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If family and food count for anything, Minjee Lee is well placed to go back-to-back at this week’s BMW Ladies Championship in Korea.
Lee has not won since her playoff victory over Alison Lee at Seowon Valley Country Club 12 months ago, the return to a familiar setting with family support all around here – not to mention the Korean food – putting her in the right frame of mind for a successful defence.
Paired with New Zealand’s Lydia Ko and local hope Haeran Ryu for Thursday’s opening round, the 28-year-old is drawing on every positive memory she can to bring an end to her winning drought.
“It’s always a special week when I get to come back, and I enjoy the Korean food,” said Lee, who was part of an LPGA entourage who feasted on Korean barbecue on Tuesday.
“It’s very close to my heritage and I get to see my extended family as well. That’s always nice.
“And coming back to a golf course where you’ve won before and the memories, that’s cool, too.
“I just played one of the nines, and was like, Oh, this is where I holed a putt. And with Brad (caddie Brad Beecher) out there, we were talking about it just then.
“It’s just nice to come back; we have such great memories.”
Lee is one of five Aussies in the field this week, Hannah Green chasing a third win for the year, Grace Kim seeking her second LPGA Tour title and Gabi Ruffels and Hira Naveed both hunting their first.
The competition between Aussies will be strong in Thailand, too, with a total of 19 to contest the Black Mountain Championship on the Asian Tour.
Currently seventh on the Order of Merit, Travis Smyth will be out to continue his excellent season while Wade Ormsby returns to the same venue where he was victorious in the International Series a year ago.
Like Lee, Ormsby hopes to draw on that experience, albeit in a different tournament.
“It’s always nice to come back to a place where you have had success,” Ormsby said.
“The conditions are a little bit different this year, course looks a little bit wetter.
“They’ve had a lot of rain around here lately but the course looks in great shape.”
Ten Australians have qualified for week one of the PGA TOUR Champions playoffs while Cam Davis and Aaron Baddeley will fly the Aussie flag at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.
Round 1 tee times
PGA TOUR
Shriners Children’s Open
TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada
6:07am Aaron Baddeley
6:29am Cam Davis
7:02am* Ryan Fox (NZ)
Defending champion: Tom Kim
Past Aussie winners: Greg Norman (1986), Stuart Appleby (2003), Andre Stolz (2004), Rod Pampling (2016)
Prize money: $US7 million
TV times: Live 4am-11am Friday, Saturday; Live 8am-11am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
LPGA Tour
BMW Ladies Championship
Seowon Valley Country Club, Seowon Hills, Republic of Korea
10:21am* Grace Kim
10:54am* Hira Naveed
11:49am Hannah Green
12pm Gabriela Ruffels
12:22pm Lydia Ko (NZ), Minjee Lee
Defending champion: Minjee Lee
Past Aussie winners: Minjee Lee (2023)
Prize money: $US2.2 million
TV times: Live 2pm-6pm Thursday, Friday on Fox Sports 503; Live 2pm-6pm Saturday on Fox Sports 505; Live 2pm-6pm on Fox Sports 507 and Kayo.
DP World Tour
Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, Andalucía, Spain
10:50pm* David Micheluzzi
11:50pm Daniel Hillier (NZ)
Defending champion: Adrian Meronk
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US3.25 million
TV times: Live 11pm-4am Thursday, Friday; Live 10:30pm-3am Saturday; Live 8pm-1am Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Asian Tour
Black Mountain Championship
Black Mountain Golf Club, Thailand
10:45am* Travis Smyth
10:55am* Ben Campbell (NZ)
11:05am* Nick Voke (NZ)
11:15am Zach Murray
11:25am* Jack Thompson
11:45am* Jordan Zunic
3:05pm* Douglas Klein
3:15pm Kazuma Kobori (NZ)
3:15pm* Harrison Crowe
3:25pm* Todd Sinnott
3:45pm Wade Ormsby
3:35pm* Andrew Dodt
4:05pm* Aaron Wilkin
4:15pm Brendan Jones, Kevin Yuan
4:15pm* Maverick Antcliff, Marcus Fraser
4:25pm Deyen Lawson
4:25pm* Justin Warren
4:35pm Jed Morgan, Sam Brazel
4:35pm* Lachlan Barker
Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US2 million
TV times: Live 5pm-6pm Thursday on Fox Sports 505; Live 6pm-9pm Thursday on Fox Sports 503; Live 5pm-6pm Friday on Fox Sports 505; Live 3pm-7pm Saturday on Fox Sports 507; Live 6pm-7:15pm Sunday on Fox Sports 507 and Kayo.
PGA TOUR Champions
Dominion Energy Charity Classic
The Country Club of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
Australasians in the field: Steven Alker (NZ), Steve Allan, Stuart Appleby, David Bransdon, Greg Chalmers, Richard Green, Mark Hensby, Rod Pampling, Cameron Percy, John Senden, Michael Wright.
Defending champion: Harrison Frazar
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US2.3 million
TV times: Live 5am-8am Saturday on Fox Sports 505; Live 5am-8am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Challenge Tour
Hangzhou Open
Hangzhou West Lake Golf Club, Hangzhou, China
2:20pm* George Worrall
2:40pm* Hayden Hopewell
Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US500,000
Korean PGA Tour
The Charity Classic 2024
Sulhaewon CC, Republic of Korea
9am Sungjin Yeo (NZ)
9:40am Kevin Chun (NZ)
10:20am* Wonjoon Lee
2pm* Junseok Lee
2:10pm Scott Hend
Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize Money: KRW1 billion
Sunshine Tour
Fortress Invitational
Glendower Golf Club, Edenvale, South Africa
Australasians in the field: Austin Bautista
Defending champion: Robin Williams
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: R2 million
Just days after rounding out his illustrious amateur career with two successful weeks in Japan, Victorian Phoenix Campbell will make his debut as a professional golfer at this week’s Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet 100th WA Open at Mandurah Country Club.
Courtesy of his stunning win at last year’s Queensland PGA Championship at Nudgee Golf Club, Campbell has a two-year exemption on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, which he says takes the pressure off slightly for his debut season.
“I’m sitting pretty comfortable at the moment, but yeah, I’m just going to keep playing my game and keep developing, keep learning,” said the Yarra Yarra Golf Club member.
“I’m not going to put too much emphasis on getting anywhere straight away. I just want to keep growing and learning and becoming a better player and I think the rest will take care of itself.”
Campbell took out the 2024 Master of the Amateurs and earlier the 2023 Riversdale Cup. More recently he was the low Australian player at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, and the low amateur at last week’s Japan Open.
However the win at Nudgee almost 12 months ago was certainly the highlight of Campbell’s amateur career.
“It’s still pretty surreal. It all happened really quick. I remember having a pretty rough first day I played, but just nothing really dropped,” Campbell reflected.
“I was around the cut line I remember, and then my good mate, Ben, was actually complaining about it, and I just told him, I said, ‘mate, we’ve got to stick around, I’m going to win this week’.
“I was adamant I was going to have a good week.”
The Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
Many expected Campbell to turn professional immediately after that triumph and make use of his new category, but the Victorian is happy with his decision to wait.
“I gave myself the opportunity to have a few more experiences overseas with different courses and different places, meet new people,” Campbell said.
“Obviously I’ve been leading into this for a long time now and done a lot of work to get here.”
Despite arriving in Perth late on Tuesday night from Japan, Campbell is comfortable with the Mandurah layout, having finished fourth in a Mandurah Amateur a couple of years ago.
“It will be good to see it in the Pro-Am today and just kind of refresh me on what the course looks like,” he said.
“I’m pretty excited to get going. I’m going to try and take it as easy as possible today. I’ve got an afternoon tee time tomorrow so I can sleep in a little bit, which is good.”
Campbell will tee off in round one alongside Matias Sanchez and Harry Hillier at 12.25pm (WA time).
Reflecting on his win at the 2021 Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open, Braden Becker says staying at home and sleeping in his own bed went a long way in keeping him comfortable that week and gave him the extra edge he needed when the final day went down to the wire with Hayden Hopewell.
Not only is Becker sleeping in his own bed this week, but he’ll be also contesting the 100th WA Open on his home course at Mandurah Country Club.
Having been at Mandurah since he was a junior, Becker also completed the PGA Membership Pathway Program there and still works at the club, even helping a member with a club fit after his practice round on Monday.
“I would’ve played here, I don’t know, somewhere 1,500 to 2,000 times at least,” said Becker of his home track.
“I think the course looks great, they’ve definitely got the greens up and the fairways look fantastic, super smooth.
“Obviously it’s not very long golf course, but it’s very tight, and knowing where to miss is super important.”
The Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
His breakout win in 2021 at Royal Fremantle solidified Becker’s status on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, however despite having consistent seasons, he has been unable to re-enter the winners’ circle since hoisting the Roy Paxton Bowl.
Becker played both the opening events of this season, following up his T35 finish at the PNG Open with a T35 in Kalgoorlie last week in Kalgoorlie, but says he is happy where his game is at.
“The game’s sort of trending in the right direction, so I’m happy with that,” he said. “Obviously I really wanted to peak this week just, because it is what it is, being at my home course.
“I’m happy with how I’m driving the ball, happy with how I’m putting and chipping, so all the aspects of the game are there, just got to just minimise my own mistakes, pick the right holes to make a mistake.”
While Becker will have a significant advantage over most of the field this week, he’s not the only one, with a flurry of Mandurah locals hoping to hoist their home state’s open in its historic 100th year at their home course.
WPGA Tour of Australasia player Kathryn Norris is another Mandurah hopeful, and is one of four women in the field this week continuing a strong tradition of Western Australia’s top women golfers teeing it up in the state open.
Norris’s partner, who was playing so much golf at Mandurah that he has recently joined the club himself, Jordan Doull will be another player the Mandurah members will be backing this week.
Bursting onto the scene with a runner-up finish last week at Kalgoorlie, Doull will be looking to go one better at his new home club in addition to Mount Lawley, where he is among the star members that includes Hannah Green and Hira Naveed.
Arguably Mandurah’s best hope for a local winner however is Jason Scrivener, who is returning to contest his state open fresh off securing his DP World Tour card for another season.
Scrivener’s house is just over the fence from the 10th green at Mandurah, and like Becker, could probably play this course with his eyes closed. The pair played a casual round together a few months ago, with Scrivener lipping out on the 18th green to eventually card a 58.
Come Sunday, the balcony overlooking the 18th at Mandurah will be full, and if one of their fellow members is leading down the stretch, Becker says the scenes will be a sight to behold.
“I think anyone from here could do it, you definitely will see some scenes,” he said. “Everyone will run on the green and it’ll be a pretty wild celebration night.
“If it’s me, I might have to change my Monday flight, I might have to fly out Wednesday, but I mean it would be the best feeling ever.”
Big sister Minjee Lee claimed bragging rights but only just as she and brother Min Woo led the way for Aussies around the world.
From the point of an opening round of 5-under 67 Minjee was never far from the top of the leaderboard at the Buick LPGA Shanghai event in China.
A second consecutive 67 on Friday saw Minjee enter the weekend just two strokes off the lead, ultimately finishing in eighth position after rounds of 71-69 over the final two days.
Now ranked No.16 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking, it is a second straight top-finish for Minjee, replicating her strong end to the season of a year ago.
“I like playing in Asia. A lot of my family come out to watch, and I have a nice fan support group here as well,” Lee said about playing in Shanghai for the fourth time.
“It makes me feel more at home. Obviously, I enjoy playing everywhere, but Asia, it’s close to my heritage, and just nice to be here.”
Min Woo was also in Asia this past week, defending his SJM Macao Open crown at Macau Golf and Country Club.
Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan shot 9-under 61 and was never headed, Min Woo making steady progress up the leaderboard through the week with rounds of 68-68-67-66 to earn a share of ninth.
The putter proved to be Min Woo’s greatest weapon in his 4-under round on Sunday, needing just 12 putts on the back nine and 26 total to secure just his third top-10 of the year.
David Micheluzzi kept his hopes alive of qualifying for the DP World Tour Playoffs with a tie for 27th at the FedEx Open de France while Phoenix Campbell claimed low amateur honours at the Japan Open in his final event before turning professional.
Photos: Zhe Ji/Getty Images (Minjee Lee); Asian Tour (Min Woo Lee)
Results
PGA TOUR
Black Desert Championship
Black Desert Resort, Ivins, Utah
T46 Ryan Fox (NZ) 65-72-68-70—275
MC Tim Wilkinson (NZ) 69-69—138
MC Aaron Baddeley 70-74—144
LPGA Tour
Buick LPGA Shanghai
Qizhong Garden Golf Club, Shanghai, China
1 Ruoning Yin 70-66-63-64—263 $US315,000
8 Minjee Lee 67-67-71-69—274 $52,307
T47 Hannah Green 77-70-69-69—285 $7,608
T53 Hira Naveed 73-68-71-74—286 $6,657
DP World Tour
FedEx Open de France
Le Golf National, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France
1 Dan Bradbury 67-66-69-66—268 €505,265.12
T27 David Micheluzzi 72-67-67-70—276 €27,343.76
Asian Tour
SJM Macao Open
Macau Golf and Country Club, Macao, China
1 Rattanon Wannasrichan 61-66-67-66—260 $US180,000
T9 Min Woo Lee 68-68-67-66—269 $18,550
T19 Sam Brazel 63-69-70-70—272 $11,050
T23 Douglas Klein 67-68-69-69—273 $9,550
T23 Kevin Yuan 69-67-68-69—273 $9,550
T23 Jack Thompson 72-64-68-69—273 $9,550
T37 Maverick Antcliff 73-66-70-68—277 $6,410
T37 Scott Hend 70-68-73-66—277 $6,410
T56 Wade Ormsby 70-68-70-75—283 $3,400
T56 Denzel Ieremia (NZ) 70-65-74-74—283 $3,400
T61 Aaron Wilkin 72-68-70-74—284 $3,050
T63 Marcus Fraser 74-66-75-70—285 $2,850
T68 Justin Warren 68-71-80-69—288 $2,350
MC Jordan Zunic 71-70—141
MC Zach Murray 71-70—141
MC Todd Sinnott 71-70—141
MC Jed Morgan 72-70—142
MC Lachlan Barker 71-72—143
MC Harrison Crowe 70-74—144
MC Deyen Lawson 70-74—144
MC Nick Voke (NZ) 73-72—145
WD Brendan Jones 71
WD Andrew Dodt
Ladies European Tour
Wistron Ladies Open – Taiwan
Sunrise Golf and Country Club, Chinese Taipei
1 Chiara Tamburlini 66-73-68-69—276 $US182,902.40
T46 Kirsten Rudgeley 71-76-73-73—293 $4,618.29
Japan Golf Tour
Japan Open
Tokyo Golf Club, Saitama
1 Shugo Imahira 66-72-70-68—276 ¥42m
T25 Michael Hendry (NZ) 74-74-73-71—292 ¥1.533m
T31 Brad Kennedy 72-76-67-78—293 ¥1.365m
T34 Phoenix Campbell 70-78-74-72—294 ——-
MC Adam Scott 75-76—151
PGA TOUR Champions
SAS Championship
Prestonwood CC, Cary, North Carolina
1 Jerry Kelly 67-69-67—203 $US315,000
T5 Steven Alker 69-70-69—208 $92,000
T11 Michael Wright 69-73-69—211 $42,000
T29 Steve Allan 73-71-70—214 $14,560
T29 Cameron Percy 71-69-74—214 $14,560
T45 Rod Pampling 74-69-74—217 $8,400
T47 Mark Hensby 73-74-71—218 $6,720
T53 Greg Chalmers 70-74-75—219 $4,935
T61 David Bransdon 74-76-72—222 $3,150
T68 Stuart Appleby 80-74-70—224 $2,037
73 John Senden 81-73-73—227 $1,470
WD Richard Green 72-70—142
Challenge Tour
Hainan Open 2024
Sanya Luhuitou GC, Donghai Bay, China
1 Hamish Brown 66-70-67-66—269 €73,160.56
T49 Hayden Hopewell 70-71-74-69—284 €1,920.46
MC George Worrall 75-72—147
Korean PGA Tour
Baeksong Holdings-Asiad CC Busan Open
Asiad Country Club, Korea
1 Jang Yu-bin 65-69-73-68—275
Won on first hole of sudden-death playoff
T42 Sungjin Yeo (NZ) 70-72-73-70—285
T48 Wonjoon Lee 74-68-74-71—287
T62 Kevin Chun 75-68-76-75—294
MC Junseok Lee 74-73—147
MC Changgi Lee (NZ) 73-75—148
Sunshine Tour
Vodacom Origins of Golf – Wild Coast
Wild Coast Sun Country Club, Port Edward, South Africa
1 Jonathan Broomhead 70-66-63—199
MC Austin Bautista 68-74—142
South Australian Jack Buchanan has claimed a maiden Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff at the CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics at Kalgoorlie Golf Course.
On a day in which three players began with a share of the lead and contenders came and went throughout an absorbing afternoon, Buchanan (66) and West Australian Jordan Doull (67) both finished at 17-under-par, forcing an extension to their duel in the desert.
After a disastrous tee shot on the 72nd hole that led to a closing bogey, Buchanan took the first playoff hole by the scruff of the neck with a bomb down the centre of the fairway.
Doull was forced to scramble his way to the green after his tee shot missed the fairway left yet looked to have stolen the win when he made his birdie putt from just outside 15 feet.
Buchanan then had to make his own putt for birdie from six feet, finding just enough of the left edge to send the playoff down 18 for a second time.
The fairway again proved difficult to find from the tee, Doull’s hopes taking a hit when he was forced to play his second shot backwards to the safety of the fairway.
Although both players found themselves in the bunker to the right of the green, Buchanan had one shot up his sleeve, converting his putt from 10 feet for the birdie that would clinch victory.
Jack Buchanan is the #WAPGA Champion for 2024 🏆@CityofKalBould pic.twitter.com/JlwJmyigAp
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) October 13, 2024
“After I finished, I just accepted that no matter what happened, it was a good week,” said Buchanan.
“Lucky enough to get in a playoff and get it done.
“It was pretty nervy but it happened in the end.
“This means so much. Getting over that first hurdle makes you believe that you can do it more.”
Less than five months into his professional career, Doull began the day tied at the top with Elvis Smylie and Cameron John but it was Buchanan who quickly took the ascendancy.
Less than a year since turning professional, Buchanan made five birdies in his first seven holes to establish a three-shot lead only to three-putt the par-3 eighth and make double-bogey.
Playing his first event as a professional, Singapore’s Ryan Ang joined Buchanan at the top of the leaderboard early in the back nine yet suffered a setback of his own when he dropped shots at both 13 and 14.
Back-to-back birdies at 10 and 11 saw Doull join Buchanan at 15-under, his South Australian opposite responding with a 20-footer for birdie at the par-3 13th to edge one clear once again.
It quickly became a two-man shootout as the pair traded birdies to keep the likes of Ang (65), Smylie (68), John (69) and Brett Rankin (69) at bay.
A birdie on 17 sent Buchanan to the 72nd tee with a two-stroke lead yet Doull’s birdie on 16 and Buchanan’s closing bogey gave the West Australian a putt to win on the final hole.
Heartbreakingly for Doull, he left his 12-foot birdie try short, sending the pair back to the 18th tee for extra holes.
Smylie looks set for a big season after his third-place finish while Ang impressed on debut, sharing fourth place with John.
No need for the putter on this one for Ryan Ang#WAPGA | #TheChaseIsOn | @CityofKalBould pic.twitter.com/oLsBpecCuj
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) October 13, 2024
“I just wanted to make the cut to be honest and make the first paycheck,” said Ang, whose 65 was the low round on Sunday.
“Obviously exceeded my expectations by a lot, but really proud of how the work’s paid off and set a good start to the season.”
In the WA PGA All Abilities Championship played in conjunction across the weekend, Sawtell Golf Club’s Lachlan Smith celebrated his first All Abilities victory.
Photo: Alex Verhagen/PGA of Australia
Dabble, one of Australia’s fastest growing sports betting brands, is throwing one million dollars worth of extra excitement into the famous Party Hole at this year’s BMW Australian PGA Championship.
For the first time in Australian tournament golf history, it will be the lucky fans on site who will share the massive cash bonus if a player produces the perfect shot and makes a hole-in-one on the par-3 17th on Saturday, November 23.
Thanks to Dabble, the newest partner of the BMW Australian PGA Championship, the one million dollars will be up for grabs for the first ace on 17 during the tournament broadcast window, between 11am and 4pm (Qld time).
To be eligible to share in the million-dollar prize, fans must have a valid 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship ticket for the day’s play, be 18 years of age or older and register via the QR codes at the Dabble Party Hole.
PGA of Australia Chief Commercial Officer Michael McDonald said: “There’s always an awesome vibe at the Party Hole and this new Million Dollar Hole-in-One promotion thanks to our new partner Dabble is going to raise the level even higher.
“You can only imagine the scenes at 17 if someone like Cam Smith, Min Woo Lee or Jason Day makes an ace on Saturday afternoon. It would be off the charts.
“Every shot on the Dabble Party Hole during the Million Dollar Hole-in-One on the Saturday afternoon is going to be huge. There’ll be thousands of expectant eyes on the ball every time someone tees off.
“We’ve seen holes-in-one on the Party Hole in previous championships, including by Curtis Luck last year. Hopefully we will see a repeat so everyone in the crowd can go home with extra dollars to their name.”
Over the past three years, Dabble has revolutionised the market with its socially-led product, combining features of Instagram, X and WhatsApp with a sports betting app. Dabble provides an innovative platform for their community who enjoy a more inclusive, social and engaging betting experience.
Dabble CEO Tom Rundle said: “At Dabble, we thrive on bringing our community together, whether it’s through shared bets or moments like this Million Dollar Hole-in-One.
“We believe that sport is best enjoyed when it’s social, inclusive, and packed with excitement. With a million dollars up for grabs for the crowd at the Dabble Party Hole, everyone’s part of the action, and if goes off, you better believe it’ll be an experience no one will forget!”
To be a chance of sharing in the million dollars, head to ticketek.com.au for your PGA tickets.
About Dabble
Formed in 2020, Dabble is one of Australia’s fastest growing online wagering brands, offering
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Chris Taylor used a stroke of good fortune to hold off two legends of Australian golf and claim the Mollymook NSW Senior Masters at Mollymook Golf Club.
A former winner at Mollymook, Taylor’s win was set-up by a 4-under par round of 68 on day one and a crucial birdie on his penultimate hole of a final round even-par 72 for 4-under total.
With Peter Senior (74) and Peter Lonard (70) both breathing down his neck, Taylor conjured a birdie at the par-3 17th that he admitted post-round came with an element of good fortune.
“I haven’t told a lot of people, but I did pull it left,” Taylor said of his tee shot on 17.
“It ended up lying left of the hole, which is underneath the hole there.
“Made a nice two and I knew Pete had to get it up and down out of the bunker.
“It was one of those shots you take, but you don’t tell anyone that you weren’t aiming over there.”
Senior did make his up-and-down on 17 but bogeyed the last to finish four back of Taylor with Lonard and Adam Henwood (72) sharing third at 1-over.
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
Leading New South Welshman Scott Ford by a shot after Round 1, Taylor also had Senior for company in the final group and it was Senior who struck first.
The icon of Australian golf birdied the opening hole to draw within one and set up an enthralling final round of cut and thrust.
Taylor’s lead remained one after Senior made bogey on three and he dropped a shot of his own on five but two birdies after the turn would prove crucial.
It gave Taylor a three-shot buffer that was soon four when Senior made bogey at the par-3 12th.
Taylor made back-to-back bogeys of his own on 14 and 15 to tighten the contest once again before the critical birdie on 17 essentially wrapped up the win.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“It just sort of suits my eye,” Taylor said of his affinity with Mollymook.
“A lot of the holes work both left-to-right and right-to-left but, not only that, the greens are always in pristine condition.
“I haven’t been under the pressure like that to win a two-dayer for a while now. It was actually good to get under the gun and hope your swing hangs on.
“People put some pressure on you and it sorts you out whether your swing’s working or not.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Chris Taylor 68-72—140
2 Peter Senior 70-74—144
T3 Peter Lonard 75-70—145
T3 Adam Henwood 73-72—145
5 Brad Burns 75-71—146
6 Roland Baglin 73-74—147
T7 Mike Zilko 73-75—148
T7 Andre Stolz 73-75—148
T7 Martin Peterson 72-76—148
T7 John Wade 70-78—148
NEXT UP
The PGA Legends Tour moves into the nation’s capital on Tuesday for the two-day ACT Senior PGA Championship at Fairbairn Golf Club.
The first television broadcast of the new Summer of Golf season will get underway this weekend with exciting improvements and more tournaments for golf fans to watch the best in Australasian golf.
Starting from this week’s CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil and Logistics in Kalgoorlie through to The National Tournament in late March, all Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia events in Australia will be available for viewing by golf fans around the country – with WPGA Tour of Australasia and PGA Legends Tour action adding to the largest amount of live broadcast golf ever shown on Australian screens.
Fox Sports will cover 18 events via Foxtel and Kayo, while the BMW Australian PGA Championship and ISPS HANDA Australian Open will also be simulcast on the NINE Network and 9Now.
Sky Sport NZ, the presenting partner of the NZ Open, will also screen all Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia tournaments.
Among the improvements to the broadcasts that viewers will see from week-to-week, delivered by the PGA of Australia production partner JAM TV, will be enhanced live data presentation of scores and hole information, as well as leaderboards and Order of Merit updates as the chase for titles and opportunities runs throughout the summer.
Augmented drone footage, dynamic first-person view fly throughs and inside access to players and more will also help bolster the coverage each and every week, while the two Australian majors will see an increase in not only live golf but coverage.
The BMW Australian PGA will have all four rounds shown live across Foxtel, Kayo, NINE and 9Now, before the ISPS HANDA Australian Open sees the introduction of a new week-long Australian Open channel on Foxtel and Kayo.
Featuring historical footage and other presentations, the Australian Open Channel will be in the mould of the content delivered to Australian fans during The Masters and The Open each year.
As in previous seasons, Trackman will offer an insight into ball flights and data from the impressive play of the next wave and well-known names of the Australian golf scene.
Delivering that data alongside insights from years playing and covering the game at the highest level, the commentary team has been bolstered and will be led throughout the season by two of the pre-eminent voices in Australian golf alongside Fox Sports News rising star Isabella Leembruggen as host.
Former PGA TOUR regulars and winners on their home circuit, the familiar faces and voices of Nick O’Hern and Paul Gow will lead the coverage each week across the season with support provided by a growing group of experts in their field.
O’Hern and Gow will feature in the booth taking fans through what is seen on screen, as well as what can’t be seen, while also offering up their opinions on thoughts on play and the game of golf overall.
The pair supported by Leembruggen and an outstanding line-up of experts and on-course commentators including Ryan Lynch, Jimmy Emanuel, Ali Whitaker, Warren Smith, Ewan Porter, Mark Allen, Stacey Peters, Brenton Speed, Mathew Thompson and more.
The WA PGA Championship coverage this weekend starts with Saturday’s third round live from 4pm–7pm (AEDT) with Sunday’s final day action from 2pm–7pm.
2024/25 CHALLENGER PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA BROADCAST SCHEDULE
FOXTEL/KAYO/NINE/9NOW/SKY SPORT NZ
CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics
Kalgoorlie Golf Course
October 12 – 13
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Bowra & Odea Nexus Advisernet WA Open
Mandurah Country Club
October 19 – 20
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Webex Players Series South Australia hosted by Greg Blewett
Willunga Golf Course
October 26 – 27
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Queensland PGA Championship
Nudgee Golf Club
November 2 – 3
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
BMW Australian PGA Championship
Royal Queensland Golf Club
November 21 – 24
Nine/9Now/Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
ISPS HANDA Australian Open
Kingston Heath Golf Club and Victoria Golf Club
November 28 – December 1
Nine/9Now/Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Victorian PGA Championship
Moonah Links Resort
December 7 – 8
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Gippsland Super 6
Warragul Country Club
December 14 – 15
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Webex Players Series Perth hosted by Minjee and Min Woo Lee
Royal Fremantle Golf Club
January 11 – 12
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Webex Players Series Victoria
Rosebud Country Club
January 23 – 26
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Webex Players Series Murray River in honour of Jarrod Lyle
Cobram Barooga Golf Club
February 1 – 2
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Tournament TBC
February 8 – 9
Webex Players Series Sydney
Castle Hill Country Club
February 22-23
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
NZ Open presented by Sky Sport
Millbrook Resort
February 27 – March 2
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Heritage Classic
The Heritage Golf and Country Club
March 22 – 23
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
The National Tournament
The National Golf Club, Old Course
March 29 – 30
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Wynnum Golf Club proved to be the night’s big winners as they took home three awards from the 2024 Queensland Golf Industry Awards on the Gold Coast.
Shane Tempest (Burleigh Golf Club) was named PGA Qld Management Professional of the Year and Angus Porter (Carbrook Golf Club) PGA Qld Club Professional of the Year as more than 400 guests celebrated another magnificent year for golf in Queensland.
Wynnum’s reputation as one of the best tournament venues in the state was evident in their dual victories for Metropolitan PGA Tournament of the Year for the Bartons/BMD Wynnum Pro-Am and PGA Legends Tournament of the Year for the Bartons/BMD Paul King Memorial Legends Pro-Am.
General Manager Bernard Wilson made it a hat-trick of wins for Wynnum when he received the Distinguished Manager Award for the stability and vision he has provided Wynnum since coming to the club in 2021.
Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club also went home with multiple wins.
The inaugural Sanctuary Cove Legends Pro-Am hosted by Adam Scott and Peter Senior was named PGA Tournament of the Year and Sanctuary Cove’s Andrew Lothian claimed the Assistant Superintendent Achievement Award.
Justice Bosio and Quinn Croker signed off on their amateur careers with Female and Male Amateur Golfer of the Year respectively, Sarah Hammett and Chase Oberle won the Junior Female and Male Amateur Golfer of the Year awards and Asha Flynn (Game Development) and Richard Woodhouse (High Performance) took out the major coaching awards.
Victoria Park Golf Complex was the inaugural winner of the Off-Course Golf Facility of the Year while it was the expansion of the offering and connection to the local community that saw Pacific crowned Club of the Year.
The opening of a new clubhouse has made Pacific Golf Club an entertainment venue that is welcoming to all while the construction of a mini golf course and installation of indoor simulators in conjunction with targeted marketing campaigns have made it a family-friendly facility for all.
2024 Queensland Golf Industry Awards
PGA (QLD) Coach of the Year (High Performance)
Richard Woodhouse (KDV Sport)
PGA (QLD) Coach of the Year (Game Development)
Asha Flynn (The Brisbane Golf Club)
PGA (QLD) Club Professional of the Year presented by Coca-Cola
Angus Porter (Carbrook Golf Club)
PGA (QLD) Management Professional of the Year
Shane Tempest (Burleigh Golf Club)
PGA Tournament of the Year
Sanctuary Cove Legends Pro-Am hosted by Adam Scott and Peter Senior
Metropolitan PGA Tournament of the Year
Bartons/BMD Wynnum Pro-Am
Regional PGA Tournament of the Year
PIMS Group Mackay Pro-Am
PGA Legends Tournament of the Year
Bartons/BMD Paul King Memorial Legends Pro-Am (Wynnum GC)
Assistant Superintendent Achievement Award presented by Greenway Turf Solutions
Andrew Lothian (Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club)
Superintendents Achievement Award presented by Living Turf
Graeme Andrews (Tamborine Mountain Golf Club)
Superintendents Environment and Safety Excellence Award
Mick McCombe (Maleny Golf Club)
Golf Course Turf Apprentice of the Year presented by Toro
Dylan Buttigieg (Windaroo Lakes Golf Club)
Golf Club Staff Member of the Year Award presented by CPR Group
Teegan Negreira (Redcliffe Golf Club)
Golf Club Board Member of the Year Award
Dr Max Whitten AM (Maleny Golf Club)
Golf Club of the Year Award presented by MiClub
Pacific Golf Club
Distinguished Manager Award presented by Asahi Schweppes
Bernard Wilson (Wynnum Golf Club)
Volunteer of the Year
Christopher Sarquis (Kingaroy Golf Club)
Golf Club of the Year (Under 400 Members) presented by Inside Golf
Kingaroy Golf Club
Golf Supplier of the Year Award
Greenway Turf Solutions
Junior Golf Program of the Year Award
Cairns Golf Club
Off-Course Golf Facility of The Year
Victoria Park Golf Complex
Services to Golf Award
Judy Logan (Golf Queensland/Laidley GC), Iris Thompson (Downs and South West Ladies Golf District), Gurney Clamp (Central Qld District), Steve King (BDGA/Nudgee GC)
Superintendents Industry Recognition Award
Paul Bevan
Male Amateur Golfer of the Year
Quinn Croker
Female Amateur Golfer of the Year
Justice Bosio
Junior Female Amateur Golfer of the Year
Sarah Hammett
Junior Male Amateur Golfer of the Year
Chase Oberle
Victorians Lucas Herbert and Marc Leishman will return to their home state for the 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open as part of multiple Australian appearances to end the year.
Bendigo’s Herbert will play three Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia events in a row in 2024, starting at the NSW Open, followed by the BMW Australian PGA Championship and then the Australian Open.
He will then return early in 2025 at the Webex Players Series Murray River at Cobram Barooga Golf Club in the second half of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season announced earlier today.
Meanwhile, Leishman will contest the two Australian majors, first at Royal Queensland for the Australian PGA from November 21–24 before heading to Kingston Heath and The Victoria Golf Clubs for the Australian Open, starting November 28.
“Playing tournaments in Australia is right up there for me, and I can’t wait for the three-tournament run to end 2024, and also to get back underway early in 2025,” Herbert, who announced his schedule in person at the Australian Golf Centre today, said.
Added Leishman: “I’m really happy to be heading home again after what’s been a successful 2024.
“Finishing my year at the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open, two events I have always loved playing, is always good fun with great competition and I would love to add to my resume with a big Aussie win.”
Starting his career on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, which will co-sanction the Australian PGA and Australian Open with the DP World Tour again in 2024, Herbert’s three-week stretch will be alongside Cameron Smith and start close to his hometown with the NSW Open.
Played at Murray Downs Golf & Country Club from November 14, 28-year-old Herbert returns to a course where he had success as a teenager to challenge for the Kel Nagle Cup he nearly won early in his career, before heading back to the Murray River region and Cobram Barooga on January 30 to February 2 to play a Webex Players Series event for the first time.
Pitting men and women against one another for one trophy and prize fund, the innovative series brings juniors into the fold over the weekend, with the Murray River event one of nine in the second half of the men’s Tour schedule.
“Getting the chance to play alongside women and juniors at the Webex Players Series is something I am really looking forward to, especially given how close it is to home in Bendigo, so hopefully plenty of people come out to watch,” said Herbert, whose four-event commitment means he is eligible for the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit title and all the benefits on offer.
Hailing from Warrnambool, Leishman is chasing his first big piece of silverware in Australia after being a regular challenger for the country’s biggest titles over the course of his career.
Making his 29th and 30th combined Australian PGA and Australian Open starts this year, Leishman returns home after a strong appearance in 2023 when he was third at Royal Queensland and tied for 27th at The Australian and The Lakes.
Growing up in regional Victoria and playing representative golf on the famed Sandbelt, both Herbert and Leishman would no doubt agree an Australian Open in Melbourne presents a special opportunity.
“Winning one would mean the world to me, especially on the Melbourne Sandbelt where I have played so much golf and absolutely love teeing it up,” Herbert said.
“Kingston Heath and Victoria are incredible courses that I think suit my game perfectly.”
Herbert and Leishman continue to add to fields that will include Min Woo Lee, Cameron Smith, Jason Day, Hannah Green, Cam Davis, Joaquin Niemann, Ash Buhai and more over the Australian Summer of Golf.
“Anticipation continues to build as we excitedly prepare for the return of the Australian Open to the brilliant Melbourne Sandbelt. The addition of Lucas and Marc to the field has heightened that excitement, and we can’t wait to see them in action at Kingston Heath and Victoria,” Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said.
Joining Smith in playing four events of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season, Herbert will compete alongside the rising stars of Australian golf in a 19-event season.
“The support of players like Cam and Lucas for the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia is tremendous and will help to bring added attention to the amazing group of players contesting 19 events across the season,” PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said.
“The second half of the season has shaped up tremendously as our players chase the pathways on offer and historic titles such as the New Zealand Open.”
The 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship and ISPS HANDA Australian Open will be broadcast on Fox Sports and Kayo, as well as the NINE Network, with tickets available now via Ticketek.
2024/25 CHALLENGER PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA 2025 DATES
Webex Players Series Perth hosted by Minjee and Min Woo Lee (January 9 – 12)
Webex Players Series Victoria (January 23 – 26)
Webex Players Series Murray River in honour of Jarrod Lyle (January 30 – February 2)
Tournament TBC (February 6 – 9)
Webex Players Series Sydney (February 20 – 23)
NZ Open presented by Sky Sports (February 27 – March 2)
NZ PGA (March 6 – 9)
Heritage Classic (March 20 – 23)
The National Tournament (March 27 – 30)
