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Birdies at his final two holes have seen Chris Taylor snatch victory at the Tooheys St Georges Basin Legends Pro-Am at St Georges Basin Country Club on the NSW South Coast.
Winner of the PNG Senior Open last month, Taylor trailed Mark Boulton (66) and Brendan Chant (66) by three after day one.
An outward nine of 4-under on Wednesday elevated Taylor into contention but he waited until the last possible moment to seal the deal.
A birdie at the 205-metre par-3 17th was an unexpected bonus and when he followed it with a birdie at the par-5 18th Taylor had done enough for a two-stroke win.
The Hervey Bay Professional shot 5-under 65 on Wednesday for a two-round total of 6-under, two clear of Euan Walters (67) with Boulton (71), Chant (71) and Andre Stolz (67) sharing third at 3-under par.
As the winds gusted in the afternoon, Taylor was thrilled to finish in the fashion that he did.
“To make a two on that one (17) and then four at the last, it was quite a nice finish for a change,” said Taylor, who now sits third on the PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit.
“The front nine was definitely a lot easier. I shot 4-under around the front nine and basically around the back nine it was a case of hang on, hang on, hang on and then birdied the last two.
“It was actually quite a good finish.”
It is Taylor’s sixth win of the season and a further confidence boost ahead of the defence of his Mollymook NSW Senior Masters title at Mollymook Golf Club’s Hilltop course starting Friday.
Four Aussies will make a 15,396-kilometre mad dash from a rain-soaked St Andrews to the Kalgoorlie desert to take their place in the CKB WA PGA Championship starting Thursday.
Haydn Barron, Lincoln Tighe, Nathan Barbieri and Justin Warren’s travel plans were disrupted by the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship extending into a Monday finish in Scotland but have now set off on their journey to play the most remote tournament on a major professional tour.
All four have been drawn to tee off in the afternoon wave on Thursday but are not expected to arrive in Kalgoorlie until Thursday morning.
Barron shot 65 in the final round at the famed Old Course to climb into a tie for 25th on Monday and will have to call upon the course knowledge he gleaned from his top-20 finish at Kalgoorlie Golf Course 12 months ago.
Barron, Warren, Barbieri and Tighe were all in Scotland by virtue of their respective finishes on last year’s Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
Hailing from western Sydney, Warren finished ninth on the 2022/2023 Order of Merit with Tighe just a quarter of a point behind in 10th spot.
Barron, who earned a start at The Open Championship with his tie for fourth at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open, finished 12th on the Order of Merit to also earn a start at the Dunhill Links. Barbieri was 13th, just three points behind Barron.
PGA Tour of Australasia Tour Development Manager, Kim Felton, says it is reflective of the significance of the WA swing that all three are embarking on a marathon trip to tee it up in Kalgoorlie.
“This is the tournament that David Micheluzzi won last year which was the springboard for David to go on and win the Order of Merit,” said Felton.
“Now that the Order of Merit is a points-based system, every event has the potential to impact the final standings at the end of the year so the guys are very aware of the importance that the WA PGA plays in the season.
“It’s wonderful that these four guys are making the effort to come and play in Kalgoorlie.
“I’m not sure anyone would have ever played St Andrews and Kalgoorlie in the same week so they can claim that unique slice of history, too.”
Warren and Barbieri have been paired together at 11.40am along with former champion Jarryd Felton from the first tee, Barron is off the 10th tee at 11.30am with Louis Dobbelaar and Kalgoorlie amateur Connor Fewkes with Tighe to follow in the group behind at 11.40am with Braden Becker and Aaron Pike.
Known for having one of the largest open-cut gold mines in Australia, Kalgoorlie has hosted the WA PGA Championship since 2012 with the honour roll of past champions boasting Brett Rumford (2015), Dimi Papadatos (2017) and Jarryd Felton (2020).
Adam Scott, one of an elite group of golfers who have Australian Open and Australian PGA victories on their records, has confirmed he will be a starter in both tournaments in the upcoming Summer of Golf.
Adam Scott, one of an elite group of golfers who have Australian Open and Australian PGA victories on their records, has confirmed he will be a starter in both tournaments in the upcoming Summer of Golf.
The 43-year-old Australian, who has six Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia victories on his outstanding career resume, is yet another drawcard for the two Aussie majors that had already locked in world No.14 Cam Smith as well as rising stars Min Woo Lee and Cam Davis for their 2023 fields.
Scott’s first appearance of the summer will be at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland in Brisbane from November 23-26 when he will look to add to the PGA titles he won in 2013 and 2019 at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast.
He will then try to win his national open for the second time when The Australian Golf Club and The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney host the ISPS HANDA Australian Open from November 30-December 3.
The 2009 Open champion by five shots at NSW Golf Club came close to clinching last year’s event at the Victoria and Kingston Heath golf clubs in Melbourne, eventually finishing runner-up behind Poland’s Adrian Meronk.
His Open record also includes runner-up finishes in 2013 and 2015, while he was beaten in a playoff in the 2014 PGA.
Always a popular drawcard on his regular visits back to Australia, Scott, who is currently 41 on the Official World Golf Ranking, is sure to be a big hit with the galleries in both Brisbane and Sydney.
PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said: “Adam has been a wonderful supporter of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and our major events for many years now. Having him back home again this summer for the two Aussie majors will be welcomed by everyone connected to Australian golf.
“Adam always comes to our Australian events with his mind on one thing – winning. I know he will be determined to challenge for both titles and get his hands on the Kirkwood Cup or Stonehaven Cup once again.”
Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said: “Having Adam as part of the Australian Summer of Golf always adds to the anticipation ahead of our two major tournaments.
“Adam is a world-class player and is a threat in any tournament he contests. We are delighted that he has once again committed to play here this summer.”
Queensland Tourism and Sport Minister, Stirling Hinchliffe said: “Adam Scott’s commitment to play the Fortinet Australian PGA in Brisbane, on the back of the news Cam Smith is also headed home, means the PGA has assembled yet another star-studded field, in what is shaping up to be an unmissable tournament this year.
“Adam is a huge drawcard ensuring there will be packed galleries at Royal Queensland to watch him play, which is great news for local hotels, restaurants, and tourism operators, with the event estimated to inject more than $14 million into the local visitor economy.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Adam Scott’s return to the Royal Queensland fairways makes for an even more exciting event.
“With Adam Scott and Cam Smith now on the ticket, the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane will be a massive drawcard for locals and visitors this summer,” Cr Schrinner said.
“The contest for the Kirkwood Cup will be a major driver for visitation to Brisbane, with more than 62,000 fans partaking in the action at the Royal Queensland Golf Club last year.
“The benefits of this sporting showdown will be felt across the city, delivering millions in economic support to local Brisbane restaurants, hotels and tourism experiences.”
As well as being highlight tournaments on the PGA Tour of Australasia, the two Aussie majors will be co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour and form part of the start to the 2023/24 Race to Dubai schedule.
Tickets for both the ISPS HANDA Australian Open and Fortinet Australian PGA Championship are available now via ticketek.com.
The Fortinet Australian PGA Championship is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, and Brisbane City Council via Brisbane Economic Development Agency.
Twelve months ago, the CKB WA PGA Championship set the tone for the season that would unfold.
The first event on the 2022/2023 schedule saw Victorian David Micheluzzi (pictured) finish over the top of 2020 champion Jarryd Felton to win his maiden tournament on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
He would win twice more by season’s end in one of the most dominant summers by a player on the Australasian Tour in many years.
It opened the door to starts on the PGA TOUR, the DP World Tour and both the US PGA Championship and The Open Championship and highlighted to all the direct pathway available to golf’s greatest events.
This year, the trek to the Kalgoorlie Golf Course marks the fourth event of the season as the chase for Order of Merit honours begins to intensify.
Last week’s WA Open winner, Simon Hawkes, has moved past NT PGA champion Daniel Gale into top spot with the season’s other winner to date, PNG Open winner Lachlan Barker, in third.
Kalgoorlie Golf Course has hosted the WA PGA Championship since 2012 with the honour roll of past champions boasting Brett Rumford (2015), Dimi Papadatos (2017) and Jarryd Felton (2020).
Designed by Kalgoorlie-born Graham Marsh, the golf course is one of Australia’s most unique, the desert winds providing a stern test to Tour players while the distinctive red dirt frames the fairways like few other courses in Australia.
The final two rounds of the WA PGA Championship will be broadcast live on Fox Sports through Foxtel and Kayo Sports, with coverage to begin at 5pm on Saturday and 2.30pm Sunday AEDT.
HOW TO FOLLOW
For live scoring and the latest news visit www.pga.org.au. Exclusive content and tournament updates will also be posted regularly on the PGA Tour of Australasia’s social media channels.
Instagram: @pgatouraus
Twitter: @PGAofAustralia
Facebook: @PGAofAustralia, @PGATourAus
Official hashtag: #WAPGA
HOW TO WATCH
Catch the action of the third and final rounds on Saturday and Sunday, broadcast live, on Foxtel (Channel 505) and Kayo Sports.
Round 3: Saturday, 5pm-8pm AEDT
Round 4: Sunday, 2.30pm-7.30pm AEDT
RECENT CHAMPIONS
2022 David Micheluzzi
2021 Jay Mackenzie
2020 Jarryd Felton
2019 Darren Beck
2018 Michael Long
2017 Dimitrios Papadatos
2016 Stephen Dartnall
2015 Brett Rumford
COURSE RECORD
Cameron John (63, 2022 WA PGA Championship)
COURSE DESIGNER
Graham Marsh Golf Course Design (2010)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Simon Hawkes, WA Open winner
Lachlan Barker, PNG Open winner
Jarryd Felton, 2020 WA PGA champion
Louis Dobbelaar, 2023 NZ PGA champion
Harrison Crowe, 2022 NSW Open champion
Connor McKinney, WA Open runner-up
The Victorian Golf Industry Awards Night will be held at Huntingdale Golf Club on Friday 27 October 2023. The nominee finalists will be honoured for their outstanding achievements in the last year.
An opportunity to celebrate the exceptional work that PGA Professionals have achieved throughout the state, all nominees continue to do a wonderful job to grow the game of golf; making it more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Their contributions extending across every aspect of the industry, PGA Professionals will be recognised in four categories.
“The awards night remains a highlight, offering us the opportunity to celebrate and recognise the invaluable work of PGA Professionals continue to do” said Victorian Membership Manager, Luke Bower.
“Our PGA Professionals are the lifeblood of Australian golf, and it’s only fitting that we gather to celebrate their remarkable achievements.”
All vocational award nominees can be found below:
PGA VIC Club Professional of the Year
Heath Benstead – Northern Golf Club
Paul Christie – Geelong Golf Club
Stephen Hibon – Huntingdale Golf Club
Thomas Jefferies – The Sands Torquay Resort
Michael Moore – Rossdale Golf Club
PGA VIC Coach of the Year – High Performance
Darrell Brown – Geelong Golf Club
Brandon Rave – Metropolitan Golf Club
Tim Wood – Rossana Golf Club?
PGA VIC Coach of the Year – Game Development
Kim Collett – Settlers Run Golf and Country Club
Jenna Hunter – Mt Derrimut Golf and Community Club
Brad Howarth – Eynesbury Golf Club
Greg McConnell – Northern Golf Club
Michael Moore – Rossdale Golf Club
Storm Ord – Geelong Golf Club
PGA VIC Management Professional of the Year
Matthew Doran – Freeway Golf
Heath Jones – Warragul Country Club
Chris Longbottom – Hill Top Golf and Country Club
Michael Moore – Rossdale Golf Club
Sienna Voglis – Barham G Resort
David Wren – Rosanna Golf Club
For more information on all awards and the night as a whole, click HERE
Photo: The Australian
The Australian golf community extends its deep condolences to the family and friends of John Kinghorn, who has passed away aged 81.
A dedicated and passionate golfer, Kinghorn’s most significant contribution to the game came through the foundation he and his wife Jill started, the Kinghorn Foundation, which has supported Golf Australia’s Rookie Program with contributions of over $14 million since 2009 to create a bright future for Australian golf. Additionally, the Foundation has made significant contributions to the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation.
The Foundation has helped foster the development and opportunities for the next generation of elite Australian players, with the Rookie Program graduates a testament to his contribution.
Those graduates including Cameron Smith, Minjee Lee, Hannah Green, Cameron Davis, Grace Kim, Lucas Herbert, and Min Woo Lee, with the Rookie Program playing an important role for all as they cemented themselves as the bright lights for Australian golf’s future.
Beyond the Rookie Program, the Kinghorn Foundation through John and Jill’s generosity, played an integral part in the creation and activity of the Australian Golf House that has ensured Australian players have a place to feel at home in Orlando, Florida.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of John Kinghorn, and wish to express my condolences to his family, especially his wife Jill,” Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said.
“The Kinghorn Foundation has been integral in ensuring the future of Australian golf is a bright and prosperous one through the support of both the Rookie Program and Australian Golf House.”
The Foundation is also a significant supporter of Jack Newton Junior Golf, a foundation delivering golf opportunities for all junior golfers in his home state of New South Wales started by the late golfer it is named for.
“John’s character and generosity is demonstrated by his significant and tireless contribution towards numerous community causes, charities, foundations, children, minority groups and many other philanthropic campaigns. We are extremely fortunate that the Jack Newton Junior Golf Foundation has been one of the lucky beneficiaries of his generosity over the last 10 years,” Jack’s son Clint Newton said.
“On behalf of the Newton family and Jack Newton Junior Golf, both past and present, I want to pass our deepest condolences to his wife Jill, and the entire Kinghorn family.
“John’s values, principles, and legacy will live on because of the seeds he planted over the past several decades, and we are grateful to have known such a giant of man, but the world is a little less bright for now with his passing.”
Through his philanthropy in the golf space, and via the many golfers who have benefited from his generosity, Kinghorn’s legacy will live on in Australian golf.
Tasmanian Simon Hawkes is now a two-time winner on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia thanks to a brilliant up-and-down on the 72nd hole of the Nexus Advisernet/Bowra & O’Dea WA Open.
Hawkes arrived at Joondalup Country Club on Sunday with a four-stroke lead, an advantage that would be halved to just two by the time the lead group reached the third tee.
He and veteran Jason Norris went toe-to-toe for the next 14 holes before a dramatic two-shot swing at the par-4 16th.
As local hope Connor McKinney rode a wave of home-club support to put himself in the mix, the stalemate between Hawkes and Norris was broken on 16.
On the toughest hole all week, Hawkes piloted in a 40-foot putt down the hill for birdie as Norris made bogey after missing the green with his approach.
A dropped shot by Hawkes at the par-3 17th gave McKinney a sniff with an eagle putt from just outside six feet on 18, the 21-year-old mystified when the ball stayed outside the left edge.
McKinney’s tap-in birdie was enough to set the mark in the clubhouse at 15-under but he could only watch as Hawkes navigated his way down the 18th.
A drive that trickled into the left rough gave Hawkes a daunting second with water all down the left side of the green.
The 34-year-old drilled a 4-iron down the right side but was faced with every amateur golfer’s worst nightmare when it trickled into the right-hand bunker some 40 metres short of the green.
In an eerily similar scenario to his 2018 Vic Open victory, Hawkes opened the face of a 9-iron, played an exquisite explosion shot and then watched on as his ball travelled down the tier to just inside five feet, sealing the deal with a closing birdie and for a round of 70 and 17-under total.
“The weirdest thing for me is that it was identical to the Vic Open,” said Hawkes, who works full-time on the grounds crew in the construction of Seven Mile Beach golf course in Hobart.
“I had a driver and I had a 4-iron into the green. I hit into a greenside bunker and then got up-and-down from the greenside bunker to win the tournament.
“I don’t know if that’s my formula for winning golf tournaments but I said to my caddie, ‘I wish I could make it a little easier.’ Four-shot lead up the last next time please.”
Hawkes appeared to have the chasing pack at arm’s length when he led by three through six holes of the final round but dropped shots at nine and 10 opened the door.
Norris and Kiwi Kerry Mountcastle looked the two most likely until McKinney thundered into the frame.
Three straight birdies from the seventh hole elevated him to 13-under and he kept the foot to the floor.
Bogeys at 10 and 16 would ultimately prove his undoing yet McKinney had the Joondalup members on tenterhooks as he lined up his eagle putt on the last.
A Sunday 66 was enough for a share of second alongside Norris (68) with Mountcastle (69) tied with former champion Braden Becker (65) in fourth spot.
For Hawkes, the victory is further validation of his status on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
“To win once on tour is something but when you become a multiple tour winner it’s that next level of recognition,” said Hawkes.
“To now be a multiple tour winner… It’s still sinking in. What that means is that I can now set a schedule for the next three years and I look forward to playing the Australian PGA and the Australian Open again this year.
“I was going to play in Australia until my category runs out and fortunately now that’s now another 10 years. So well done Simon, signed yourself up for another 10 years of this.”
Queensland amateur Quinnton Croker claimed the Terry Gale Cup as leading amateur, finishing in a tie for ninth, his second consecutive top-10 finish on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
It was an enthralling finish to the WA All Abilities Open Championship also held on Sunday, Lachlan Wood holding off two-time champion Cameron Pollard for a two-stroke win.
Leading by one heading into the final round, Wood made a double bogey on the difficult par-5 fourth to hand Pollard a one-shot advantage, the pair locked together at the top when Pollard dropped a shot on seven.
Nothing separated the two most dominant All Abilities players in Australia until Pollard found trouble from the tee on the par-4 16th.
With a three-stroke lead playing the final hole, Wood watched on as Pollard hit 4-iron from 180 metres to set up an eagle chance.
That putt slid by the left edge and Wood was able to two-putt from the front of the green for a par and his first WA All Abilities crown.
“There was a lot of pressure, it was head-to-head, back and forth,” said Wood, who will travel cross country to tee it up in the Queensland PGA Associate Championship in Brisbane on Monday morning.
“I’m just glad to be over here and playing this event. It’s a big event and thanks to a couple of really important sponsors back home in Enzo’s and Mark from Hervey Bay Hotel and Journal18 Golf.
“Without them I wouldn’t be here, that’s for sure.”
Rising star of Australian golf, Cam Davis, has locked in both of his country’s majors – the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane and ISPS HANDA Australian Open in Sydney – to his end-of-year schedule.
A sensational against-the-odds winner of the ISPS HANDA Australian Open in 2017 when he was just 22 years old and ranked outside the top 1000 in the world, Davis has produced another strong year on the US PGA TOUR in 2023.
His seven top-10 finishes include a tie for fourth at the US PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club, his best finish in his young major championship career to date.
Continuing on from a strong second half of the PGA TOUR’s 2022/23 season which saw him play in the end-of-season FedEx Cup Playoffs, Davis recently finished equal third at the Fortinet Championship in California to boost his Official World Golf Ranking to a career-high of 44.
Davis confirmed today that he would contest the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland from November 23-26 – where he was tied for seventh in 2022 – before heading home to Sydney for a shot at a second ISPS HANDA Australian Open title at The Australian and The Lakes golf clubs from November 30-December 3.
“It’s always enjoyable to come back home and to be part of the Summer Golf in Australia,” Davis said.
“I have great memories of The Australian and going back there, as well as The Lakes, for the Open is something I’m very much looking forward to.
“Last year’s PGA Championship at Royal Queensland had great crowds, with a huge vibe. I’m sure with the field that’s being assembled, it’ll be a fun event to be part of again in November.”
PGA of Australia CEO, Gavin Kirkman said: “Cam is a rising star in world golf and undoubtedly will be a player to watch in our two Aussie majors. In recent weeks, he’s climbed back inside the top 50 on the Official World Golf Ranking and reached a career-high so he’ll be bringing some good form back home for the Australian PGA and Australian Open.”
Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said: “Cam’s victory at The Australian back in 2017 was one of the best by a young Australian competing in their national open championship. We’re delighted he will be back this year, playing in front of family, friends, and a passionate home crowd in Sydney. He’s had a terrific year and there’s no reason why he can’t top it off by taking out the Stonehaven Cup.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said: “The Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane is set to be a massive drawcard for locals and visitors this summer.
“With more than 62,000 fans participating in last year’s event, we expect the impacts off the green to be felt across the city, delivering millions in economic support to local Brisbane restaurants, hotels and tourism experiences.”
As well as being highlight tournaments on the PGA Tour of Australasia, the two Aussie majors will be co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour and form part of the start to the 2023/24 Race to Dubai schedule.
Tickets for both the ISPS HANDA Australian Open and Fortinet Australian PGA Championship are available now at Ticketek.
‘The Chase Is On’ for the professionals on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia with the full schedule of 18 events for 2023/24 released today.
From the start of the WA Open at Joondalup Resort in Perth today through until the Tour finale in mid-March, the Tour’s Summer of Golf will visit five states as well as New Zealand, adding to the tournaments in Papua New Guinea and Northern Territory which have already been completed.
The total Challenger PGA Tour of the Australasia schedule offers more than $9 million in prizemoney as the Tour continues to breed the region’s next generation of champion golfers.
Aligned with today’s schedule announcement at The Australian Golf Club is the release of the Tour’s new promotional campaign, titled ‘The Chase Is On’, which focuses on the intense challenge to improve your position in the professional game, highlighted by the race to be at the top of the season-long Order of Merit and the global rewards that come with earning that achievement.
The Tour’s 2023/24 schedule includes two new events – the Webex Players Series South Australia hosted by Greg Blewett, with its unique mixed format, at Willunga Golf Course in October and the Heritage Classic at The Heritage Golf and Country Club in Melbourne in January.
Webex Players Series Sydney hosted by Braith Anasta also has a new home at Castle Hill Country Club in north-west Sydney.
For the Tour, today’s schedule announcement builds on the momentum which has been achieved on a number of fronts, including:
PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said: “Our Tour is all about ‘the chase’, which is why our new campaign resonates so strongly for me. Our players are chasing titles and prizemoney, exemptions into future events on our Tour and eventually for the opportunity to ply their trade across the globe against the world’s best.
“There is just so much on the line.
“We’re very excited to be travelling all around Australia and New Zealand for 18 exciting events this year, with the third event on the calendar starting today with the WA Open at Joondalup.
“It’s going to be a Summer of Golf to remember.”
PGA of Australia Commercial Director Michael McDonald said: “As we commence our 2023/24 Summer of Golf broadcasts with a schedule of tournaments locked in across five states in Australia and New Zealand, we can’t wait to showcase the best talent in our region on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
“Our growth in live broadcast content along with golf’s ability to connect directly with our fans – many of whom also participate across a variety of golf formats – has led to an opportunity to work with Challenger, and we are excited to grow this partnership.”
Challenger CEO Nick Hamilton said: “Our team at Challenger is excited to see the reveal of the first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia schedule and look forward to a wonderful Summer of Golf.
“Together with the Tour, we want to continue to elevate the sport of golf and inspire young golfers to chase their dreams on and off the golf course.”
PGA of Australia General Manager of Tournaments and Global Tour Relations Nick Dastey said: “There is a fantastic field battling it out at this week’s WA Open as the chase for the Order of Merit heats up, again offering the top three players a spot on the DP World Tour, along with a raft of other playing opportunities around the world.
“With 16 tournaments yet to be played on our schedule over the next seven months, we’re looking forward to seeing what new talents emerge and what our established stars bring to courses around Australia and New Zealand.”
Eight Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia events will be played in the lead-up to the end of the year, including the two Aussie majors – the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship and the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
At the start of 2024, there will be another eight events as the chase for the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit reaches its conclusion, highlighted by the New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sports.
The only place to watch every event of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and the Summer of Golf live is on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
The full Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia schedule for 2023/24 is:
2023
May 4-7: PNG Open at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club ($180,000). Winner: Lachlan Barker
August 17-20: Tailor-Made Building Services NT PGA Championship at Palmerston Golf & Country Club ($200,000). Winner: Daniel Gale
October 5-8: Nexus Advisernet Bowra & O’Dea WA Open at Joondalup Country Club ($175,000)
October 12-15: CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics at Kalgoorlie Golf Course ($250,000)
October 19-22: Webex Players Series South Australia hosted by Greg Blewett at Willunga Golf Course ($200,000)
November 2-5: Queensland PGA Championship at Nudgee Golf Club ($250,000)
November 9-12: Gippsland Super 6 at Warragul Country Club ($200,000)
November 16-19: Victorian PGA Championship at Moonah Links Resort ($250,000)
November 23-26: Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club ($2 million)
November 30-December 3: ISPS HANDA Australian Open at The Australian Golf Club/The Lakes Golf Club ($1.7 million)
2024
January 11-14: Heritage Classic at The Heritage Golf and Country Club ($200,000)
January 18-21: Webex Players Series Murray River in honour of Jarrod Lyle at Cobram-Barooga Golf Club ($250,000)
January 25-28: Webex Players Series Victoria hosted by Geoff Ogilvy at Rosebud Country Club ($250,000)
February 1-4: Vic Open at 13th Beach Golf Links ($420,000)
February 8-11: Webex Players Series Sydney hosted by Braith Anasta at Castle Hill Country Club ($250,000)
February 15-18: Webex Players Series Hunter Valley hosted by Peter O’Malley and Jan Stephenson at Cypress Lakes Resort ($250,000)
February 29-March 3: NZ Open presented by Sky Sports at Millbrook Resort (NZ$1.7 million)
March 11-17: The National at The National Golf Club ($200,000)
Superstar siblings Minjee and Min Woo Lee hope to provide a platform for the next wave of golf stars having signed on to host the Webex Players Series Perth at Royal Fremantle Golf Club.
In the first of a three-year deal, the inaugural Webex Players Series Perth will be played in January 2025, taking to six the number of Webex Players Series events on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia schedule.
A two-time major winner and a nine-time winner on the LPGA Tour in the US, Minjee has called Royal Fremantle Golf Club home since the age of eight, younger brother Min Woo also graduating from Royal Fremantle to golf’s biggest stages.
In their roles as tournament hosts, Minjee and Min Woo hope to provide mentorship to the young players who will tee it up and provide them the opportunity to advance their careers and onto the world stage.
“I think it’s a real privilege for us to be able to host, especially in our home state and at our home club, Royal Fremantle,” said Minjee.
“I’ve been here since I was eight years old so for a tournament like the Webex Players Series to come to Royal Fremantle is a really big deal.
“We’ve been waiting quite a while for this stuff so I think it will be really cool.”
“We were lucky enough to play a lot of the professional events before we turned pro and have that experience before we got to the big stage,” added Min Woo, a two-time winner on the DP World Tour.
“That definitely helped us to where we are now.
“I’m really excited to get the juniors playing as well and I think a lot of good names will come out of it.”
A world-first format where men and women compete against each other on the one golf course for the one trophy, the Webex Players Series also incorporates Junior Players Series events each weekend along with All Abilities tournaments.
Given the current strength of Australian golf and the depth of amateur talent coming through the ranks, both Minjee and Min Woo want to help advance young players any way they can.
“If they have any questions we’re going to answer them,” said Minjee, currently ranked No.7 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking.
“We’re very easy to approach, I’d hope. It will be good for us to be around them and get to know them and if they have any questions we’re there to help.
“If they want any tips for on the golf course we’re there to help as well.
“They can get the feel for what it’s like to play on a bigger stage with crowds and get that experience under their belt before heading to the professional scene.
“It’s a good stepping stone for them.”
“I’m happy to help,” said Min Woo, No.47 on the Official World Golf Ranking.
“We’re all about being great golfers but also having juniors and anyone of any age ask us questions.
“We’re always open. We’ve got social media too so that definitely helps and we always like to help out.”
With the Nexus Advisernet/Bowra & O’Dea WA Open to tee off at Joondalup Country Club on Thursday to be followed by the WA PGA Championship at Kalgoorlie Golf Course next week, the addition of Webex Players Series Perth further bolsters tournament golf in Perth.
“It’s really cool to showcase Royal Fremantle itself but also Perth. I don’t think we have too many events here so it will be nice to have a tournament at home,” said Minjee.
“Australia wants more golf tournaments everywhere, especially at our home club in Perth,” said Min Woo.
“I think it’s going to draw a lot of people out and get them really excited.
“WA Open gets a few people coming out so this is obviously a really big tournament on the schedule and really excited.
“I think there’s going to be a lot of hype.”
Photo: Courtesy of The West Australian
