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Jasper Stubbs and Quinn Croker will make an immediate switch to concentrating on their professional golf careers after finishing the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan today.
And the leading Australian at Taiheiyo Club Gotemba, Phoenix Campbell, won’t be far behind once he completes his Japanese double.
One of the men Stubbs beat in last year’s playoff at Royal Melbourne, China’s Wenyi Ding, gained redemption by claiming the 2025 Asia-Pacific Amateur title with a 12-under-par total, proving why he was the highest-ranked player in the world amateur rankings coming into this week.
Four consecutive rounds of 67 gave the 19-year-old, who is heading for the DP World Tour, a one-stroke margin over countryman Ziqin Zhou.
Stubbs will be the first of this year’s Australian AAC contingent to play as a professional. He faces 16 hours of flight time to reach Western Australia and the resumption of the 2024/25 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia after finishing his title defence in a share of 32nd place at 5-over-par.
Meanwhile, Croker will tackle the first stage of Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School in Florida in the United States from October 15-18 before taking up the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia membership he earned by winning the Future Tour category last season.
The reigning Australian Amateur and Queensland Amateur champion closed with his best round of the week in Japan, a 2-under 68, to be 1-over overall and tied for 19th.
Campbell ended up in a share of 13th at 2-under after closing with a 68.
The only Australian with a chance of securing the title heading into the final day, Campbell’s victory chances disappeared when he dropped three shots late in the third round which concluded Sunday morning.
Campbell has just one tournament left to play as an amateur, the Japan Open at Tokyo Golf Club this week, before he too switches over to the professional ranks. Campbell will take up the two-year exemption available to him courtesy of his win at the Queensland PGA Championship last year.
The Victorian’s debut as a pro will come at the 100th WA Open, starting on October 17 at Mandurah Golf and Country Club.
“To finish as the top Aussie is a nice achievement,” Campbell said.
“There’s a bit there to work on for next week but, overall, I’m pretty pleased with the week.”
Stubbs’ first event as a professional is now just four days away in much different surroundings than he’s encountered in a very wet Japan this week – the CKB WA PGA Championship in Kalgoorlie.
“I never really felt like I could get anything going,” the Victorian said of his title defence.
“As soon as I’d make a couple of birdies, I’d give them straight back, and that’s how the whole week sort of went.
“It’s been a cool week trying to defend. Unfortunately, not the week I was hoping for, but still a special week.”
Just off the pace from day one, Croker was keen to finish his second AAC on a high and he achieved that with a closing 68 that lifted him inside the top 20.
“You definitely don’t want to leave Japan and not finish under-par in at least one round,” the Queenslander said.
“It was good to finish off the way I did. It could have been anything out there. There were a lot of putts that could have gone in and I could have finished off really special but it wasn’t to be.
“Obviously I wanted (the week) to be slightly better but I’ll take that for the first time in Japan.”
His first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia event as a professional will be Webex Players Series South Australia in Willunga.
The 2025 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship will be played in Dubai from October 23-26.
Australian scores
-2: Phoenix Campbell (Vic) 71-66-73-68
+1: Quinn Croker (Qld) 70-70-73-68
+1: Tony Chen (Vic) 71-69-71-70
+5: Jasper Stubbs (Vic) 72-71-71-70
+5: Connor Fewkes (WA) 74-71-71-69
+6: Billy Dowling (Qld) 72-69-74-71
+14: Lukas Michel (Vic) 71-76-73-74
Lisa Jean has declared that her playing days are over after leading the PGA of Australia team to a third-place finish at the Women’s PGA Cup at Sunriver Resort in Oregon.
Just two strokes ahead of the Great Britain and Ireland team when the final round began, Jean (68), captain Katelyn Must (70) and Grace Lennon (71) contributed to the team’s 4-under total in Round 3 to end the week 12 strokes clear of the British and Irish team.
Lennon (2-over) and Must (3-over) both finished inside the top 10 in the individual standings as the US team won for the third time and Canada finished second.
Jean was emotional after the round, confirming that it would be her last competitive round at this level.
“I told the girls this morning at breakfast that I was going to retire officially after this event,” said Jean.
“My body’s just been through the mill with the hard work, trying to play and practice with injuries.
“I just went out there today and thought, You’re just going to have to go for it.
“Hit the ball really well, made a lot of really good putts. It actually felt like some of my game used to be like, which was nice.”
After a great start with birdies at two and five, Jean was square with the card by the turn due to dropped shots at seven and nine.
Digging deep as she prepared to sign off, Jean made birdie at 10, 12, 15 and 17 before making bogey on the final hole.
More than the way she played, Jean said such an event was the perfect place to bring her playing days to an end.
“It’s been an amazing experience,” she added.
“Having played in 2019, I knew what it was going to be like, so I really wanted to be back here with the girls.
“We’ve got amazing women in the PGA of Australia so really wanted to be back here.
“It’s been a great experience and everyone’s been so welcoming and friendly and we’ve had a lot of fun.”
Must had three birdies and two bogeys in producing her best round of the week while Lennon matched her even-par round of the day prior to finish the individual standings in a tie for fifth.
Final team scores
1 USA -14
2 Canada -2
3 Australia +14
4 GB & Ireland +26
5 Sweden +54
6 South Africa +62
Defending champion Peter Lonard went back-to-back but had company at the top of the leaderboard of the Hahn Shelly Beach Legends Pro-Am.
Back at the course where he played his first ever round of golf, Lonard shot 2-under 69, a score that was matched by Scott Barr, David McKenzie and first-time winner Ken Druce.
Winner of the 1999 Victorian Open in a more than decade-long career playing on Tour, Druce now specialises in golf-specific fitness training along with his role as a Teaching Professional at Royal Sydney Golf Club.
The 52-year-old was thrilled to earn his maiden PGA Legends Tour win amongst such distinguished company.
“I haven’t won anything for about 20 years. It’s nice to be tied with that sort of calibre of player, too,” said Druce.
For Lonard, it was another happy memory to add to a long list at Shelly Beach.
“I actually played my first game of golf of my life here,” said Lonard.
“My grandparents lived up here, so I loved the area, loved the whole vibe of the course and the clubhouse.
“I suppose you play better when you’re in a happy place.”
The top nine on the leaderboard were separated by just two shots, the quartet of winners finishing a couple clear of David Van Raalte (71), David Diaz (71), Nigel Lane (71) and Mike Harwood (71).
HOW THE WINNING ROUNDS UNFOLDED
Out in the morning groups, Druce was the first to post 69.
It was a strong start too, picking up two birdies in his opening four holes after starting his round from the par-5 15th.
Druce was 4-under on his round after further birdies at five and nine but dropped shots late at holes 12 and 13 to set the mark for the afternoon groups.
Lonard was even par through 13 holes of his round before picking up birdies at 14 and 15 to sign for 2-under.
McKenzie needed to birdie his final hole – the par-4 12th – to also finish at 2-under while Barr had just the one bogey at the par-4 second, birdies at 15, eight and nine enough to join the logjam at 2-under.
WHAT THE WINNERS SAID
“You’ve got to drive it really straight and hit a lot of good shots,” said Lonard.
“The wind was up a little bit today – nor-easter I think it was – so the course was quite a good test.
“Of course, it was in magnificent condition. The greens were fantastic and it was good fun.”
“I got to 4-under quite early and dropped a few coming home on a couple of tough holes,” said Druce.
“Overall I was very happy.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
T1 Ken Druce 69
T1 Peter Lonard 69
T1 Scott Barr 69
T1 David McKenzie 69
T5 David Van Raalte 71
T5 David Diaz 71
T5 Nigel Lane 71
T5 Michael Harwood 71
NEXT UP
The PGA Legends Tour heads to the South Coast of New South Wales on Monday for the two-day Sapphire Coast Legends Pro-Am to be followed by the Mollymook Senior Masters at Mollymook Golf Club.
In its first year as a Golf Australia Junior Order of Merit event, the PGA Institute Secondary Schools Tournament proved a huge success today at Sandhurst Club, with golfers travelling from all over Victoria and even New South Wales.
While the 18-hole stroke play event was the main ticket item for the day, the 40 kids in attendance were also given the opportunity to learn more about what is on offer at the PGA Institute, and whether it may be a pathway they consider as they approach the end of their secondary school years.
The PGA Institute offers education, combining business, golf training, hospitality and sport as well as practical golf skills to prepare students for a career in the golf industry.
Whether students are elite golfers or not, the PGA Institute helps those with a passion for golf, blend said passion with a career.
The Institute also has several high education partnerships, which allows students to earn credits for bachelor degrees at a number of universities. This means that even if a student does not achieve the year-12 score they desire, the PGA Institute can be a great pathway to higher education.
On the day, Grace Li and Davinder Singh took out the girls and boys gross events with scores of 81 and 73 respectively on the Champions Course at Sandhurst.
Playing her golf at Box Hill Golf Club, Li’s 81 wasn’t her best score, however it was good enough to win on the day by one-shot over runner-up Grace Yang.
“It was good conditions and the course was really nice,” said the 13-year-old. “I had a really good birdie, but I can’t remember which hole it was on now!”
15-year-old Singh’s blistering 73 was also good enough to win by one-shot over runner-up David Zhu. The Royal Melbourne member particularly proud of his efforts on the seventh.
“An eagle chip-in on seven was definitely my highlight which was awesome,” he said.
To find out more about the PGA Institute, CLICK HERE.
Grahame Stinson had two eagles and David McKenzie finished with a flurry of birdies to share top honours at the Magenta Shores Legends Pro-Am at Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club.
One of the most spectacular golf courses in the country gave the field of PGA Legends Tour players everything they could handle on Thursday, Stinson and McKenzie conjuring something special to each post 2-under 69 to finish two strokes clear.
Grant Kenny, Chris Taylor, Terry Price and Scott Barr all shot even-par 71 to share third spot but it was Stinson and McKenzie who stood tallest.
Brilliant approach shots at 16 and 17 and a two-putt birdie on 18 elevated McKenzie to the top of the leaderboard while Stinson made his mark early with an eagle at his very first hole.
“I started on the eighth and I hit driver, 6-iron and had 90 metres for my third and I holed it,” said Stinson, who also made eagle at the par-5 second.
“I thought, This is going to be a good day.”
HOW THE WINNING ROUNDS UNFOLDED
McKenzie and Magenta Shores wrestled for the opening seven holes as the Champions Tour veteran peeled off seven straight pars to start.
His first birdie came at the par-5 eighth yet he gave it back immediately with a bogey on nine.
On the back of four consecutive pars McKenzie dropped to 1-over with a bogey on 14 only to catch fire late with three birdies in succession from the 16th hole.
Two-under after his first hole, Stinson also found birdies hard to come by.
Bogeys at nine and 14 saw Stinson fall back to even par through eight holes but he was back in red figures with a birdie at the par-4 16th.
His eagle on two was erased by bogeys on one and three but a closing birdie on the par-3 seventh clinched a second win inside a week.
WHAT THE WINNERS SAID
“It’s a big boys golf course. This one, you can’t hide anywhere,” said McKenzie.
“You’ve got to hit a lot of good golf shots and you have to have a bit of luck too.
“I just was hanging in there, but then I hit it into tap-in distance on both 16 and 17. Then hit it on 18 in two and two-putted.
“Three really nice holes and the rest just kept it in play without doing anything silly.”
“At the moment it’s going really good,” said Stinson.
“I’m playing good. I’m putting well even though I missed a little three-footer on the little temporary par 3.
“This is a tough golf course. I normally let the arms a bit loose and get into the driver but I just noodled it around here today just to keep it in play.
“I missed the first fairway and had to take bogey but other than that, it was pretty solid.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
T1 David McKenzie 69
T1 Grahame Stinson 69
T3 Grant Kenny 71
T3 Chris Taylor 71
T3 Terry Price 71
T3 Scott Barr 71
NEXT UP
The Central Coast swing wraps up on Friday with the Hahn Shelly Beach Legends Pro-Am before moving south on Monday for the two-day Sapphire Coast Legends Pro-Am at Merimbula Golf Club and Tura Beach Country Club.
TrackMan has teamed up with the PGA of Australia to offer a special way to attend this year’s BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland.
The winners of the three divisions of the Virtual Road to the PGA, running until October 31, will earn a place in the Road to the PGA Championship Final played at Royal Queensland Golf Club on the Sunday before the international field of professionals vie for the Joe Kirkwood Cup.
The championship finalists not only get to play the course under pristine tournament conditions, they will also be competing for two sought after Kirkwood Club tickets to the first day of Min Woo Lee’s defence of his PGA title.
Entering is simple. You just need to play a round on the 2024 Presidents Cup course, Royal Montreal, on TrackMan.
The Virtual Road to the PGA can be found in the TrackMan Golf app under tournaments and a low score at Royal Montreal could send you all the way to Royal Queensland.
To find your nearest TrackMan location, go to TrackMan.com/locator.
For more on the Road to the PGA, go to https://championship.pga.org.au/road-to-the-pga-faqs/
Virtual Road to the PGA tournament format:
Sign-up and entry requirements
The tournament will be made available in all TrackMan simulators across Australia. You can sign up directly in the TrackMan software (under tournaments). The requirement to join is that you have a TrackMan handicap and has played at least two rounds of golf in TrackMan (it can be two rounds of nine holes)
It took 17 holes to make a putt of any length but Adam Henwood made one when it mattered to take the Austbrokers Wyong Legends Pro-Am at Wyong Golf Club.
Joint winner with Chris Taylor at Glen Innes a week ago, Henwood battled away without luck for much of his round on Wednesday.
Despite the rain the course had received in the days prior the playing surfaces were impeccable, Henwood finally chasing in with birdies on 16 and 17 for a round of 3-under 68 and a one-stroke win from Taylor (69) and Peter Lonard (69).
“I couldn’t get a putt to save myself,” Henwood lamented of his early struggles.
“I hit it to about half a foot on 16 and holed about a 50-footer up two tiers with about 15 feet of break on 17. It was hilarious.
“If you can’t get a four-footer or six-footer for the day, might as well hole a 50-footer.”
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
Carrying on his good form of recent weeks, Henwood made a steady start to his round.
His first birdie of the day came at the par-5 third and was followed a short time later by a second at the par-3 seventh.
After making the turn in 2-under, Henwood dropped a shot at the par-4 11th but finished in a flurry with birdies at the par-5 16th and par-3 17th.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“After the rain they’ve had, I actually thought we were going to have a bit of a boggy mess,” Henwood admitted.
“I thought the greens would be pretty scarred up and pretty bumpy, but it was amazing. The fairways were great.
“It played really long and the greens were just pure; it was really surprising.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Adam Henwood 68
T2 Peter Lonard 69
T2 Chris Taylor 69
T4 Brad Burns 70
T4 Terry Price 70
T6 Grahame Stinson 71
T6 David McKenzie 71
T6 Andre Stolz 71
T6 Tim Elliott 71
T6 Lucas Bates 71
T6 Leigh McKechnie 71
NEXT UP
The PGA Legends Tour stays on the Central Coast on Thursday for the Magenta Shores Legends Pro-Am at Magenta Shores Country Club before moving on to Shelly Beach Golf Club on Friday for the Hahn Shelly Beach Legends Pro-Am.
Only an extraordinary chain of events stands between Karl Vilips and promotion to the PGA TOUR in 2025 as Cassie Porter enters the Epson Tour Championship with one hand on an LPGA Tour card.
In two of the most compelling golf tournaments of the year in which storylines fluctuate based on almost every shot, the Korn Ferry Tour and Epson Tour will crown 30 and 15 graduates respectively.
A total of 17 players have already earned enough points to guarantee their elevation from the Korn Ferry Tour to the PGA TOUR, Vilips the next in line at No.18 for the 13 remaining cards to be handed out.
A winner in his fourth start on Tour having graduated from Stanford College in June, it would mark a meteoric rise for a young man who has been on a trajectory to the PGA TOUR from a very early age.
‘Koala Karl’ had won two US Kids World Championship titles before the age of 10 and now, at age 22, is almost assured of joining the PGA TOUR next season.
Top 30 into the final event of the season @tourchampulf 👀
— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) September 30, 2024
Who will finish #TOURBound? pic.twitter.com/2ia2sqKBT7
Porter, too, has been predicted to play at the highest level from a young age.
Runner-up at the Masters of the Amateurs in a playoff in 2020, Porter turned professional in 2001 at the age of 18.
She edged good friend Kelsey Bennett to win the WPGA Melbourne International in January 2023 and in her second year on the Epson Tour in the US, won the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in June.
That, along with three top-10 finishes throughout the season, has her placed 11th in the Race For The Card standings, the top 15 after this week’s Tour Championship to earn status on the LPGA Tour in 2025.
This week also represents a wonderful opportunity for a host of Aussies teeing it up in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.
Along with Kiwi Order of Merit winner Kazuma Kobori, Daniel Gale, Brett Coletta, Matthew Griffin, David Micheluzzi, Jak Carter, Cameron John, Kade McBride, Lachlan Barker and Jordan Zunic are all playing one of the DP World Tour’s most iconic events by virtue of their performances on the 2023/2024 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season.
There are 13 Aussies – including 2013 champion Scott Hend – playing the Mercuries Taiwan Masters on the Asian Tour and Kirsten Rudgeley and Kelsey Bennett will be out to continue their recent good form at the Aramco Team Series event in China.
Round 1 tee times AEST
PGA TOUR
Sanderson Farms Championship
The Country Club of Jackson, Jackson, Mississippi
11:11pm Tim Wilkinson (NZ)
2:50am Ryan Fox (NZ)
4:07am* Aaron Baddeley
Defending champion: Luke List
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US7.6m
TV times: Live 10pm-9am Thursday; Live 10pm-9:30am Friday; Live 7am-10am Sunday; Live 6:30am-9:30am Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
DP World Tour
Alfred Dunhill Links Championship
Old Course St Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland
St Andrews
6:44pm Daniel Hillier (NZ), Matthew Griffin
7:06pm Sam Jones (NZ)
8:01pm Daniel Gale
Carnoustie
6:11pm Kazuma Kobori (NZ)
6:55pm Lachlan Barker
7:50pm Jak Carter
7:50pm* Matt Jones
Kingsbarns
6:55pm Kade McBridge
7:06pm Jordan Zunic
7:39pm* David Micheluzzi
7:50pm* Cameron John
8:01pm Brett Coletta
Defending champion: Matt Fitzpatrick
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US5m
TV times: Live 9pm-2am Thursday, Friday on Fox Sports 505; 9pm-3am Saturday; Live 9:30pm-3am Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Asian Tour
Mercuries Taiwan Masters
Taiwan Golf and Country Club, Chinese Taipei
9am* Maverick Antcliff
9:10am* Sam Brazel
9:20am* Jed Morgan
9:45am Aaron Wilkin
1:25pm* Harrison Crowe
1:30pm Andrew Dodt
1:35pm* Todd Sinnott
1:45pm* Kevin Yuan
2:05pm* Zach Murray
2:15pm* Jack Thompson
2:20pm Brendan Jones
2:30pm Scott Hend
2:40pm Deyen Lawson
2:50pm Justin Warren
Defending champion: Jaco Ahlers
Past Aussie winners: Scott Hend (2013)
Prize money: $US1m
Japan Golf Tour
ACN Championship Golf Tournament
Miki Golf Club, Hyogo
9:50am* Michael Hendry (NZ)
10:20am Brad Kennedy
10:40am Anthony Quayle
Defending champion: Yuki Inamori
Past Aussie winners: Graham Marsh (1974, 1982), Brian Jones (1985, 1987, 1988)
Prize money: ¥100,000,000
Ladies European Tour
Aramco Team Series Presented by PIF – Shenzhen
Mission Hills Resort (World Cup Cse), China
Australasians in the field: Kirsten Rudgeley, Kelsey Bennett
Defending champion: Xiyu Lin
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US1m
TV times: Live 3pm-7pm Friday on Fox Sports 505; Live 4pm-7pm Saturday; Live 5pm-8pm Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Korn Ferry Tour
Korn Ferry Tour Championship
French Lick Golf Resort (Pete Dye Cse), French Lick, Indiana
10:52pm Karl Vilips
Defending champion: Paul Barjon
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US1.5m
TV times: Live 3am-6am Friday; Live 3am-7am Saturday, Sunday on Fox Sports 505; Live 3:30am-6:30am Monday on Fox Sports 503.
Epson Tour
Epson Tour Championship at Indian Wells
Indian Wells Golf Resort (Players Cse), Indian Wells, California
12:37am Cassie Porter
1:10am* Amelia Garvey (NZ)
5:18am* Fiona Xu (NZ)
Defending champion: Auston Kim
Past Aussie winners: Kristie Smith (2010)
Prize money: $US287,500
Challenge Tour
D+D REAL Czech Challenge
Royal Beroun Golf Club, Beroun, Czech Republic
8:45pm Hayden Hopewell
9:05pm* Connor McKinney
Defending champion: Andrea Pavan
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €270,000
LET Access Series
Iberdrola Calatayud Ladies Open
Gambito Golf Calatayud, Spain
Australasians in the field: Laura Hoskin (NZ)
Defending champion: Hannah Screen
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €45,000
PGA TOUR Champions
Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS
Timuquana Country Club, Jacksonville, Florida
Australasians in the field: Steven Alker, Steve Allan, Stuart Appleby, David Bransdon, Greg Chalmers, Rod Pampling, Cameron Percy, John Senden, Michael Wright.
Defending champion: Brett Quigley
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US2.1m
TV times: Live 4am-6am Saturday on Fox Sports 507; Live 5am-7am Sunday, 9:30am-11am Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Sunshine Tour
SunBet Challenge hosted by Sun Sibaya
Umhlali Country Club, Ballito, South Africa
4:10pm Astin Arthur (a, NZ)
8:20pm* Austin Bautista
Defending champion: Martin Rohwer
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: R2m
A sudden change in fortunes with the flatstick has carried Tim Elliott to a one-stroke victory at the Toronto Legends Pro-Am at Toronto Golf Club and Driving Range.
With a solitary PGA Legends Tour win to his name this season back in March, Elliott shrugged off his struggles to post 5-under 66 and edge Order of Merit leader Andre Stolz (67) by a shot with Peter Lonard (68) and Leigh McKechnie (68) sharing third.
Yet early on an Elliott triumph looked highly unlikely.
Out in the morning field off the 11th tee, Elliott was 2-over through six holes before the putts began to drop.
“I probably one putted – I haven’t worked it out – 12 of the last 13 holes,” said Elliott.
“Putting was just totally different.”
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
Bogeys at 13 and 14 had Elliott on the back foot early.
Back-to-back birdies at 17 and 18 sent him to the Toronto front nine square with the card where he quickly added two more at holes one and three.
Elliott made successive birdies again at seven and eight before closing with a birdie at the par-4 10th to edge one clear of the field and claim victory.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I haven’t been playing that well lately,” Elliott conceded.
“Putted terrible the day before and came out today and was 2-over early.
“Then started putting really good and managed to shoot 5-under.
“Course was great. The greens were just immaculate. Fantastic.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Tim Elliott 66
2 Andre Stolz 67
T3 Leigh McKechnie 68
T3 Peter Lonard 68
T5 Paul Powell 69
T5 Grahame Stinson 69
NEXT UP
The PGA Legends Tour sets up on the Central Coast for three straight days, starting with the Austbrokers Wyong Legends Pro-Am at Wyong Golf Club on Wednesday followed by the Magenta Shores Legends Pro-Am at Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club.
West Australian Haydn Barron has confirmed that he will play two events coming up on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia schedule.
The 28-year-old Western Australian Golf Club product has spent much of 2024 competing on the DP World Tour after earning his playing rights at Qualifying School late last year.
After a promising start to his rookie year, which included a top-10 finish at the Qatar Masters in February, Barron endured a tough run of results and will return to Q-School in November.
Prior to that, Barron will return to the PGA Tour of Australasia to play two events in his home state.
He will first play the CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics at Kalgoorlie Golf Course from October 10-13 and then back up a week later for the 100th staging of the Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open from October 17-20 at Mandurah Country Club.
A former WA state captain, Barron’s best finish at the WA Open came in 2020, where he finished as runner-up to fellow amateur Hayden Hopewell at Royal Fremantle. Last year, after embarking on a whirlwind trip home from St Andrews to the Kalgoorlie desert, Barron was runner-up to Ben Eccles in the WA PGA Championship.
“I’m excited to be able to come home and play in the state open,” Barron said.
“I’ve played well previously around Mandurah Country Club and am looking forward to getting back there in front of some familiar faces.”
On his rookie season on tour, Barron added: “This season has been nothing short of incredible. I’ve made so many new friends, learnt a heap of life lessons and experienced new and different places and cultures all around the world. I’ve just had a genuine all-round blast, and it’s hard to put the journey into words.
“It’s also been the toughest year I’ve had so far. I’ve spent nine of the last 12 months away from home, family and friends. There’s been laughs, smiles, frustration and tears. It’s been a rollercoaster.”
Gary Thomas, GolfWA’s Chief Executive, welcomed Barron’s participation in the WA Open, saying: “Baz is a hugely popular figure in WA golf and it’s great for the tournament and for local golf fans to be able to see him in action at Mandurah Country Club.
“I’m sure he’ll get a very warm reception and his experiences on the DP World Tour this year will hold him in good stead for the WA Open.”
