Proverbs (64) began the day three shots back of overnight leader and fellow Queenslander Jake McLeod at 19-under, but produced his third straight sub-65 round to be tied with Norris at 23-under for the tournament. The pair breaking the 21-under-par tournament scoring record set by Kazuma Kobori last year.

Playing in the final group, eventual third place finisher Cholcheva Wongras had a putt on 18 to join the play-off, but as it slid by and she tapped in for par and 22-under, the chances of a third WPGA Tour of Australasia winner at Cobram Barooga were dashed.

West Australian youngster Adam Brady carded a final round 63 to finish alone in fourth position, his best finish on Tour to date, while next week’s Vic Open defending champion Ashley Lau posted a stunning 62 to finish in a share of fifth at 19-under with McLeod (71).

Four players finished tied-seventh at 18-under, including west Australian Ryan Peake who had a 62 of his own, as well as women’s amateur Lion Higo (66).

With two eagles and four birdies through 11 holes today, it looked as if Norris had done more than enough for his experience to carry him down the stretch.

With four birdies and an eagle of his own to start the back-nine, Proverbs playing in the group behind Norris wasn’t going down without a fight, however.

Both players bogeyed the tough par-3 16th, but while Norris was able to convert a short birdie on 17, Proverbs’ slid by from a similar distance.

Finding the right rough off the tee on 18, Norris was forced to hack out sideways. Pitching his third to 15-feet, he cooly rolled the par-saving putt in to post the clubhouse lead.

Needing a birdie to win, Proverbs’ lengthy attempt came up short, but the putt wasn’t in vein as it would end up helping him in the very near future.

Back down 18 for the first extra hole, Norris knocked it in close while Proverbs’ was in a similar position middle of the green. This time the putt had had just enough on it and curled in the front edge, but as the hospitality tent roars settled, Norris converted his close putt to match and back the players went to the 18^th tee.

The second extra hole came and went quickly, both on the fairway, both on the green, both with two putts. Back to 18 tee they went again.

This time Norris again found the thick stuff to the right of the fairway and was forced to hack sideways again. With the adrenaline pumping, Proverbs’ wedge bounced off the hospitality tent but came back to 25-feet giving him the upper hand.

Norris did his best pitching it to 10-feet, but as his putt for a four slid by, Proverbs easily got down in two and the champion was finally decided.

“It felt really weird just having that little one footer, just knowing that that was for the win,” Proverbs said.

“I thought I’d be a lot more shaky, which I don’t know if it’s a good thing that I wasn’t, but no, it was a pretty good feeling to roll that last one in.”

Having played on the Tour for five years, Proverbs has had a number of close calls, with almost ten top-five finishes. An ever consistent presence, Proverbs was ecstatic to finally get one over the line.

Starting his Murray River campaign with a 1-over 71, Proverbs proceeded to post 62-63-64 to storm home.

“I actually played okay on day one, that’s the thing. I just got no putts to go in,” he said of Thursday’s round.

“Ever since then it felt good. Driver felt good, putter felt good. And the wedges, the wedges were pretty strong all week.

“I reckon I’ve only hit two bad chip shots over the week.”

As temperatures rose above 40 today, playing extra holes was less than ideal.

“I’ve never drank so much water in my life. I think I almost drowned myself out there.”

It’s likely Proverbs would’ve gone another 18 however if it meant he’d get his hands on his first Tour trophy.

Tom Ryan triumphed by ten shots in the All Abilities championship, redemption for the Victorian after finishing runner-up last week at Rosebud.

In the Juniors, Sophie Mann outlasted fellow Victorian Olive Spitty in another three-hole playoff.

The Victorian shot back-to-back 65s at the weekend on the Beach Course at 13th Beach Golf Links to capture the 2024 title – by two shots over Jordan Zunic – his second success as a professional.

This year, he heads the entries in a men’s field that includes six Tour winners from this season plus the likes of Matt Griffin, Michael Hendry, Anthony Quayle, Harrison Crowe and Zunic.

“It’s always nice to be able to defend,” Coletta said.

 “I’ve only done it once – at Hunter Valley – and I wasn’t successful, but this has been on the radar. The Vic Open is always an enjoyable week.”

The 27-year-old played his first tournament for 2025 at Webex Players Series Victoria at Rosebud Country Club last week, finishing in equal 20th after rounds of 69-65-68-70.

Before then, he hadn’t teed it up competitively since a T29 performance at the Saudi International on the Asian Tour the week after the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.

“Honestly, for me it was just tools down,” Coletta said of his Christmas-New Year break,

“There were a couple of little things we need to iron out of my swing with my coach, Brandon (Rave).

“But to be honest, it was in a pretty good spot when I came back from Saudi. We did some really good work there and I’m really trying to get some good momentum moving forward into the busier part of the year, which is kind of towards the end of the year.”

The highest-ranked player in the men’s field is set to be Japan’s Ren Yonezawa, the world No.286 and two-time Japan Golf Tour receiving one of the tournament invites alongside countryman Shiso Go.

The tournament pro-am will be held on the Beach and Creek courses on Wednesday morning (7.45am tee off), with the Vic Open starting on Thursday morning.

Entry to the course is free and parking is available on site.

The event, which takes place at Millbrook Resort between February 27 and March 2, promises to deliver world-class competition, with Herbert among the top players gunning for a share of the NZ$2 million prize pool.

Herbert, part of the 2024 LIV Golf team championship winning Ripper GC, owns five professional wins, including the Bermuda Championship on the PGA TOUR, three victories on the DP World Tour and most recently the Ford NSW Open on his local Tour.

A runner-up in 2020 when finishing two shots back of fellow Aussie Brad Kennedy, Herbert is excited to be making his way back to world renowned region to contest a national Open.

“I’m absolutely stoked to be returning to Queenstown for the New Zealand Open,” Herbert said.

“It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve played, and since I last played at Millbrook Resort all I keep hearing is how the tournament is growing and getting better and better.

“The courses are challenging, the crowds are great, and the competition is always top-notch. I’m really looking forward to being a part of such a fantastic event and seeing if I can go one better.”

Herbert’s return to the New Zealand Open adds to a field already filled with top-tier professionals who will contest the pro-am format event that is co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tours and in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour.

“We’re thrilled to have Lucas heading back to Queenstown next month,” Tournament Director Michael Glading said.

“He is a very exciting player to watch, having come really close a few years ago and we know fans are going to be thrilled to see him in action. With Lucas joining an already competitive field, this year’s New Zealand Open is shaping up to be one of the strongest fields we have ever had.”

The 104th New Zealand Open tees off at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown from February 27 to March 2.

A par on the second playoff hole – after the veteran Queenslander hit an exquisite bunker shot to inside a metre – shut out South Australian Carter who stumbled to a double-bogey to lose a third playoff of the season on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.

A victor on Tour for the first time since the 2011 WA PGA Championship, Wright shot a final-round of 2-under-par 68 at Rosebud Country Club, while Carter, 10th overnight, stormed up the leaderboard with an equal best round of the day, a 6-under 64, to finish at 15-under-par.

Victorian Andrew Martin and Queenslander Brad Kennedy shared third place, one shot out of the playoff, after both shot final rounds of 68.

Heading out for the final round as joint leader with Corey Lamb, Wright, who has his scratch-golfer son Noah as fulltime caddie, pulled clear by three shots after birdies at the eighth and 10th holes.

But a bogey on the long par-4 15th, after Carter had birdied 16 and 17, left them level until the playoff was over.

“It feels fantastic (to win) and to have my son on the bag too made it even more special,” the PGA TOUR Champions member said.

“This was one for the old boys. It’s pretty cool.”

Wright says he’s a more relaxed golfer compared to when he was full-time on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia where he had five top-10 finishes in 2023 before going on to  successfully negotiate PGA TOUR Champions Qualifying School.

He finished his rookie season in the US 52nd on the moneylist, highlighted by two top-10 finishes.

As he prepares to return to America for a second campaign, Wright said such a win is testament to playing against the likes of major winners Bernhard Langer, Ernie Els, Stewart Cink, Fred Couples and Justin Leonard every week.

“Having played over on the Champions for a year now has given me a lot of experience,” he said.

“I’ve never been on a tour where I’ve played week in, week out. Playing on that tour, I played 23 events and it was like playing 23 Australian Opens.”

Carter has now experienced the disappointment of a playoff loss at the WA Open, Queensland PGA and at Rosebud in the 2024/25 season but has climbed to 10th on the Order of Merit.

After being the joint leader with Wright after rounds two and three, Lamb (73) endured a difficult Sunday with an uncooperative putter to drop to 10-under-par. His only birdie on Sunday came at the par-4 fifth.

Reigning Vic Open champion, Ashley Lau (Malaysia), ended up as highest-placed woman, in equal seventh at 11-under after two rounds of 68 at the weekend.

Queensland’s Cassie Porter (68) and WA’s Abbie Teasdale (68) finished strongly at 10-under but their 2025 campaigns will now head in different directions – Porter to the LPGA Tour for the first time and Teasdale to Webex Players Series Murray River next week.

Kelsey Bennett’s 65 was the low Sunday round for the women and lifted her to a tie for 28th.

Carter’s 64 was matched by Cam John as the men’s best score in the final round, John joining those in a share of seventh.

The Webex Players Series Victoria All Abilities title was won by Curlewis Golf Club’s Noah Schammer (72-73), who finished two shots ahead of Sandy Links-based professional Tom Ryan (72-75).

It’s the 16-year-old plus-3 handicapper’s first Webex Players Series title.

The top two will meet again at Cobram Barooga next weekend.

Riversdale Golf Club’s Arena Tran (71-73) won the Webex Players Series Juniors event thanks to holing from off the green on the first hole of a playoff against Huntingdale’s Elbert Kim (69-75).