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Victorians Bradley Kivimets and Liam Reaper have clinched section victories in the First Stage of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia’s Qualifying School – Australia at Moonah Links.
Kivimets won Section A by one shot from Jason Hong (NSW) after closing with a 65 to finish on 12-under-par for the 54 holes, while Reaper shot a final round 69 for an 8-under total to overhaul 2023 Japan Amateur champion Rintaro Nakano in Section B
After leading coming into the final round, Nakano battled to a 75 to end up in a share of second position with Victorian Aiden Didone at 7-under.
Silvester Tan (WA) was the other amateur to advance from Section B, while four amateurs – Queenslanders Max Ford and Ryan Swann, NSW’s Ethan Harvey and Victorian Sang Jun Lee – qualified from Section A.
One of the biggest moves on the final day came from Kieran Jones (NSW) who climbed to T8 from a share of 21st thanks to a 65 to follow on from opening rounds of 72-70.
The top 18 finishers from both stages advanced to next week’s Final Stage, also at Moonah Links.
Former Australian amateur representative Max Charles (Vic), who lost to Nathan Barbieri in a playoff at Final Stage last year, qualfiied with a 3-under-par total in Section A.
However, his 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship teammate, Connor Fewkes (WA), who is looking to make the switch to pro golf, failed to advance with a 2-over-par total.
The 72-hole Final Stage of Qualifying School – Australia, which has a confirmed field of 65 starters, gets underway on Monday with the top 26 finishers and ties to earn Full Tournament Membership of the PGA of Australia and be placed in a Tournament Exemption Category. The winner will be fully exempt for all tournaments in the 2025/26 season.
Those players finishing beyond 26th place and ties, who complete 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 play 72 holes of the Final Stage will earn 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.
Photo: Victorian Bradley Kivimets
Participants are already asking when they can play again after a second highly successful Ready Steady Golf – Salty Fish All Abilities Tournament on Sunday, April 6.
An initiative built on the back of the Ready Steady Golf program for people with a disability established by PGA Professional Mark Tibbles more than a decade ago, the second such event was attended by 48 players made up of physically, psychologically and intellectually challenged participants of all ages and abilities along with family members and volunteers at the Vines Golf and Country Club in Perth.
The Ready Steady Golf Program conducted by Tibbles at The Vines Resort has been proudly supported by the WA Golf Foundation since its inception and provides a program for children and adults with additional needs.
Going beyond ‘come and try’ sessions, the program aims to provide a pathway for individuals to transition to mainstream programs, the playing of social golf and the opportunity of club membership/competition golf.
Peter West, whose son Joseph has a mild intellectual disability and cerebral palsy, said his third-place finish will be an achievement he dines out on for months.
“Golf is funny with Jo as every term, like clockwork, the “Nah, don’t want to go,” and “I’m
doing something else,” excuses turn up as he does get anxious,” Peter said post event.
“When the day is finished it’s all he talks about. Now that he got third place and a prize it’s all I’ll hear for months.”
Like Jo, Evan Lee has a mild intellectual disability and cerebral palsy and was similarly excited by the medal he received for playing alongside his father.
“Evan had a wonderful time and was so proud to show off his participant medal to all at our family dinner last night,” said Evan’s mother, Jane.
“He’s worn it to school this morning, too.”
There were also representatives from Special Olympics Australia, Variety Children’s Charity, Sport4All and the WA Disabled Sports Association.
Western Australia State Coordinator for Special Olympics Australia, Kendall King, spoke glowingly of the spirit in which the tournament was conducted.
“The event truly captured the spirit and values of Special Olympics – inclusion, unity and the power of sport to bring people together,” said Kendall.
“It was a celebration of inclusion and perseverance as an opportunity to showcase the skills and dedication of participants, some of whom have been involved for over 10 years, alongside others experiencing the joy of being on a golf course for the very first time.
“It serves as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we take a strength-based approach by focusing on what athletes can do, not what they can’t.”
Financial assistance and the pride felt in wearing sponsored apparel are just two of the benefits felt by recipients of the Webex All Abilities Scholarship.
Entries for the eight scholarships available in 2025 are now open and will provide sponsored athletes with funding for coaching support, financial assistance to put towards entry fees and accommodation, equipment and apparel courtesy of adidas and Callaway Golf and priority entry into Webex Players Series events to be held as part of the 2025/2026 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season.
The eight scholarships are an increase of the six inaugural recipients in 2024, one of whom was Victorian teenager Noah Schammer (pictured, right).
An exceptionally talented golfer who plays off single figures, Noah received one of three Development Scholarships last year.
He put that support to good use, taking out the Webex All Abilities Players Series Victoria tournament at Rosebud Country Club in January.
Noah’s mother, Bree, says that the scholarship was not only of great assistance to their family, but gave Noah an enhanced feeling of self-esteem as he pursued his passion for golf.
“This scholarship was an incredible support, allowing access to specialised golf sport science training and support to provide his regular team with deeper information to further develop his game,” said Bree.
“The travel funds significantly helped the financial load on his family for Noah to travel and attend tournaments and the apparel support from adidas was worn with pride at many golf events. And continues to be!
“The equipment support from Callaway was also much appreciated.”
A full scholarship was just part of a whirlwind 12 months for South Australian Steven Alderson.
Not only did Steven successfully defend his Webex All Abilities Players Series South Australia title at Willunga, he made history as the first person with autism to win on the G4D Tour in Europe, going on to win the net crown at the G4D Tour Series Finale in Dubai.
“The scholarship has helped me immensely and changed my life for the better,” Steven said.
Victory at the Macau Masters World Games was the highlight of Development Scholarship holder Natascha Tennent, who participated in a number of Webex All Abilities Players Series tournaments.
“The money allowed Natascha to receive additional coaching to assist in improving her game and preparing her for more competitive tournaments,” said Natascha’s mum, Kathleen.
“It also made it possible for Natascha to compete in an international competition as a portion was used for her travel. She then proceeded to become the female champion at the Macau Masters World Games.
“The equipment factor of the scholarship was also considerably helpful as shoes, clothing, bags and balls are another important part for an athlete and the cost does add up.”
Glenn Smith, Regional Manager Collaboration for Cisco, said that as an organisation driven to provide an inclusive future for all, Cisco was delighted to expand their support of the Webex All Abilities Scholarship in 2025.
“We’re inspired by the talent and passion that the All Abilities athletes possess,” said Smith.
“It gives us great pleasure to assist in increasing the number of recipients of the scholarship this year in partnership with the PGA of Australia and WPGA Tour of Australasia.
“Providing the opportunity for All Abilities athletes to showcase their skill is core to Cisco’s values, and our purpose of powering an inclusive future for all.”
As Senior Manager – Coaching Programs for the PGA of Australia, Nick Bielawski highlighted the impact that the funding made available by Webex is having not only on golf development, but on the entire family.
“People with a disability do not get the opportunity to participate without a great deal of support from family and friends,” said Bielawski.
“The Webex All Abilities Scholarship is a way of supporting the people who support our athletes while, at the same time, providing opportunities to continue their golf development.
“We have seen some wonderful performances from our 2024 scholarship holders over the past 12 months and I am excited to see the quality of applicants we receive for 2025.
“None of this, of course, is possible without the wonderful support we receive from Webex, adidas and Callaway.”
In 2025 there will be four Full Scholarships and four Development Scholarships.
To be considered for a Team Webex scholarship, athletes must be an Australian citizen and a WR4GD pass holder. Additionally, athletes must have played in at least one of the following:
After applications have closed, athletes will be shortlisted with further interviews arranged to determine the final recipients of the scholarships.
Full Scholarship recipients will receive:
Development Scholarship recipients will receive:
Click here to submit to submit your application to join Team Webex as a Webex All Abilities Scholarship holder.
A decade after mounting golf’s numerical summit, Jason Day believes Min Woo Lee now has all the tools to become Australian golf’s next male world No.1.
The Paris Olympic teammates spent Tuesday together at the Masters, playing a practice round with fellow Australian Cameron Smith as the trio all set to build on what are impressive records at Augusta National.
Day has finished top-five on three occasions, Smith boasts four finishes inside the top-six while Lee has two top-25 results from three appearances.
This year is different, though, for the 26-year-old West Australian.
This year Lee comes in as a PGA TOUR winner, a hurdle he was able to climb thanks in no small part to his friendship with Day.
Post fading from contention after holding the 36-hole lead at THE PLAYERS, Lee spoke briefly with Day on the putting green on the Tuesday of the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
The advice from the 2015 US PGA champion was simple: Trust the process and keep hitting good shots.
Five days later Lee was a PGA TOUR winner and the next day, at a career-high of No.22, was the No.1-male Australian player on the Official World Golf Ranking.
Day believes it is just the next step in becoming the best player on the planet.
“Obviously been out here a while and I can definitely tell when guys have that certain X factor about themselves and they have potential of standing out. Min is definitely one of those guys,” said Day, who spent a total of 51 weeks as world No.1.
“He hits it a mile. Has a really good short game. He does all the sexy stuff good. All the stuff that people love to see, he does that really, really well.
“It was funny. I was sitting there on Tuesday of Houston. I’m like, dude, you played great at THE PLAYERS. You had the lead through 36 holes. Obviously played good there beforehand. You just got to keep putting yourself in position and it’ll happen regardless.
“Obviously won that week.
“With Min, it’s all up to him if he wants to get to No.1 and to that next level. Obviously there is work ethic and that desire to become No.1 in the world. It’s a lifestyle change he has to understand.
“I know that he has the tools and the mental side to do it because he loves the moment, and that’s something that you cannot teach golfers in general, to love being in that moment and under the most stress.
“If he can really enjoy that and just improve over time, he’s got the best chance to become No.1 from Australia.”
Further emphasising his elevated place within world golf, Lee has been paired with good friend Collin Morikawa and 2023 Australian Open champion Joaquin Niemann in one of the feature groups for Round 1.
Twelve months ago, Lee drove down Magnolia Lane nursing a broken finger following a mishap with a dumbbell and feeling under the weather after sharing his jumper with a young fan while watching sister Minjee in the cold air of Las Vegas.
This week he arrived at Augusta ranked higher than the players he once idolised and who he shared a practice round with on Tuesday.
“It’s pretty surreal actually,” Lee said of being Australia’s highest-ranked male player at No.23.
“I mean, it’s crazy. I looked up to these guys and I still do.
“It’s awesome to be the No.1-ranked Aussie. I still feel like a little kid growing up and I don’t feel 26. I feel 18, 19, 20 as a youngster.
“But it is very cool. It’s cool to be there.
“I feel like I inspire kids and inspire people to love and play golf.
“It’s quite cool to be the top spot I guess in Australian golf and hopefully I can keep going.”
Round 1 tee times
10:52pm AEST
Cameron Smith, JT Poston, Aaron Rai
11:47pm
Min Woo Lee, Collin Morikawa, Joaquín Niemann
11:58pm
Jason Day, Phil Mickelson, Keegan Bradley
12:48am
Cameron Davis, Rafael Campos, Austin Eckroat
3:01am
Adam Scott, Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland
The World Sand Greens Championship for men will return to the national golfing calendar this September, with members of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia set to compete for a $140,000 purse at Binalong Golf Club.
The 36-hole championship at Binalong Golf Club in the NSW Southern Tablelands was a world first for professional men’s golf globally in 2024, when Queensland’s Brett Rankin triumphed in the non-Order of Merit counting event that will be played from September 26-28.
“The concept of playing a men’s professional tournament on sand greens was a first in Australia and captured the imagination of the players,” General Manager of Golf for Golf NSW Olivia Wilson said.
“They thoroughly enjoyed the nuances playing on sand greens created and adapted well.
“Sand greens golf plays an integral part in Australia’s golfing landscape, especially in rural communities, and it will be great to once again showcase this side of our game.”
“Playing and putting on sand is quite a different experience for many players. There are fundamental differences between landing approach shots and knowing how to ‘smooth’ a putting line.
“If a player doubts what to do, plenty of locals will be ready to offer free advice on the correct way to chip, smooth a line, and even hole a putt.”
General Manager of Tournaments and Global Tour Relationships for the PGA of Australia, Nick Dastey, said the Men’s World Sand Greens Championship was well received by the players last year and offers an interesting addition to the schedule.
“All reports from last year were highlighted by how much the players enjoyed the unique challenge, and local hospitality, when contesting the World Sand Greens Championship,” Dastey said.
“Not only does it offer our players another chance to compete and potentially lift a trophy, but the event allows for a unique experience playing tournament golf and highlights the variety on offer in Australian golf.
“As the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia schedule continues to build, we are thrilled to once again include the World Sand Greens Championship and the chance for one of our players to be crowned a world champion.”
Founded in 1857, Binalong Golf Club’s original nine-hole layout was carved through the middle of a now-defunct horse racing track, with the club located 37km northwest of Yass, about one hour from Canberra and three hours from Sydney.
Sitting 500 metres above sea level, the 18-hole, par-72 course is considered one of the best examples of a sand greens layout in regional New South Wales, with the club also hosting this year’s Women’s World Sand Greens.
The Men’s World Sand Greens Championship is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
With First Stage of Qualifying School at Moonah Links underway, two-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner Anthony Quayle takes us inside golf’s most ruthless assignment.
Ask any player who has teed it up at a Qualifying School anywhere in the world and they will tell you the same thing: The pressure is about as much as you’ll ever feel in your life.
The consequences are just so much greater.
Some of the boys who are teeing it up this week at Moonah Links have been working a part-time job in between practising, saving up for their one shot at a spot on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia next season.
Play poorly, and it’s a long wait before you try again.
Play well and, as guys like Kazuma Kobori have shown, you can be playing major championships inside 18 months.
The first time I competed at a Q School was on the Korn Ferry Tour almost 10 years ago.
I got through First Stage quite comfortably and was going OK at Second Stage, when, out of nowhere, I made a triple and then a ‘quad’ on back-to-back holes in Round 3.
You make a mistake and it feels like your world’s ending a little bit.
As tough as that was, one thing that I found really comforting was that a couple of years prior, Jordan Spieth had missed out at Second Stage of Korn Ferry Q School.
Within a year he had won on the PGA TOUR.
A couple of years ago during a press conference at the Masters, Xander Schauffele spoke about how Q School and the Korn Ferry Tour prepared him to win tournaments on the PGA TOUR and, ultimately, majors.
Apart from that first experience in the US, my record at Q Schools has been pretty good.
I got through both stages to get my PGA Tour of Australasia card and went through three stages before getting one of 20 cards at Final Stage for the Japan Golf Tour.
But both times the result could have been very different.
I was 70th going into the final round of Final Stage of Australasian Q School and needed to finish top 30 to get my card.
The weather was horrific that final day – beanie-weather cold, hammering down rain – and I shot 69, which was the low round of the day, to run 20th and get my card.
Every year there are thousands of people who enter Q School in Japan but there are only 20 cards handed out at the end.
I was able to skip First Stage and then I shot 10-under to win Second Stage.
At Third Stage, I knew I was right on the number coming down the stretch.
I was really, really, really nervous. The final hole was a par-5 with a semi-island green so going for it in two was not viable, given the circumstance.
I had about 78 metres to a pin tucked next to the water and finished pin high, eight feet to the left of the flag, and holed that for birdie.
I was the last man get into Final Stage thanks to that birdie.
It’s funny when you look back on things like that because if I had missed that putt, then my past seven years might’ve been totally different.
My coach Ken Berndt always told me that the best way to play Q School is get ahead early… and get further ahead as the week goes on.
It sounds really simple, but that type of thinking has helped me to navigate Q Schools relatively successfully.
As a player, if you can handle the pressure that comes with Q School, imagine how well you can do with an abundance of opportunity.
For me, once I got over that line, I was just so excited at the prospect of having 10 or 12 tournaments to play in.
That overwhelming sense of opportunity felt like a speed ramp into professional golf.
For those at Q School, while it’s one of the most important weeks of your life, you can’t be buying into that narrative.
You have to look at it as one of the hundreds of events that you’re going to play as a pro.
Now, that’ll either turn out to be true or not be true, but your mindset needs to be that this is going to be one of many and I need to go out and compete the best I can.
And follow Ken’s advice: Get ahead early… and get further ahead!
Winner of the 2020 Queensland Open and 2022 Queensland PGA, Anthony Quayle finished fifth on the 2024/2025 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
First Stage of Qualifying School will be conducted over 54 holes over two sections. Section A will play the Legends Course while Section B will play the Open Course at Moonah Links.
A new national marketing campaign highlighting the expertise of PGA Professionals across all areas of the golf industry has gone live.
‘The Pro Will Know’ is designed highlight that PGA Professionals are there to assist all golfers with everything they need to enjoy the sport.
Whether it’s coaching, equipment, club-fitting, course management, or anything else to do with our sport, PGA Professionals and the ones every golfer should engage with.
“With their extensive knowledge, training, and passion for the sport, PGA Professionals are unquestionably the experts in golf,” said Geoff Stewart, General Manager – Education and Training for the PGA of Australia.
“At every level of the game, PGA Professionals are there to guide all types of golfers in their journey in the sport.
“From beginners just getting started through to the scratch marker looking for the putter that fits them perfectly, PGA Professionals are there to provide friendly, expert advice.
“We hope that this latest campaign emphasises that in a fun way that I’m sure every golfer can relate to.”
With the smell of major championships in the air, two Aussies in particular rose to the challenge this past week.
At the famed ‘Blue Monster’ at Trump National Doral, Marc Leishman produced some of the best golf of his life to storm home with the week’s only bogey-free round to claim the individual title at LIV Golf Miami.
It was double cause for celebration as the Ripper GC team of Leishman, Cameron Smith, Matt Jones and Lucas Herbert completed a commanding eight-stroke win in the team event, moving up to third on the overall season standings.
Although she bowed out in the quarter-finals to eventual runner-up Lauren Coughlin, there was much to like about Stephanie Kyriacou’s display at the T-Mobile Match Play in Las Vegas.
The 24-year-old defeated her Amundi Evian Championship conqueror Ayaka Furue and Nasa Hataoka in the group stage, advancing to the Round of 16 courtesy of a halved match with Auston Kim.
There she edged A Lim Kim to reach the quarter-finals where she lost 1-down to Coughlin.
10. Kirsten Rudgeley (Last week: 9)
The Ford Women’s NSW Open runner-up is not scheduled to return to the Ladies European Tour until the Aramco Korea Championship from May 9-11. Currently ranked No.124 in Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking.
9. Stephanie Kyriacou (New)
Looked focused and formidable in playing her way into the quarter-finals of the T-Mobile Match Play in Las Vegas. Went through the group phase undefeated and, on the back of a tie for 13th at the Ford Championship looks primed for a big year. Moved up five spots to No.52 in the world ranking.
8. Anthony Quayle (7)
Looking ahead to US Open qualifying after finishing fifth on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit. His second-place finish at The National Tournament was his eighth top 10 from his past 13 starts.
7. Elvis Smylie (6)
Will resume his rookie season on the DP World Tour at next week’s Volvo China Open after claiming the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
6. Minjee Lee (5)
Made a promising start to the T-Mobile Match Play in Las Vegas with a 1-up win over Jasmine Suwannapura. Lost to eventual champion Madelene Sagstrom 3&2 in Round 2 and then went down narrowly to Patty Tavatanakit to miss advancing out of the group stage.
5. Marc Leishman (New)
Led Ripper GC to an eight-stroke team win in taking out his first LIV Golf individual title at LIV Golf Miami. Three shots back at the start of the final round, Leishman had drawn level with 36-hole leader Bryson DeChambeau by the eighth hole. A three-metre par putt on the final hole completed the only bogey-free round of the entire week and clinched a one-shot win.
4. Karl Vilips (4)
Another week on the sidelines for the Puerto Rico Open winner who will likely next peg it up at the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links. A Signature Event, Vilips will qualify via the Aon Swing 5 ranking.
3. Hannah Green (2)
With two top-seven finishes already to her name from just four starts, will defend the second of her three titles from 2024 at next week’s JM Eagle LA Championship.
2. Lucas Herbert (3)
Bounced back from a 5-over 77 in Round 1 at Trump National Doral to play a pivotal role in Ripper GC’s team win at LIV Golf Miami. His 3-under 69 was the best of Round 2 and then backed that up with 74 in the final round for a commanding team win.
1. Min Woo Lee (1)
Popped in to see his sister and have a stint in the commentary booth at the T-Mobile Match Play in Las Vegas in the wake of his Texas Children’s Houston Open victory. Australia’s highest-ranked male player looks primed to make a deep run at the Masters.
The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.
Three young Melbourne women have become the first beneficiaries of a new educational initiative between the PGA Institute and the Holmesglen Institute.
With the objective of providing more educational opportunities for Melbourne’s youth, the PGA Institute has deepened its partnership with Holmesglen Institute by launching a scholarship program in conjunction with Launch Housing’s Youth Foyer initiative.
Students from the Holmesglen Youth Foyer can now earn a scholarship to undertake the Diploma of Business through weekly facilitated workshops.
Located in Glen Waverley, the Education First Youth Foyer is run by Launch Housing in partnership with the Brotherhood of St. Laurence and Holmesglen TAFE. It provides young people between the ages of 16-25, who are unable to live at home, access to mainstream education, training and employment opportunities, while living in student-style accommodation. It is one of two Education First Youth Foyers run by Launch Housing in Melbourne.
Students are provided with learning tools and skills, safe and affordable accommodation for up to two years, education and employment opportunities, and the opportunity to develop independent living skills.
They also gain access to work placements, providing a holistic program, with the training to be conducted onsite at the Youth Foyer.
Ebony, Taylor and Tiara are the first scholarship recipients and are already enrolled and eager to begin their studies.
“The program has been really interesting and engaging and it’s not something that I would have thought about doing before. I really enjoy it and am excited to learn more,” said Ebony.
“I enjoy how interactive it is. It’s really engaging for me and talk to people and talk to people in the real world.”
“I really like how its small class and you get one-on-one engagement and it really helps with getting the work done, you can go at your own pace,” added Taylor.
PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman is proud to enhance the PGA Institute’s educational offerings through the program.
“At the PGA Institute, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding educational options and initiatives,” said Kirkman.
“We also aim to empower and nurture, and through this scholarship program in conjunction with Homesglen’s Education First Youth Foyer, we are proud to be able to offer that support to even more young Melbourne students.
“We’re excited to welcome our first three scholarship recipients and we’re eager to build on our relationship with Youth Foyer to expand this program into the future.”
On top of the regular training workshops and workforce placements, the three students will also gain valuable insights through Youth Foyer’s existing relationship with the Hawthorn Football Club.
To find out more about the PGA Institute, CLICK HERE.
To find out more about Education First Youth Foyer, CLICK HERE.
Simon Hawkes has claimed his home Open for a second time after producing a near flawless final round in windy conditions to win the Men’s Tasmanian Open at Launceston Golf Club.
Co-leader with William Bruyeres and Aaron Pike at the start of Round 3, Hawkes held his nerve and holed a number of crucial par putts to shoot 3-under 69 and finish one stroke clear of Victorian Connor McDade (67) with Caleb Bovalina two strokes further back in third.
In adding to his 2016 win, Hawkes becomes the first two-time Tasmanian winner of the Tasmanian Open since the legendary Peter Toogood won his eighth way back in 1959.
As the gusty wind and pacey putting surfaces put plenty of players under pressure, Hawkes refused to falter until the very last hole of the tournament.
A closing bogey did little to diffuse his satisfaction as he added to his 2016 Tasmanian Open and WA Open and Vic Open wins.
“It’s always a bit of extra nerves,” Hawkes said.
“With the other two state opens, I don’t think I was as nervous as the two I’ve won here.
“It’s a lot bigger to win your home Open; it’s amazing.
“You always come to this event with the goal of winning and to be able to pull it off is amazing.”
It was a rare Tasmanian double on Sunday as Royal Hobart Golf Club’s Mackenzie Thomas (81) held on for a two-stroke win in the Women’s Tasmania Open and South Australian George Vassiliadis completed a convincing win in the Tasmania Inclusive Championship.
Turning point
It was as the lead group approached the turn that Hawkes was able to separate himself from both Pike and Bruyeres.
Two-under on his round through six holes, Hawkes had a one-stroke advantage from Pike and was two clear of Bruyeres.
Pars at the next three holes would put Hawkes on the path to victory as Bruyeres and Pike both lost ground.
Pike made bogeys at both seven and nine to go out in 1-over while Bruyeres followed a bogey on eight with a double-bogey at the par-4 ninth, dropping five shots back of Hawkes.
While Bruyeres would make a late charge with three birdies in his final four holes, Hawkes’ near faultless display gave him enough of a buffer to absorb a closing bogey and hold on for the win.
Quick quotes
“Looking at the forecast this morning, I knew it was going to be a day that you had to really dig deep and focus hard,” said Hawkes.
“That’s sort of the achievement I made today. It was a process goal that was achieved to have the outcome goal, which was winning the tournament.
“With the exception of the blemish up the last, I was bogey free, which at that point I was really proud of.
“My processes were really good today and that’s what helped me get over line the.”
Final scores
1 Simon Hawkes 66-72-69—207
2 Connor McDade 69-72-67—208
3 Caleb Bovalina 70-69-71—210
4 William Bruyeres 70-68-73—211
T5 Mark Panopoulos 73-70-69—212
T5 Aaron Pike 65-73-74—212
