Birdies on his final two holes saw Corey Lamb claim the Forster-Tuncurry Pro-Am in partnership with Ray White today, almost two years to the day since his last adidas PGA Pro-Am Series victory.
Hailing from two hours down the Pacific Highway at Branxton, Lamb shot a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 on the Tuncurry course to beat Andrew Evans (NSW) by a shot and claim the fourth pro-am title of his career.
Equal 17th in the PNG Open to start the new Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season, Lamb has been an infrequent starter in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series this year, but came into today’s event off the back of a share of fourth at Hawks Nest on Saturday.
HOW THE WINNER’S SCORE UNFOLDED
Starting his round from the seventh tee, Lamb birdied the eighth and 11th and was still sitting at 2-under-par when he began the remainder of the front nine.
That’s where he made his move, picking up shots on the first and third before catching Evans, who played in the morning field, at the 5-under mark with a birdie thanka to a lengthy putt on the 491m par-4 fifth. The outright victory was sealed by a three thanks to a fine approach on the 376m sixth hole.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
Lamb said: “I’ve been doing a lot of work off the course just mentally and trying to get my body right so I can move forward. It’s good to see all the work I’ve been putting on my golf game in my scores.
“Golf this year is about keeping my Tour card here in Australia for next year and then maybe get on a tour overseas.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
66: Corey Lamb (NSW)
67: Andrew Evans (NSW)
69: Cameron John (Vic), Mitchell Brown (NSW), Matthew Millar (ACT)
70: William Bruyeres (Qld)
71: Neven Basic (NSW), Nathan Barbieri (NSW)
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series heads to the Ocean Shores CUB Pro-Am on Wednesday and McGrath Estate Agents Ballina Pro-Am on Thursday.
Adam Scott returns to the PGA TOUR’s Tour Championship for the 10th time in his career after falling just short of victory at the BMW Championship in Colorado.
Chasing his first PGA TOUR win in more than four years, Scott couldn’t have made a better start to the final round at Castle Pines Golf Club, the site of his first PGA TOUR appearance in 2000.
An eagle at the opening hole saw Scott join eventual champion Keegan Bradley at 13-under par, a position he would reclaim again with a birdie at the par-5 eighth.
But a problematic day with the putter and three straight bogeys after the turn ultimately cruelled Scott’s charge, the 44-year-old finishing one stroke back in a tie for second.
It is his second runner-up finish inside a month and propelled him from 41st to 14th in the FedEx Cup standings, the only Aussie to qualify for the 30-man season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
“I’m disappointed not to have won today, but I’m pretty happy to be going to East Lake
because that wasn’t on the cards a couple weeks ago,” said Scott, who also locked up his spot as one of six automatic qualifiers for the International team to contest the Presidents Cup next month.
“After a couple days of rest and getting my head into next week, it’ll be fun to go and have a couple good rounds and kind of find my way up the leaderboard at East Lake.
“A lot can happen in a few weeks out here. All of a sudden, I’ve gone from a very frustrating year had I not finished well to now feeling pretty pleased with myself.
“It’ll be fun to go and run the tables next week.”
Scott gave up more than two shots to the field on the greens in the final round, conceding that the comfort he felt on the first two days deserted him over the weekend.
“It’s amazing it came down to one shot,” Scott lamented.
“I felt like my bogeys on 10, 11, 12 gave Keegan a bit of breathing space. The pressure wasn’t really on him and he didn’t make any mistakes.
“I was in position with wedges on every hole and made three bogeys. That’s almost unthinkable, really.
”Just didn’t quite have the confidence in some of those putts. I thought I played well off the
tee today, which was nice, but just didn’t take advantage from there.”
Cam Davis closed out his season with a round of 66 and a tie for fifth, climbing from 49th to 36th in the FedEx Cup standings.
Entering the week inside the top 30 of the FedEx Cup, Jason Day’s tie for 33rd in Colorado saw him drop from 25th to 33rd to miss the season finale.
A strong weekend showing saw David Micheluzzi record his third top-10 DP World Tour finish in his past five starts at the Danish Golf Championship while Steve Allan’s hopes of a maiden PGA TOUR Champions title were cruelled when his tee shot at the par-4 14th could not be found and he made double bogey.
A tie for 24th in the first event of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals has Karl Vilips 17th on the points list with three events remaining, the top 30 after the Tour Championship to earn status on the PGA TOUR in 2025.
Grace Kim’s tie for 37th was the best of the Aussies as Kiwi Lydia Ko claimed the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews and Jess Whitting was one of six Aussies to advance from LPGA Pre-Qualifying to Stage 1 of Q-Series.
Photo: Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Final results
PGA TOUR
BMW Championship
Castle Pines Golf Club, Colorado, USA
1 Keegan Bradley 66-68-70-72—276 $US3.6m
T2 Adam Scott 68-63-74-72—277 $1.503m
T5 Cam Davis 72-70-72-66—280 $728,750
T33 Jason Day 78-69-71-71—289 $119,667
LPGA Tour/Ladies European Tour
AIG Women’s Open
St Andrews Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland
1 Lydia Ko (NZ) 71-70-71-69—281 $US1.425m
T37 Grace Kim 77-71-73-71—292 $45,568
T60 Stephanie Kyriacou 76-68-72-79—295 $19,105
MC Hannah Green 77-74—151
MC Minjee Lee 78-75—153
MC Hira Naveed 80-76—156
MC Gabriela Ruffels 81-76—157
MC Karrie Webb 82-77—159
DP World Tour
Danish Golf Championship
Lübker Golf Resort, Aarhus, Denmark
1 Frederic Lacroix 67-71-67-65—270 €381,991.28
T10 David Micheluzzi 71-70-67-69—277 €43,816.65
T27 Jason Scrivener 71-71-67-71—280 €19,661.32
T42 Sam Jones (NZ) 67-73-66-76—282 €11,684.44
MC Haydn Barron 72-76—148
MC Andrew Martin 76-75—151
PGA Tour Champions
The Ally Challenge
Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, Michigan, USA
1 Stewart Cink 67-66-66—199 $US330,000
T5 Steve Allan 70-66-71—207 $80,960
T10 Rod Pampling 67-70-71—208 $45,886
T17 Mark Hensby 73-66-70—209 $34,100
T19 Greg Chalmers 68-72-70—210 $26,023
T26 Richard Green 70-72-69—211 $17,527
T38 Cameron Percy 69-73-71—213 $11,220
T38 David Bransdon 72-68-73—213 $11,220
T52 Michael Wright 73-70-73—216 $5,573
T55 John Senden 77-73-67—217 $4,840
Korn Ferry Tour
Albertsons Boise Open presented by Chevron
Hillcrest Country Club, Idaho, USA
1 Matt McCarty 63-64-67-69—263 $US270,000
T24 Karl Vilips 67-67-67-70—271 $12,620
MC Brett Drewitt 69-71—140
MC Rhein Gibson 72-69—141
PGA Tour Americas
CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open
Southwood golf and Country Club, Canada
1 John Keefer 63-61-71-67—262 $US40,500
MC Grant Booth 72-66—138
MC Harry Hillier (NZ) 69-70—139
MC Charlie Hillier (NZ) 71-73—144
Challenge Tour
Indoor Golf Group Challenge
Landeryds Golfklubb – Vesterby Links, Vesterby, Sweden
1 Joakim Lagergren 68-70-66-68—272 €43,200
T37 Connor McKInney 70-70-72-71—283 €1,674
MC Hayden Hopewell 70-75—145
MC Blake Windred 74-72—146
LET Access Series
Ladies Slovak Golf Open
TALE Ski Golf & Hotel Resort, Slovakia
1 Tina Mazarino 70-70-70—210 €7,200
T2 Wenyung Keh (NZ) 66-72-75—213 €4,072.50
T47 Kristalle Blum 76-76-79—231 €321.75
MC Munchin Keh (NZ) 74-83—157
MC Stephanie Bunque 76-84—160
Japan Golf Tour
Sansan KBC Augusta
Keya Golf Club, Fukuoka
1 Jinichiro Kozuma 68-66-66-69—269 ¥20m
Won on the second hole of sudden-death playoff
T20 Michael Hendry 67-76-69-67—279 ¥1.18m
MC Brad Kennedy 72-75—147
MC Anthony Quayle 73-76—149
LPGA Q-Series
Pre-Qualifying Stage
Top-95 and ties advance to LPGA Q-Series Qualifying
1 Ashley Menne (a) 69-66-69-68—272
T8 Jess Whitting 67-73-68-70—278
T22 Kelsey Bennett 70-70-71-71—282
T49 Jennifer Herbst 69-76-73-67—285
T49 Lion Higo (a) 78-66-69-72—285
T60 Claire Shin (NZ) 69-73-75-69—286
T60 Sarah Yamaki Branch 70-73-71-72—286
T80 Caitlin Peirce (a) 72-71-74-71—288
MC Grace Williams (a) 73-77-70—220
MC Jordan O’Brien 71-76-73—220
MC Justice Bosio (a) 72-72-78—222
MC Amy Chu 81-75-72—228
MC Linley Ooi 73-81-79—233
MC Makensie Toole (a) 82-76-77—235
Australia’s Adam Scott will play in his 11th Presidents Cup after being confirmed as an automatic selection alongside countryman Jason Day in the International Team to take on the United States in Canada next month.
The top six players for both teams were determined following the conclusion of the BMW Championship today with the two Aussies to be joined at Royal Montreal by Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) and a trio of Koreans – Tom Kim, Sungjae Im and Ben An.
International Team Captain Mike Weir and US Team Captain Jim Furyk will announce captains’ picks live on Golf Channel on Tuesday, September 3 to round out their 12-man teams for the September 24-29 event.
Scott, who holds the record for International Team appearances, said: “I think qualifying for 11 straight Presidents Cups is certainly a highlight in the career.
“It’s not something that is focused on so much, but at this time of the year, it really feels like a great accomplishment to make this team and I’m really determined to keep making this team while I’m out on TOUR, being competitive and making sure the Internationals get another victory.”
Paris Olympian Day will be making his first Presidents Cup appearance since 2017.
“I’ll hopefully bring more experience to the team,” he said.
“I know we are going to have a pretty experienced team.
“It’s something that we’ve struggled to win in the past and looking at the team currently, we’ve got guys that can go out there and compete, and play well to win the matches when they need to.”
INTERNATIONAL TEAM
NO. 1 – HIDEKI MATSUYAMA
Country: Japan
Age: 32
PGA TOUR Wins: 10
Presidents Cup: 5 (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022) / 7-10-5 record
2024 Highlights: Two wins, including The Genesis Invitational and FedEx St. Jude Championship, where he vaulted from No. 8 to No. 3 in the FedExCup. Has notched six top-10s overall in the 2024 season and earned a bronze medal with a third-place finish in the Olympic golf competition.
Notable: Will be making his sixth Presidents Cup appearance, tied for fourth most in International Team history alongside Retief Goosen and Robert Allenby.
NO. 2 – SUNGJAE IM
Country: Republic of Korea
Age: 26
PGA TOUR Wins: 2
Presidents Cup: 2 (2019, 2022) / 5-3-2
2024 Highlights: Has recorded seven top-10 finishes, including a season-best T3 at the Travelers Championship, where he finished two shots shy of a playoff. Notched the third top-10 of his major championship career with a T7 at The Open Championship.
Notable: Owns an undefeated record in Sunday Singles play in the Presidents Cup after defeating Gary Woodland and Cameron Young in 2019 and 2022, respectively.
NO. 3 – ADAM SCOTT
Country: Australia
Age: 44
PGA TOUR Wins: 14
Presidents Cup: 10 (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022) / 18-25-6
2024 Highlights: Has notched four top-10 finishes including a pair of runner-up finishes at the Genesis Scottish Open and BMW Championship.
Notable: Will be making a record 11th start for the International Team in the Presidents Cup, which is second most in event history, trailing only Phil Mickelson (12). Scott has recorded 21 points in 49 career matches.
NO. 4 – TOM KIM
Country: Republic of Korea
Age: 22
PGA TOUR Wins: 3
Presidents Cup: 1 (2022) / 2-3-0
2024 Highlights: Recorded two top-10 finishes including a season-best runner-up at the Travelers Championship, where he lost to Scottie Scheffler in a playoff.
Notable: Delivered one of the moments of the week in 2022 while partnering with Si Woo Kim in Saturday afternoon’s Four-ball matches. On the 18th hole, tied with Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay, converted a 10-foot birdie putt to win the match, 1-up.
NO. 5 – JASON DAY
Country: Australia
Age: 36
PGA TOUR Wins: 13
Presidents Cup: 4 (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017) / 5-11-4
2024 Highlights: Has recorded four top-10 finishes including a season-best T4 at the Truist Championship.
Notable: Will make his fifth appearance in the Presidents Cup and first since 2017. Best performance came in 2013 at Muirfield Village Golf Club near his home in Ohio, where he notched a 3-1-1 record and partnered with Canadian Graham DeLaet four times before defeating Brandt Snedeker in Sunday singles, 6 and 4.
NO. 6 – BYEONG HUN AN
Country: Republic of Korea
Age: 32
PGA TOUR Wins: 0
Presidents Cup: 1 (2019) / 1-2-2
2024 Highlights: Has recorded five top-10 finishes including a T2 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, where he lost in a playoff to Grayson Murray. Marked the fifth runner-up of his PGA TOUR career.
Notable: Played in all five matches at the 2019 Presidents Cup in Australia, partnering twice with Adam Scott in Four-ball competition. Match play history dates back to the 2009 U.S. Amateur, which he won at age 17 after defeating future PGA TOUR winner Ben Martin in the championship match.
U.S. TEAM
NO. 1 – SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER
Age: 28
PGA TOUR Wins: 12
Presidents Cup: 1 (2022) / 0-3-1
2024 Highlights: Claimed his first of six PGA TOUR wins on the season by winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard before successfully defending his title the following week at THE PLAYERS Championship, becoming the first champion to do so in the event’s 50-year history. One month later, won his second Masters Tournament before adding a fourth win on the season the following week at the RBC Heritage. Added two more Signature Event titles with victories at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday and the Travelers Championship. Made his debut in the Olympics and recorded a final-round 62 for a 19-under 265 total, good for a one-shot victory and the gold medal.
Notable: Made his Presidents Cup debut in 2022 with a 0-3-1 record at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte but owns a 2-2-3 overall record in two appearances in the Ryder Cup (2021, 2023).
NO. 2 – XANDER SCHAUFFELE
Age: 30
PGA TOUR Wins: 9
Presidents Cup: 2 (2019, 2022) / 6-3-0
2024 Highlights: Ended a 22-month victory drought with his first major championship victory at the PGA Championship, contested at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky. Converted a 6-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole for a one-shot victory over Bryson DeChambeau. Two months later, collected his second major championship of the year at The Open Championship, posting a 9-under 275 total for a two-shot win over Billy Horschel and Justin Rose.
Notable: Making his third appearance at the Presidents Cup after compiling a 6-3-0 record between 2019 and 2022, where he secured the winning point with a Sunday singles victory over Corey Conners. Has partnered with Patrick Cantlay seven times in Presidents Cup competition, where the duo owns a 4-3-0 record.
NO. 3 – COLLIN MORIKAWA
Age: 27
PGA TOUR Wins: 6
Presidents Cup: 1 (2022) / 2-1-0
2024 Highlights: Has notched seven top-10 finishes including a season-best runner-up at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday, along with T3 and T4 efforts at the Masters Tournament and PGA Championship, respectively.
Notable: Made his Presidents Cup debut in 2022 compiling a 2-1-0 record. Has represented the United States twice in the Ryder Cup (2021, 2023) with a 4-3-1 record.
NO. 4 – WYNDHAM CLARK
Age: 30
PGA TOUR Wins: 3
Presidents Cup: First Appearance
2024 Highlights: Following a breakout 2023 campaign where he won the Truist Championship and U.S. Open, picked up the third win of his PGA TOUR career at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Posted back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and THE PLAYERS Championship in March.
Notable: Represented the United States in the 2023 Ryder Cup, compiling a 1-1-1 record.
NO. 5 – PATRICK CANTLAY
Age: 32
PGA TOUR Wins: 8
Presidents Cup: 2 (2019, 2022) / 6-3-0
2024 Highlights: Former FedExCup Champion has recorded four top-10 finishes in 2024, including season-best T3 efforts at the RBC Heritage and U.S. Open.
Notable: Making his third appearance at the Presidents Cup after compiling a 6-3-0 record between 2019 and 2022. Has partnered with Xander Schauffele seven times in Presidents Cup competition, where the duo owns a 4-3-0 record. Owns a 5-2-1 record in two appearances in the Ryder Cup (2021, 2023).
NO. 6 – SAHITH THEEGALA
Age: 26
PGA TOUR Wins: 1
Presidents Cup: First Appearance
2024 Highlights: Owns seven top-10 finishes on the year including runner-up efforts at The Sentry and RBC Heritage.
Notable: Only prior experience in international team competition came at the 2018 Arnold Palmer Cup in France, where he represented the United States while playing for Pepperdine University. Teammates included fellow PGA TOUR winners Collin Morikawa and Davis Riley.
For more information about the Presidents Cup, or to purchase tickets, please visit PresidentsCup.com.
Red-hot Josh Clarke continues to pick up victories in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series, the latest coming thanks to a 15-under-par total in the two-day Hawks Nest Beachside Apartments Pro-Am.
The winner at Port Macquarie three days earlier, Clarke (NSW) shot rounds of 64-65 to beat Victoria’s Kyle Michel (63-68) by two shots.
After going three years without a pro-am victory, the 31-year-old has now won four titles in just over four months – and thrown in a top-20 at the PNG Open on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
Reigning Webex Players Series South Australia champion Austin Bautista shot the lowest round of day two, an 8-under 64, to take third place, four back of Clarke.
HOW THE WINNER’S SCORE UNFOLDED
Clarke went bogey-free across the 36 holes at Hawks Nest.
His day one 64 featured two eagles and four birdies while the closing 65 included five birdies and a repeat eagle on the 450m par-5 second.
A run of three birdies in four holes early in his back nine took him clear of overnight leader Michel who, after shooting a front nine of 31, faltered with bogeys at 12 and 13.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I’ve been playing good for quite a while so it’s not a shock that I’m starting to post some good scores,” Clarke said.
“I was a little nervous out there today at a few points. Hit a couple of scratchy tee shots but got a bit lucky. Other than that I was really steady and hit a lot of greens, didn’t miss any short putts.
“I can’t thank (PGA Professional) Blake Dowd at Stonecutters enough. He’s been massive for me. He answers my calls and texts at any hour of the night if I’m panicking.
“We found something a little while ago that helped for my back and help to achieve the shots that we want. It just made every super simple and I love it.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
129: Josh Clarke (NSW) 64-65
131: Kyle Michel (Vic) 63-68
133: Austin Bautista (NSW) 69-64
134: Corey Lamb (NSW) 66-68; Blake Proverbs (Qld) 69-65
135: Jye Pickin (NSW) 65-70; Andrew Kelly (Vic) 68-67
136: Nathan Barbieri (NSW) 71-65
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series heads to the Forster-Tuncurry Pro-Am on Monday followed by the Ocean Shores CUB Pro-Am on Wednesday and McGrath Estate Agents Ballina Pro-Am on Thursday.
It is time once again to celebrate all things golf in Victoria. Golf Australia, the PGA of Australia, Golf Management Australia and the Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association will be coming together at the Victorian Golf Industry Awards Night.
It is time once again to celebrate all things golf in Victoria. Golf Australia, the PGA of Australia, Golf Management Australia and the Victorian Golf Course Superintendents Association will be coming together at the Victorian Golf Industry Awards Night.
The event will be held on Thursday October 31, at Southern Golf Club in Keysborough.
With the game that’s growing in numbers, from the beginner to the professional, it’s very important to acknowledge how you get there, who helped you, who went the extra mile; who in the industry is not just growing the game but enjoying it with others.
This is the night where we can recognise this contribution.
For full details click here.
To purchase tickets click here.
Josh Clarke secured his third win in six starts in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series in 2024 when he completed a dominant victory at the Better Homes Port Macquarie Pro-Am yesterday.
The Sydney professional shot rounds of 69-68 to finish at 7-under-par, four shots ahead of a group of four players, including Queenslander Cory Crawford who produced an amazing turnaround in 24 hours to follow an opening 79 with a course record 10-under-par 62.
“My iron game has really gone to another level,” Clarke said of his recent improvement which saw him also claim a career-first title at Cowra in May and then Tin Can Bay in July.
“It’s always kind of been the weakest point of my game.
“My coach Blake Dowd out at Stonecutters and I found something four or five months ago and it’s really just clicked.”
Crawford’s spectacular morning round, which saw him jump ahead of 47 players, began at the 10th tee and featured six birdies in his first eight holes on the way to a back nine of 30.
Four pars to start the front nine represented just a brief quiet period before the 31-year-old rattled off birdies at the fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth.
Further down the leaderboard, PNG Open runner-up James Conran (73-69) finished in a tie for fifth alongside 2009 Canadian Open champion Nathan Green (74-68), who is just nine months away from being eligible for the seniors ranks.
HOW THE WINNER’S SCORE UNFOLDED
Fresh off a tie for 17th at the PNG Open to start a new Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia campaign, Clarke shot a round of 69 with five birdies and two bogeys on Tuesday to share the lead with Josh Chamberlain (ACT).
But while Chamberlain fell away, eventually posting a 79 on day two, Clarke collected three birdies in his first six holes to seize the outright lead. Another three birdies across the first four holes of the back nine consolidated his advantage.
Although he had two bogeys late on, a birdie on the par-5 18th sealed the comprehensive victory.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I played pretty conservatively really. It was windy on day one and early on in day two. I’m hitting the ball nicely at the moment,” Clarke said.
“It was a lot firmer and faster than PNG was playing so it needed a bit of adjustment. Had to be quite defensive on the putts. It was tricky but I’ve always liked this course.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
137: Josh Clarke (NSW) 69-68
141: Cory Crawford (Qld) 79-62; Nathan Miller (NSW) 73-68; Lucas Higgins (NSW) 73-68; Nathan Page (Vic) 71-70
142: James Conran (NSW) 73-69; Nathan Green (NSW) 74-68; Kyle Michel (Vic) 72-70
143: Jayden Cripps (NSW) 75-68; Andrew Kelly (Vic) 74-69; Toby Walker (Vic) 74-69; Aaron Maxwell (ACT) 75-68
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series heads down the Pacific Highway to the Hawks Nest Beachside Apartments Pro-Am at Hawks Nest Golf Club on Friday-Sunday.
The Australian WPGA Championship will headline the new Gold Coast Festival of Golf launched today at the world-renowned Sanctuary Cove Resort.
Locked in for March 6–9 next year as part of a three-week stretch of co-sanctioned events between the WPGA Tour of Australasia and the Ladies European Tour (LET), the tournament will be played as a stand-alone event for the first time after debuting in 2022 when LPGA Tour regulars Su Oh and Grace Kim duelled it out in a play-off at Royal Queensland.
The 2025 Australian WPGA Championship will be contested on the magnificent The Palms course at the Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club. The recent restoration of The Palms layout has it placed among the best in Australia.
The 2025 winner will again be awarded the Karrie Webb Cup, with the seven-time major winner continuing her involvement in the tournament, while International Women’s Day falls on the Saturday of the event and will be celebrated throughout the tournament and festival.
A major event in the WPGA Tour of Australasia season, the tournament will form a central element of the Gold Coast Festival of Golf, a new joint initiative by the PGA of Australia, Mulpha Australia, Tourism & Events Queensland (TEQ) and Experience Gold Coast (EGC).
“The WPGA Tour of Australasia has a long history in Queensland, and particularly the Gold Coast, and we are excited to be a part of what is far more than a golf tournament, with the Gold Coast Festival of Golf to be a highlight on the Australian golf calendar,” WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO Karen Lunn said.
The Gold Coast Festival of Golf will be the ultimate celebration of golf hosted in the heart of Sanctuary Cove at The Marina Village, an interactive golf lifestyle event and experience for the whole family, celebrating women’s sport with golf as the centrepiece.
It will appeal to golf enthusiasts and novices alike and will attract the who’s-who of the golf industry and include a dedicated entertainment and food and beverage precinct, featuring live music, pop-up bars, a Kids’ Zone, live interactive experiences, plus golf and lifestyle displays.
“The PGA of Australia is constantly looking at exciting and new ways to grow our sport in Australia, and adding another major women’s tournament and a wider event encouraging the growth of women’s professional golf is a tremendous development,” PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said.
Renowned for its events, including existing international festivals on the Gold Coast, Mulpha Australia is furthering its connection with Australian golf with the development of the Gold Coast Festival of Golf.
“We are delighted to collaborate with the WPGA Tour of Australasia, PGA of Australia, TEQ and EGC to stage the Australian WPGA Championship and Gold Coast Festival of Golf at Sanctuary Cove,” Mulpha Australia CEO Greg Shaw said.
“The Mulpha Events team have a reputation for delivering some of Australia’s most loved events, so we are incredibly excited for the opportunity to create Australia’s biggest celebration of golf at Sanctuary Cove.”
Added Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club CEO Paul Sanders: “Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club is thrilled to be a partner of the WPGA Championship, showcasing the incredible talent of female golfers from around the world.
“As one of the best-integrated resorts in Australia, our world-class facilities, including the recently renovated The Palms golf course, will provide an unparalleled experience for players, spectators, and the community, who we look forward to welcoming for a truly exceptional event.”
A regular home for top level golf, especially the women’s game, the Gold Coast will once again draw the eyes of Australia and the world with the WPGA Championship.
“Part of what makes the Gold Coast the lifestyle capital of Australia is its many beautiful world-class golf courses, so it’s only fitting the city will host the first standalone Australian WPGA Championship,” Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn said.
“The Gold Coast Festival of Golf is about much more than just golf offering a unique experience for participants, fans and families, and we look forward to partnering with the PGA of Australia, Mulpha Events and Tourism & Events Queensland to make it a huge success.”
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said: “Top-line women’s golf has been a part of the sporting history of the Gold Coast, so it is wonderful to see the Australian WPGA Championship coming to Sanctuary Cove.
“It adds this prestigious golf championship to our growing list of world class sporting events on the calendar.”
Added Queensland’s Minister for Tourism and Sport, Michael Healy: “Hosting the Australian WPGA Championship as part of the Gold Coast Festival of Golf, is an exciting addition to our Queensland event calendar, at a time when the world’s attention is rightly focused on the amazing growth of women’s sport.
“The Palms course is perfect for hosting this marquee stand-alone event that will feature the game’s top players and highlight Queensland as a vibrant host for world-class international sporting events.”
Increasing the footprint of the Ladies European Tour in Australia through co-sanctioning with the WPGA Tour of Australasia, the event will attract players from around the globe, who will experience the well-known Gold Coast hospitality.
“We are thrilled that the WPGA Championship will be joining the schedule in 2025 as the third event of the LET swing in Australia,” Ladies European Tour CEO Alexandra Armas said.
“The players will be competing to lift the Karrie Webb Cup and it’s great that Karrie – a 15-time winner on the LET – will be involved in the tournament.
“I’d like to thank the WPGA Tour of Australasia for all of their hard work and commitment to the women’s game in Australia and we are looking forward to returning to Australia in 2025.”
Played March 6-9, 2025, International Women’s Day falls on Saturday of the Australian WPGA Championship and Gold Coast Festival of Golf. To celebrate, numerous special events will be held to mark the occasion. For more information or to sign up for updates, visit www.championship.pga.org.au/wpga/ or www.festivalofgolf.com.au/
Cam Davis is like a gambler playing with house money in Colorado this week at the penultimate tournament of the US PGA Tour season, the BMW Championship.
Needing to get into the top 50 on the points list at TPC Southwind in Memphis last week, Davis was on the bubble when a double bogey at the 72nd hole could have sent him home for the year.
His post-round interview was full of anger with himself as he watched the remaining players finish out.
But a late fade-out by Tom Kim pushed him back in to No. 49 and into this week’s field at Castle Pines Golf Club outside Denver.
“I honestly … when I finished, I didn’t think I’d done enough,” said Davis.
“I kind of set a mark in my own head, I thought if I got to 5-under for the round, I thought I would definitely be safe and to do all the work that I had done up until the 18th hole to get to that number and know that just I feel like if I played a good, solid last hole I’d be set.
“It was very frustrating to finish that way. I I did think my season and finish there and with all the weight that’s comes with getting through last week and getting through to this week it was, it was definitely stinging and I was probably not in a great place at that point.”
Don’t underestimate the implications for Davis, the 29-year-old from Sydney who nowadays is based in Seattle. Now that he’s in the BMW, which is a $US20 million event, he is guaranteed a start in all the elevated PGA Tour events for 2025.
“My next season’s already sort of laid out for me now,” he said.
“Those big tournaments have so much weight to them. Now that’s missing out on them is a big hit to trying to get to the playoffs next year, so I’m very glad I’ve got that all locked up and it’s nice to know that I’d done enough and I had actually a shot also to spare as well.
“So I’m not as mad with myself now for sure, and looking to try and take more of the first 17 holes of last Sunday into this week.”
Davis has a big job ahead of him if he’s to jump into the Tour Championship in Atlanta for the first time; only the top 30 on the points list get into that event meaning he has to jump 19 spots to take his place in the season-ender for the first time.
The tour has calculated that at the very least, he needs a solo 10th-place this week to get into Atlanta. “I don’t have an exact number,” he said. “Probably top-five, top-three would be enough, but I think setting my sights a bit higher than that would be the best way to go about it, so I’m gonna give everything I’ve got.
“I know there’s not much to lose at this point. The big thing for me was getting through last Sunday and now, just to be here in Colorado, the golf course is awesome. It’s a very different environment.
“In some ways it’s a free hit, but in other ways, I mean there’s so much still to play for, so I’m still gonna go out on Thursday, start trying to start the week off hot and and have as good a week as I can.”
Davis had an odd season, with a win at the Rocket Mortgage Classic and his best finish in the Masters, tied-12th, but a slump early in the year.
He is ranked ninth in the International team’s Presidents Cup standings which means that he will likely be in that team, although he refuses to count himself in until he knows for sure.
But he is growing steadily, with an appreciation for “as good a big moment as it gets”, the feeling of contending in a major.
“And I feel like I’ve got a level out here that can win tournaments and it’s nice to be reminded that I can do that,” he said.
“So I feel like I’ve got to keep pushing forward and I can look at this year as a good stepping stone.”
There are three Australians in the field for the BMW Championship – Davis, Jason Day and Adam Scott.
Television coverage begins Friday morning on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.
PHOTO: Cam Davis needs to finish in the top 10 this week to get into the Tour Championship. Image: Getty
After nearly securing an historic Australian double last year, Min Woo Lee has today confirmed that he will tee it up at the 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open in Melbourne as he chases his first Stonehaven Cup.
A rising star of the golf world who is popular the world over, Lee is the first player to formally commit to the ISPS HANDA Australian Open, which begins in 100 days on November 28, 2024.
To be played at Kingston Heath Golf Club and The Victoria Golf Club, the men’s, women’s and all-abilities events will once again be contested together with Lee hoping to improve on his 2023 third place when he finished two shots out of a play-off having won the BMW Australian PGA Championship the week prior.
“I’m so excited to be coming back home to play this year, and after last summer I know the vibe and atmosphere at the Australian Open will be incredible,” Lee said.
Recently becoming an Olympian for the first time, Lee is now a fixture on the PGA TOUR and has risen to world No.40. This year he is poised for more representative honours as part of the Presidents Cup International team in Canada.
“It’s been a huge year playing overseas, especially representing Australia at the Olympics and being full-time on the PGA TOUR, and I can think of no better way to finish than coming home and contending, and hopefully winning, the Stonehaven Cup,” the West Australian said.
Brother to two-time major winner Minjee, the 26-year-old has more than made a name for himself on and off the course, with his moniker of “The Chef” seeing fans wearing their own chef hats at every event he plays.
Lee hoping his dedicated following will once again be in full voice when he returns to play just his second professional event in Melbourne after he finished in third behind Adrian Meronk in 2022 when the dual gender format was played for the first time.
“The crowds last year in Australia were incredible and, as everyone knows, I love playing in front of big crowds,” he said.
“I hope as many people as possible get around the event and come and watch us play.”
Playing his national Open for the fifth time, Lee, a four-time winner around the world who finished in the top-30 at three majors in 2024, spoke of his excitement to play another Australian Open on the world famous Melbourne Sandbelt.
“Melbourne golf is known around the world, and it is awesome that the Australian Open is back on the Sandbelt,” Lee said.
“Kingston Heath and Victoria are two of the best courses in the world and it’s exciting to have the chance to play them in a tournament again.”
Offering prizemoney of $3.4 million, the men’s side of the ISPS HANDA Australian Open will again be co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour, with the women’s a WPGA Tour of Australasia event.
“Min Woo is one of the biggest names in golf, not just in Australia but globally,” Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said.
“To have him confirmed for the Australian Open is very exciting and watching him take on two of the finest courses in the world is a tremendous prospect for the fans joining us in Melbourne, as well as the millions around the world tuning in to watch our best players on our best courses.”
Limited first release tickets for the ISPS HANDA Australian Open are available now via Ticketek. Save 20% off all tournament day passes for a strictly limited time.
Three Australians have vaulted into the US PGA Tour’s lucrative BMW Championship in Colorado this week, including a relieved Cam Davis who fell into the field by dent of a near-miracle.
Jason Day, Adam Scott and Davis will be Australia’s representatives in the tour’s penultimate event of the season at Castle Pines Golf Club, worth $US20 million, while Min Woo Lee’s rookie season in America is done.
The players came to the final round of the Fedex St Jude Championship looking to secure their place for next week, needing to finish inside the top 50 on the Fedex Cup standings.
A top 50 in the Fedex Cup has the added bonus of a spot in all next year’s signature events.
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama closed out the win today, with Day finishing tied-22nd to sit at 25th on the standings, Scott rallying with a 68 to finish tied-18th and keep himself at 41st overall, and Lee jumping a few spots to tied-22nd with a closing 66 that was not quite enough to push the West Australian into the field for next week.
He completed his debut season ranked 60th on the standings.
But it was Davis who had the drama-filled day, finishing with a potentially-calamitous double bogey at the 72nd hole that left him vulnerable.
Ultimately a late fade-out by Tom Kim, who finished bogey-double-double, pushed Davis back in at No. 49 in the standings and he will now tee it up next week as well as having a start in the big events in 2025.
“I’ve done it every year for the last three years,” said the Sydneysider. “I feel like I’m constantly in this position where you’ve had a good season but still a little low missing next year, which doesn’t feel right, and it’s extra frustrating right now that I finished the way I did after playing the way I did all the way up until that point.
“I had a feeling if I parred the last, I would have been fine.”
Elsewhere lefty Richard Green came close to winning his first tournament on the PGA Tour Champions in Canada, a bogey at the 17th hole costing him dearly.
Green finished outright second and picked up more than $US200,000 in prizemoney. It was his fourth runner-up finish in his first season.
On the PGA Tour Americas, Australian Grant Booth was runner-up while on the LPGA Tour, Gabriela Ruffels logged a top-10 at the Scottish Open ahead of this week’s AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews, the final major of the women’s season.
PHOTO: Cam Davis plays his way into the next round of playoffs at TPC South Wind. Image: Getty
Results
PGA TOUR
Fedex St Jude Championship
TPC South Wind, Memphis, Tennessee
PGA Tour Champions
Rogers Charity Classic, Canyon Meadows CC, Canada
LPGA Tour/Ladies European Tour
ISPS HANDA Scottish Open
Dundonald Links, Scotland
PGA Tour Americas
Elk Ridge Saskatchewan Open
Elk Ridge Resort, Canada
DP World Tour
D+D REAL Czech Masters
PGA National Oaks, Prague
LIV Golf League
Greenbrier Golf Club, West Virginia
Epson Tour
Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic
Pendleton, Oregon
Korn Ferry Tour
Magnit Championship
Metedeconk National Golf Club, New Jersey
European Legends Tour
Zambia Legends Championship
Bonanza Golf Club, Zambia
Challenge Tour
Vierumäki Finnish Challenge
Vierumäki Resort, Finland
LET Access Series
Destination Gotland Ladies Open
Gumbalde Resort, Sweden
1 – Kajsa Arwefjall (Sweden) 67-67-73 – 207
50 Wenyung Keh (NZ) 70-75-76 – 221
MC Munchin Keh (NZ) 75-76 – 151