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New South Welshman Harrison Crowe has made the decision to turn professional, bringing to a close a stellar amateur career both in Australia and abroad.
Due to turn 22 next month, Crowe, a member of St Michael’s Golf Club in Sydney, declared his desire to turn professional today, capitalising on the PGA Tour of Australasia exemption he received for winning the 2022 NSW Open at Concord Golf Club.
That exemption was due to expire at the end of the 2023/2024 season, prompting Crowe to join the pro ranks starting from the Nexus Advisernet Bowra & O’Dea WA Open at Joondalup Country Club in Perth from October 5-8.
The decision to go pro means that Crowe will forgo the opportunity to defend his Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship title at Royal Melbourne Golf Club from October 26-29, instead setting his sights on a full season on home soil before taking his game to the world.
With three DP World Tour cards and exemptions to international Qualifying Schools on offer through the Order of Merit – not to mention DP World Tour co-sanctioning of the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship and ISPS HANDA Australian Open – Crowe knows the path forward starts on home soil.
“To have the goals that I want to achieve, I need to be playing a full season,” said Crowe, who has not played either of the first two tournaments of the season, the PNG Open and NT PGA.
“If I was to wait any longer and miss those additional events, I could be starting behind the eight ball with regards to the Order of Merit.
“I don’t feel like I should be trying to skip any of the steps; I need to earn my right to play on certain tours.
“For the time being, it’s getting myself on the PGA Tour of Australasia where I do feel comfortable and letting my golf do the talking.
“I think I’m more than mentally ready to make that jump and it’s shaping up to be a nice schedule.”
The timeline on Crowe’s move into the professional ranks has been closely monitored since he edged Blake Windred by a shot to claim the NSW Open in March last year.
It was expected that he would turn professional following the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Thailand last October yet a victory sealed with an up-and-down on the 72nd hole opened the doors to major championship starts at both The Masters and The Open Championship.
“I think the decision would have been made a lot earlier if I didn’t make that up-and-down,” Crowe conceded.
“The perks of playing two majors is pretty cool but regardless of the two majors, the extra experience that I got and continuously learning really opened my eyes.
“The people that I got to meet, the people that I got to play with and the advice I was given is pretty priceless and I definitely wouldn’t have gotten that if it wasn’t for the Asia-Pacific Amateur last year.
“It made me more and more ready the more I played and the more I travelled.”
As he enters the next phase of his golf career, Crowe expressed his gratitude to parents Shaunaugh and Tony, long-time coach John Serhan, his immediate team and the support he has received from both Golf NSW and Golf Australia.
“The opportunities that I have been given in amateur golf representing my state, representing my club, representing my country, it’s been truly unforgettable,” he added.
“Playing Interstate Series or playing Eisenhower Trophy, it’s something that you’re holding onto no matter where you are and where you’re playing.
“That you did get to play for your country, you did get to play for your state, you played for your club. There are plenty of golfers out there that haven’t got the chance and it’s something huge that I can take forward.
“That I’m one of those players that did get the opportunity to play those events, to travel the world as an amateur golfer.
“It’s been a pretty crazy journey, but it’s been awesome.”
Graeme Phillipson, Chief Operating Officer at Golf NSW, was effusive in his praise for Crowe as he entered this exciting stage of his career.
“Harrison leaves the amateur ranks with a distinguished record matched by only a few in our game,” said Phillipson.
“It will be a thrill to see his career flourish in the pro ranks and we hope that he emulates the careers of several who have gone before him, including PGA TOUR winner Cam Davis, LPGA Tour winner Grace Kim and his St Michael’s club match, Steph Kyriacou.”
PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said Crowe would be a very welcome new face on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
“Harrison is a great example of the pathways that exist in Australian golf for our young men and women to progress from junior golf through to the High Performance Squads and then professional golf,” he said.
“Harrison has had an outstanding amateur career and is already shown what it takes to be a Tour winner thanks to his memorable victory at the NSW Open.
“We look forward to seeing his game continue to grow in the professional game.”
Golf Australia High Performance Director Tony Meyer said: “Harrison has shown throughout his amateur career that he has the game to compete with the pros.
“We’re really excited to see him continue to develop his game over the summer in Australia and look forward to seeing his continued progress.”
Harrison Crowe
Age: 21 (October 15, 2001)
Home club: St Michael’s Golf Club, Sydney
Coach: John Serhan
Major appearances: 2023 Masters (MC), 2023 Open Championship (MC)
Professional wins: 2022 NSW Open
Amateur wins: 2022 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship; 2022 Master of the Amateurs; 2022 NSW Amateur; 2021 Victorian Amateur; 2020 Victorian Amateur; 2019 Asia-Pacific Junior; 2018 Riversdale Cup; 2018 Bonville Champions Trophy.
Australia’s best professional golfers and elite amateur stars are set to test their games in a way very few have ever done at the inaugural World Sand Greens Championships for men and women in regional New South Wales in 2024.
Each tournament, the women’s championship in April and men’s event in September, will carry $140,000 in prizemoney, be contested over 36 holes and are sanctioned by the PGA Tour of Australasia and WPGA Tour of Australasia.
Walcha Golf Club in the New England area will host the Women’s World Sand Greens Championship from April 9-10, and from September 28-29, Binalong Golf Club in the Yass Valley will host the Men’s World Sand Greens Championship.
Golf NSW will partner with the Sports Entertainment Network (SEN), The Home of Sport, to livestream the final round of both tournaments on the Golf NSW website, social media, and via the SEN App.
Golf NSW General Manager – Golf Olivia Wilson said the concept of playing two professional tournaments on sand surfaces was a first in Australia, and certain to attract a lot of interest, from both local and overseas competitors.
“Playing and putting on sand greens is a very different experience for many players, with two impressive purses on offer, interest should be high,” she said.
PGA Tour of Australasia Tournaments Director Nick Dastey, said the dual events would be an exciting opportunity to showcase the distinct style of golf.
“The PGA Tour of Australasia looks forward to the World Sand Greens Championship coming to life in late September 2024,” he said.
“Our unique country provides for various course and weather conditions across the vast lands we play. Sand greens golf will provide for a very different test to play a professional event on and one I am sure will showcase the creative talents our players possess.
“The World Sand Greens Championship will be a great way to kick-start what is sure to be a huge 2024/25 Summer of Golf.”
WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO Karen Lunn shared her excitement for the upcoming golfing spectacle which will count towards the WPGA Tour’s Order of Merit.
“The WPGA Tour is very much looking forward to having the World Sand Greens Championship on our schedule from 2024,” she said.
“All golf is golf, and this new and innovative event will provide our players and international visitors with a completely different test of golf from what they are used to.
“Sand greens golf plays an important part in Australia’s golfing landscape, especially in rural communities, and it will be great to showcase this side of our game.”
The 2024 World Sand Greens Championships is proudly supported by Destination NSW, the tourism and major events agency for the NSW Government.
FAST FACTS:
Women’s World Sand Greens Championship
Date: April 10-11, 2024
Purse: $140,000
Course Par: 71 (Red)
Length: 5389 m (Red Tees)
Walcha Golf Club: regarded as one of NSW’s best sand greens courses. Just one hour east of Tamworth and 3/4 hour from Armidale, the town is halfway between Sydney and Brisbane.
More info: https://www.golfnsw.org.au/golf-clubs/walcha-golf-club/
Men’s World Sand Greens Championship
Date: September 28-29, 2024
Purse: $140,000
Course Par: 70 (Blue)
Length: 5280 m (Blue Tees)
Binalong Golf Club: Just an hour from Canberra, the club has a long and rich history dating to 1857. The 18-hole layout is a picturesque mix of holes with some long par-threes but reachable par-fives.
More info: https://www.golfnsw.org.au/golf-clubs/binalong-golf-club/
It’s an often-repeated phrase from friends to those thinking about starting a family: If you wait until you’re ready to have kids, you’ll never have them.
Part of that truth belongs to the simple fact that nothing can prepare you fully for what comes with being a parent; part of it is the reality of how much you have to learn along the way.
Mark Lazenby, a PGA Professional for the past 21 years, questioned whether his skill set was enough to make a move into management.
Did he have the knowledge to read a balance sheet? Could he cast a critical eye over the food and beverage operation and suggest improvements? Did he have the capacity to bring a staff together and have them all working towards a common goal?
The role of a General Manager is diverse and fluid and it wasn’t until Lazenby heard Oatlands Golf Club General Manager, Sam Howe, speak at a PGA leadership seminar that he understood that no one is completely ready to take that step.
“What really stood out for me was understanding that sometimes we can be too self-critical in feeling like we need to know everything,” Lazenby says.
“One of the things Sam said was that it is absolutely OK at times to not be the smartest person in the room.
“It’s OK to sit back and listen, take on board rather than having to be the messiah who knows absolutely everything.
“During a PGA webinar with fellow PGA Professionals David Tapping and David Wren (General Manager of Melbourne Golf Park and Executive General Manager at Rosanna Golf Club respectively), the question was asked as to when they knew they were ready to take on that role.
“Dave Tapping said it was two years into the job.
“To hear people talk like that, who I respect greatly, gave me that bit of confidence to throw my hat in the ring and take that next step, which is what I did.”
The position that Lazenby applied for was as General Manager of Cardinia Beaconhills Golf Club in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges, a position he was appointed to in July.
Lazenby undertook his PGA training at Royal Fremantle Golf Club south of Perth before seeking opportunities within the golf industry overseas.
After four years in Europe, Lazenby broadened his professional perspective by spending 11 years in Asia.
That included stints at the prestigious Singapore Island Country Club and Sentosa Golf Club, experiences that emphasised the importance of the customer experience.
“Incredibly high-end facilities that came with expectations of how you dealt with people with various needs, be they high net-worth individuals or not,” Lazenby explained.
He put that knowledge to good use when he joined Anthony Sinclair at Federal Golf Club in Canberra.
The General Manager at Federal and the 2021 NSW/ACT Management Professional of the Year, Sinclair was embarking on enhancing the member-value proposition when Lazenby joined as Golf Operations Manager in October 2018.
“It was a change of culture that we tried to instil to create a facility that was financially strong but also had that real feeling of a facility where people wanted to spend time,” Lazenby adds.
“We increased the membership, we increased the number of rounds and turned it into a facility where people really wanted to be.”
In the early stages of the next phase of his career, Lazenby is already advancing his education.
The Board at Cardinia Beaconhills recently supported his attendance at a business management conference, confident it will lead to a stronger club in future.
That week of education advancement also highlighted to Lazenby the willingness of other General Managers to share their accumulated wealth of knowledge anytime he cares to ask.
And when he is confronted by a situation he is not particularly sure how to handle, Lazenby will call upon two decades of trying to help people solve the problems with their golf swing.
“No one comes and has a lesson when they’re playing their best; they tend to only come to you when they’re at their worst,” Lazenby reasons.
“It’s having that idea of how to deal with people and make sure that everyone’s needs are respected and being looked after.”
West Australian Kirsten Rudgeley and Queensland’s Aaron Wilkin both registered career firsts to lead the Australian contingent around the world this past week.
Rudgeley missed the playoff at the Women’s Irish Open by just one stroke in her return to the Ladies European Tour as Wilkin secured his maiden international victory at the BRG Open Golf Championship Da Nang on the Asian Development Tour.
A month back at home in Perth working with coach Craig Bishop transferred to results immediately who with nine holes to play was in contention for a breakthrough LET title.
The LET rookie made a hot start with five birdies on her front nine but dropped shots at 12 and 13 to lose touch with the leaders.
The top of the leaderboard was again within reach when she birdied both 15 and 16 but her 5-under 67 on Sunday would leave her one shot out of the playoff ultimately won by Denmark’s Smilla Tarning Soenderby (62) with an eagle at the first extra hole.
Rudgeley’s total of 15-under par earned her outright fourth, her best finish on the Ladies European Tour and a timely rise to 37th in the Race to Costa Del Sol standings.
“I’m proud of myself, it’s my first year,” Rudgeley said of her best result since turning professional late last year.
“I’m happy I went back home as it sorted a few things out.
“It was a solid week; I didn’t do too much wrong. It was my first time in this situation as well and good to be able to push all the way to the end.
“I loved it and it was good to be in contention.”
It took the round of the day for Wilkin to play his way into contention in Vietnam.
Trailling fellow Australian Deyen Lawson by seven strokes heading into the final round of the 54-hole event, Wilkin’s 7-under 65 saw him assume the clubhouse lead after starting the day in ninth position.
The 2022 Queensland PGA champion had to endure an anxious wait but when Lawson (73) failed to find a birdie at either of his final two holes, Wilkin was able to celebrate his maiden victory on international soil.
“I think I was seven back after yesterday. I knew I had to go low, but I didn’t think it was out of my reach,” said Wilkin.
“I played to my game plan. It doesn’t always go the way you map it out but today it did, so I’m pretty happy with that.
“I’ve been struggling with my putting and I’ve been waiting for a day when they all go in. They didn’t all go in today but they pretty much did.
“I had some good par saves and then I holed the putt on the last which was probably a bit lucky.
“I was nervous and my hands were shaking.”
Sara Kemp’s tie for 21st was the best of the Aussies at the Portland Classic on the LPGA Tour while Jason Scrivener shot a second 5-under 65 for the week to climb into a tie for 36th at the Omega European Masters on the DP World Tour.
Results
Asian Development Tour
BRG Open Golf Championship Da Nang
Da Nang Golf Resort (Nicklaus Cse), Vietnam
1 Aaron Wilkin 73-68-65—206 $US17,500
2 Deyen Lawson 68-66-73—207 $11,500
T15 Jack Murdoch 73-69-72—214 $1,237.50
MC Peter Wilson 75-72—147
MC Kade McBride 68-79—147
MC Harrison Gilbert-Wong 78-72—150
LPGA Tour
Portland Classic
Columbia Edgewater Country Club, Portland, Oregon
1 Chanettee Wannasaen 68-66-65-63—262
T21 Sarah Kemp 66-71-69-69—275
T26 Grace Kim 70-69-67-70—276
MC Hannah Green 70-72—142
MC Stephanie Kyriacou 74-70—144
MC Karis Davidson 73-71—144
MC Lydia Ko (NZ) 72-72—144
MC Su Oh 75-76—151
DP World Tour
Omega European Masters
Crans-sur-Sierre GC, Crans Montana, Switzerland
1 Ludvig Aberg 64-67-66-64—261 €425,000
T36 Jason Scrivener 68-65-73-65—271 €17,000
T63 Daniel Hillier (NZ) 70-65-75-70—280 €6,000
MC Blake Windred 77-71—148
Ladies European Tour
KPMG Women’s Irish Open
Dromoland Castle, County Clare, Ireland
1 Smilla Tarning Soenderby 71-67-72-62—272 €60,000
4 Kirsten Rudgeley 67-71-68-67—273 €18,000
MC Wenyung Keh (NZ) 73-78—151
MC Momoka Kobori (NZ) 73-79—152
Japan Golf Tour
Fuji Sankei Classic
Fujizakura Country Club, Yamanashi
1 Takumi Kanaya 68-68-69-67—272 ¥22m
T52 Brad Kennedy 68-76-73-76—293 ¥279,840
MC Andrew Evans 74-73—147
MC Anthony Quayle 71-79—150
MC Brendan Jones 76-76—152
MC Dylan Perry 81-74—155
PGA TOUR Canada
CRMC Championship
Dragun’s Dutch Legacy Championship Course, Brainerd, Minnesota
1 Yi Cao 66-62-65-65—258
T30 Jason Hong 66-71-72-65—274
MC Jack Trent 71-72—143
MC Cory Crawford 73-75—148
Photos: Tristan Jones/LET (Rudgeley), Asian Development Tour (Wilkin)
Hervey Bay’s Chris Taylor lived out every golfer’s dream by draining a birdie putt at the second playoff hole to claim the 2023 PNG Senior Open.
For the first time all week the rain finally relented for Sunday’s final round at Lae Golf Club, half of the field having to complete their second rounds before the third and final round could get underway.
West Australian Brendan Chant led by one at the completion of Round 2, Taylor two strokes back at 1-under for the championship.
Under sunny skies Taylor then matched Lucien Tinkler for the low number of the final round – a 4-under 67 – to complete 54-holes in 5-under par.
Chant also finished at 5-under with a closing round of 2-under 69 to extend the tournament even further.
Taylor appeared to have the upper hand on the first trip back down the par-5 18th only for Chant to force a second playoff hole with a superb up-and-down.
Again it was Taylor who was best-placed and on this occasion, Chant could not conjure the escape he needed, Taylor putting the result beyond doubt by converting his birdie opportunity.
“I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet but I’m sure it will shortly. I’m a bit emotional,” said Taylor, who has won three of the past four SParms PGA Legends Tour events.
“Brendan made a great up-and-down on the first playoff hole. Thought he was going to do it the second time as well.
“Lucky for me he just missed it which made my putt a little easier.
“What a place to be and to make a 10-footer on the last in a playoff to win a tournament, it’s what you dream of I suppose.”
Only half the field was able to complete their second rounds on Saturday, the Lae Golf Club layout holding up remarkably well given it received some 700mm of rain over the course of the week.
“Today was a completely different day. There was no rain, no clouds, beautiful day,” said Taylor.
“I just enjoyed myself out there and made a few putts at the end.”
Taylor and Chant were the only two players to finish the week under par, Tinkler (67) and Brad Burns (70) sharing third spot at even par with Round 1 co-leader Roland Baglin (72) and Simon Tooman (74) rounding out the top five at 1-over.
The SParms PGA Legends Tour remains in Papua New Guinea this week for the $80,000 Port Moresby Legends Classic at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club starting Friday.
PGA Tour of Australasia winners Matthew Griffin, Marcus Fraser and Andrew Martin will headline the inaugural Deniliquin Pro-Am at Deniliquin Golf Club on Wednesday.
Known throughout Australia for the annual Deni Ute Muster that has been running since 1999, Deniliquin gets its first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series event in 2023 thanks to support from the Edward River Council and local businesses, the first in a three-year commitment.
Other Tour winners who will tee it up at Deniliquin are Deyen Lawson (2022 WA Open), Austin Bautista (2021 NT PGA), Lachlan Barker (2023 PNG Open), two-time Vic PGA winner Ashley Hall and 2012 NSW PGA champion Matthew Stieger.
Edward River Council Mayor Cr Peta Betts hoped that the quality of the field would encourage visitors to the region to witness world-class golf on Deniliquin’s scenic golf course.
“We are very proud of our picturesque golf course here in Deniliquin and the wonderful natural attractions that make our region such a drawcard for visitors,” Cr Betts said.
“Edward River Council is proud to support this Visit Deni tourism initiative and get behind a three-year arrangement with the PGA of Australia.
“Along with the Deni Golf Club committee we are looking forward to welcoming the PGA pros and golfers from all over New South Wales for our first spring Pro-Am.”
Located just an hour north of the Murray River and sitting adjacent to the Murray Valley Region Park, the Deniliquin layout will provide an exacting test for some of our best golfers and provide an attractive canvas on which they can showcase their skills to their amateur playing partners.
“The Deniliquin Golf Club is excited to host a PGA of Australia Pro-Am and we look forward to building on this event in the coming years,” said Deniliquin Golf Club President, Tony Kew.
“The Edward River Council and local business partners are supporting the event which will attract players from across the eastern states.
“We appreciate the opportunity this event has provided us to promote our beautiful golf course and our town.”
The morning groups will tee off in a shotgun start from 7.15am on Wednesday to be followed by the afternoon wave from 12.30pm.
Australian Aaron Wilkin has come from seven shots back to complete a remarkable victory at the BRG Open Golf Championship on the Asian Development Tour in Vietnam.
Countryman Deyen Lawson began the final round with a two-shot lead at 10-under par, Wilkin a distant ninth at 3-under par at the Da Nang Golf Resort’s Nicklaus Course.
Three birdies in the first five holes of the third and final round gave Wilkin a glimpse of the top of the leaderboard and he never looked back.
With further birdies at eight, 11, 15 and 18, Wilkin’s 7-under 65 was the round of the day, his 10-under total enough to secure a one-stroke win.
The 2022 Queensland PGA champion endured an anxious wait but when Lawson (73) failed to find a birdie at either of his final two holes, Wilkin was able to celebrate his biggest victory on international soil.
“I think I was seven back after yesterday. I knew I had to go low, but I didn’t think it was out of my reach,” said Wilkin.
“I was hoping it would be a tough finish which would maybe bring a few of them back.
“I played to my game plan. It doesn’t always go the way you map it out but today it did, so I’m pretty happy with that.
“I’ve been struggling with my putting and I’ve been waiting for a day when they all go in. They didn’t all go in today but they pretty much did.
“I had some good par saves and then I holed the putt on the last which was probably a bit lucky.
“I was nervous and my hands were shaking.”
Final results
Asian Development Tour
BRG Open Golf Championship Da Nang
Da Nang Golf Resort (Nicklaus Cse), Vietnam
1 Aaron Wilkin 73-68-65—206 $US17,500
2 Deyen Lawson 68-66-73—207 $11,500
T15 Jack Murdoch 73-69-72—214 $1,237.50
MC Peter Wilson 75-72—147
MC Kade McBride 68-79—147
MC Harrison Gilbert-Wong 78-72—150
Photo: Courtesy of Asian Development Tour
Overnight leader Jack Wright had to birdie the final two holes to clinch the NSW/ACT PGA Associate Championship at Tura Beach Country Club on the NSW Sapphire Coast.
Two shots clear at the start of the final round, Wright extended his lead to three with a birdie at the par-5 second but would drop shots at four and seven to turn in 1-over.
A birdie on 11 arrested the slide but only momentarily, bogeys at 13 and 15 bringing the likes of Pymble’s William Bayliss into the mix.
One behind standing on the tee at the par-3 17th, the first year Associate at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Golf Club hit a superb shot into 20 feet and then drained the putt to join Bayliss (71) at 5-under.
It made the equation on the 72nd hole a simple one; birdie the 425-metre par 5 and win the championship.
Wright was able to find the green in two shots and then two-putted for birdie and a one-stroke win, his even-par 73 and 6-under total enough to hold Bayliss at bay.
Luke Porritt (71) and Joe Kim (74) tied for the third at 3-under with Dean Forrest (73) rounding out the top five.
A winner of five Open matches in his first year in the Membership Pathway Program, the 26-year-old Wright now shapes as the man to beat at the Queensland PGA Associate Championship to be played at Windaroo Lakes Golf Course in Brisbane on October 9-12.
Not even a back-nine triple-bogey when his tee shot got stuck up a tree could prevent Matias Sanchez from taking top spot at First Stage of DP World Tour Qualifying School at Rosebud Country Club.
Leading by one at the start of Friday’s final round, Sanchez raced out to a five-stroke lead with a front nine of 3-under 32.
A bogey on 10 was a slight stumble compared to what was to come.
The Victorian’s tee shot was tracking with the right edge of the fairway but had its trajectory halted by a pine tree flanking the fairway.
His provisional tee shot that went left of the fairway necessitated a chip sideways back to the fairway, Sanchez making triple-bogey seven to see his lead almost evaporate entirely.
“That was pretty stressful to be honest,” he admitted.
“I was cruising for most of the day and then I hit a drive and got stuck up a tree on 12.
“It felt like I wasn’t really in control of things so the tension levels were definitely high.
“I didn’t make the best swing off 14, made a bogey there but then pulled it together and played really good down the stretch for the last four holes which I was pretty proud of.”
A member of both Royal Melbourne Golf Club and Sandhurst Club, Sanchez (72) would ultimately finish two strokes clear of – pictured left to right – Andre Lautee (73) with Lucas Higgins (70) and Cooper Eccleston (69) completing the top four who advance to Second Stage of Qualifying School in November.
While the triple-bogey on 12 brought Sanchez back to the back, he said the birdie on 16 was even more stressful.
After hitting his best tee shot for the week on the 474-metre par 5, Sanchez hit his 3-wood from 255 metres toward the left trap, only to find his ball sitting on a sliver of sandy rough.
“I haven’t got a stance at all so I thought I might either flub it straight into the bunker or if I hit it too good it will roll over the back,” Sanchez said.
“Somehow I hit the best chip of the week there to about 12 feet and rolled it in.”
The calming presence of coach Tim Wendel on the bag helped Sanchez navigate the final two holes relatively stress free, the pair now plotting a schedule that will hopefully end with a 2024 DP World Tour card.
“I’ve never been to Spain but I’m fluent in Spanish so that will be good,” said Sanchez, whose family emigrated from Chile before he was born.
“If all goes well that’d be amazing and then if I can get to Final Stage and then obviously the goal is to get your tour card.
“It’s a long way to go and I’ve got plenty of work to do with my coach Tim Wendel but I’m playing decent so we’ll see what happens.”
Heartbreak story of the day belonged to West Australian Braden Becker who made double-bogey on the final hole to miss out on advancing by a single stroke.
Going into the final round of First Stage at The Players Club in England, Aussies Todd Sinnott and Ryan Ruffels are tied for 10th and 19th respectively, the top 19 and ties to be exempt into Second Stage.
Photo: Monica Marchesani/PGA
Portland is Hannah Green’s happy place and the West Australian will attempt to harness that energy for a second Portland Classic on the LPGA Tour this week.
Green is one of six Aussies teeing it up at Columbia Edgewater Country Club, the venue where she was victorious in her breakout 2019 season.
But it is more than the golf course for Green.
There are her frequent visits to the Proud Mary Café, a café that has its origins in Melbourne and which claims to meld good food with great coffee.
And then there is what comes next.
At the completion of the Portland Classic Green will jump on a plane headed for her hometown of Perth.
Green shared her excitement at this week’s tournament and what will follow after the 26-year-old finished tied for fourth at last week’s CPKC Women’s Open in Canada.
“Very excited, because even after Portland I’m going to Perth so very, very excited,” Green revealed.
“I’ll be at Proud Mary most days I would say.”
Her positive demeanour has contributed to Green’s performances in Portland.
Following her win in 2019 she was tied for 12th in 2020 and last year was tied for third, just two shots back of champion Andrea Lee.
With 10 events left on the 2023 LPGA schedule, Green is 26th on the Race to CME Globe standings thanks largely to her victory at the LA Championship.
Lotte Championship winner Grace Kim is the highest-ranked Australian at No.24 in the season-long points race and this week represents a great opportunity for the likes of Sarah Kemp and Stephanie Kyriacou.
With two top-10s this year Kemp is on track to record a career-highest finish at season’s end while Kyriacou – at No.57 – is solidifying her place as an LPGA regular on the verge of a maiden win.
With no PGA TOUR or Korn Ferry Tour events this week it is a relatively quiet week for our Aussie contingent.
Jason Scrivener and Blake Windred join Kiwi Daniel Hillier at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland, there are five Aussies playing the Fuji Sankei Classic on the Japan Golf Tour and the Aussie trio of Jason Hong, Jack Trent and Cory Crawford are in action at the CRMC Championship on the PGA TOUR Canada.
Round 1 tee times AEST
LPGA Tour
Portland Classic
Columbia Edgewater Country Club, Portland, Oregon
12.48am Maria Fassi, Frida Kinhult, Stephanie Kyriacou
12.59am Hannah Green, Maja Stark, Elizabeth Szokol
1.10am* In Kyung Kim, Lydia Ko (NZ), Nelly Korda
1.21am Esther Henseleit, Grace Kim, Alexa Pano
5.26am* Yu-Sang Hou, Ruixin Liu, Su Oh
6.43am* Jennifer Chang, Sarah Kemp, Mi Hyang Lee
6.54am* Daniela Darquea, Karis Davidson, Lindy Duncan
Defending champion: Andrea Lee
Past Aussie winners: Hannah Green (2019)
TV times: Live 8am-11am Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503.
DP World Tour
Omega European Masters
Crans-sur-Sierre GC, Crans Montana, Switzerland
3.50pm* Jeunghun Wang, Jason Scrivener, Hennie Du Plessis
4.50pm* Joost Luiten, Justin Suh, Daniel Hillier (NZ)
8.50pm Kristian Krogh Johannessen, Nathan Kimsey, Blake Windred
Defending champion: Thriston Lawrence
Past Aussie winners: Graham Marsh (1972), Brett Rumford (2007)
TV times: Live 9.30pm-2.30am Thursday, Friday; Live 8.30pm-1.30am Saturday, Sunday on Fox Sports 503.
Ladies European Tour
KPMG Women’s Irish Open
Dromoland Castle, County Clare, Ireland
5.55pm Momoka Kobori (NZ), Laura Beveridge, Amy Taylor
10.14pm* Moa Folke, Kirsten Rudgeley, Meghan MacLaren
11.20pm Emma Fleming, Linette Littau Durr Holmslykke, Wenyung Keh (NZ)
Defending champion: Klara Spilkova
Past Aussie winners: Nil
TV times: Live 1am-4am Friday, Saturday on Fox Sports 505; Live 12am-3am Sunday on Fox Sports 507; Live 1.30am-2.30am Monday on Fox Sports 503.
Japan Golf Tour
Fuji Sankei Classic
Fujizakura Country Club, Yamanashi
8.40am Anthony Quayle, Yasumasa Nagano, Ryo Katsumata
8.50am Brendan Jones, Komei Oda, Tomohiro Ishizaka
9.20am Brad Kennedy, Hiroyo Ikemura, Atom Shigenaga
9.45am* Shintaro Ban, Dylan Perry, Kyohei Terunuma
1.55pm Toshiyuki Hara, Andrew Evans, Yusuke Sakamoto
Defending champion: Kaito Onishi
Past Aussie winners: Graham Marsh (1973, 1974), Paul Sheehan (2004)
PGA TOUR Canada
CRMC Championship
Dragun’s Dutch Legacy Championship Course, Brainerd, Minnesota
10.30pm Eric Lilleboe, Cory Crawford, Mason Glinski
3.50am* Jack Trent, Luis Gerardo Garza, Will Chandler
5.30am Jason Hong, Matt Liringis, Drew Nesbitt
Defending champion: Jake Knapp
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Photo: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
