produced the Swingyde training aid that has been used by the likes of American superstars Zach Johnson, Charles Howell III and Paula Creamer, along with his son Wade, who won his fourth professional tournament at the International Series Thailand in March.
Wade shared the news of his father’s passing on Thursday morning.
“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts we let you know of Dad’s passing,” Wade wrote.
“He passed away peacefully in his sleep yesterday with his family right by his side holding him tight.
“No words will explain the pain we feel right now… but thank you for all your love, support, prayers and friendship over the last month.”
PGA of Australia CEO, Gavin Kirkman, paid tribute to the contribution that Ormsby made not only to the organisation, but to the game of golf in Australia.
“Peter embodied everything that it means to be a PGA Professional,” said Kirkman.
“He was passionate about the game of golf, passionate about sharing the game with others but also had a shrewd business acumen that helped to make golf instruction and golf equipment more accessible to the general public.
“He was a highly respected member of the PGA of Australia, loving husband to Cheryl and devoted father to Wade and Jordan.
“His impact on Australian golf will never be forgotten and we are deeply saddened by his passing.”
Ormsby was made a Life Member of the PGA of Australia in 2014 and in 2018 was honoured for his Service to the South Australian Golf Industry at the South Australian Golf Industry Awards.
Ormsby is survived by his wife Cheryl, and sons Wade and Jordan.
PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit leader Andre Stolz insists the hunt for the 2023 title isn’t his goal for the year, claiming his focus is on the run of major events between now and December.
“The Order of Merit has never been my focus from day one. If I were chasing the title, I would play every event,” Stolz said.
“We are approaching peak season with a steady run of events, and there are a couple of big ones like this week (at Thurgoona) and up at Richmond, plus a few more towards the end of the year in Sydney.”
Stolz said he preferred to set his schedule around places he enjoyed competing at.
“If the place looks after you and you can have a good time, then they are the ones I choose to play. Plus, as you get older, you need a rest,” he grinned.
With 2022 champion Richard Green unable to defend his crown, Stolz is one of a clutch of players who can lift the Senior Open Crown this week at Thurgoona. He said several players stood out as big chances to lift the cup on Sunday.
“Any of the young blokes who have just turned 50 could win,” he mused. “Steve Allan and I go back a long way; we’ve probably played a million rounds over the years, and he would have been working hard on his game.
“Then there’s the Peters (Senior, Lonard and O’Malley). They may not have played much golf lately, but that doesn’t matter when they strap the boots on because it all comes back.”
With wind predicted for the tournament’s first few days, Stolz said it would take plenty of course experience to tame Thurgoona.
“It’s playing a lot differently from last year, and the forecast has the wind blowing from every direction, so it will play differently each day.”
Stolz said the players who have a good understanding of the humps and hollows that are a feature at Thurgoona would have a big advantage. And if the greens became any quicker than they were during today’s Pro-Am, scoring could be tricky.
“If they get really quick, and you are on the wrong side of the hole, things will be a bit slippery,” said Stolz, who won the Fairbairn Legends Pro-Am in the ACT earlier this week.
“They are rolling pretty well, but you might need to be defensive.
“The key will be like most places to be in the fairway from the tee, good iron play, and leave yourself some good chances below the hole.”
Two of the headline acts for next month’s ISPS HANDA Australian Open will provide an insight into who will lead generation next at this week’s LPGA Tour Maybank Championship in Malaysia.
Close friends who won the 2019 Interstate Series as members of a dominant New South Wales team, Grace Kim and Stephanie Kyriacou have been paired with American superstar Danielle Kang for Round 1 starting at 10:41am AEDT.
On Thursday morning Kim was confirmed as a starter for the Australian Open, joining Kyriacou in seeking to make a major statement in their home city.
As Minjee Lee advances her claims to the status as the No.1 player in the world and Hannah Green continues to add to her tally of LPGA Tour wins, Kim and Kyriacou are leading the way for those ready to follow in their footsteps.
Kim’s rookie season on the LPGA Tour includes a win at the Lotte Championship while Kyriacou is a two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour who has had two top-five finishes on the LPGA Tour in 2023.
Today they get to go toe-to-toe in what Kim predicts will be something of a warm-up to their quest for the Patricia Bridges Bowl at The Australian and The Lakes golf clubs.
“I think some good competition between her and I as well as some great camaraderie,” Kim said when asked what to expect at the Australian Open.
“She’s a great player, very physically strong and mentally very strong, too.
“People should really look forward to our little battles, I guess, throughout the week.”
Currently second behind Korea’s Hae Ran Ryu in the race for the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award, Kim credits Kyriacou and her fellow Aussies for helping her to make such a seamless transition.
“It makes a huge difference,” said the 22-year-old.
“Having someone that you grew up with is one thing but also having a mate on tour that you can ask anything. They have been there and done that before you so they know what to do.
“They’re really easy to talk to and very friendly and throughout the year, if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have had that way of understanding how to do certain things.
“It makes playing practice rounds a lot more fun and having dinners here and there is a lot more enjoyable than when you don’t have anyone, for sure.”
Following her win in Korea last week wold No.4 Minjee Lee is one of 28 captains at this week’s Aramco Team Series being played at Riyadh Golf Club for the first time.
With the penultimate pick of the draft on Wednesday night, Lee selected Scotland’s Louise Duncan with France’s Nastasia Nadaud rounding out her team.
Round 1 tee times AEDT
LPGA Tour
Maybank Championship
Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
10:41am Danielle Kang, Grace Kim, Stephanie Kyriacou
11:03am Moriya Jutanugarn, Sarah Kemp, Megan Khang
11:47am Hannah Green, Lydia Ko (NZ), Natasha Andrea Oon
Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
TV times: Live 1pm-6pm Thursday, Friday on Fox Sports 503; Live 4pm-5pm Saturday on Fox Sports 505; Live 5pm-6pm Saturday on Fox Sports 503; Live 2pm-3:30pm and 6pm-7pm Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo Sport.
DP World Tour
Commercial Bank Qatar Masters
Doha GC, Doha, Qatar
2:20pm* Aaron Rai, Thriston Lawrence, Daniel Hillier (NZ)
7:40pm* Louis De Jager, Nick Bachem, Jason Scrivener
Defending champion: Ewen Ferguson
Past Aussie winners: Adam Scott (2002, 2008)
TV times: Live 7pm-12am Thursday, Friday; Live 7:30pm-12am Saturday; Live 7pm-12am Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo Sport.
Ladies European Tour
Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF – Riyadh
Riyadh Golf Club, Saudi Arabia
Australians in the field: Minjee Lee, Kirsten Rudgeley
Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
TV times: Live 8pm-12am Friday; Live 9pm-12am Saturday; Live 10:30pm-12am Sunday on Fox Sports 507 and Kayo Sport.
Legends Tour
Sergio Melpignano Senior Italian Open
San Domenico Golf, Italy
6:10pm Joakim Haeggman, Michael Campbell (NZ), Ian Lawler
6:40pm* Costantino Rocca, Peter Fowler, Mark Mouland
7:50pm Mikael Lundberg, Michael Long (NZ), Mike Norris
Defending champion: Ricardo Gonzalez
Past Aussie winners: Terry Gale (2004)
LET Access Series
Santander Golf Tour – ZARAGOZA
Real Club de Golf La Penaza, Spain
6:20pm Georgina Blackman, Kelsey Bennett, Lucie Andre
6:30pm Marit Harryvan, Kristalle Blum, Tia Teiniketo
6:50pm Pasqualle Coffa, Amy Walsh, Sarina Schmidt
10:05pm Amaia Latorre, Victoria Fricot, Kankawee Linjongsubongkot (a)
Defending champion: Camilla Hedberg
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Joanne Mills didn’t see herself as the management type. That’s why she was somewhat taken aback when Goulburn Golf Club approached her earlier this year about stepping into the role of General Manager.
In the past, general managers were more likely to be accountants or business executives who know how to read a balance sheet but, in more recent years, qualified PGA Professionals have become highly desirable candidates.
When she retired from playing full-time, Mills undertook the PGA of Australia’s Tour Professional Articulation – formerly known as the Bridging Program – and set about building a career as a PGA Professional.
Her father, Greg Mills, is a former club manager and the first CEO of Golf NSW. Mills herself was a star amateur, won twice on the Ladies European Tour and won the inaugural Women’s NSW Open in 2006.
She was first based at Pacific Dunes in Port Stephens before moving south to Canberra in 2013 where she reached what she thought was her ultimate ambition, Head Professional at Gold Creek Country Club.
“Having that position as head pro was one of my ultimate goals but to step into club management was a little bit out of my wheelhouse,” Mills admitted.
Yet something of a throwaway comment during a Central Southern Golf Association Vets Day led Goulburn Golf Club representatives to approach Mills with a formal offer.
Complementing the golf experience and knowledge possessed by Goulburn Golf Club Head Professional, Andrew Grove, Mills was viewed as someone who possessed the grounding in golf that would be of benefit at a board level.
“Being a golfer for so long, they felt like I might be a good fit,” Mills explains.
“The board have their own strengths in terms of keeping the club running, but they wanted me for my golf experience.
“They want me to help to increase the membership size, attract events to the club, generate income through club activities and trying to source some major amateur or professional events.”
That knowledge base was expanded by completing the Tour Professional Articulation to become a fully-qualified PGA Professional.
In addition to providing the opportunity to teach, it gave Mills an insight into golf operations that she would not otherwise have had access to.
“The bridging course gives you a little bit of all aspects of the golf industry, whether you want to coach, run a shop or you have your own business,” Mills says.
“The Membership Pathway Program as it is set up now is great in that it offers the choice of what pathway you want to take.
“I didn’t have that back in 2011 but those coming through now can set more of a direction in terms of the path they want to follow.
“I had the ability to touch on everything and I think you need a bit of everything to be able to run a pro shop.
“If I had concentrated solely on the coaching side of the bridging course there’s no way I would have been able to manage the Head Professional position at Gold Creek.
“I wouldn’t have possessed the knowledge around management of staff, the retail side of the business and dealing with members.”
With each day that she spends in the chair Mills is becoming more and more confident that she has the necessary skills to guide Goulburn towards a positive future.
She intends to engage local resident Peter O’Malley more, Brett Ogle is returning in November for the Brett Ogle Junior Masters where 120 kids will take part and there are programs Mills wants to introduce to further engage the Goulburn community.
Quite simply, she wants to see more people playing more golf.
“Each day I’m getting a better idea of where I’m going and what I want to achieve,” Mills says.
“There are people out there, we’ve just got to go and find them and introduce them to the game of golf.
“It’s been a big learning curve but I’m learning every day and embracing the change into the management side of the club.”
The PGA Learning Hub offers numerous educational training opportunities for people who wish to work within the golf industry. For more information on a PGA career pathway, visit pga.org.au/education
A buoyant Austin Bautista thinks he can turn his Webex Players Series South Australia victory into something even bigger – No.1 on the end-of-season Challenger PGA Tour Order of Merit.
Bautista chased down the leaders at Willunga with a back nine 29 on Sunday to score a one-shot victory, ending a run of frustrating results.
The $36,000 winner’s cheque was the 26-year-old’s biggest payday on Tour and the 190.00 points he gained launched the Sydney professional from 55th to second on the Order of Merit standings, trailing only South Australia’s Lachlan Barker.
Thanks to one memorable Sunday afternoon, Bautista is on track for a major improvement to his 83rd place on last season’s Order of Merit when he went without a top 10 finish.
“Something personal happened in April/May last year and it just took me time to recover from it,” he said.
“It was very upsetting and I lost confidence. I’m a very confidence-based player. When it gets rolling, it’s good. But when I hit the floor, it isn’t good.
“It took me time to get back to where I want to be and here I am, holding a trophy.
“I’ll play the rest of the season here in Australia. Keep doing what I’m doing and keep playing as much as I can.
“I know I’m capable of winning the Order of Merit. I know I have got the game to do it and I can make the putts when I have to.
“I’ve just got to get the job done.”
Three other Tour winners this year – Ben Eccles, Simon Hawkes and Daniel Gale – round out the Order of Merit top five after five of 18 events for the 2023/24 season.
The consistent Andrew Campbell, who tied for second at Willunga, has improved his position to sixth, one ahead of Josh Greer who is knocking on the door of a win in his debut year, finishing T11, T9 and T2 in his last three starts.
Greer now leads the Rookie of the Year standings from Chris Crabtree and Connor McKinney.
The top three on the Order of Merit at the completion of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season earn cards on the DP World Tour in 2025. The winner of the Order of Merit also receives a spot in the field at The Open Championship.
Order of Merit standings through Webex Players Series South Australia
1 Lachlan Barker 240.90 (5)
2 Austin Bautista 209.29 (4)
3 Ben Eccles 205.13 (4)
4 Simon Hawkes 199.13 (4)
5 Daniel Gale 190.00 (2)
6 Andrew Campbell 156.91 (5)
7 Josh Greer 125.54 (4)
8 Michael Wright 125.29 (5)
9 Chris Crabtree 116.69 (4)
10 Haydn Barron 107.00 (2)
The four bogeys were a cause of frustration yet PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit leader Andre Stolz delivered enough of the good stuff to win the inaugural TLE Fairbairn Legends Pro-Am.
Played for the first time at Fairbairn Golf Club at the former Royal Australian Air Force military air base in Canberra, Stolz shot 3-under 67 to finish two clear of Guy Wall and Brendan Chant.
The victory was Stolz’s 10th of the season as he finds form at the right time, the $120,000 NSW Senior Open to tee off at Thurgoona Country Club Resort from Friday.
“I’ve been working pretty hard on my game. It hasn’t been where I’ve wanted it to be but I’m showing some signs of some good stuff at least.”
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
A birdie out of the blocks was the ideal start for Stolz.
Although he gave that back with a bogey at the par-4 third, birdies at four and five returned Stolz to red figures.
A bogey at the par-4 ninth saw Stolz turn in 1-under but he separated himself from the field with a timely eagle at the par-5 10th.
He moved to 4-under on his round with a birdie at the par-5 12th but dropped shots at both 14 and 15 to give the chasers a late sniff.
Stolz steadied with a birdie at the par-3 16th and then closed out his round with two pars for a two-stroke win.
Joint runner-up Guy Wall was 3-under through 12 holes of his round but three bogeys in the space of four holes late would prevent him from challenging Stolz for top spot.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I had a lot of everything going on today but I hit enough good shots to make some birdies and capitalise on those.
“There were just a few key holes there today that you needed to birdie or whatever and I managed to do that pretty well.
“I played a fair bit here when I was a kid and the course is way, way better than it used to be.
“You couldn’t fault it. The fairways were great, the greens rolled magnificently.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Andre Stolz 67
T2 Guy Wall 69
T2 Brendan Chant 69
T4 John Onions 71
T4 Grant Kenny 71
NEXT UP
PGA TOUR Champions player David McKenzie and former Australian Open champion Stephen Allan are among the big names who will tee it up at the $120,000 NSW Senior Open at Thurgoona Country Club Resort starting Friday.
