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Some of the biggest names in Australian golf over the past 30 years will be on show when the 54-hole NSW Senior Open returns to Albury in late October.
Running from October 31st to November 2nd, 2025, the $150,000, 54-hole tournament is an integral part of the PGA Legends Tour.
This year’s event will be the seventh edition at the Thurgoona Golf & Country Club Resort.
Graeme Phillipson, Golf NSW Chief Operating Officer, said the tournament was an extremely popular event for players, both professional and amateur.
“We are thrilled to continue to bring one of our most popular tournaments back to the Albury region and the Thurgoona Country Club,” said Graeme Phillipson, Golf NSW Chief Operating Officer.
“The sporting public of the Murray region and the Liverpool Catholic Club have supported this event from its inception, and it is a pleasure to continue to return to a venue and city where everyone involved in the tournament, including the players, officials, and staff, have been so warmly received.”
“Golf is the number one pastime Australia-wide for those over 50, and the popularity of tournaments like the NSW Senior Open assists us in promoting the game as the ideal recreational activity for young and old,” Mr. Phillipson added.
Last year’s champion, Victorian David McKenzie, is expected to defend his championship crown, against a field which is likely to feature many of the greats of Australasian Golf, including
• Peter Lonard: a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour of Australasia and a US & European Tour winner
• Andre Stolz – current leader of the PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit
• Mathew Goggin, the 2024 Runner Up
• Scott Barr – Asian Tour winner and PGA Legends Tour regular
• Terry Price – European Tour winner
• Steven Conran – Japan Tour winner
Other notables and past champions expected to play include Peter O’Malley, Michael Harwood, Grant Kenny, and 2019 champ Brad Burns.
PGA Legends Tour Coordinator Andy Rogers said the tour and its players were excited by the opportunity to return to Thurgoona for a record seventh time, having enjoyed all previous six stagings on the Murray River.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to be heading back to Thurgoona again this year for the NSW Senior Open,” Rogers said.
“The players have become very familiar with not only the course but the surrounding area as well, and both are perfect hosts for the event. This event is a significant part of the PGA Legends Tour schedule, and to return to a host venue that has proven itself time and again as a perfect fit is very exciting.”
The fan experience at this year’s tournament will allow unparalleled access. Spectators can walk the fairways beside their favourite players and see golf played at its best.
“There won’t be a better opportunity for sports fans in the Albury region to get up close and personal to witness the legends in action,” Adam Fitzgerald, general manager of the Thurgoona Country Club Resort, said.
EVENT FACTS
Host Venue: Thurgoona Country Club Resort.
The Thurgoona Country Club Resort is a par 72, 18-hole championship course measuring 6372 metres. A Peter Thomson & Mike Wolveridge design, the course features couch fairways and large bent grass greens.
Tournament Dates: October 31st – November 2nd, 2025 (54 holes)
Website: www.nswsenioropen.com.au
Prize Fund: AUD 150,000
Field Size: 120 players consisting of
• 82 players from the 2025 Legends Tour exemption categories
• 1 Player from Asian Senior Tour
• 32 Amateur players from Golf NSW exemption categories
• Five professional pre-qualifying positions
Past Champions:
2024 David McKenzie (Vic)
2023: Adam Henwood (Vic)
2022: Richard Green (Vic)
2020: Brad Burns (QLD)
2019: Michael Long (NZL)
2018: Grant Kenny (NSW)
By Golf NSW
Photo: Victorian David McKenzie is expected to defend his NSW Senior Open Crown later this year.
We had Jason Day in the hunt until deep into the first men’s major of the year; now it’s the turn of our Aussie women to take centre stage.
Starting with this week’s JM Eagle LA Championship where Hannah Green will seek to make it three straight and building into the first women’s major of 2025 next week with the Chevron Championship.
All nine LPGA Tour exempt Aussies are in the field this week and over on the Ladies European Tour, Kelsey Bennett’s third-place finish at the SA Women’s Open was her second straight top-10 finish.
We have entered the best four months of the golf year and our Aussies are primed to play leading roles.
10. Kelsey Bennett (New)
Is at a career high of No.227 in the world on the back of her best finish on the Ladies European Tour. On the back of a tie for eighth at the Joburg Ladies Open, Bennett was third at the SA Women’s Open. The 25-year-old is now 16th on the Order of Merit in her rookie season on the LET.
9. Stephanie Kyriacou (Last week: 9)
Despite having the week off, rose another two spots in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking and is now No.46 in the world. That is a career best and with the first women’s major of the season a week away, looks ready to join Hannah Green and Minjee Lee as a consistent contender in golf’s showpiece events.
8. Elvis Smylie (7)
The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner resumes his rookie season on the DP World Tour this week at the Volvo China Open on the back of shooting 59 in the club comp at Southport Golf Club.
7. Minjee Lee (6)
Six years after winning this tournament, looks to ramp up her preparation for next week’s Chevron Championship at the JM Eagle LA Championship. Expect one of golf’s best ball-strikers to be firing when major season rolls around.
6. Marc Leishman (5)
Blew past Bryson DeChambeau to claim LIV Golf Miami for his first LIV Golf individual win and lead Ripper GC to their first team win of 2025. Back in action next week at LIV Golf Mexico City.
5. Karl Vilips (4)
Earns his place in this week’s RBC Heritage Signature Event by virtue of the Aon Swing 5 ranking. Has missed his past three cuts on the PGA TOUR since winning the Puerto Rico Open.
4. Jason Day (New)
Showed once again that he is the man for a big occasion at the Masters. Having reunited with boyhood coach Col Swatton, Day was just three strokes back deep into the back nine on Sunday at Augusta National but dropped shots at both 17 and 18. In the 70 holes prior he had made just three bogeys but struggled to convert numerous birdie opportunities.
3. Hannah Green (3)
The two-time JM Eagle LA Championship defending champion has a new venue to try and make it three straight. If she does so, Green will become the first Australian to win the same LPGA Tour event three years running since Karrie Webb’s hat-trick of Australian Ladies Masters wins from 1998-2000.
2. Lucas Herbert (2)
Has become the bedrock of the Ripper GC team and was strong in the team’s victory at LIV Golf Miami. The Ford NSW Open winner will likely draw inspiration from Leishman’s recent win to get one of his own sooner rather than later.
1. Min Woo Lee (1)
Was in the mix heading into the weekend at the Masters but a third round of 5-over 77 made a Sunday charge impossible. Houston Open winner backs up for this week’s RBC Heritage at Harbour Town.
The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.
It was Jason Day’s best Masters finish in six years yet it will be forever remembered as the crowning glory in the extraordinarily complex career of Rory McIlroy.
In an enthralling, chaotic and ultimately gratifying final round that will go down as one of the most compelling in major championship history, McIlroy (73) had to go one extra hole against Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose (66) to complete the career grand slam and claim his first coveted green jacket.
His final pairing with his US Open nemesis Bryson DeChambeau was built to break box office records.
That his two-shot advantage was thrown away with a double-bogey at the opening hole followed by a DeChambeau birdie at the second to take the lead made the storyline all the more absorbing.
There were shots only McIlroy can hit – his second into seven, a hooked 7-iron from 208 yards to six feet at the par-5 15th – yet there were also mistakes that have plagued the Northern Irishman for a decade.
An inexplicable pitch into Rae’s Creek beside the 13th green saw what was a five-shot lead as he strode down the 11th hole disintegrate into a three-way tie at 10-under with both Rose and Ludvig Aberg (72).
The birdie on 17 would prove pivotal after McIlroy failed to get up-and-down from the greenside bunker on 18. He would fulfil his destiny with a perfect tee shot at the first playoff hole, an approach that spun back toward the hole and the longest two-foot tap-in of his life.
It was Day’s best finish since he was tied for fifth in 2019.
With all manner of drama unfolding behind him, Day was just three strokes from the lead with four holes to play.
He left a birdie attempt out to the left from the back fringe of the par-5 15th and then two-putted from 72 feet for par at the par-3 16th.
Closing bogeys at 17 and 18 were just his fourth and fifth for the week as the 37-year-old relished his return to the heat of major championship Sunday.
“It’s nice to be like third group from the end, at least trying to give myself a chance at winning the Masters,” said Day, who now has five top-10 finishes at Augusta National.
“I’m pretty gutted right now. It’s annoying to give myself the opportunities out there and not be able to take them.
“I mean, it’s a step in the right direction. That’s all I can say. It’s hard to walk off the golf course and go straight into an interview even though… I’m pretty headless right now.
“Just a few minor tweaks here and there and a few more putts go in, it might be a different story this week.”
The final round was a day of give and take for Lee.
The 26-year-old began brightly with an exquisite pitch shot to set up birdie at the par-5 second but, as would be the case all Sunday, Augusta National soon took it back, and then some.
There were bogeys at three, four and six before Lee hit another superb approach from the left rough on his way to birdie at the par-4 seventh.
He bogeyed 10 and 12, picked them back up again with birdies at 13 and 14 and then, finally, dropped to 2-over on his round with a bogey at the par-5 15th.
Holing out from the greenside bunker for par at the 72nd hole was a very Min Woo way to finish as he continues to build his database of Masters memories.
“I had a chat with my caddie Bo walking up 18, and I just asked him if it’s more of a mental or a technical battle here,” said Lee.
“Obviously you need to be on with your game, but I think the mental has to be right up there.
“The top players mentally are going to be at the top of the leaderboard, which I think they are.
“That leaderboard up there has a lot of major champion winners and guys who have played well over the past whatever years.
“A lot of learning to do. I’m really early in the stages of hopefully my career at Augusta, so I can’t wait for whatever the next few years have in store.”
Day’s wasn’t the only top-10 finish by an Aussie this week as Kelsey Bennett recorded her career-best result on the Ladies European Tour.
Bennett, who started the final day in a tie for eighth, dropped her only shot of the day on the fifth hole, before having three birdies in a row on the back nine.
Tied for eighth a week ago at the Joburg Ladies Open to climb to No.266 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking, Bennett finished three shots back of Perrine Delacour in outright third.
That surpasses her tie for seventh at last year’s Lacoste Ladies Open de France and elevates her to 16th on the Order of Merit in her rookie season on the LET.
Making early inroads on the leaderboard with birdies at two and four, Bennett’s Sunday charge hit a hurdle with a bogey on five.
The 25-year-old responded with birdie at the par-5 seventh but it wasn’t until she peeled off three on the trot from the 13th hole that she dared look at the leaderboard.
“I just gave myself plenty of opportunities so I’m glad a few on the back nine dropped,” said Bennett.
“I wasn’t looking at the leaderboard too much until I had three birdies in a row and then said to Michelle [caddie and partner], ‘I need to see.’
“Then that felt pretty good.”
Results
Masters Tournament
Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia
1 Rory McIlroy 72-66-66-73—277
T8 Jason Day 70-70-71-72—283
T50 Min Woo Lee 71-72-77-74—294
MC Adam Scott 77-72—149
MC Cameron Smith 71-78—149
MC Cam Davis 74-79—153
Japan Golf Tour
Token Homemate Cup
Tokken Tado Country Club, Nagoya, Mie
Reduced to 54 holes due to rain
1 Tatsunori Shogenji 66-64-66—196 ¥19.5m
T54 Michael Hendry 72-68-70—210 ¥231,353
66 Brad Kennedy 71-68-74—213 ¥213,525
Ladies European Tour
Investec SA Women’s Open
Erinvale Country and Golf Estate, South Africa
1 Perrine Delacour 65-69-70-70—274 €51,000
3 Kelsey Bennett 69-68-73-67—277 €17,850
T20 Amelia Garvey (NZ) 71-71-71-70—283 €4,246.91
T45 Momoka Kobori (NZ) 69-73-73-72—287 €1,598
HotelPLanner Tour
UAE Challenge
Al Zorah Golf & Yacht Club, Ajman, UAE
1 Renato Paratore 69-68-64-65—266 €42,538.46
T50 Hayden Hopewell 69-70-72-71—282 €1,042.19
MC Danny List 73-71—144
MC Sam Jones (NZ) 74-72—146
Sunshine Tour
Qualifying School Final Stage
Heron Banks Golf & River Resort
1 Luis Carrera 66-69-68-61—264
T12 Austin Bautista 67-67-71-71—276
T49 Ben Eccles 71-70-73-71—285
DQ Phoenix Campbell
Victorians Bradley Kivimets and Liam Reaper have clinched section victories in the First Stage of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia’s Qualifying School – Australia at Moonah Links.
Kivimets won Section A by one shot from Jason Hong (NSW) after closing with a 65 to finish on 12-under-par for the 54 holes, while Reaper shot a final round 69 for an 8-under total to overhaul 2023 Japan Amateur champion Rintaro Nakano in Section B
After leading coming into the final round, Nakano battled to a 75 to end up in a share of second position with Victorian Aiden Didone at 7-under.
Silvester Tan (WA) was the other amateur to advance from Section B, while four amateurs – Queenslanders Max Ford and Ryan Swann, NSW’s Ethan Harvey and Victorian Sang Jun Lee – qualified from Section A.
One of the biggest moves on the final day came from Kieran Jones (NSW) who climbed to T8 from a share of 21st thanks to a 65 to follow on from opening rounds of 72-70.
The top 18 finishers from both stages advanced to next week’s Final Stage, also at Moonah Links.
Former Australian amateur representative Max Charles (Vic), who lost to Nathan Barbieri in a playoff at Final Stage last year, qualfiied with a 3-under-par total in Section A.
However, his 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship teammate, Connor Fewkes (WA), who is looking to make the switch to pro golf, failed to advance with a 2-over-par total.
The 72-hole Final Stage of Qualifying School – Australia, which has a confirmed field of 65 starters, gets underway on Monday with the top 26 finishers and ties to earn Full Tournament Membership of the PGA of Australia and be placed in a Tournament Exemption Category. The winner will be fully exempt for all tournaments in the 2025/26 season.
Those players finishing beyond 26th place and ties, who complete 72 holes at Final Stage, will be eligible for Full Tournament Membership of the PGA of Australia, however, they will not hold an exemption category for the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
All players who play 72 holes of the Final Stage will earn a pro-am exemption category and be eligible to enter adidas PGA Pro-Am series events.
The 72 – hole Final Stage of Qualifying – USA will be played July 15-18 and the leading six players and ties from the USA will be eligible to for Full Tournament Membership of the PGA of Australia, and will be placed in a Tournament Exemption Category. As in Australia, the winner of this stage will be fully exempt for all tournaments in the 2025/26 season.
Those players finishing from seventh to 20th place and ties at Final Stage USA, will be eligible for Full Tournament Membership of the PGA of Australia, however, they will not hold an exemption category for the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
The top 20 players will also earn a pro-am exemption category and be eligible to enter adidas PGA pro-Am Series.
Photo: Victorian Bradley Kivimets
Participants are already asking when they can play again after a second highly successful Ready Steady Golf – Salty Fish All Abilities Tournament on Sunday, April 6.
An initiative built on the back of the Ready Steady Golf program for people with a disability established by PGA Professional Mark Tibbles more than a decade ago, the second such event was attended by 48 players made up of physically, psychologically and intellectually challenged participants of all ages and abilities along with family members and volunteers at the Vines Golf and Country Club in Perth.
The Ready Steady Golf Program conducted by Tibbles at The Vines Resort has been proudly supported by the WA Golf Foundation since its inception and provides a program for children and adults with additional needs.
Going beyond ‘come and try’ sessions, the program aims to provide a pathway for individuals to transition to mainstream programs, the playing of social golf and the opportunity of club membership/competition golf.
Peter West, whose son Joseph has a mild intellectual disability and cerebral palsy, said his third-place finish will be an achievement he dines out on for months.
“Golf is funny with Jo as every term, like clockwork, the “Nah, don’t want to go,” and “I’m
doing something else,” excuses turn up as he does get anxious,” Peter said post event.
“When the day is finished it’s all he talks about. Now that he got third place and a prize it’s all I’ll hear for months.”
Like Jo, Evan Lee has a mild intellectual disability and cerebral palsy and was similarly excited by the medal he received for playing alongside his father.
“Evan had a wonderful time and was so proud to show off his participant medal to all at our family dinner last night,” said Evan’s mother, Jane.
“He’s worn it to school this morning, too.”
There were also representatives from Special Olympics Australia, Variety Children’s Charity, Sport4All and the WA Disabled Sports Association.
Western Australia State Coordinator for Special Olympics Australia, Kendall King, spoke glowingly of the spirit in which the tournament was conducted.
“The event truly captured the spirit and values of Special Olympics – inclusion, unity and the power of sport to bring people together,” said Kendall.
“It was a celebration of inclusion and perseverance as an opportunity to showcase the skills and dedication of participants, some of whom have been involved for over 10 years, alongside others experiencing the joy of being on a golf course for the very first time.
“It serves as a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we take a strength-based approach by focusing on what athletes can do, not what they can’t.”
Financial assistance and the pride felt in wearing sponsored apparel are just two of the benefits felt by recipients of the Webex All Abilities Scholarship.
Entries for the eight scholarships available in 2025 are now open and will provide sponsored athletes with funding for coaching support, financial assistance to put towards entry fees and accommodation, equipment and apparel courtesy of adidas and Callaway Golf and priority entry into Webex Players Series events to be held as part of the 2025/2026 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season.
The eight scholarships are an increase of the six inaugural recipients in 2024, one of whom was Victorian teenager Noah Schammer (pictured, right).
An exceptionally talented golfer who plays off single figures, Noah received one of three Development Scholarships last year.
He put that support to good use, taking out the Webex All Abilities Players Series Victoria tournament at Rosebud Country Club in January.
Noah’s mother, Bree, says that the scholarship was not only of great assistance to their family, but gave Noah an enhanced feeling of self-esteem as he pursued his passion for golf.
“This scholarship was an incredible support, allowing access to specialised golf sport science training and support to provide his regular team with deeper information to further develop his game,” said Bree.
“The travel funds significantly helped the financial load on his family for Noah to travel and attend tournaments and the apparel support from adidas was worn with pride at many golf events. And continues to be!
“The equipment support from Callaway was also much appreciated.”
A full scholarship was just part of a whirlwind 12 months for South Australian Steven Alderson.
Not only did Steven successfully defend his Webex All Abilities Players Series South Australia title at Willunga, he made history as the first person with autism to win on the G4D Tour in Europe, going on to win the net crown at the G4D Tour Series Finale in Dubai.
“The scholarship has helped me immensely and changed my life for the better,” Steven said.
Victory at the Macau Masters World Games was the highlight of Development Scholarship holder Natascha Tennent, who participated in a number of Webex All Abilities Players Series tournaments.
“The money allowed Natascha to receive additional coaching to assist in improving her game and preparing her for more competitive tournaments,” said Natascha’s mum, Kathleen.
“It also made it possible for Natascha to compete in an international competition as a portion was used for her travel. She then proceeded to become the female champion at the Macau Masters World Games.
“The equipment factor of the scholarship was also considerably helpful as shoes, clothing, bags and balls are another important part for an athlete and the cost does add up.”
Glenn Smith, Regional Manager Collaboration for Cisco, said that as an organisation driven to provide an inclusive future for all, Cisco was delighted to expand their support of the Webex All Abilities Scholarship in 2025.
“We’re inspired by the talent and passion that the All Abilities athletes possess,” said Smith.
“It gives us great pleasure to assist in increasing the number of recipients of the scholarship this year in partnership with the PGA of Australia and WPGA Tour of Australasia.
“Providing the opportunity for All Abilities athletes to showcase their skill is core to Cisco’s values, and our purpose of powering an inclusive future for all.”
As Senior Manager – Coaching Programs for the PGA of Australia, Nick Bielawski highlighted the impact that the funding made available by Webex is having not only on golf development, but on the entire family.
“People with a disability do not get the opportunity to participate without a great deal of support from family and friends,” said Bielawski.
“The Webex All Abilities Scholarship is a way of supporting the people who support our athletes while, at the same time, providing opportunities to continue their golf development.
“We have seen some wonderful performances from our 2024 scholarship holders over the past 12 months and I am excited to see the quality of applicants we receive for 2025.
“None of this, of course, is possible without the wonderful support we receive from Webex, adidas and Callaway.”
In 2025 there will be four Full Scholarships and four Development Scholarships.
To be considered for a Team Webex scholarship, athletes must be an Australian citizen and a WR4GD pass holder. Additionally, athletes must have played in at least one of the following:
After applications have closed, athletes will be shortlisted with further interviews arranged to determine the final recipients of the scholarships.
Full Scholarship recipients will receive:
Development Scholarship recipients will receive:
Click here to submit to submit your application to join Team Webex as a Webex All Abilities Scholarship holder.
A decade after mounting golf’s numerical summit, Jason Day believes Min Woo Lee now has all the tools to become Australian golf’s next male world No.1.
The Paris Olympic teammates spent Tuesday together at the Masters, playing a practice round with fellow Australian Cameron Smith as the trio all set to build on what are impressive records at Augusta National.
Day has finished top-five on three occasions, Smith boasts four finishes inside the top-six while Lee has two top-25 results from three appearances.
This year is different, though, for the 26-year-old West Australian.
This year Lee comes in as a PGA TOUR winner, a hurdle he was able to climb thanks in no small part to his friendship with Day.
Post fading from contention after holding the 36-hole lead at THE PLAYERS, Lee spoke briefly with Day on the putting green on the Tuesday of the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
The advice from the 2015 US PGA champion was simple: Trust the process and keep hitting good shots.
Five days later Lee was a PGA TOUR winner and the next day, at a career-high of No.22, was the No.1-male Australian player on the Official World Golf Ranking.
Day believes it is just the next step in becoming the best player on the planet.
“Obviously been out here a while and I can definitely tell when guys have that certain X factor about themselves and they have potential of standing out. Min is definitely one of those guys,” said Day, who spent a total of 51 weeks as world No.1.
“He hits it a mile. Has a really good short game. He does all the sexy stuff good. All the stuff that people love to see, he does that really, really well.
“It was funny. I was sitting there on Tuesday of Houston. I’m like, dude, you played great at THE PLAYERS. You had the lead through 36 holes. Obviously played good there beforehand. You just got to keep putting yourself in position and it’ll happen regardless.
“Obviously won that week.
“With Min, it’s all up to him if he wants to get to No.1 and to that next level. Obviously there is work ethic and that desire to become No.1 in the world. It’s a lifestyle change he has to understand.
“I know that he has the tools and the mental side to do it because he loves the moment, and that’s something that you cannot teach golfers in general, to love being in that moment and under the most stress.
“If he can really enjoy that and just improve over time, he’s got the best chance to become No.1 from Australia.”
Further emphasising his elevated place within world golf, Lee has been paired with good friend Collin Morikawa and 2023 Australian Open champion Joaquin Niemann in one of the feature groups for Round 1.
Twelve months ago, Lee drove down Magnolia Lane nursing a broken finger following a mishap with a dumbbell and feeling under the weather after sharing his jumper with a young fan while watching sister Minjee in the cold air of Las Vegas.
This week he arrived at Augusta ranked higher than the players he once idolised and who he shared a practice round with on Tuesday.
“It’s pretty surreal actually,” Lee said of being Australia’s highest-ranked male player at No.23.
“I mean, it’s crazy. I looked up to these guys and I still do.
“It’s awesome to be the No.1-ranked Aussie. I still feel like a little kid growing up and I don’t feel 26. I feel 18, 19, 20 as a youngster.
“But it is very cool. It’s cool to be there.
“I feel like I inspire kids and inspire people to love and play golf.
“It’s quite cool to be the top spot I guess in Australian golf and hopefully I can keep going.”
Round 1 tee times
10:52pm AEST
Cameron Smith, JT Poston, Aaron Rai
11:47pm
Min Woo Lee, Collin Morikawa, Joaquín Niemann
11:58pm
Jason Day, Phil Mickelson, Keegan Bradley
12:48am
Cameron Davis, Rafael Campos, Austin Eckroat
3:01am
Adam Scott, Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland
The World Sand Greens Championship for men will return to the national golfing calendar this September, with members of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia set to compete for a $140,000 purse at Binalong Golf Club.
The 36-hole championship at Binalong Golf Club in the NSW Southern Tablelands was a world first for professional men’s golf globally in 2024, when Queensland’s Brett Rankin triumphed in the non-Order of Merit counting event that will be played from September 26-28.
“The concept of playing a men’s professional tournament on sand greens was a first in Australia and captured the imagination of the players,” General Manager of Golf for Golf NSW Olivia Wilson said.
“They thoroughly enjoyed the nuances playing on sand greens created and adapted well.
“Sand greens golf plays an integral part in Australia’s golfing landscape, especially in rural communities, and it will be great to once again showcase this side of our game.”
“Playing and putting on sand is quite a different experience for many players. There are fundamental differences between landing approach shots and knowing how to ‘smooth’ a putting line.
“If a player doubts what to do, plenty of locals will be ready to offer free advice on the correct way to chip, smooth a line, and even hole a putt.”
General Manager of Tournaments and Global Tour Relationships for the PGA of Australia, Nick Dastey, said the Men’s World Sand Greens Championship was well received by the players last year and offers an interesting addition to the schedule.
“All reports from last year were highlighted by how much the players enjoyed the unique challenge, and local hospitality, when contesting the World Sand Greens Championship,” Dastey said.
“Not only does it offer our players another chance to compete and potentially lift a trophy, but the event allows for a unique experience playing tournament golf and highlights the variety on offer in Australian golf.
“As the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia schedule continues to build, we are thrilled to once again include the World Sand Greens Championship and the chance for one of our players to be crowned a world champion.”
Founded in 1857, Binalong Golf Club’s original nine-hole layout was carved through the middle of a now-defunct horse racing track, with the club located 37km northwest of Yass, about one hour from Canberra and three hours from Sydney.
Sitting 500 metres above sea level, the 18-hole, par-72 course is considered one of the best examples of a sand greens layout in regional New South Wales, with the club also hosting this year’s Women’s World Sand Greens.
The Men’s World Sand Greens Championship is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
With First Stage of Qualifying School at Moonah Links underway, two-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner Anthony Quayle takes us inside golf’s most ruthless assignment.
Ask any player who has teed it up at a Qualifying School anywhere in the world and they will tell you the same thing: The pressure is about as much as you’ll ever feel in your life.
The consequences are just so much greater.
Some of the boys who are teeing it up this week at Moonah Links have been working a part-time job in between practising, saving up for their one shot at a spot on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia next season.
Play poorly, and it’s a long wait before you try again.
Play well and, as guys like Kazuma Kobori have shown, you can be playing major championships inside 18 months.
The first time I competed at a Q School was on the Korn Ferry Tour almost 10 years ago.
I got through First Stage quite comfortably and was going OK at Second Stage, when, out of nowhere, I made a triple and then a ‘quad’ on back-to-back holes in Round 3.
You make a mistake and it feels like your world’s ending a little bit.
As tough as that was, one thing that I found really comforting was that a couple of years prior, Jordan Spieth had missed out at Second Stage of Korn Ferry Q School.
Within a year he had won on the PGA TOUR.
A couple of years ago during a press conference at the Masters, Xander Schauffele spoke about how Q School and the Korn Ferry Tour prepared him to win tournaments on the PGA TOUR and, ultimately, majors.
Apart from that first experience in the US, my record at Q Schools has been pretty good.
I got through both stages to get my PGA Tour of Australasia card and went through three stages before getting one of 20 cards at Final Stage for the Japan Golf Tour.
But both times the result could have been very different.
I was 70th going into the final round of Final Stage of Australasian Q School and needed to finish top 30 to get my card.
The weather was horrific that final day – beanie-weather cold, hammering down rain – and I shot 69, which was the low round of the day, to run 20th and get my card.
Every year there are thousands of people who enter Q School in Japan but there are only 20 cards handed out at the end.
I was able to skip First Stage and then I shot 10-under to win Second Stage.
At Third Stage, I knew I was right on the number coming down the stretch.
I was really, really, really nervous. The final hole was a par-5 with a semi-island green so going for it in two was not viable, given the circumstance.
I had about 78 metres to a pin tucked next to the water and finished pin high, eight feet to the left of the flag, and holed that for birdie.
I was the last man get into Final Stage thanks to that birdie.
It’s funny when you look back on things like that because if I had missed that putt, then my past seven years might’ve been totally different.
My coach Ken Berndt always told me that the best way to play Q School is get ahead early… and get further ahead as the week goes on.
It sounds really simple, but that type of thinking has helped me to navigate Q Schools relatively successfully.
As a player, if you can handle the pressure that comes with Q School, imagine how well you can do with an abundance of opportunity.
For me, once I got over that line, I was just so excited at the prospect of having 10 or 12 tournaments to play in.
That overwhelming sense of opportunity felt like a speed ramp into professional golf.
For those at Q School, while it’s one of the most important weeks of your life, you can’t be buying into that narrative.
You have to look at it as one of the hundreds of events that you’re going to play as a pro.
Now, that’ll either turn out to be true or not be true, but your mindset needs to be that this is going to be one of many and I need to go out and compete the best I can.
And follow Ken’s advice: Get ahead early… and get further ahead!
Winner of the 2020 Queensland Open and 2022 Queensland PGA, Anthony Quayle finished fifth on the 2024/2025 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
First Stage of Qualifying School will be conducted over 54 holes over two sections. Section A will play the Legends Course while Section B will play the Open Course at Moonah Links.
A new national marketing campaign highlighting the expertise of PGA Professionals across all areas of the golf industry has gone live.
‘The Pro Will Know’ is designed highlight that PGA Professionals are there to assist all golfers with everything they need to enjoy the sport.
Whether it’s coaching, equipment, club-fitting, course management, or anything else to do with our sport, PGA Professionals and the ones every golfer should engage with.
“With their extensive knowledge, training, and passion for the sport, PGA Professionals are unquestionably the experts in golf,” said Geoff Stewart, General Manager – Education and Training for the PGA of Australia.
“At every level of the game, PGA Professionals are there to guide all types of golfers in their journey in the sport.
“From beginners just getting started through to the scratch marker looking for the putter that fits them perfectly, PGA Professionals are there to provide friendly, expert advice.
“We hope that this latest campaign emphasises that in a fun way that I’m sure every golfer can relate to.”
