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Twenty-six years after his first, Queenslander Scott Hend has claimed the 17th win of his professional career at the Barbados Legends event at Apes Hill in Barbados.
Hend’s second win on the European Legends Tour – his first was in his Tour debut at the WINSTONgolf Senior Open shortly after turning 50 in 2023 – came courtesy of a spectacular finish.
One of the most well-travelled players in professional golf history with more than 700 starts worldwide, Hend’s first win was at the 1999 South Australian PGA Championship.
Four shots back at the start of the final round in Barbados, Hend tore through the field with a barrage of birdies.
He played the back nine in 5-under 30 for a round of 7-under 64 and 11-under total to banish the painful memory of last year’s playoff defeat to Peter Baker in the same event.
That is one of five runner-up finishes for Hend on the Legends Tour the past two years – he was also second at the 2024 New Zealand Open – making this latest trophy one to savour.
“Second’s nice, because you get paid, but first is better because nobody really remembers second,” said Hend, typically matter-of-factly.
“I love collecting trophies, whichever tour they’re on. I’ll take a trophy at any point in time and it’s great to be back in the winner’s circle again.”
Sparked by a three-putt from close range for bogey at the par-4 fourth, Hend birdied three of his final four holes on the front nine to turn in 2-under and just two strokes off the lead.
The 51-year-old picked up shots at 11 and 12 but it would be a trio of birdies between the 15th and 17th holes that would ensure a two-shot win from England’s Greg Owen.
“It’s nice to redeem after last year’s loss to ‘Bakes’ in the playoff,” said Hend.
“You can lose a playoff in any tournament and feel like the golf course sort of suits you. This morning, I woke up and thought, It’s a bit windy, if I can try and go out there and get my score to double digits (under par), I might get lucky.
“I looked at the board when we came through nine and saw that I was one or two shots behind through nine holes.
“I thought that if I could get out there and try and post something … funny things happen in golf tournaments in the final round.”
While Hend broke his run of runner-up finishes, the Ripper GC boys had two in one day at LIV Golf Mexico City.
Captain Cameron Smith had led the way the first two days but it was Lucas Herbert who charged to a tie for second with a scintillating 10-under 61.
Herbert’s heroics weren’t quite enough to carry Ripper GC to a second straight team win, finishing second to the Jon Rahm-led Legion XIII.
Trailing by five through 54 holes, Minjee Lee was unable to mount a final round charge at the Chevron Championship in Texas, Karl Vilips partnered Michael Thorbjornsen to a tie for fourth at the Zurich Classic and Harrison Endycott made a welcome return to form with a top-10 finish on the Korn Ferry Tour.
Photo: Marianna Massey/Getty Images
Results
LPGA Tour
The Chevron Championship
The Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands, Texas
1 Mao Saigo 70-68-69-74—281 $US1.2m
Won on first hole of sudden-death playoff
T14 Minjee Lee 71-69-72-74—286 $104,783
T30 Stephanie Kyriacou 74-71-73-72—290 $48,689
T40 Cassie Porter 74-71-73-73—291 $36,286
T44 Gabriela Ruffels 72-74-70-76—292 $28,741
T52 Lydia Ko (NZ) 73-72-75-73—293 $22,215
T59 Grace Kim 74-70-77-73—294 $18,639
MC Hannah Green 73-77—150
MC Hira Naveed 78-74—152
PGA TOUR
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana
1 Andrew Novak/Ben Griffin 62-66-61-71—260 $1,329,400 each
T4 Karl Vilips/M Thorbjornsen 64-70-61-68—263 $347,588
T32 Cam Davis/Adam Svensson 61-72-61-78—272 $38,456
MC Ryan Fox/Garrick Higgo 64-74—138
PGA TOUR Champions
Mitsubishi Electric Classic
TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, Georgia
1 Jerry Kelly 62-67-67—196 $US300,000
3 Steven Alker (NZ) 68-67-65—200 $144,000
T21 Mark Hensby 70-68-73—211 $22,200
T26 Cameron Percy 71-67-74—212 $17,400
T31 Stuart Appleby 73-72-68—213 $13,800
T36 Greg Chalmers 70-75-69—214 $10,425
T36 Richard Green 74-68-72—214 $10,425
T44 Steve Allan 72-70-73—215 $7,200
T44 John Senden 70-72-73—215 $7,200
T65 Brendan Jones 73-74-72—219 $2,400
T71 David Bransdon 73-76-72—221 $1,580
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Mexico City
Club de Golf Chapultepec, Mexico
1 Joaquin Niemann 68-64-65—197 $US4m
T2 Lucas Herbert 68-71-61—200 $1.875m
T5 Cameron Smith 64-66-72—202 $750,000
T17 Matt Jones 68-67-75—210 $255,000
T30 Marc Leishman 69-71-74—214 $162,500
T41 Danny Lee (NZ) 76-69-73—218 $128,800
WD Ben Campbell (NZ) 73
DP World Tour
Hainan Classic
Blackstone Course, Mission Hills Resort Haikou, Hainan Island, China
1 Marco Penge 68-71-65-67—271 €382,588.89
T16 Jason Scrivener 73-68-70-69—280 €29,763.17
T16 Elvis Smylie 68-68-70-74—280 €29,763.17
T36 Danny List 73-70-70-71—284 €15,303.56
MC George Worrall 72-75—147
MC Daniel Gale 78-71—149
MC Brett Coletta 79-78—157
Korn Ferry Tour
Veritex Bank Championship
Texas Rangers Golf Club, Arlington, Texas
1 Johnny Keefer 63-61-66-64—254
T10 Harrison Endycott 62-66-65-67—260
MC Harry Hillier (NZ) 67-67—134
MC Rhein Gibson 72-65—137
Epson Tour
IOA Championship
Morongo Casino Resort and Spa, Beaumont, California
1 Briana Chacon 67-71-66—204 $US33,750
T31 Robyn Choi 69-71-75—215 $1,888
T41 Su Oh 73-72-72—217 $1,219
Japan Golf Tour
Maezawa Cup
MZ Golf Club, Chiba
1 Takanori Konishi 67-64-65-67—263 ¥40m
3 Michael Hendry (NZ) 63-65-69-69—266 ¥13.6m
T47 Brad Kennedy 70-67-66-73—276 ¥462,000
PGA Tour Americas
KIA Open
Quito Tenis y Golf Club, Quito, Ecuador
Reduced to 54 holes due to rain
1 Jay Card III 66-63-71—200
T13 Grant Booth 68-67-70—205
MC Charlie Hillier (NZ) 73-69—142
Korea PGA Tour
Woori Finance Championship
Seowon Valley CC, Paju, South Korea
1 Taehoon Lee 69-70-70-70—279 KRW300,180,108
Won on first hole of sudden-death playoff
T37 Changgi Lee (NZ) 69-76-72-72—289 KRW8,284,970
MC Wonjoon Lee 74-72—146
MC Sungjin Yeo (NZ) 72-75—147
MC Junseok Lee 76-78—154
Legends Tour
Barbados Legends Hosted By Ian Woosnam
Apes Hill, Barbados
1 Scott Hend 69-69-64—202
T17 Michael Campbell (NZ) 71-75-66—212
T54 Michael Long 81-72-73—226
A family entrenched in military service is driving PGA Academy Professional Scott McDermott to seek support in expanding a Melbourne-based golf program for military veterans into a national initiative.
As Australia and New Zealand observe ANZAC Day on Friday in honour of the servicemen and women who have served and those currently deployed, McDermott’s ‘Fairways to Resilience’ golf program is nearing its one-year anniversary.
Initially inspired to develop the program after seeing the impacts of war on his father, brother and uncle – and having witnessed the positive influence golf has had on All Abilities athletes he has coached – McDermott has structured a program that is as strong in social connection as it is in straightening wayward tee shots.
Developed initially with the support of the Department of Veterans Affairs and now sponsored by Frankston RSL, a pilot program with 16 participants last year highlighted the benefits received by those who took part.
Seventy-five per cent of respondents to a post-program questionnaire reported that they felt more socially connected than they did eight weeks prior and 87.5 per cent said that they would continue to play golf to support their well-being.
“If this program were to continue, I would jump at the opportunity to continue as I see the benefit in not only learning and improving on a new skill, but in also supporting my mental health,” said one respondent.
“I need this in my life to help me with my issues,” wrote another.
Given what he has seen not only the past year but through the lived experience of his family dating back to his great grandfather’s service in World War I, McDermott knows the good such a program could do on a national scale.
“All three of my family members who have gone through the military and who are still alive have some level of impact in their life that has been quite dramatic,” McDermott explains.
“Probably the reason why I didn’t end up going down that track because I saw what it does, but at the same time I thought, How can I help these people?
“It’s a holistic approach to developing individuals’ social skills, community skills, getting back out in the community and participating. Being around people who have lived experiences very similar to their own.”
In addition to golf skill development and shared rounds of golf, coffees after each session are built into the program.
It is that development of a self-sustained support network where McDermott sees the greatest potential impact.
“As a golfer, we know how social this game is, we know how good it is for your physical and mental health and we have studies to support that,” he added.
“The responses to that initial questionnaire spoke about connecting with people, making new friendships and being part of a community. If they have a bad day, there is someone they can reach out to with a shared or very similar experience.
“That’s potentially reducing someone’s suicidal thoughts and reducing those by giving them a platform where they can make friendships, develop relationships and feel comfortable.”
To go national, McDermott needs two things.
He wants to build a comprehensive program structure that provides fellow PGA Professionals the toolkit and background to deliver it themselves… and he needs funding.
The number of spots McDermott can currently offer is limited by sponsorship but he hopes support by organisations such as DVA and the Australian Defence Force could open the door for thousands of military personnel to take part.
“I knew what they needed. They wanted social connection and they wanted to start playing golf and the only reason it hasn’t grown further is due to funding,” he said.
“Federal funding would allow us to offer it around the country and for other PGA Professionals to get involved.
“When I talk to people from Frankston RSL, the DVA, people in Canberra, they all love it. They say it’s phenomenal and to keep doing what you’re doing.
“But until we can find that federal funding, the program will remain localised and we’ll be restricted in how many military personnel we can offer it to.”
Queensland’s Cassie Porter will make her first appearance in a major with the ringing endorsement of a fellow Aussie with major championship pedigree at The Chevron Championship starting Thursday night in Texas.
Of the seven Australians to tee it up in the first LPGA major of 2025, Porter is the only one who has to manage major debutant nerves.
But after earning promotion to the LPGA Tour in 2025 via the Epson Tour, the 22-year-old has made a quick transition to the highest echelon in women’s golf.
Her place in the field this week was secured with a fourth-place finish at the Blue Bay LPGA in China, a result that world No.5 Hannah Green believes is an indicator of even bigger things to come.
“I played a practise round with Cassie a couple of weeks ago when we played in Phoenix and she was kind of saying she’s a little bit of a homebody like myself and how to manage things when it comes to schedules,” said Green, the 2019 KPMG Women’s PGA champion.
“It’s obviously great that she’s had a good finish so early in the year so she can at least know what events she’ll get into and what she won’t.
“Chevron is a great course. There is a lot of water and I’m sure she’s kind of used to that playing in Queensland and Sydney.
“She hits a long ball and that will be really beneficial in any major championship. Hopefully having her coach Dan (Morrison) on the bag, if she’s in some tricky moments, that will be able to give her some clarity and some help out there.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the Aussie girls play well this week.”
Porter has the honour of being the first of the Aussies away tonight, teeing off at 10:59pm Thursday night alongside Thai pair Ariya Jutanugarn and Chanettee Wannasaen.
As the women take centre stage, there is a strong Australasian presence at the DP World Tour’s Hainan Open in China, there are nine Aussies contesting the Mitsubishi Electric Classic on the PGA TOUR Champions and Karl Vilips will partner former Stanford teammate Michael Thorbjornsen and Cam Davis has teamed up with Adam Svensson as he returns to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans for the first time since 2019.
Round 1 tee times AEST
LPGA Tour
The Chevron Championship
The Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands, Texas
10:59pm Cassie Porter
11:54pm Gabriela Ruffels
12:05am* Hira Naveed
3:59am Stephanie Kyriacou
4:10am* Hannah Green
4:21am* Lydia Ko (NZ)
4:32am* Minjee Lee
4:43am* Grace Kim
Recent champion: Nelly Korda
Past Aussie winners: Karrie Webb (2000, 2006)
Prize money: $US8m
TV times: Live 1am-5am, 8am-10am Friday, Saturday; Live 4am-8am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.
PGA TOUR
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana
10:39pm* Karl Vilips/Michael Thorbjornsen
10:52pm Cam Davis/Adam Svensson
4:10am Ryan Fox (NZ)/Garrick Higgo
Recent champions: Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry
Past Aussie winners: Cameron Smith and Jonas Blixt (2017); Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman (2021)
Prize money: $US9.2m
TV times: Live 10pm-8am Thursday; Live 10:45pm-8am Friday; Live 10:30pm-8am Saturday, Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
PGA TOUR Champions
Mitsubishi Electric Classic
TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, Georgia
Australasians in the field: Steven Alker (NZ), Steve Allan, Stuart Appleby, David Bransdon, Greg Chalmers, Richard Green, Mark Hensby, Brendan Jones, Cameron Percy, John Senden.
Recent champion: Stephen Ames
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US2m
TV times: 12pm-1:30pm Saturday on Fox Sports 503; Live 5am-8am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 507 and Kayo.
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Mexico City
Club de Golf Chapultepec, Mexico
Australasians in the field: Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, Lucas Herbert, Ben Campbell (NZ), Danny Lee (NZ)
Recent champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US20m
TV times: Live from 5am Saturday, 4am Sunday, Monday on 7 Mate.
DP World Tour
Hainan Classic
Blackstone Course, Mission Hills Resort Haikou, Hainan Island, China
9am Jason Scrivener
9:50am* Elvis Smylie
10:20am George Worrall
1:50pm* Brett Coletta
2:10pm Daniel Hillier (NZ)
2:30pm Kazuma Kobori (NZ)
3:30pm Danny List
3:30pm* Daniel Gale
Recent champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US2.55m
Korn Ferry Tour
Veritex Bank Championship
Texas Rangers Golf Club, Arlington, Texas
11:13pm Rhein Gibson
4:27am Harrison Endycott
4:49am* Harry Hillier (NZ)
Recent champion: Tim Widing
Past Aussie winners:
Prize money: $US1m
Epson Tour
IOA Championship
Morongo Casino Resort and Spa, Beaumont, California
Australians in the field: Robyn Choi, Su Oh
Recent champion: Juliana Hung
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US225,000
Japan Golf Tour
Maezawa Cup
MZ Golf Club, Chiba
9:20am* Brad Kennedy
10:55am Michael Hendry (NZ)
Recent champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: ¥200m
PGA Tour Americas
KIA Open
Quito Tenis y Golf Club, Quito, Ecuador
2:10am Charlie Hillier (NZ)
3:30am* Grant Booth
Recent champion: Thomas Longbella
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US225,000
Korea PGA Tour
Woori Finance Championship
Seowon Valley CC, Paju, South Korea
8:10am* Changgi Lee (NZ)
8:50am* Junseok Lee
1:30pm* Wonjoon Lee
2:20pm* Sungjin Yeo (NZ)
Recent champion: Lim Seong-jae
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize Money: KRW1.5b
Legends Tour
Barbados Legends Hosted By Ian Woosnam
Apes Hill, Barbados
Australasians in the field: Michael Campbell (NZ), Scott Hend, Michael Long (NZ)
Recent champion: Peter Baker
Past Aussie winners: Nil
It’s been a happy hunting ground in years past and three members of this week’s Power Rankings finished inside the top 20 at the LPGA Tour’s JM Eagle LA Championship.
The champion in 2019, Minjee Lee made it three top-10 finishes from six starts with a share of seventh, two-time defending champion Hannah Green was a shot further back in a tie for ninth as Stephanie Kyriacou climbed into a tie for 16th with a closing 68.
Three of the seven Aussies in the field for this week’s Chevron Championship, it offers a nice sense of momentum from which to build for the first of five women’s majors for 2025.
It was a strong return to the DP World Tour for recently-crowned Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner, Elvis Smylie.
Tied for seventh at the halfway mark, Smylie cemented his place inside the top 15 on the Race to Dubai ranking with a share of 15th as Cam Davis bounced back from five missed cuts with a tie for 13th at the RBC Heritage.
10. Kelsey Bennett (Last week: 10)
Currently back home to recharge after back-to-back top-10 finishes on the Ladies European Tour’s South African swing. Scheduled to return to play at the Aramco Korea Championship early next month.
9. Stephanie Kyriacou (9)
Likely to move even higher in the Rolex Women’s World Ranking from her current position of 46th courtesy of her tie for 16th at the JM Eagle LA Championship. Certainly one to watch at this week’s Chevron Championship.
8. Marc Leishman (6)
Will enter LIV Golf Mexico City this week full of confidence on the back of his breakthrough individual win at LIV Golf Miami.
7. Karl Vilips (5)
Entered the final round of RBC Heritage inside the top 30 thanks largely to a 6-under 65 in Round 2. The Puerto Rico Open winner shot 74 in the final round to drop to a tie for 54th. Has paired up with former Stanford University teammate Michael Thorbjornsen for this week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
6. Elvis Smylie (8)
Continues to look increasingly comfortable on the world stage. Smylie was tied for 15th at the Volvo China Open and remains in the hunt for the DP World Tour Rookie of the Year honour.
5. Minjee Lee (7)
Would have been in the mix late at the JM Eagle LA Championship if not for a run of four straight bogeys in Round 3. Ball-striking is at her usual lofty standard and her proficiency with the long putter improves week after week.
4. Jason Day (4)
Eight-under through 45 holes of the RBC Heritage, Day played the final 27 holes at Harbour Town Golf Links in 4-over to finish tied for 49th. After rising five spots on the back of his top-10 finish at the Masters, dropped one to now sit 32nd on the Official World Golf Ranking.
3. Lucas Herbert (2)
Will have a fire in the belly to emulate Marc Leishman’s win in Miami with a victory of his own at LIV Golf Mexico City this week. With two top-five finishes is currently 11th in the LIV Golf individual standings.
2. Hannah Green (3)
Began her year in earnest with a tie for ninth at the JM Eagle LA Championship. Now turns her attention to The Chevron Championship in Texas where she has missed the cut in her past two starts.
1. Min Woo Lee (1)
Perhaps suffering from something of a Masters hangover, finished tied for 61st at RBC Heritage. At No.25 in the Official World Golf Ranking remains our highest-ranked male player. Will take two weeks off before returning for the next Signature Event on the PGA TOUR, the Truist Championship in Philadelphia.
The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.
Major winners Minjee Lee and Hannah Green will head into the first major of the season high on confidence after recording top-10 finishes at the JM Eagle LA Championship.
Both past winners of the event – Green victorious in the past two – Lee began the final round best placed to make a move up the leaderboard on Easter Sunday.
A 3-under 69 was only good enough for a share of seventh, Green one shot further back in a tie for ninth after closing with six birdies in her round of 5-under 67.
Four of Lee’s six bogeys for the week came in succession to close out the front nine of Round 3 but the 28-year-old stayed within touch of the leaders with four back-nine birdies.
Despite having made birdie the previous two days at the par-5 first, Lee began the final round with six straight pars as the leaders extended their advantage.
There were birdies at seven, nine, 14 and 16 yet not enough to make an impression on the top of the leaderboard.
Yet what will please Lee and coach Ritchie Smith are ball-striking stats across the week that will hold her in good stead for The Chevron Championship starting Thursday night.
The two-time major winner hit 75 per cent of fairways and 82 per cent of greens in regulation across the week at El Caballero Country Club, numbers that she would love to replicate in conjunction with a good week with the long putter.
Green was sub-70 all four rounds in a valiant attempt to join Karrie Webb as the lone Aussies to win the same LPGA event three years straight.
There was extra motivation for Green’s defence this week as she pledged to donate to the LA Fire Relief Association for every birdie and eagle she made across the 72 holes.
That amounted to $10,500 to help the community back on their feet after the devastating wildfires in January.
“I’m super happy,” said Green after her final round.
“I did a little bit of a tally last night. At the start of the week, I didn’t really know how many birdies we were going to make, so I was hoping that it was going to be a course where we make a ton.
“Definitely a lot of opportunities where I could have made some more, so I’m grateful that I did make the amount that I did.
“Obviously going to a great cause, and good to see some of the guys come out.
“I know at least where my money is going to, so I’m very happy with that.”
One of seven Aussies to contest The Chevron, a bogey-free Sunday 68 for a share of 16th was also a nice source of momentum for Stephanie Kyriacou.
There were top-15 finishes for both Cam Davis and Elvis Smylie.
Coming in on the back of five straight missed cuts, Davis could have finished as high as a tie for third at the RBC Heritage but dropped four shots in four holes around the turn in the final round to finish tied 13th.
Tied for seventh through 36 holes, Elvis Smylie closed with four birdies on the back nine to earn a share of 15th at the Volvo China Open to stay 15th on the DP World Tour Race to Dubai ranking.
Photo: Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images
Results
PGA TOUR
RBC Heritage
Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
1 Justin Thomas 61-69-69-68—267 $US3.6m
Won on first hole of sudden death playoff
T13 Cam Davis 70-66-67-71—274 $364,000
T49 Adam Scott 68-70-69-73—280 $48,000
T49 Jason Day 68-69-70-73—280 $48,000
T54 Karl Vilips 71-65-71-74—281 $44,500
T61 Min Woo Lee 72-71-71-68—282 $41,500
Corales Puntacana Championship
Puntacana Resort & Club (Corales Cse), Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
1 Garrick Higgo 64-68-70-72—274 $US720,000
T26 Aaron Baddeley 66-70-70-75—281 $29,800
T59 Ryan Fox (NZ) 70-71-73-74—288 $8,960
LPGA Tour
JM Eagle LA Championship
El Caballero Country Club, Los Angeles, California
1 Ingrid Lindblad 68-63-68-68—267 $US562,500
T7 Minjee Lee 67-65-70-69—271
T9 Hannah Green 69-67-69-67—272
T16 Stephanie Kyriacou 69-67-70-68—274
T52 Hira Naveed 71-69-70-70—280
MC Cassie Porter 69-72—141
MC Grace Kim 71-73—144
MC Karis Davidson 75-71—146
MC Gabriela Ruffels 74-75—149
MC Fiona Xu (NZ) 77-73—150
DP World Tour
Volvo China Open
Enhance Anting GC, Shanghai, China
1 Ashun Wu 68-70-67-65—270 €381,213.83
T15 Elvis Smylie 67-70-71-70—278 €30,317.71
T20 Kazuma Kobori (NZ) 67-70-70-72—279 €26,460.72
T36 Daniel Hillier (NZ) 68-69-75-71—283 €14,575.82
T43 Jason Scrivener 67-71-73-73—284 €11,660.66
MC George Worrall 74-74—148
Korn Ferry Tour
LECOM Suncoast Classic
Lakewood National Golf Club (Commander Cse), Lakewood Ranch, Florida
1 Neal Shipley 64-68-70-64—266 $US180,000
T57 Harry Hillier (NZ) 69-68-71-71—279 $4,130
MC Rhein Gibson 66-73—139
MC Harrison Endycott 70-73—143
HotelPlanner Tour
Abu Dhabi Challenge
Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE
1 Renato Paratore 69-63-65-66—263 €42,210.53
MC Coby Carruthers (a) 69-72—141
MC Hayden Hopewell 71-71—142
MC Jye Pickin 71-72—143
MC Sam Jones (NZ) 75-71—146
WD Danny List
First-year professional Jimmy Zheng hopes to emulate his fellow New Zealander Kazuma Kobori by turning a Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Qualifying School victory into a DP World Tour card.
Rounds of 67-67-69-68 gave the Duke University economics graduate a 17-under-par total on the Moonah Links Old Course and a three-shot margin over runner-up Ben Wharton (Victoria).
As the Qualifying School – Australia Final Stage champion, Zheng will be fully exempt for all tournaments in the 2025/26 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season, which begins in August with the PNG Open at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club.
His compatriot Kobori was the Q School winner two seasons ago and then went on to have a spectacular 2023/24 season, winning three tournaments to claim the Order of Merit title and earn his DP World Tour card.
One of five New Zealanders to earn a Tour card by finishing amongst the top 26 and ties today, Zheng came through the First Stage of Q School last week, advancing in a share of sixth place, before leading Final Stage for the majority of the 72 holes.
He made his Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia debut as a Monday qualifier at this year’s Heritage Classic, finishing in a tie for 28th.
“It feels like a real big boost of confidence,” the 23-year-old said of his victory.
“I’m real excited to play all the events and kind of see how my golf stacks up against all the other veterans and good golfers that have come through this system.”
Kobori’s achievements are a target for every Qualifying School professional with Zheng no exception.
“That would be the dream, honestly. Go through the PGA Tour of Australasia and get a DP (World Tour) card from the Order of Merit at the end of the season,” he said.
“Kazuma and I played a lot of junior golf together before I went over to America for uni.”
Further down the Qualifying School leaderboard, the biggest fightback in the final round came from former New Zealand Open champion Zach Murray who shot a 6-under-par 66 to retain his Tour card by a single shot.
Back at Q School after finishing 111th on the 2024/25 Order of Merit, Murray came to his last hole, the par-4 ninth, knowing he needed a birdie to reach the magic number required. He hit his approach shot to 15 feet and rolled in the putt for one of the most important threes of his career.
The 28-year-old was well back in a tie for 61st after a day one 77 but on the final day collected 10 birdies, alongside two bogeys and a double.
“It was a wild ride for sure,” the Albury professional said.
Unfortunately, it was a different story for three-time Tour winner Tom Power Horan who triple-bogeyed his final hole, the par-5 18th, to finish at 1-over-par, one shot outside the top 26 and ties mark needed.
Among the other successful qualifiers were former NZ PGA champion Louis Dobbelaar, outstanding NSW Amateur Declan O’Donovan, who featured on a number of Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia leaderboards in the recently completed season, and 2023 Japan Amateur champion Rintaro Nakano.
O’Donovan intends to retain his amateur status for now as he focusses on the big amateur events overseas in the northern summer.
The top 26 finishers and ties earned Full Tournament Membership of the PGA of Australia will be placed in a Tournament Exemption Category.
Those players finishing beyond 26th place and ties, who completed 72 holes at Final Stage, will be eligible for Full Tournament Membership of the PGA of Australia, however, they will not hold an exemption category for the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
All players who played 72 holes of the Final Stage earned a Pro-Am exemption category and be eligible to enter adidas PGA Pro-Am Series events.
The 72–hole Final Stage of Qualifying – USA will be played July 15-18 and the leading six players and ties from the USA will be eligible to for Full Tournament Membership of the PGA of Australia, and will be placed in a Tournament Exemption Category. As in Australia, the winner of this stage will be fully exempt for all tournaments in the 2025/26 season.
Those players finishing from seventh to 20th place and ties at Final Stage USA, will be eligible for Full Tournament Membership of the PGA of Australia, however, they will not hold an exemption category for the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
The top 20 players will also earn a Pro-Am exemption category and be eligible to enter adidas PGA pro-Am Series.
Two-time defending champion Hannah Green has shared her big prediction for 2025 as she chases her own slice of history at this week’s JM Eagle LA Championship.
After back-to-back wins at Wilshire Country Club in 2023 and 2024, Green’s quest for a three-peat takes on a new look at El Caballero Country Club as she seeks to become the first player to win an LPGA event three years straight since Inbee Park won the LPGA Championship from 2013-2015.
Karrie Webb’s Australian Ladies Masters dominance from 1998-2000 is the only other time an Australian has achieved the feat but given a light schedule to start 2025, Green is trying to temper expectations, including her own.
As the 28-year-old looks to follow up her three-win season in 2024, Green doesn’t expect to be the only Aussie pushing for tournament wins this year.
With a record nine Australians exempt on the LPGA this season, Green has become a mentor and sounding board to the likes of Grace Kim, Stephanie Kyriacou, Hira Naveed and Cassie Porter in recent years.
Kim already has a Tour win to her name, and Green expects others to follow.
“We had a question with media at Bradenton, like what’s your prediction for 2025, and I said a young Aussie will win for the first time on Tour,” said Green.
“I was talking to someone the other day back in Australia and saying that we have the most Aussies on Tour. But also, all of those players are talented enough to become really good players and win on Tour.
“It’s nice to have some of the younger girls out and they reach out to us and ask for some help.
“I feel like I’m one of the veterans, I guess you could say, so it’s nice to see the girls have come through and how they’re experiencing and learning things.”
Next in line looks to be Kyriacou.
Ranked No.46 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking, Kyriacou was denied a major win at last year’s Evian Championship when Japan’s Ayaka Furue played the final five holes in 5-under, including an eagle at the 72nd hole.
How she handled that moment has Green convinced a first LPGA win is simply a matter of time.
“Steph is a close friend of mine and obviously she came so close at Evian last year,” said Green.
“I think she handled herself really well. Ayaka just played amazing on that back nine. Steph unfortunately did make a bogey on 17 but she made birdie on 18 to try and press her.
“That took a lot of guts, and hopefully that brings in some confidence for her.
“Getting back into the top 50 I think was probably one of her goals, and we have the International Crown of course this year, so she really wants to make that team.
“She works really hard, so I really hope she has some success.”
Elsewhere this week, five Aussies will contest the RBC Heritage Signature Event on the PGA TOUR, the past two Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winners, Elvis Smylie and Kazuma Kobori, are playing the DP World Tour’s Volvo China Open and Jye Pickin and Concord amateur Coby Carruthers are playing the HotelPlanner Tour event in Abu Dhabi.
Pickin and Carruthers both received invitations thanks in part to PGA of Australia Member Kieren Pratt, who is the Championship Director for the Emirates Golf Federation.
Round 1 tee times AEST
PGA TOUR
RBC Heritage
Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
11:25pm Adam Scott
1:10am Karl Vilips
2:25am Jason Day
2:55am Cam Davis
3:50am Min Woo Lee
Recent champion: Scottie Scheffler
Past Aussie winners: Graham Marsh (1977), Greg Norman (1988), Peter Lonard (2005), Aaron Baddeley (2006)
Prize money: $US20m
TV times: Live 9:30pm-8am Thursday, Friday; Live 10:30pm-8am Saturday, Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Corales Puntacana Championship
Puntacana Resort & Club (Corales Cse), Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
2:21am* Ryan Fox (NZ)
2:33am Aaron Baddeley
Recent champion: Billy Horschel
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US4m
TV times: Live 12am-3am Friday, Saturday; Live 5am-8am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.
LPGA Tour
JM Eagle LA Championship
El Caballero Country Club, Los Angeles, California
12:26am Grace Kim
12:59am* Hannah Green
1:21am Stephanie Kyriacou
2:16am Gabriela Ruffels
5:37am Fiona Xu (NZ)
6:10am Minjee Lee
6:21am Cassie Porter
6:54am* Karis Davidson
7:05am Sarah Kemp
7:16am* Hira Naveed
Recent champion: Hannah Green
Past Aussie winners: Minjee Lee (2019), Hannah Green (2023, 2024)
Prize money: $US3.75m
TV times: Live 8am-11am Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
DP World Tour
Volvo China Open
Enhance Anting GC, Shanghai, China
9:20am Jason Scrivener
1:30pm* Kazuma Kobori (NZ)
2:20pm Daniel Hillier (NZ)
2:50pm Elvis Smylie
3:30pm* George Worrall
Recent champion: Adrian Otaegui
Past Aussie winners: Scott Strange (2009), Brett Rumford (2013)
Prize money: $US2.55m
TV times: Live 2:30pm-7:30pm Thursday, Friday; Live 2:30pm-7pm Saturday; Live 2pm-7pm Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Korn Ferry Tour
LECOM Suncoast Classic
Lakewood National Golf Club (Commander Cse), Lakewood Ranch, Florida
Round 1
T13 Rhein Gibson 66
T64 Harry Hillier (NZ) 69
T82 Harrison Endycott 70
Recent champion: Tim Widing
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US1m
HotelPlanner Tour
Abu Dhabi Challenge
Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE
1:50pm Sam Jones (NZ)
2:20pm* Jye Pickin
2:30pm* Coby Carruthers
6:50pm Danny List
7pm* Hayden Hopewell
Recent champion: Garrick Porteous
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US300,000
Some of the biggest names in Australian golf over the past 30 years will be on show when the 54-hole NSW Senior Open returns to Albury in late October.
Running from October 31st to November 2nd, 2025, the $150,000, 54-hole tournament is an integral part of the PGA Legends Tour.
This year’s event will be the seventh edition at the Thurgoona Golf & Country Club Resort.
Graeme Phillipson, Golf NSW Chief Operating Officer, said the tournament was an extremely popular event for players, both professional and amateur.
“We are thrilled to continue to bring one of our most popular tournaments back to the Albury region and the Thurgoona Country Club,” said Graeme Phillipson, Golf NSW Chief Operating Officer.
“The sporting public of the Murray region and the Liverpool Catholic Club have supported this event from its inception, and it is a pleasure to continue to return to a venue and city where everyone involved in the tournament, including the players, officials, and staff, have been so warmly received.”
“Golf is the number one pastime Australia-wide for those over 50, and the popularity of tournaments like the NSW Senior Open assists us in promoting the game as the ideal recreational activity for young and old,” Mr. Phillipson added.
Last year’s champion, Victorian David McKenzie, is expected to defend his championship crown, against a field which is likely to feature many of the greats of Australasian Golf, including
• Peter Lonard: a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour of Australasia and a US & European Tour winner
• Andre Stolz – current leader of the PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit
• Mathew Goggin, the 2024 Runner Up
• Scott Barr – Asian Tour winner and PGA Legends Tour regular
• Terry Price – European Tour winner
• Steven Conran – Japan Tour winner
Other notables and past champions expected to play include Peter O’Malley, Michael Harwood, Grant Kenny, and 2019 champ Brad Burns.
PGA Legends Tour Coordinator Andy Rogers said the tour and its players were excited by the opportunity to return to Thurgoona for a record seventh time, having enjoyed all previous six stagings on the Murray River.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be heading back to Thurgoona again this year for the NSW Senior Open,” Rogers said.
“The players have become very familiar with not only the course but the surrounding area as well, and both are perfect hosts for the event. This event is a significant part of the PGA Legends Tour schedule, and to return to a host venue that has proven itself time and again as a perfect fit is very exciting.”
The fan experience at this year’s tournament will allow unparalleled access. Spectators can walk the fairways beside their favourite players and see golf played at its best.
“There won’t be a better opportunity for sports fans in the Albury region to get up close and personal to witness the legends in action,” Adam Fitzgerald, general manager of the Thurgoona Country Club Resort, said.
EVENT FACTS
Host Venue: Thurgoona Country Club Resort.
The Thurgoona Country Club Resort is a par 72, 18-hole championship course measuring 6372 metres. A Peter Thomson & Mike Wolveridge design, the course features couch fairways and large bent grass greens.
Tournament Dates: October 31st – November 2nd, 2025 (54 holes)
Website: www.nswsenioropen.com.au
Prize Fund: AUD 150,000
Field Size: 120 players consisting of
• 82 players from the 2025 Legends Tour exemption categories
• 1 Player from Asian Senior Tour
• 32 Amateur players from Golf NSW exemption categories
• Five professional pre-qualifying positions
Past Champions:
2024 David McKenzie (Vic)
2023: Adam Henwood (Vic)
2022: Richard Green (Vic)
2020: Brad Burns (QLD)
2019: Michael Long (NZL)
2018: Grant Kenny (NSW)
By Golf NSW
Photo: Victorian David McKenzie is expected to defend his NSW Senior Open Crown later this year.
We had Jason Day in the hunt until deep into the first men’s major of the year; now it’s the turn of our Aussie women to take centre stage.
Starting with this week’s JM Eagle LA Championship where Hannah Green will seek to make it three straight and building into the first women’s major of 2025 next week with the Chevron Championship.
All nine LPGA Tour exempt Aussies are in the field this week and over on the Ladies European Tour, Kelsey Bennett’s third-place finish at the SA Women’s Open was her second straight top-10 finish.
We have entered the best four months of the golf year and our Aussies are primed to play leading roles.
10. Kelsey Bennett (New)
Is at a career high of No.227 in the world on the back of her best finish on the Ladies European Tour. On the back of a tie for eighth at the Joburg Ladies Open, Bennett was third at the SA Women’s Open. The 25-year-old is now 16th on the Order of Merit in her rookie season on the LET.
9. Stephanie Kyriacou (Last week: 9)
Despite having the week off, rose another two spots in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking and is now No.46 in the world. That is a career best and with the first women’s major of the season a week away, looks ready to join Hannah Green and Minjee Lee as a consistent contender in golf’s showpiece events.
8. Elvis Smylie (7)
The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner resumes his rookie season on the DP World Tour this week at the Volvo China Open on the back of shooting 59 in the club comp at Southport Golf Club.
7. Minjee Lee (6)
Six years after winning this tournament, looks to ramp up her preparation for next week’s Chevron Championship at the JM Eagle LA Championship. Expect one of golf’s best ball-strikers to be firing when major season rolls around.
6. Marc Leishman (5)
Blew past Bryson DeChambeau to claim LIV Golf Miami for his first LIV Golf individual win and lead Ripper GC to their first team win of 2025. Back in action next week at LIV Golf Mexico City.
5. Karl Vilips (4)
Earns his place in this week’s RBC Heritage Signature Event by virtue of the Aon Swing 5 ranking. Has missed his past three cuts on the PGA TOUR since winning the Puerto Rico Open.
4. Jason Day (New)
Showed once again that he is the man for a big occasion at the Masters. Having reunited with boyhood coach Col Swatton, Day was just three strokes back deep into the back nine on Sunday at Augusta National but dropped shots at both 17 and 18. In the 70 holes prior he had made just three bogeys but struggled to convert numerous birdie opportunities.
3. Hannah Green (3)
The two-time JM Eagle LA Championship defending champion has a new venue to try and make it three straight. If she does so, Green will become the first Australian to win the same LPGA Tour event three years running since Karrie Webb’s hat-trick of Australian Ladies Masters wins from 1998-2000.
2. Lucas Herbert (2)
Has become the bedrock of the Ripper GC team and was strong in the team’s victory at LIV Golf Miami. The Ford NSW Open winner will likely draw inspiration from Leishman’s recent win to get one of his own sooner rather than later.
1. Min Woo Lee (1)
Was in the mix heading into the weekend at the Masters but a third round of 5-over 77 made a Sunday charge impossible. Houston Open winner backs up for this week’s RBC Heritage at Harbour Town.
The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.
It was Jason Day’s best Masters finish in six years yet it will be forever remembered as the crowning glory in the extraordinarily complex career of Rory McIlroy.
In an enthralling, chaotic and ultimately gratifying final round that will go down as one of the most compelling in major championship history, McIlroy (73) had to go one extra hole against Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose (66) to complete the career grand slam and claim his first coveted green jacket.
His final pairing with his US Open nemesis Bryson DeChambeau was built to break box office records.
That his two-shot advantage was thrown away with a double-bogey at the opening hole followed by a DeChambeau birdie at the second to take the lead made the storyline all the more absorbing.
There were shots only McIlroy can hit – his second into seven, a hooked 7-iron from 208 yards to six feet at the par-5 15th – yet there were also mistakes that have plagued the Northern Irishman for a decade.
An inexplicable pitch into Rae’s Creek beside the 13th green saw what was a five-shot lead as he strode down the 11th hole disintegrate into a three-way tie at 10-under with both Rose and Ludvig Aberg (72).
The birdie on 17 would prove pivotal after McIlroy failed to get up-and-down from the greenside bunker on 18. He would fulfil his destiny with a perfect tee shot at the first playoff hole, an approach that spun back toward the hole and the longest two-foot tap-in of his life.
It was Day’s best finish since he was tied for fifth in 2019.
With all manner of drama unfolding behind him, Day was just three strokes from the lead with four holes to play.
He left a birdie attempt out to the left from the back fringe of the par-5 15th and then two-putted from 72 feet for par at the par-3 16th.
Closing bogeys at 17 and 18 were just his fourth and fifth for the week as the 37-year-old relished his return to the heat of major championship Sunday.
“It’s nice to be like third group from the end, at least trying to give myself a chance at winning the Masters,” said Day, who now has five top-10 finishes at Augusta National.
“I’m pretty gutted right now. It’s annoying to give myself the opportunities out there and not be able to take them.
“I mean, it’s a step in the right direction. That’s all I can say. It’s hard to walk off the golf course and go straight into an interview even though… I’m pretty headless right now.
“Just a few minor tweaks here and there and a few more putts go in, it might be a different story this week.”
The final round was a day of give and take for Lee.
The 26-year-old began brightly with an exquisite pitch shot to set up birdie at the par-5 second but, as would be the case all Sunday, Augusta National soon took it back, and then some.
There were bogeys at three, four and six before Lee hit another superb approach from the left rough on his way to birdie at the par-4 seventh.
He bogeyed 10 and 12, picked them back up again with birdies at 13 and 14 and then, finally, dropped to 2-over on his round with a bogey at the par-5 15th.
Holing out from the greenside bunker for par at the 72nd hole was a very Min Woo way to finish as he continues to build his database of Masters memories.
“I had a chat with my caddie Bo walking up 18, and I just asked him if it’s more of a mental or a technical battle here,” said Lee.
“Obviously you need to be on with your game, but I think the mental has to be right up there.
“The top players mentally are going to be at the top of the leaderboard, which I think they are.
“That leaderboard up there has a lot of major champion winners and guys who have played well over the past whatever years.
“A lot of learning to do. I’m really early in the stages of hopefully my career at Augusta, so I can’t wait for whatever the next few years have in store.”
Day’s wasn’t the only top-10 finish by an Aussie this week as Kelsey Bennett recorded her career-best result on the Ladies European Tour.
Bennett, who started the final day in a tie for eighth, dropped her only shot of the day on the fifth hole, before having three birdies in a row on the back nine.
Tied for eighth a week ago at the Joburg Ladies Open to climb to No.266 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking, Bennett finished three shots back of Perrine Delacour in outright third.
That surpasses her tie for seventh at last year’s Lacoste Ladies Open de France and elevates her to 16th on the Order of Merit in her rookie season on the LET.
Making early inroads on the leaderboard with birdies at two and four, Bennett’s Sunday charge hit a hurdle with a bogey on five.
The 25-year-old responded with birdie at the par-5 seventh but it wasn’t until she peeled off three on the trot from the 13th hole that she dared look at the leaderboard.
“I just gave myself plenty of opportunities so I’m glad a few on the back nine dropped,” said Bennett.
“I wasn’t looking at the leaderboard too much until I had three birdies in a row and then said to Michelle [caddie and partner], ‘I need to see.’
“Then that felt pretty good.”
Results
Masters Tournament
Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
1 Rory McIlroy 72-66-66-73—277
T8 Jason Day 70-70-71-72—283
T50 Min Woo Lee 71-72-77-74—294
MC Adam Scott 77-72—149
MC Cameron Smith 71-78—149
MC Cam Davis 74-79—153
Japan Golf Tour
Token Homemate Cup
Tokken Tado Country Club, Nagoya, Mie
Reduced to 54 holes due to rain
1 Tatsunori Shogenji 66-64-66—196 ¥19.5m
T54 Michael Hendry 72-68-70—210 ¥231,353
66 Brad Kennedy 71-68-74—213 ¥213,525
Ladies European Tour
Investec SA Women’s Open
Erinvale Country and Golf Estate, South Africa
1 Perrine Delacour 65-69-70-70—274 €51,000
3 Kelsey Bennett 69-68-73-67—277 €17,850
T20 Amelia Garvey (NZ) 71-71-71-70—283 €4,246.91
T45 Momoka Kobori (NZ) 69-73-73-72—287 €1,598
HotelPLanner Tour
UAE Challenge
Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, Ajman, UAE
1 Renato Paratore 69-68-64-65—266 €42,538.46
T50 Hayden Hopewell 69-70-72-71—282 €1,042.19
MC Danny List 73-71—144
MC Sam Jones (NZ) 74-72—146
Sunshine Tour
Qualifying School Final Stage
Heron Banks Golf & River Resort
1 Luis Carrera 66-69-68-61—264
T12 Austin Bautista 67-67-71-71—276
T49 Ben Eccles 71-70-73-71—285
DQ Phoenix Campbell
