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The Lees have made a habit in the past of winning in consecutive weeks and, for one round, it looked like it might happen again this past week.
Just four days after sister Minjee won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Min Woo took an early front-running position at the Rocket Classic in Detroit with a round of 9-under 63.
Equalling his low round of the year – the other 63 coming in Round 3 of his Texas Children’s Houston Open win – Lee dropped back with a 73 in Round 2 but shot 10-under across the weekend to earn a share of 13th.
It was the standout performance for the Aussies across the weekend, Kelsey Bennett’s tie for 19th at the Amundi German Masters another strong showing in her maiden season on the Ladies European Tour.
10. Karis Davidson (New)
After taking time away from the game in 2024 is now establishing herself as a bona fide talent on the LPGA Tour. A tie for seventh at the Meijer LPGA Classic was Davidson’s best result on the LPGA Tour. She has since followed that up by playing all four rounds at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and tie for 10th at the Dow Championship.
9. Stephanie Kyriacou (8)
Skipped the two-player teams event at the Dow Championship after surviving four brutal rounds at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Can now look ahead to next week’s Amundi Evian Championship where she was runner-up 12 months ago.
8. Karl Vilips (7)
Finally able to get back on course but the Puerto Rico Open champion played just two rounds before missing the cut at the Rocket Classic in Detroit. One of just three Aussies in the field for this week’s John Deere Classic.
7. Min Woo Lee (9)
Four days after sister Minjee won her third major, Min Woo burst from the blocks at the Rocket Classic in Detroit. His 9-under 63 in Round 1 was a course record for just a few hours, his eventual tie for 13th his best result since winning the Texas Children’s Houston Open in March.
6. Hannah Green (6)
Remains 11th on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking despite missing the Dow Championship in Michigan. Without a top-10 finish since the JM Eagle LA Championship in April.
5. Marc Leishman (5)
In something of a struggle for the Ripper GC boys at LIV Golf Dallas, the LIV Golf Miami champion finished in a tie for 25th, second to skipper Cameron Smith who was tied 13th.
4. Adam Scott (4)
Squeezed in a social hit at home in Switzerland after a run of five tournaments in seven weeks on the PGA TOUR, highlighted by his tie for 12th at the US Open. Next slated to tee it up at the Genesis Scottish Open next week.
3. Jason Day (3)
A tie for fourth at the Travelers Championship on the back of his top-25 finish at the US Open saw Day reclaim the mantle as Australia’s highest-ranked male player in the Official World Golf Ranking. In the field for this week’s John Deere Classic.
2. Lucas Herbert (2)
A second straight disappointing result for Herbert on LIV Golf, shooting 6-over in the final round to finish tied 40th at LIV Golf Dallas. Dropped to seventh in the individual season standings as Ripper GC finished tied seventh in the team event.
1. Minjee Lee (1)
Australia’s most recent major winner revelled in the week off to celebrate her KPMG Women’s PGA Championship triumph. Now sets her sights on the Amundi Evian Championship next week, the tournament where she made her major breakthrough in 2021.
The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.
His birthday wish may not have come true yet Mark Hensby left happy after contending all week at the US Senior Open in Colorado.
Co-leader each of the first three days at The Broadmoor, Hensby played in the final group for the second straight day alongside major champions Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink.
A poor start where he dropped shots at the first and fifth holes would ultimately prove costly for Hensby, Harrington (67) establishing a five-stroke gap with birdies at two, three and five, the Irishman claiming his second US Senior Open in three years by one stroke from Cink (68).
Celebrating his 54th birthday, Hensby (73) finished in a tie for fourth, his second top-five finish in the event since 2022.
“When you play with a Hall of Famer and Stewart Cink, obviously a very accomplished player, it’s always fun,” said Hensby.
“You always learn something from them, what they do.
“I felt comfortable, I must admit. Obviously, we all get nervous, but I just didn’t get off to the start I needed to really contend.
“Overall, I’m happy for the week. I had a good week.
“I’m going to be honest, today I just got off to a bad start. We just hit a few clubs that probably weren’t the right clubs and hit it in some bad spots where it’s hard to two-putt.
“Just couldn’t get any momentum going. Just couldn’t get the putter right today.”
Victorian Cameron Percy closed with a superb 4-under 66 to sneak inside the top 10, Scott Hend (70) and Greg Chalmers (69) making it four Aussies inside the top 20.
A briefly held course record 9-under 63 in Round 1 gave Min Woo Lee the foundation for his best PGA TOUR result since his win in Texas in March, a tie for 13th at the Rocket Classic in Detroit.
Cameron Smith closed well to also earn a share of 13th at LIV Golf Dallas while Cassie Porter teamed up with Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh to finish tied sixth at the Dow Championship, the second top 10 of her rookie season on the LPGA Tour.
Results
PGA TOUR
Rocket Classic
Detroit Golf Club, Detroit, Michigan
1 Aldrich Potgieter 62-70-65-69—266 $US1.728m
Won on fifth hole of sudden-death playoff
T13 Min Woo Lee 63-73-68-66—270 $172,000
T82 Harrison Endycott 67-66-78-72—283 $17,280
MC Cam Davis 74-70—144
MC Aaron Baddeley 71-73—144
MC Karl Vilips 71-74—145
US Senior Open
The Broadmoor (East Cse), Colorado Springs, Colorado
1 Padraig Harrington 67-67-68-67—269 $US800,000
T4 Mark Hensby 67-67-68-73—275 $165,012
7 Steven Alker (NZ) 69-72-66-70—277 $119,882
T9 Cameron Percy 72-71-70-66—279 $85,798
T16 Scott Hend 71-69-71-70—281 $54,727
T18 Greg Chalmers 70-72-71-69—282 $45,563.75
T22 Steve Allan 71-71-69-72—283 $34,923.50
T22 Rod Pampling 70-71-69-73—283 $34,923.50
T32 Stuart Appleby 71-70-73-72—286 $20,952
T45 Richard Green 71-71-73-73—288 $10,630
MC Michael Campbell (NZ) 74-73—147
MC Mathew Goggin 77-74– 151
MC Brendan Jones 83-70—153
MC Richard Lee (NZ) 78-77—155
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Dallas
Maridoe Golf Club, Carrollton, Texas
1 Patrick Reed 67-68-75—210 $US4m
Won in sudden-death playoff
T13 Cameron Smith 75-71-68—214 $320,000
T21 Ben Campbell (NZ) 73-70-74—217 $225,000
T25 Marc Leishman 75-70-74—219 $180,000
T40 Danny Lee (NZ) 74-76-74—224 $134,333
T40 Lucas Herbert 75-71-78—224 $134,333
T46 Matt Jones 79-75-71—225 $124,000
DP World Tour
Italian Open
Argentario GC, Monte Argentario, Italy
1 Adrien Saddier 69-64-67-66—266 €436,314.18
T16 Kazuma Kobori (NZ) 66-71-67-70—274 €34,648.48
T28 Daniel Gale 68-71-70-68—277 €22,842.33
T41 Daniel Hillier 70-68-71-70—279 €14,629.36
T50 Danny List 68-67-70-76—281 €9,606.24
T69 David Micheluzzi 68-69-71-76—284 €4,619.79
MC Elvis Smylie 70-72—142
MC Jason Scrivener 69-74—143
MC Brett Coletta 76-77—153
LPGA Tour
Dow Championship
Midland Country Club, Midland, Michigan
1 Jin Hee Im/Somi Lee 67-63-68-62—260 $US399,510 ea
Won on second hole of sudden-death playoff
T6 Cassie Porter/Gemma Dryburgh 66-62-73-63—264 $50,621
T10 Karis Davidson/Daniela Darquea 68-66-69-62—265 $35,017
T30 Robyn Choi/Jenny Bae 70-62-74-63—269 $8,282
T35 Fiona Xu (NZ)/Mariel Galdiano 68-66-74-64—272 $6,638
MC Lydia Ko (NZ)/Danielle Kang 71-68—139
MC Sarah Kemp/Alena Sharp 73-68—141
MC Hira Naveed/Sofia Garcia 72-70—142
Ladies European Tour
Amundi German Masters
Green Eagle Golf Courses, Germany
1 Shannon Tan 70-69-68-76—283 €45,000
3 Amelia Garvey (NZ) 68-72-73-72—285 €18,000
T14 Maddison Hinson-Tolchard 75-74-71-72—292 €5,362.50
T19 Kelsey Bennett 70-73-73-77—293 €4,545
T46 Momoka Kobori (NZ) 75-71-75-77—298 €1,590
MC Amy Walsh 79-80—159
MC Wenyung Keh (NZ) 75-85—160
Korn Ferry Tour
Memorial Health Championship
Panther Creek Country Club, Springfield, Illinois
1 Austin Smotherman 65-63-68-63—259 $US180,000
T69 Harry Hillier (NZ) 70-67-72-68—277 $3,910
MC Rhein Gibson 72-67—139
MC Brett Drewitt 72-69—141
HotelPlanner Tour
Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge
Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil, Le Vaudreuil, France
1 David Horsey 72-66-65-69—272 €48,000
Won in sudden-death playoff
T28 Sam Jones (NZ) 71-70-73-67—281 €2,520
MC Hayden Hopewell 74-76—150
Epson Tour
Otter Creek Championship
Otter Creek Golf Course, Columbus, Indiana
1 Jillian Hollis 66-68-68—202 $US37,500
T22 Jess Whitting 71-69-73—213 $2,620
T43 Su Oh 72-71-73—216 $1,373
MC Jennifer Elliott 74-77—151
MC Soo Jin Lee 73-79—152
LET Access Series
PGA of Sweden Championship Landeryd
Landeryds Masters & Landeryds Vasterby, Sweden
1 Katharina Muehlbauer 66-68-71-74—279 €8,678.08
T10 Kristalle Blum 72-73-74-68—287 €1,450.87
T10 Belinda Ji 72-72-74-69—287 €1,450.87
T14 Stephanie Bunque 72-73-69-74—288 €1,152.56
T33 Justice Bosio 77-68-73-73—291 €722.27
T41 Abbie Teasdale 73-71-77-71—292 €629.16
Korean PGA Tour
KPGA Gunsan CC Open
Gunsan Country Club, Korea
1 Tae Hoon Ok 69-67-65-68—269
T47 Sungjin Yeo (NZ) 70-72-71-74—287
MC Wonjoon Lee 71-76—147
WD Junseok Lee 78
If he needed any more good vibes on his return to Detroit Golf Club, Aussie Cam Davis now has a permanent – albeit miniature – reminder of his Rocket Classic success.
Davis will tee off alongside fellow Australian Min Woo Lee at 9:18pm (AEST) on Thursday night as the defending champion, the second time he has had such an honour.
His victory in 2021 marked a breakthrough moment on the PGA TOUR, his win 12 months ago creating a slice of history as the first two-time winner of the event.
To mark the occasion, tournament organisers immortalised Davis in bobblehead form, an idea the 30-year-old was glad he green-lighted.
“When I heard that that was a potential for this week, I definitely wasn’t going to say no to having one of those done,” Davis said in his pre-tournament press conference.
“They nailed it. I heard the hair colour was a difficult one to nail, but I think they did a really good job.
“It’s very cool. I’m really glad I said yes to the idea of having one made up. Very unique experience but very fun. I’ve had a lot of requests, as soon as the picture came out a few days ago that a lot of people want one, which is kind of fun.
“Pretty cool perk for being able to come back here.”
It isn’t just a bobblehead that will mark the occasion this week, food outlets all week at Detroit Golf Club to stock the ‘Davis Double’, a sandwich consisting of crispy chicken, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, pepperoncini, provolone and mayonnaise on a brioche bun, inspiration coming from the meal Davis ate at the pub after his first win.
Such a showering of gifts only adds to Davis’s affinity for a golf course and a tournament he hopes can kick-start his PGA TOUR season.
After starting the year with top-20 finishes at The Sentry and The American Express followed by a tie for fifth at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Davis had climbed back into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
In his 13 most recent starts he has missed seven cuts and is without a single top-10, making this week’s title defence a timely one.
“It’s been a little bit of banging my head against a wall over and over again, waiting for something to change,” conceded Davis, who experienced a lean run of seven events prior to last year’s win.
“Sometimes it’s a change in location, a change in scenery can be something that you can draw a lot of inspiration from, and just having so many good memories around this place, every spot I walk around in, will only help with that.
“I’m really glad it’s turned up now because there’s no better time to turn things around than getting right back here again.”
After a gruelling test last week at the KPMG Women’s PGA, four Aussies have found teammates for the LPGA Tour’s Dow Championship in Michigan, veteran Sarah Kemp also in the field alongside Canadian Alena Sharp.
There are a total of 13 Australasians in the field for the US Senior Open at The Broadmoor, Ripper GC resume their LIV Golf season in Dallas and the past three winners of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit are contesting the Italian Open on the DP World Tour.
Round 1 tee times AEST
PGA TOUR
Rocket Classic
Detroit Golf Club, Detroit, Michigan
8:56pm Aaron Baddeley
9:18pm* Min Woo Lee, Cam Davis
10:02pm Karl Vilips
3:49am* Harrison Endycott
Past champion: Cam Davis
Past Aussies winners: Cam Davis (2021, 2024)
Prize money: $US9.6m
TV times: Live 8:45pm-5am Thursday, Friday; Live 9pm-8am Saturday; Live 10:15pm-8am Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo Sports.
US Senior Open
The Broadmoor (East Cse), Colorado Springs, Colorado
11:21pm Richard Lee (NZ)
11:21pm* Mathew Goggin
11:31pm Stuart Appleby
11:42pm* Michael Campbell (NZ)
12:03am Cameron Percy
12:13am Mark Hensby
12:13am* Richard Green
5:12am* Brendan Jones
5:22am* Steve Allan
5:33am* Greg Chalmers
5:54am Scott Hend
5:54am* Rod Pampling
6:04am Steven Alker (NZ)
Past champion: Richard Bland
Past Aussie winners: Graham Marsh (1997)
Prize money: $US4m
TV times: Live 8am-11am Friday, Saturday on Fox Sports 503; Live 4am-8am Sunday on Fox Sports 505; Live 4am-8am Monday on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo.
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Dallas
Maridoe Golf Club, Carrollton, Texas
Australasians in the field: Cameron Smith, Lucas Herbert, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, Ben Campbell (NZ), Danny Lee (NZ)
Past champion: Ripper GC (Team Championship)
Past Aussie winners: Ripper GC (Team Championship, 2024)
Prize money: $US20m
TV times: 2:35am-7am Saturday; 3am-8am Sunday, Monday on 7Mate.
DP World Tour
Italian Open
Argentario GC, Monte Argentario, Italy
3:50pm Daniel Gale
8:30pm David MIcheluzzi
8:40pm Elvis Smylie
9:10pm* Kazuma Kobori (NZ), Danny List
9:30pm* Jason Scrivener
9:40pm Daniel Hillier (NZ)
10:30pm* Brett Coletta
Past champion: Marcel Siem
Past Aussie winners: Greg Norman (1988), Craig Parry (1991)
Prize money: $US3m
TV times: Live 9:30pm-2:30am Thursday, Friday; Live 8:45pm-1am Saturday; Live 8pm-1am Sunday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo Sports.
LPGA Tour
Dow Championship
Midland Country Club, Midland, Michigan
9:15pm Robyn Choi/Jenny Bae
9:37pm Sarah Kemp/Alena Sharp
9:48pm* Cassie Porter/Gemma Dryburgh
9:59pm Lydia Ko (NZ)/Danielle Kang
1:41am* Karis Davidson/Daniela Darquea
1:52am* Fiona Xu (NZ)/Mariel Galdiano
2:36pm Hira Naveed/Sofia Garcia
Past winners: Ruoning Yin/Jeeno Thitikul
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US3.3m
TV times: Live 1am-4am Friday on Fox Sports 506; Live 2:30am-4am Saturday; Live 5am-8am Sunday on Fox Sports 505; Live 5am-8am Monday on Fox Sports 506 and Kayo Sports.
Ladies European Tour
Amundi German Masters
Green Eagle Golf Courses, Germany
3:40pm* Momoka Kobori (NZ)
4:24pm* Amelia Garvey (NZ)
4:35pm Amy Walsh
5:08pm* Maddison Hinson-Tolchard
5:19pm Wenyung Keh (NZ)
8:30pm Kelsey Bennett
Past champion: Alexandra Forsterling
Past Aussie winners: Karrie Webb (2013)
Prize money: €300,000
TV times: 11am-12:30pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday; 10am-11:30am Monday on Fox Sports 503.
Korn Ferry Tour
Memorial Health Championship
Panther Creek Country Club, Springfield, Illinois
3:26am* Brett Drewitt
4:15am* Rhein Gibson
5:26am* Harry Hillier (NZ)
Past champion: Max McGreevey
Past Aussie winners:
Prize money: $US1m
HotelPlanner Tour
Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge
Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil, Le Vaudreuil, France
5pm* Sam Jones (NZ)
10:20pm Hayden Hopewell
Past champion: Joel Moscatel
Past Aussie winners:
Prize money: €300,000
Epson Tour
Otter Creek Championship
Otter Creek Golf Course, Columbus, Indiana
Australasians in the field: Su Oh, Jess Whitting, Soo Jin Lee
Past champion: Savannah Carlson
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US250,000
LET Access Series
PGA of Sweden Championship Landeryd
Landeryds Masters & Landeryds Vasterby, Sweden
4:25pm Stephanie Bunque
9:55pm* Kristalle Blum
10:17pm* Justice Bosio
10:39pm Abbie Teasdale
11:01pm Belinda Ji
Past champion: Natacha Host Husted
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: kr600,000
Korean PGA Tour
KPGA Gunsan CC Open
Gunsan Country Club, Korea
9:01am Sungjin Yeo (NZ)
10:40am Junseok Lee
2:13pm Wonjoon Lee
Past champion: Jang Yu-bin
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: KRW500m
Not only did Minjee Lee this week assume top spot in the Australian Golf Power Rankings, her third major championship elevated her into the upper pantheon of the sport in Australia.
Lee’s three-stroke win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship makes her just the fourth Australian to win more than two major championships, adding her name alongside Hall of Famers Karrie Webb (seven majors), Peter Thomson (five) and Jan Stephenson (three).
Her flawless third round in ferocious winds and with firm greens will come to be regarded as one of the greatest by an Australian in a major, her 3-under 69 turning a three-stroke deficit into a four-stroke lead.
With three bogeys on the front nine, she would need all of them to keep the challengers at bay, ultimately securing her place among the legends of Australian golf with birdies at 14 and 15 for a three-stroke win.
As a result, the 29-year-old has now risen to sixth in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings to resume her place as Australia’s highest-ranked golfer.
There was almost cause for double celebration when Jason Day played his way into contention at the Travelers Championship, subsequently moving up 10 places on the Official World Golf Ranking to be the highest-ranked Aussie male at No.28.
10. Kelsey Bennett (10)
Solidified her place inside the top 25 on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit by playing all four rounds at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open, finishing tied 46th.
9. Min Woo Lee (7)
Struggled to get anything going at the Travelers Championship at TPC Highlands, finishing tied 63rd as sister Minjee enjoyed another major moment.
8. Stephanie Kyriacou (9)
Battled the brutal conditions at East Fields Ranch to make the cut at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, dropping three spots to 42nd on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking.
7. Karl Vilips (5)
Another frustrating week of being unable to get a start for the Puerto Rico Open winner. Returns to action this week at the Rocket Classic in Detroit hoping to improve his current standing of 70th on the FedEx Cup points list.
6. Hannah Green (4)
The 2019 champion comfortably made the cut at the KPMG Women’s PGA but saw her hopes of a high finish evaporate with a 9-over 81 in Round 3. Now sits 11th on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking.
5. Marc Leishman (3)
Had the week off to tend to his lawn and let the bruises heal from a brutal final day at the US Open at Oakmont. The LIV Golf Miami champion will be eager to help Ripper GC improve their current fourth-place team standings at LIV Golf Dallas this week.
4. Adam Scott (2)
A brilliant 8-under 62 in Round 3 helped Scott to build on his spirited charge at the US Open with a tie for 30th at the Travelers Championship. Holding steady at No.40 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
3. Jason Day (6)
Like Scott, built on the momentum of his tie for 23rd at the US Open with a strong showing at the Travelers. Day moved to within one stroke of the lead midway through the back nine of the final round only to stall with a bogey at the 17th, eventually finishing tied fourth.
2. Lucas Herbert (1)
Gets to resume his season this week at LIV Golf Dallas. With three top-five finishes, Herbert is fifth on the LIV Golf player standings along with his victory at the International Series Japan on the Asian Tour.
1. Minjee Lee (8)
Erased two years of frustration with a third major victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Texas. Entered the week with seven top-15 finishes from 11 starts on the LPGA Tour, effectively separating herself from the field with a brilliant third round.
The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.
West Australian Minjee Lee has joined a select few of Australia’s greatest ever golfers with a third major championship win at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Texas.
The 54-hole leader by four strokes, Lee had to overcome a nervy front nine that featured three bogeys in the space of four holes before completing a three-stroke win.
A crucial par putt at the par-3 13th and back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15 gave the 29-year-old a four-stroke cushion with three holes to play, a bogey on 16 a mere blip on her way to golf immortality.
There are just four Australians to have ever won more than two major championships, Lee now alongside Karrie Webb (seven), Peter Thomson (five) and Jan Stephenson (three) with an eye on more to come.
“I don’t really set goals like I’m going to win three majors, try and have three wins,” Lee said, her bogey-free 3-under 69 in Round 3 deserving of a place in the annals of greatest ever rounds by an Australian in a major championship.
“I just stick to my processes, and one of my big goals was to improve on the putting stats, so I think I’ve been doing that.
“I’m just taking it one step at a time. I’m going to enjoy this win, and then I’ll sit down with my coach and talk to him on the phone, see where we are going go after this one.”
There was almost double cause for celebration on Monday morning as Jason Day moved into position for victory at the $US20m Travelers Championship at TPC Highlands.
Five back of England’s Tommy Fleetwood through three rounds, Day made birdies at 11 and 14 to move within one of the lead, a dropped shot on 17 relegating him to a tie for fourth as Keegan Bradley edged Fleetwood on the final hole.
Aussie duo Richard Green and Michael Wright both finished tied for seventh at the third senior major of 2025, the Kaulig Companies Championship, while Kirsten Rudgeley showed a return to form with a tie for ninth at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour.
Results
KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco, Frisco, Texas
1 Minjee Lee 69-72-69-74—284 $US1.8m
T12 Lydia Ko (NZ) 75-73-74-71—293 $170,561
T36 Gabriela Ruffels 77-74-75-72—298 $60,722
T36 Grace Kim 73-78-68-79—298 $60,722
T47 Karis Davidson 74-75-76-75—300 $42,465
T47 Stephanie Kyriacou 72-75-78-75—300 $42,465
68 Hannah Green 74-74-81-75—304 $24,362
77 Hira Naveed 75-76-86-75—312 $21,230
MC Robyn Choi 74-78—152
MC Cassie Porter 78-76—154
PGA TOUR
Travelers Championship
TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut
1 Keegan Bradley 64-70-63-68—265 $US3.6m
T4 Jason Day 66-66-67-68—267 $880,000
T17 Ryan Fox (NZ) 69-71-68-66—274 $252,563
T30 Adam Scott 72-72-62-70—276 $125,375
T57 Cam Davis 71-73-68-71—283 $43,750
T63 Min Woo Lee 73-69-71-72—285 $41,250
PGA TOUR Champions
Kaulig Companies Championship
Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio
1 Miguel Angel Jiménez 70-66-66-68—270 $US525,000
Won on second hole of sudden-death playoff
2 Steven Alker (NZ) 68-67-67-68—270 $308,000
T7 Richard Green 71-67-67-72—277 $102,200
T7 Michael Wright 72-66-66-73—277 $102,200
15 Mark Hensby 69-70-69-71—279 $63,000
T16 Steve Allan 71-71-69-69—280 $57,750
T33 Rod Pampling 75-68-70-72—285 $21,150
T33 David Bransdon 72-71-70-72—285 $21,150
T40 Greg Chalmers 73-74-68-71—286 $16,100
T50 Stuart Appleby 73-73-73-70—289 $10,500
T52 Cameron Percy 69-71-74-76—290 $8,867
T74 John Senden 77-72-74-77—300 $2,170
Ladies European Tour
Tipsport Czech Ladies Open
Royal Beroun Golf Club, Czech Republic
1 Casandra Alexander 73-64-62—199
T9 Kirsten Rudgeley 71-67-65—203
T31 Momoka Kobori (NZ) 70-68-69—207
T40 Amelia Garvey (NZ) 68-71-69—208
T46 Kelsey Bennett 70-68-71—209
T46 Maddison Hinson-Tolchard 68-72-69—209
MC Wenyung Keh (NZ) 71-79—150
MC Amy Walsh 76-76—152
Korean PGA Tour
68th KPGA Championship
A-One Country Club, Yangsan
1 Ok Tae-hoon 63-71-68-62—264
T31 Wonjoon Lee 71-68-74-65—278
MC Sungjin Yeo (NZ) 72-69—141
MC Matthew Griffin 72-72—144
MC Changgi Lee (NZ) 72-74—146
MC Junseok Lee 78-73—151
Korn Ferry Tour
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open
Crestview Country Club, Wichita, Kansas
1 Myles Creighton 68-68-59-68—263
T7 Harry Hillier (NZ) 65-62-71-70—268
MC Rhein Gibson 69-71—140
HotelPlanner Tour
Blot Play9
Golf Bluegreen de Pléneuf Val André, Pléneuf, France
1 James Morrison 64-66-74-70—274 €48,000
T27 Hayden Hopewell 71-73-68-72—284 €2,460
T67 Sam Jones (NZ) 70-72-78-78—298 €705
Epson Tour
Island Resort Championship
Sweetgrass Golf Club, Harris Michigan
MC Jess Whitting 75-72—147
MC Su Oh 76-72—148
The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia today announced its schedule for the first half of a bumper 2025-2026 season that will offer a record total of around $7 million in prizemoney across 10 events.
The two Australian majors, the BMW Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open, will both offer substantially increased prize purses this season, reflecting the growth and increased interest in both tournaments, co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour.
The BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club from November 27-30 will offer $2.5 million, the most in the event’s 121-year history, an increase of $500,000 on 2024.
Meanwhile, the Australian Open at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club on December 4-7, where Grand Slam winner Rory McIlroy will be the headline act, will offer a minimum of $2 million in prize money.
To kick off the 2025/26 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season, former Queensland PGA champion and 2024 BMW Australian PGA third placegetter Anthony Quayle hit a commemorative tee shot at today’s launch at Nudgee Golf Club which will host the first event of back-to-back weeks in Brisbane for the Tour in November.
Quayle is headed to the DP World Tour next season after gaining one of the cards on offer to the top-three finishers on last year’s Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
“The Chase is On” from the PNG Open in August, with 10 tournaments locked in through to the end of the year, including the return of the Tailor-made Building Services NT PGA Championship at Palmerston Golf Course on August 28-31.
Outstanding golf courses making a reappearance on the Tour schedule is another highlight for the first half of the season.
There’s a return to the Mt Lawley Golf Club for the Nexus Advisernet Bowra & O’Dea WA Open for the first time since 2018 on October 16-19, the Perth club to showcase its acclaimed redesigned layout which opened for play in late 2023.
The Ford NSW Open is back at the Greg Norman-designed The Vintage Golf Club on November 14-17. Set in the vineyards of the Hunter Valley, The Vintage hosted the Open for four consecutive years from 2007 to 2010.
The ground-breaking Webex Players Series, featuring its format of men and women on the same course, vying for the same title, will have one event prior to the New Year with Willunga GC in the McLaren Vale region once again the venue for Webex Players Series South Australia hosted by Greg Blewett.
Another four Webex events will come in early 2026, including the second year of Webex Players Series Perth hosted by Minjee and Min Woo Lee at Royal Fremantle Golf Club in January.
Owned and operated by the PGA of Australia, the Tour will continue through to March when the Order of Merit champion will be crowned.
PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said the first half of the 2025/26 would be crucial for the professionals looking to follow the pathway available from the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia to the DP World Tour and eventually the PGA TOUR.
“The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season is all about ‘the chase’ and we’re delighted our professionals will be chasing record prizemoney across the first half of the season,” he said.
“They’ll also be chasing titles, exemptions and opportunities to compete internationally.
“There is so much on the line for our players as they try to follow the pathway that has been created all the way to the PGA TOUR.
“We saw what was possible with Elvis Smylie winning twice on our Tour last year and going on to win the Order of Merit, earn his DP World Tour card and starts in two majors.
“Careers can be changed in just a few months.”
PGA of Australia General Manager of Tournaments and Global Tour Relationships Nick Dastey said: “We’re excited with what’s to come in the first half of the 2025/26 season with our best professionals visiting Papua New Guinea plus six of Australia’s states and territories.
“Once again, the Tour will be in both major metropolitan and regional areas with each event having its own unique flavour and the chance to see our game’s best up close.
“The quality of golf we witnessed last season was exceptional with close finishes a feature almost every week. We look forward to seeing who emerges as our frontrunners in 2025/26.”
The post-Christmas/New Year schedule of Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia events will be announced in coming weeks.
Challenger Chief Executive, Customer Mandy Mannix said: “We’re excited for the upcoming PGA Tour of Australasia season — it’s a fantastic stage for local talent to compete alongside the world’s best golfers.
“For Challenger, this partnership is about more than sport, it’s a way to connect with the community we serve, especially retirees who share a passion for golf and the lifestyle it represents.
“Supporting this Tour aligns perfectly with our purpose of helping Australians build financial security so they can enjoy a better, more active retirement.”
2025
August 14-17: PNG Open at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club, $225,000
August 28-31: Tailor-made Building Services NT PGA Championship at Palmerston Golf Course, $200,000
September 27-28: World Sand Greens Championship at Binalong Community Club $140,000 (Non-OOM)
October 9-12: CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics at Kalgoorlie Golf Course, $250,000
October 16-19: Nexus Advisernet Bowra & O’Dea WA Open at Mt Lawley Golf Club, $200,000
October 23-26: Webex Players Series South Australia hosted by Greg Blewett at Willunga Golf Course, $200,000
November 13-16: Ford NSW Open at The Vintage Golf Club, $800,000 min
November 20-23: Queensland PGA Championship at Nudgee Golf Club, $250,000
November 27-30: BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club, $2,500,000
December 4-7: Australian Open at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club, $2,000,000 min
December 11-14: Victorian PGA Championship at Moonah Links Resort, $250,000
The BMW Australian PGA Championship is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, and Brisbane City Council via Brisbane Economic Development Agency.
A second consecutive 4-under 66 has put Brisbane’s Michael Wright within reach of a life-changing victory at the Kaulig Companies Championship in Ohio.
With son Noah on the bag and playing on only a limited category in his second season on the PGA TOUR Champions, Wright went out in 4-under in Saturday’s third round at Firestone Country Club.
The 51-year-old admitted post-round that nerves may have played a part in an even-par back nine but has vowed to lean on Noah as he plays in the final group alongside the two leaders on Sunday.
Wright will start the final round two back of Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez (66) and Kiwi Steven Alker (67) but with a growing belief that he can compete on the world’s strongest seniors circuit.
“The more times I can get in the top 10, top five, the more comfortable I’ll be,” said Wright.
“Obviously last year I was a bit disappointed to not finish higher up because I was playing so well, but these things happen.
“If I can fall back on that tomorrow, hopefully that will keep me in good stead.”
Winner of the Webex Players Series Victoria on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia earlier this year, Wright shot 66-67 on the weekend of the Regions Tradition to finish eighth.
It is one of five top-12 finishes from seven starts this year, Wright crediting Noah’s even keel for keeping him focused.
“He’s a good calming influence,” said Wright.
“Having family on the bag is pretty cool. I couldn’t have asked for a better caddie.
“He doesn’t get too excited, he doesn’t get too down. Occasionally, if I’m playing ordinary, he’ll get down a little bit so I’ve got to kick him in the backside to spruce him up a little bit.
“He keeps me at a pretty level keel and that’s what you want out here, you don’t want to get too excited or too down.
“I think he’s going to help me a lot tomorrow.”
Wright is not the only Aussie in the mix for a breakthrough win.
Victorian Richard Green (67) is just one back of Wright and three strokes off the lead in fifth position, New South Welshman Mark Hensby (69) tied for ninth and seven back.
Round 3 Australasian scores
T1 Steven Alker (NZ) -8
T3 Michael Wright -6
5 Richard Green -5
T9 Mark Hensby -2
T15 Steve Allan +1
T22 Rod Pampling +3
T22 David Bransdon +3
T29 Cameron Percy +4
T39 Greg Chalmers +5
T59 Stuart Appleby +9
T68 John Senden +13
Round 4 tee times AEST
1:15am Cameron Percy
1:25am* Greg Chalmers
2:07am Rod Pampling, David Bransdon
2:18am* Stuart Appleby
2:28am Steve Allan
2:49am Mark Hensby
2:49am* John Senden
3:10am Richard Green
3:21am Steven Alker (NZ), Michael Wright
Victorian Cameron John has completed the Broome clean sweep, taking out the Carpet Paint & Tile – Broome Furnishings Broome Pro-Am at Broome Golf Club.
Days after shooting 68 to win the WS6 Broome Invitational, John had rounds of 68-69 for a two-round total of 7-under to win the $40,000 Pro-Am by two strokes.
Defending champion Peter Cooke and veteran Scott Barr led John by two after Round 1, John falling behind further with a bogey at his opening hole on day two.
A winner on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia last year, John would catch fire in the mid-point of his round as Cooke and Barr both fell back with rounds of 1-over 73.
Turning point
Starting his round with a dropped shot at the par-3 seventh, John hit back instantly with a birdie at the par-5 eighth.
He fell to 1-over on his round with bogey at the par-4 14th but would unleash a run of five birdies across six holes to take the tournament by the scruff of the neck.
The birdie blitz began at the par-5 17th and included further birdies at 18, two, three and four to build enough of a lead that a closing bogey would be inconsequential.
Quick quotes
“There’s no better feeling than winning,” said John.
“After last week, I fell a little bit too far behind in the Order of Merit with Braden (Becker) ending up being the one who beat me.
“I just set myself a goal to win either the Super 6 or win this one and to obviously come away both is pretty awesome.
“With the upcoming wedding and everything, the cheque’s definitely going to go to good use, that’s for sure.”
Leading scores
1 Cameron John 68-69—137
T2 Peter Cooke 66-73—139
T2 Tim Hart 70-69—139
T2 Scott Barr 66-73—139
5 Joseph Owen 70-70—140
T6 William Bruyeres 73-71—144
T6 Daniel Fox 72-72—144
T6 Adam Hatch 76-68—144
T6 Braden Becker 75-69—144
Next up: Attention for the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series now centres on Queensland, beginning with the final round of the Bolt Off Clermont Pro-Am on Sunday.
June 15
Becker fires 62 to win Roy Hill Golf Classic
The sand scrapes and spinifex were no match for Braden Becker who shot 10-under 62 in Round 2 to win the Roy Hill Golf Classic at Port Hedland Golf Club by three strokes.
Winner of the Spalding Park Open in May, Becker is trying to complete the north-west portion of the Western Australian swing of the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series and began Sunday’s second round five strokes off the lead.
After Will Bruyeres set the pace on day one with 6-under 66, Becker had just the one birdie in his first five holes before unleashing a run of six straight to surge into the lead.
He further distanced himself with birdie at the par-3 17th and closed with two more in his final three holes to finish three clear of great mate Cameron John (65) with Bruyeres (71), Jordan Doull (66), Adam Hatch (67) and Daniel Fox (69) tied third.
“Putter was hot, 21 putts today,” said Becker.
“On the sand, if you can get the putts to start online and you can judge the speed easy enough, they go in pretty easy.”
Turning point
Stuck in neutral with four pars in succession from the par-4 fifth, Becker’s round ignited with a birdie at the par-5 ninth.
Few players on tour can keep pace with Becker when he runs hot, a total of 10 birdies ensuring the runner-up in 2022 and 2024 left Port Hedland the champion.
“I holed a really nice putt on the ninth green, that was definitely the start of the run,” said Becker.
“I hit it really close from the bush on 10, hole a good 15-foot putt on 11, holed a 20-foot putt on the next hole, had a 12-foot putt on the next and holed a 15-foot putt on the next hole.”
Quick quotes
“I’ve been trying to do, what would you call it, the north-west crown,” said Becker.
“Port Hedland was the one that kept slipping by.
“I’ve had a few seconds up here; one year I came second and they put my name on the board!
“It was really, really nice to finally have my name up there legitimately.”
Leading scores
1 Braden Becker 71-62—133
2 Cameron John 71-65—136
T3 William Bruyeres 66-71—137
T3 Adam Hatch 70-67—137
T3 Jordan Doull 71-66—137
T3 Daniel Fox 68-69—137
Next up
Broome Golf Club is the next stop on the WA swing, hosting the non-Order of Merit WS6 Broome Invitational on Tuesday followed by the $40,000 Carpet Paint & Tile – Broome Furnishings Broome Pro Am starting Friday.
June 12
Dobbelaar’s unexpected Karratha bonus
Queenslander Louis Dobbelaar will target a spot on the DP World Tour after receiving an unexpected bonus for his Bennco Karratha Pro-Am victory at Karratha Country Club.
In addition to the lion’s share of the $35,000 prize purse, Dobbelaar received a $5,000 bonus to put towards fees associated with a qualifying school.
While his sights are set on adding to his 2023 NZ PGA Championship win on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia this summer, Dobbelaar now has the option of playing his way onto the DP World Tour through qualifying school.
“My coach and I, we haven’t really spoke that far,” Dobbelaar admitted.
“We were planning just to do Australia, but I know that my game’s ready to go overseas and I probably would orientate it more towards the DP World (Tour).”
Trailing veteran Scott Barr by one after Round 1, Dobbelaar surged to the front with an early run of three straight birdies.
He would drop shots at both 15 and 16 but birdie at the par-5 third and eagle at the par-4 fourth would build enough of a buffer to post 3-under 70 and 7-under total, one clear of Barr (72), Andrew Kelly (71) and Matias Sanchez (69).
Turning point
After making eagle at his second hole of the tournament – the par-5 12th on day one – it would be another eagle in Round 2 that separated Dobbelaar from the field.
With Barr playing steadily in the group behind, Dobbelaar’s birdie on three and eagle on four would see him pick up two strokes on his closest challenger.
Quick quotes
“I just made an eagle on the fourth hole, the driveable one here, and I saw that I was a couple, maybe three shots clear at that time,” said Dobbelaar.
“At that point I did check (the leaderboard) a couple times then on in.
“I missed a couple of short putts coming home, which wasn’t great, but kind of snuck over the line and got it done.”
Leading scores
1 Louis Dobbelaar 69-70—139
T2 Andrew Kelly 69-71—140
T2 Scott Barr 68-72—140
T2 Matias Sanchez 71-69—140
5 Tim Hart 72-69—141
6 Adam Hatch 74-68—142
Next up: The northern leg of the WA swing continues on Saturday with the $30,000 Roy Hill Golf Classic Pro-Am at Port Hedland Golf Club.
May 22
Breakthrough win for Tan at Sun City
Rookie professional Silvester Tan scored his first career win in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series thanks to a round of 6-under-par 66 at the Peet – Yanchep Golf Estate Sun City Pro-Am on Friday.
Playing in just his fifth pro-am after turning pro following the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Qualifying School – Final Stage in April, Tan beat Braden Becker by a single stroke, denying his fellow West Australian a third win of the WA swing in 2025.
It was the second victory in as many days for Tan, a former WA State Team member and graduate of Drake University in the US, who combined with veteran Brett Rumford to win the WA PGA Foursomes Championship at Nedlands on Thursday.
Sun City Country Club was also the site of Tan’s win in the WA Amateur Championship earlier in the year before he ventured to Q School.
Turning point
Tan was level with Becker on 5-under-par until he birdied his final hole at Sun City, the 455m par-5 fourth.
His winning round included seven birdies with a solitary bogey at the par-4 12th.
Quick quotes
Tan said: “It (winning) feels good. I’ve put a lot of work in so it’s nice to see a round like this come together.
“I’ve played plenty of golf here. I won the State Am here a couple of months ago so I saw the course plenty when I played then.
“I kind of started pretty slow. It was wet and windy but stayed in it and hit a few good shots, made a few putts coming in, and picked up a bit of momentum.”
Leading scores
1 Silvester Tan 66
2 Braden Becker 67
T3 Josh Greer 70
T3 Brody Martin 70
T5 Louis Dobbelaar 71
T5 Dale Howie 71
T5 Aaron Dobson 71
T8 Simon Houston 72
T8 Connor McKinney 72
T8 Joseph Owen 72
Next up
The North Queensland swing of the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series starts with the Mercedes-Benz Tropics Golf Club Pro-Am at Tropics Golf Club in Townsville on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
May 18
Becker breaks duck at Spalding Park
More than a decade of trips north to Geraldton finally got their reward as Braden Becker stormed home to claim the $50,000 Spalding Park Open at Spalding Park Golf Club.
Trailing Andrew Crabb by four strokes heading into the third and final round, Becker and great mate Cameron John were the only players to break 70 on Sunday, both posting 5-under 67 as Becker finished at 12-under for a one-stroke win.
In a field laden with Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winners, Becker unleashed a stunning run of six birdies and an eagle across eight holes to edge Tim Hart (71) by one, Lachlan Aylen (70) and Daniel Fox (71) sharing third.
A visitor to Spalding Park since his days as a trainee, Becker was beyond thrilled to wear the Spalding Park Open champion’s jacket.
“I think that’s maybe 11 years I’ve been coming up to the Spalding Park Open but I’ve been up here to Geraldton maybe 13 or 14 times for different events,” said Becker.
“I just love it up here. The greens are fantastic; you just can’t fault them.”
Turning point
Becker was 1-over on his round, 6-under for the tournament and trailing Hart by four when he arrived at the par-5 ninth.
An eagle there would spark a run that included six birdies in his next seven holes and a four-stroke lead as he walked off the 16th green.
Hart’s birdie on 16 and a double-bogey by Becker on 17 quickly reduced the advantage to one, par at the par-4 finisher enough to hold on for victory.
Quick quotes
“I felt like the breeze was going to die at some point, so I thought if I hang in there, we’ll see how we go through the turn,” said Becker.
“There’s always a couple of birdies through that middle section on the par 5s into the 11th.
“Fortunately, I made eagle on nine and then birdie on 10, birdie on 11 where I holed a good putt.
“Thirteen is probably one of the harder tee shots, second shots, just very punishing, and I hit it to five foot and made birdie there.
“That really settled me and then I saw the leaderboard and I was still tied for the lead at that point, so I just thought, I’ve just got to keep going.
“Hit a great shot into the par 3 and holed a good 20-footer; super happy with that one.”
Leading scores
1 Braden Becker 69-68-67—204
2 Tim Hart 70-64-71—205
T3 Lachlan Aylen 68-69-70—207
T3 Daniel Fox 71-65-71—207
5 Cameron John 70-71-67—208
6 Deyen Lawson 68-71-70—209
Next up
Haydn Barron and Curtis Luck are among those entered for the WA PGA Foursomes Championship at Nedlands Golf Club on Thursday followed by the Peet – Yanchep Golf Estate Sun City Pro-Am at Sun City Country Club on Friday.
May 13
Bogey-free Brereton wins Wembley Pro-Am
Four birdies in his final six holes has propelled Darcy Brereton to a second win of the year at the GMW & Radlink Wembley Pro-Am.
Victorious on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series last month at Yenda, Brereton held off a field laden with Tour talent with a superb round of 8-under 64 at Wembley’s Old Course.
The 30-year-old finished two strokes clear of a seven-player logjam that included Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winners Andrew Martin, Cameron John and Daniel Fox along with DP World Tour winner Marcus Fraser, Andrew Kelly, Lachlan Aylen and Alex Edge.
Turning point
Starting from the par-4 ninth hole, Brereton was 1-under through his first six holes but headed to the front nine 3-under after birdies at 15 and 17.
He moved to 4-under with birdie at the par-5 first but it was his late charge of four birdies in five holes from the par-4 third that separated Brereton from the pack.
Leading scores
1 Darcy Brereton 64
T2 Andrew Martin 66
T2 Alex Edge 66
T2 Cameron John 66
T2 Andrew Kelly 66
T2 Daniel Fox 66
T2 Marcus Fraser 66
T2 Lachlan Aylen 66
Next up
There are tournaments across three states on Friday highlighted by Round 1 of the $50,000 Mitchell and Brown Spalding Park Open. The single-round pro-ams being played Friday are the Hahn Shelly Beach GC Pro-Am and the inaugural Pacific Harbour Pro-Am at Pacific Harbour Golf Course on Bribie Island.
May 12
Double success for in-form Sanchez
Riding an improved putting game, Matias Sanchez has become a back-to-back champion in the adidas PGA Pro-Am series after claiming the Toro Australia – TQUIP Pro Am at The Western Australian Golf Club.
The winner of the Sanwell Cottesloe Open at the weekend, Sanchez shot a round of 6-under-par 64 to earn a one-shot margin over Daniel Fox (WA) and Tim Hart (Qld).
The Victorian’s hot streak in WA has included breaking the Cottesloe Golf Club’s course record with a 63 on Saturday.
Turning point
After starting his round on the ninth hole, Sanchez set up his latest victory with a run of four birdies in five holes on the back nine. Back-to-back birdies on the sixth and seventh completed the job.
Quick quotes
Sanchez said: “I just came out here and just tried to play my best golf and fortunately enough it was good enough.
“I’m just trying to be as free as possible out there and not try to think too much out there about what can go wrong or what might happen. I guess all you can do is just hit the shot that’s required so that’s what I was really trying to do.
“I’ve always been thought my putting was the best part of my game and it’s probably let me down the last two or so months, three months. It’s nice to see that it’s sort of coming back because the first half of last season it was really, really strong.”
Leading scores
1 Matias Sanchez 64
T2 Daniel Fox 65
T2 Tim Hart 65
T4 Jordan Doull 66
T4 Connor McKinney 66
T4 Samuel Slater 66
T4 Cameron John 66
9 Cory Crawford 67
Next up
The WA swing continues with the GMW & Radlink Wembley Pro-Am on the Old Course at Wembley on Tuesday.
May 12
Sanchez’s 63 sets up Cottesloe success
Matias Sanchez produced the third course record of the week in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series on the way to winning the Sanwell Cottesloe Open at the weekend.
The Victorian professional’s record round on the Perth layout came on Saturday, a 9-under-par 63, highlighted by two eagles, which set up a three-stroke lead to take into the final day of the 36-hole event.
Sanchez lost the outright lead early on Sunday when Queenslander Louis Dobbelaar started with four straight birdies, but he managed to post a 3-under-69 to finish with a two-shot margin over Dobbelaar and Curtis Luck (WA), the duo shooting matching rounds of 67-67.
The 26-year-old’s course record was the third so far in the West Australian swing, following on from 63s by Hayden Hopewell at the South West Open at Bunbury and Braden Becker at the Kwinana Pro-Am.
Turning point
Searching for his first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series victory since 2023, Sanchez looked like he was losing his grip on the title on Sunday when he made a double-bogey on the par-5 14th and followed up with a bogey on the par-4 15th.
But he turned the event back in his favour by making a two at the short par-4 16th, his tee shot ending up just five feet from the hole.
Quick quotes
Sanchez said: “A three-shot lead can get mowed down pretty quickly so I just had to stay focussed on making birdies and hitting the best possible shots.
“It was pretty up and down most of the day. I didn’t hit the ball as good as yesterday but yesterday was pretty amazing. It’s hard to beat what happened yesterday.
“It’s nice to get a win. I haven’t really won in a while and it’s nice to see the game’s coming together.”
Leading scores
1 Matias Sanchez 63-69 – 132
T2 Louis Dobbelaar 67-67 – 134
T2 Curtis Luck 67-67 – 134
T4 Andrew Kelly 69-67 – 136
T4 Jason Scrivener 69-67 – 136
T4 Cory Crawford 68-68 – 136
T4 Cameron John 66-70 – 136
T8 Joseph Owen 69-68 – 137
T8 Jarryd Felton 69-68 – 137
Next up
The WA swing continues with the Toro Australia – TQUIP Pro Am at Western Australian Golf Club on Monday followed by the GMW & Radlink Wembley Pro-Am on the Old Course at Wembley on Tuesday.
May 9
Becker sets new course record at Kwinana
Braden Becker has played at Kwinana Golf Club a countless number of times but he’s never produced a competition round like he did at the Dunning’s Kwinana Pro-Am on Friday.
Capitalising on an “absolute hot start”, the West Australian set a new course record of 9-under-par 63 to capture the club’s adidas PGA Pro-Am Series title by three shots over Deyen Lawson.
How the record unfolded
Becker made a tap-in eagle on the 459m par-5 first before following up with a birdie from eight-feet at the second.
He then almost aced the par-3 third and picked up another birdie at the fourth to be 5-under-par through four and with thoughts of a sub-60 round in his mind. He turned in 30 after a birdie at the ninth and added in another three birdies on the back nine.
All up, Becker was -5 on the par-5s for the day.
Quick quotes
“I reckon I’ve played the pro-am here every year since 2013 and apart from that I’ve played here a bunch of times because I only live 20-25 minutes away,” Becker said.
“I enjoy playing with the members here. They’re a great group of members.
“After that hot start, I was thinking ‘the course record is definitely on and hopefully we can get to that magical break 60 number’.
“The greens were just so perfect out there. It’s always a pleasure to play here for that reason.”
Leading scores
1 Braden Becker 63
2 Deyen Lawson 66
T3 Lachlan Aylen 67
T3 Daniel Fox 67
5 Max Ford 68
T6 Jordan Doull 69
T6 Andrew Kelly 69
T6 Dale Howie 69
T6 Adam Hatch 69
T6 Louis Dobbelaar 69
T6 Sam Slater 69
T6 Cory Crawford 69
T6 Jason Norris 69
Next up
The Sanwell Cottesloe Open will be played over two rounds at Cottesloe Golf Club this weekend.
May 7
Zach’s max reward at Secret Harbour
Brisbane’s Zachary Maxwell is eyeing a fast start to the upcoming Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season after a one-stroke win at the TenGolf Group Pro-Am south of Perth.
Played over two days at The Cut Golf Course and Secret Harbour Golf Links, Maxwell compiled consecutive rounds of 3-under 69 to finish one shot clear of Sydney’s Nathan Barbieri (71-68) with Lachlan Aylen (70-70) and Deyen Lawson (71-69) sharing third.
Maxwell’s only previous adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win was a lucrative one last July, pocketing close to $15,000 after taking out the Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am.
The 25-year-old had two top-20 finishes during the 2024-2025 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season and will seek to build on that at the 2025 PNG Open in August.
“It’s really good just to top the funds up and go home and focus on training,” said Maxwell.
“Not work as much and just get ready for Papua New Guinea and start the Australian season off.”
Turning point
The only player to break 70 in Round 1 at The Cut on Tuesday, Maxwell began day two ahead by a single stroke from a group of five players.
That advantage soon disappeared with a bogey at his opening hole before Maxwell responded with birdies at 16 and 17.
One-under on his round when he reached the par-5 11th, Maxwell gave himself a look at eagle before tapping in for the first of two closing birdies.
“It was a very pivotal moment of the round,” said Maxwell.
“We checked the live scores and I had to really show up and hit a good golf shot.
“I hit a really, really good 3-wood in there tight for eagle. Unfortunately lipped out the putt, but it was a very comfortable birdie and helped me finish the round off.”
Quick quotes
“It was quite beautiful being able to play those two courses,” Maxwell said of playing The Cut and Secret Harbour in consecutive days.
“Being a Queenslander, but it’s very good to come over here to Perth and appreciate some of these beautiful courses.
“I’m very grateful to not only be able to play them, but get a win while doing so.
“This is going to be my last pro-am before the season starts.
“I’ll go home and play the close ones and Rockhampton but my main focus will be going to Papua New Guinea and being very ready for that one.”
Leading scores
1 Zachary Maxwell 69-69—138
2 Nathan Barbieri 71-68—139
T3 Lachlan Aylen 70-70—140
T3 Deyen Lawson 71-69—140
5 Tim Hart 70-71—141
T6 Scott Barr 71-71—142
T6 Caleb Bovalina 70-72—142
Next up
Dunning’s Kwinana Pro-Am at Kwinana Golf Club, Friday, May 9
May 4
Hopewell equals course record to triumph in Bunbury
Back home from competing on the European Challenge Tour, West Australian Hayden Hopewell tied the Bunbury Golf Club’s course record to win the South West Isuzu South West Open on Sunday.
A brilliant 9-under-par 63 in the final round, the best score of the day by four strokes, gave Hopewell a two-shot margin over NSW’s Nathan Barbieri to earn the second win of his career on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series.
Fresh off his victory at the Axedale Pro-Am in Victoria, Andrew Martin led at Bunbury Golf Club after an opening 65 on Saturday but the Victorian had to settle for third place after closing with a 71.
Hopewell is currently on a break from the Challenge Tour where he is ranked 47th on the Order of Merit as he strives for a DP World Tour card for 2025/26,
Turning point
Starting his round from the 10th tee, the former Bunbury junior made his run early, making five consecutive birdies from the 11th hole. An eagle at the par-5 second propelled him to 8-under for the day through 11 holes.
His only dropped shots for the day came with a double-bogey at the par-3 seventh, but he then birdied the eighth and ninth to see off Barbieri’s challenge.
Quick quotes
“Today was a special round,” the 23-year-old said.
“I hit it solid and the hole just felt like a bucket. I was seeing every putt and they were just dropping. It was quite uncanny at times.
“I was stoked to finish off the round by holing a nice putt on the last to tie the course record. It was on my mind. Being a junior here for a bit, it holds a special place in my heart.”
Leading scores
1 Hayden Hopewell 70-63
2 Nathan Barbieri 67-68
3 Andrew Martin 65-71
4 Jason Scrivener 69-68
T5 Braden Becker 69-69
T5 Cameron Kelly 67-71
T5 Daniel Fox 70-68
T5 John Boulton 69-69
9 Scott Strange 70-69
Next up
The TenGolf Group Pro-Am will be played The Cut Golf Club and Secret Harbour Golf Links on Tuesday and Wednesday (May 6-7)
May 1
Perkins, Dobbelaar share the title at Bunbury
Queenslanders Louis Dobbelaar and Blaike Perkins kicked off the Western Australia swing of the 2025 adidas PGA Pro-Am Series by sharing the title at the Urban Quarter Dunsborough Lakes Pro-Am on Thursday.
Rounds of 6-under-par 66 gave the duo a one-shot margin over PGA Legends Tour member Scott Barr (WA) in a field full of Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia talent.
For Perkins, it was his first pro-am series title, while the joint win continued a resurgence of form for Dobbelaar, who regained his Tour card at the recently completed Qualifying School at Moonah Links.
Turning point
Perkins rattled off five birdies in six holes on the back nine but was brought undone by going out of bounds which led to a double-bogey on the par-4 18th, his 12th hole of the day.
However a three on his final hole, the par-4 sixth, ensured he kept a share of top spot.
Meanwhile, Dobbelaar, who started on his round on the 14th, had seven birdies and a sole bogey in his round. He birdied the back-to-back par-fives on the back nine, 12 and 13, to get to 6-under.
Quick quotes
Perkins said: “I was flying at 6-under through 10 and then hole 18 hit me. I knew I had to get a few more birdies then to catch Louis and made a really nice short putt on the last there to tie him. It’s my first pro win so I’m pretty stoked about it.”
Dobbelaar said: “I got off to a good start and played the tough holes well. Hit the ball really nice and had a lot of opportunities during the day. It’s great to play a course in really nice conditions like here at Dunsborough Lakes. It was a bit of a treat.”
Leading scores
T1 Louis Dobbelaar 66
T1 Blaike Perkins 66
3 Scott Barr 67
4 Braden Becker 68
T5 Jordan Doull 69
T5 Cameron Kelly 69
T7 Cameron John 70
T7 Tim Hart 70
T7 Aaron Pike 70
Next up
The WA swing reaches Bunbury Golf Club for the South West Isuzu South West Open over 36 holes this weekend.
They purposefully paired up at the American Family Insurance Championship a fortnight ago and now Cameron Percy and David Bransdon will tee off together in Round 1 of the Kaulig Companies Championship.
Formerly known as the Senior PLAYERS Championship and to be played at Firestone Country Club for the seventh straight year, 10 Australians will contest the third senior major of 2025 starting Friday.
Including Bransdon and Percy, eight Aussies have been paired together for the opening two rounds with Brisbane boys Michael Wright and John Senden to tee off at 12:10am Friday AEST, followed 11 minutes later by Bransdon and Percy.
A couple of country boys in Stuart Appleby and Mark Hensby will tee off at 12:42am while Victorians Richard Green and Steve Allan are in the same group off the first tee at 1:13am.
Rounding out the Aussie contingent this week are Rod Pampling (12:21am) and Greg Chalmers (12:42am), the influx from Down Under not going unnoticed each week on the PGA TOUR Champions.
“You hear all the time, ‘Not another Aussie’ when you’re going into the equipment truck or the gym,” said Wright, who is in his second year on the over-50s circuit.
“I took a few little mini Aussie flags over with me this year and I plant them all over the gym and put them in the equipment truck, just to stir them up.”
A journeyman who had never played on an international tour until earning his Champions Tour card in dramatic fashion in late 2023, Wright has been pleasantly surprised by the reception he has received, and not just from his fellow Aussies.
“The biggest thing that shocked me over here was how welcoming they were,” Wright said.
“I thought they’d just sort of snub me a bit, but they’ve done the opposite.
“Fred Funk went welcomed me. He almost took me under his wing, Freddy. I’m starting to talk quite a bit now with Bernard Langer; Stewart Cink’s a really nice guy.
“They’re all really good guys, to be honest. I think they’ve just left their ego at the door.”
While legendary figures Peter Thomson (1984), Bruce Crampton (1986, 1987) and Graham
Marsh (1999) have all finished runner-up, only one Australian has ever won the Kaulig Companies Championship, Stewart Ginn in 2002.
Like the seniors, there is a strong group of Australians contesting the third women’s major of 2025, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Texas, as Adam Scott and Jason Day dust themselves off after going four rounds with Oakmont Country Club to back up for the Travelers Championship, the final Signature Event of the PGA TOUR season.
Photo: David Berding/Getty Images
Round 1 tee times AEST
KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco, Frisco, Texas
10:27pm* Robyn Choi
10:38pm* Grace Kim
11:28pm Lydia Ko (NZ)
11:44pm* Hira Naveed
11:50pm Minjee Lee
3:54am Cassie Porter
4:27am Stephanie Kyriacou
4:49am Gabriela Ruffels
5:28am* Hannah Green
5:33am Karis Davidson
Past champion: Amy Yang
Past Aussie winners: Hannah Green (2019)
Prize money: $US12m
TV times: Live 1am-5am Friday, Saturday; Live 1am-8:30am Sunday; Live 1am-8am Monday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.
PGA TOUR
Travelers Championship
TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Connecticut
10:30pm Min Woo Lee
11:10pm Jason Day
12:05am Adam Scott
12:45am Ryan Fox (NZ)
2:10am Cam Davis
Past champion: Scottie Scheffler
Past Aussie winners: Greg Norman (1995), Marc Leishman (2012)
Prize money: $US20m
TV times: Live 9:30pm-8am Thursday, Friday: Live 10pm-8:30am Saturday; Live 9:30pm-8am Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
PGA TOUR Champions
Kaulig Companies Championship
Firestone Country Club, Akron, Ohio
12:10am* Michael Wright, John Senden
12:21am David Bransdon, Cameron Percy
12:21am* Rod Pampling
12:42am Stuart Appleby, Mark Hensby
12:42am* Greg Chalmers
1:13am Richard Green, Steve Allan
1:34am Steven Alker (NZ)
Past champion: Ernie Els
Past Aussie winners: Stewart Ginn (2002)
Prize money: $US3.5m
TV times: 10:30am-12pm Friday; 10am-11:30am Saturday on Fox Sports 503; Live 6am-8am Sunday on Fox Sports 506; 1:30pm-3:30pm Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Ladies European Tour
Tipsport Czech Ladies Open
Royal Beroun Golf Club, Czech Republic
Australasians in the field: Kirsten Rudgeley, Momoka Kobori (NZ), Kelsey Bennett, Amelia Garvey (NZ), Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, Amy Walsh
Recent champion: Marta Martin
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €300,000
Korean PGA Tour
68th KPGA Championship
A-One Country Club, Yangsan
8:20am* Changgi Lee (NZ)
8:40am* Matthew Griffin
9:15am* Wonjoon Lee
1pm Sungjin Yeo (NZ)
1:20pm Junseok Lee
Recent champion: Jeon Ga-lam
Past Aussie winners: Andrew McKenzie (2008), Matthew Griffin (2014), Wonjoon Lee (2019)
Prize money: KRW1.6b
Korn Ferry Tour
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas Wichita Open
Crestview Country Club, Wichita, Kansas
10:20pm Rhein Gibson
5:05am Harry Hillier (NZ)
Past champion: Taylor Dickson
Past Aussie winners: Jeff Woodland (1992), Bradley Hughes (2004), Mathew Goggin (2011)
Prize money: $US1m
HotelPlanner Tour
Blot Play9
Golf Bluegreen de Pléneuf Val André, Pléneuf, France
4pm* Hayden Hopewell
9:20pm* Sam Jones (NZ)
Past champion: John Parry
Past Aussie winners: Scott Arnold (2015)
Prize money: $US1m
Epson Tour
Island Resort Championship
Sweetgrass Golf Club, Harris Michigan
Australasians in the field: Su Oh, Jess Whitting
Past champion: Soo Bin Joo
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US225,000
Tim Elliott has booked his place in two major events this summer after navigating wet and windy conditions at the Victorian PGA Professional Championships at Portsea Golf Club.
A prolific winner on the PGA Legends Tour for more than a decade – including recently besting the likes of Jason Norris and Scott Barr at the Cottesloe Senior Invitational – Elliott birdied his final two holes in a round of even-par 71 and a one-stroke win.
A regular on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia since graduating from the Membership Pathway Program, Lachlan Armour had earlier surged to the lead on the back of three straight birdies late in his round.
But disaster would strike on his final hole, making a triple bogey at the par-4 14th to finish tied second with David Tapping with matching rounds of 1-over 72.
By virtue of his win, Elliott not only earns a spot in the PGA Professionals Championship National Final at The Heritage Golf and Country Club from November 11-13, he is also exempt into the Vic PGA Championship at Moonah Links Resort and the Australian PGA Senior Championship at Richmond Golf Club. Armour and Tapping also receive invites to the Vic PGA.
A field of 74 PGA Professionals teed it up at Portsea with the top 15 to advance to the National Final.
Sheradyn Johnsonwas one of five players who finished tied 14th but secures a spot at the National Final as the highest-finishing woman in the field.
Qualifiers for National Final: Tim Elliott, David Tapping, Lachlan Armour, Shane Johnson, Simon Angliss, Alex Pitty, Matthew Howell, Levi Burns, Ben Ford, Ben Murphy, Daniel Defilice, Matt Voglas, Nick Dastey, Michael Isherwood, Jack Chrystie. Reserves: Finlay Bellingham, Kevin Conlong.
