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Having first taken the lead of the Webex Players Series Sydney on Friday, Nick Voke rarely looked as if he would allow anyone a chance to genuinely challenge for the trophy on Sunday.
The Kiwi stuck to that script early during the final round before his total control of his own game loosened as Jake McLeod found his.
Matching fellow New Zealander Kazuma Kobori’s winning total of 25-under 12 months earlier, Voke’s final round of 3-under 69 was enough to finish one-stroke ahead of McLeod (66) with Will Florimo (66), Travis Smyth (69) and Tyler Wood (69) sharing third at 18-under.
What became a nerve-wracking finish that was a two-horse race from a long way out, Voke’s stranglehold on the tournament almost slipped through his fingers.
A four-stroke overnight lead grew by one after Voke made birdie at the par-5 first for the fourth straight day before McLeod clawed back that shot with a birdie at the par-3 fourth.
Voke once again stretched the lead to five with birdie at the par-5 fifth yet a mis-directed lay-up and birdie by McLeod led to a two-shot swing at the short par-4 sixth, narrowing the 30-year-old’s lead to just three shots with 12 holes still to play.
McLeod could only match one of Voke’s birdies at eight and nine as the lead moved out to four strokes at the turn, Voke’s advantage back out to five again with a birdie at the short par-4 12th.
A ridiculous putt from the back fringe down over a tier that hit the centre of the flagstick before dropping was Voke’s sixth birdie of the day and perhaps the putt of his life in the tournament wash-up.
“When I walked back to the caddie, I said, ‘Tom (Power Horan), good putt is inside eight feet’,” said Voke.
“He goes, ‘You’re a content guy, surely just hole it, give it a good roll’.
“As soon as I hit it, I was like, Oh, this looks pretty good.”
After the excitement of the following crowd settled, an unflappable challenger in McLeod again stayed in the fight with a birdie of his own from just outside 20 feet and the golden run of Voke took a stumble.
Voke dropped a shot at 14 and McLeod made birdie on 15. After taking iron off the tee at the short 16th, Voke hit his approach left of the green and had to make a putt from five feet to narrowly avoid a double bogey.
The tenacious Queenslander, who has been knocking on the door of a win all season, then converted his birdie chance from 15 feet and, after leading by five with five to play, Voke’s advantage was just one heading to the 17th tee.
“I was five back and I thought I was out of it,” McLeod admitted post-round.
“All of a sudden, coming up the last two I was one back.
“It changed pretty quickly. I’m proud of how I played.”
A superb tee shot gave McLeod another look at birdie at the par-3 17th but his 12-foot putt just slipped underneath the right edge as Voke again needed to make a clutch par save to stay one in front playing the 72nd hole.
With persistent rain dousing the final group as they played the 18t, both players had 78 metres into the par-5 for their third. Voke almost flew his shot into the hole before it released to the back edge as McLeod’s came to rest 15 feet short and right of the hole.
After Voke putted down to a foot, McLeod had a putt to force a playoff, his birdie attempt hanging agonisingly on the right edge, leaving Voke to merely tap in and claim victory.
“Like that bad fart, that just doesn’t go away,” Voke joked of McLeod’s tenacity over the closing stages.
“’Clouds’ is going to be in my nightmares going forward. He was lurking all day and great bloke … I’m sure he’ll get one shortly.”
Suggesting with a smile that he may have peaked too early ahead of the New Zealand Open next week, the affable Voke turned more serious for a moment when asked what it meant to win again after last lifting a trophy in 2018.
“Golf is so hard. You can play a while, you can go through stretches and not win,” the part-time YouTuber said.
“Gosh, that feels good. That’s why you practise as a kid. That’s why you have the late-night range sessions. It’s why you do everything.”
With a flight back home to New Zealand on Monday, Voke was left to ponder the difficulty of transporting his extra piece of luggage as he dried off the champagne sprayed by fellow Iowa State alumni Lachlan Barker and Tyler Wood on the 18th green.
“How am I going to get this to Queenstown?” he asked, holding one of the three trophies handed out for the Webex Players Series Sydney at Castle Hill.
Castle Hill Country Club junior Nicholas Heanes shot rounds of 71-75 on his home course to claim the Webex Junior Players Series Sydney by seven strokes as Lachlan Wood recorded a 10-stroke win with rounds of 70-72 in the Webex All Abilities Players Series Sydney tournament.
The ‘Kiwi Challenge’ are ready to take on the rest of the field as they prepare to re-claim the New Zealand Open title next week at Millbrook Resort
The ‘Kiwi Challenge’, a key feature of the New Zealand Open this year, brings together the nation’s top golfers as they compete against an international field for the Brodie Breeze trophy.
This won’t be an easy task though as the tournament, which will be played for the 104th time, will feature arguably the strongest professional field in recent history.
“The ‘Kiwi Challenge’ is something we have done to support the current generation of Kiwi pros who are not only representing the country around the world, but all desperately want to see the next name on the trophy a Kiwi name,” said Tournament Director Michael Glading.
Millbrook Resort’s picturesque location in Queenstown will be the backdrop for a thrilling week of golf, with the leading players from Asia and Australasia competing for a slice of the NZD $2 million prize purse. Fans are encouraged to come out and support the Kiwi Challenge as they take on the world.
In a move to enhance the spectator experience at the New Zealand Open, all the Kiwi players will feature special caddie bibs featuring the New Zealand flag.
The distinctive bibs, featuring the iconic red, white, and blue design of the New Zealand flag, will allow spectators to quickly spot New Zealand’s top golfers and cheer them on throughout the tournament.
“This is a fantastic way for fans to show their support and recognise the incredible talent representing New Zealand. It’s all about celebrating local players and creating an unforgettable experience for everyone involved,” said Glading.
The Kiwis who are in the field for the 104th New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport are:
Travis Smyth now spends his professional life on the Asian Tour but is embracing the rare chance to tee it up in his new hometown at this week’s Webex Players Series Sydney at Castle Hill Country Club.
Hailing from Shellharbour on the South Coast of New South Wales, Smyth already boasts two top-20 finishes in 2025 and is one of the favourites in his return to the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
“I try to play as good as I can every single time, whether it’s at the start of the year, end of the year,” Smyth said Wednesday.
“I’m just really happy that the schedule allowed me to come back and play an Aussie Tour tournament.
“The schedule’s really hard to try and play both nowadays. I’m just super stoked. I can sleep in my own bed and play a familiar golf course. Although it has changed.
“I probably haven’t played here for, I don’t know, seven or eight years. It’s in great shape. I’m really excited.”
Like every player, a tournament week is also a chance to practise and work on his body, with Smyth having a big circle around next week’s co-sanctioned New Zealand Open. A dream scenario of two victories in two weeks has the potential to change his plans further for 2025.
Noting the limited pathways on offer in Asia and the current state of the men’s professional game, Smyth is fully aware of what’s on offer on his home Tour where he won as an amateur at the 2017 NT PGA.
“You always like to play two or three events before something big,” Smyth said of his appearance this week.
“It doesn’t always work out that way. I feel like you learn a lot from the week prior that you’re not as intense about. And obviously next week New Zealand Open being a big event, a co-sanctioned Asian Tour event.
“I feel like whatever I learn from this week, there’s just that little bit more sharpness and intense focus on what I need to do to be better.
“There isn’t really a pathway out of Asia.
“I’ve finished top 10 three years in a row now and normally I would be exempt to final stages of DP World (Tour) and Korn Ferry (Tour) and that sort of thing. And I feel like with three attempts at final stage, I would probably see myself on a bigger tour.”
Asked if the attraction of three DP World Tour cards via his home circuit Order of Merit was on his mind, Smyth was clear that the life of a professional golfer means changing plans at the drop of a hat. Especially having seen and heard of the success of the likes of David Micheluzzi and last year’s Webex Players Series Sydney champion, Kazuma Kobori.
“I guess if I were to win then I would probably purposely miss a bigger event in Asia just so I could get my four events and maybe have a run at it,” Smyth admitted.
“That’s probably on the cards. That’s probably a more reasonable pathway than what Asian Tour has to offer.”
Beyond the perfect result of winning this week and next, the familiar faces and home comforts have a smile permanently across the face of Smyth. It is sure to continue over the opening rounds in one of the marquee groups alongside Ladies European Tour rookie Kelsey Bennett and two-time Queensland PGA winner, Phoenix Campbell.
“It’s great,” he said of playing at home.
“I mean, there aren’t too many Aussies on the Asian Tour. It’s great seeing familiar faces and I look forward to competing alongside them coming down the stretch on the weekend.”
Webex Players Series Sydney is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
Australian prodigy Karl Vilips will begin his PGA TOUR debut at this week’s Mexico Open by stepping into the shoes of his idol, Tiger Woods.
Literally.
The 23-year-old, who spent time in both Melbourne and Perth growing up before completing high school in the US, was announced on Wednesday as the first brand ambassador for Woods’s clothing line, Sun Day Red.
Vilips first met Woods as a star-struck 6-year-old. He is embracing all that Woods stands for as the realisation of a dream come true turns into a fairytale beyond the most creative imagination.
“To have me on the team is something that I take to heart,” said Vilips, whose maiden PGA TOUR start was delayed by a bulging disc in his back that flared up after the Australian Open in December.
“I want to represent him the best way that I can.
“Everything that he stands for, I stand for as well.”
In a post shared to Instagram by Sun Day Red, Woods himself left no doubt as to why he saw the young Aussie as the ideal representative of his clothing label.
“Karl’s journey has been marked by success at every level he’s played,” said Woods.
“We were drawn towards his relentless work ethic, and pioneering spirit that embodies what we stand for and look for in our athletes.
“With his impressive track record and determination, I have no doubt he will make a significant impact quickly on the PGA TOUR and is one of the game’s future stars.”
Providing his missing suitcase is delivered to VidantaWorld in time for Round 1, Vilips will step onto the first tee fully kitted out in Sun Day Red, from shoes and socks to the pants and belt that will hold them in place and the polo shirt bearing the Sun Day Red logo.
The sheer ridiculousness of the situation he now finds himself in is not lost on a young man who was still an amateur playing college golf at Woods’s alma mater, Stanford University, just 12 months ago.
“The first time I met him, I was 6 and I was just awestruck looking at him,” Vilips recalled.
“Couldn’t really say anything. Just listened to whatever he had to say, which I couldn’t tell you what that was now.
“Throughout this whole process, it’s been really cool to hear what he’s had to say about me in picking me as an ambassador.
“It’s a huge honour.”
Vilips’ path to the PGA TOUR has been closely monitored since he won US Kids World Championship titles at age seven and nine and then the Callaway Junior World Championship as a 10-year-old.
After graduating from Stanford last year, Vilips played two events on the PGA TOUR Americas, won in his fourth start on the Korn Ferry Tour and finished 19th on the points list as well as being named Rookie of the Year.
It’s all led to this moment yet he is adamant there will be much more to the Karl Vilips story.
“It’s a dream come true to get the card, that’s what I always wanted,” said Vilips.
“But this is also part of the plan, to get to where I want to be which is the best player in the world.
“My game’s in a good spot at the moment where I can compete and it’s just all about how I handle it out there, getting into a flow and just embracing everything around me.
“Dream come true and a big step to where I want to be.”
As Vilips makes his PGA TOUR debut, Grace Kim makes her LPGA Tour season debut at this week’s Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club.
One of three Aussies teeing it up in Thailand, Kim won in her rookie season in 2023 but struggled physically last year in a gruelling 28-event schedule.
Prioritising additional time in the gym over the first two events of the season is designed to put her in position for further wins in 2025.
“I played 30 events, which was a lot, and that wasn’t always the plan,” Kim said of a 2024 season in which she had three top-10s and finished 46th in the Race to CME Globe ranking.
“I just wanted to get the rankings up, the points up and everything but this year the plan’s a little bit different.
“We’re playing less events and hopefully spending more time at home, using those development blocks to hopefully have better results in less events.”
The DP World Tour is in Kenya this week where Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winners Daniel Gale and Brett Coletta will fly the flag alongside Danny List fresh off his PGA TOUR debut at the Genesis Invitational.
Round 1 tee times AEDT
PGA TOUR
Mexico Open at VidantaWorld
VidantaWorld, Vallarta, Mexico
1:36am* Ryan Fox (NZ)
5:21am* Aaron Baddeley
6:27am Karl Vilips
Recent champion: Jake Knapp
Past Aussie winners: David Graham (1980), Jarrod Lyle (2008, Nationwide Tour)
Prize money: $US7 million
TV times: Live 2am-11am Friday, Saturday; Live 1am-10am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
LPGA Tour
Honda LPGA Thailand
Siam Country Club (Old Cse), Chonburi, Thailand
11:50am* Gabriela Ruffels
11:57am Grace Kim
12:14pm* Stephanie Kyriacou
Recent champion: Patty Tavatanakit
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US1.7 million
TV times: Live 2pm-7pm Thursday, Friday on Fox Sports 503; Live 2:30pm-7:30pm Saturday, Sunday on Fox Sports 507 and Kayo.
DP World Tour
Magical Kenya Open
Muthaiga GC, Nairobi, Kenya
5:10pm* Daniel Gale
9:20pm* Brett Coletta
9:40pm* Kazuma Kobori (NZ)
9:50pm Danny List
Recent champion: Darius Van Driel
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US2.5 million
TV times: Live 9pm-2am Thursday, Friday; Live 8:30pm-1am Saturday; Live 8pm-1am Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Torrey Pines played tough, Ripper GC struggled to make a run at The Grange and our top two women enjoyed a week off.
Hira Naveed’s tie for eighth at the PIF Saudi Ladies International was a notable performance that hints at further success in her second year on the LPGA Tour while Scott Hend narrowly missed out on becoming the first Aussie to win internationally on the Legends Tour in Spain.
The next fortnight will likely be pivotal to the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season standings with the $NZ2 million New Zealand Open to follow the final Webex Players Series event of the season at Castle Hill Country Club in Sydney.
10. Anthony Quayle (Last week: 10)
Enjoyed the week off after fighting the ferocious winds to a tie for 12th at the Vic Open. Currently seventh on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, Quayle returns this week as one of the form players on tour at the Webex Players Series Sydney at Castle Hill Country Club.
9. Min Woo Lee (9)
Battled gamely through cold and windy weather to shoot 71 on day one of the Genesis Invitational but dropped from the frame with 77 in Round 2. Closed with 2-under 70 to finish in a tie for 48th to add to his three top-20 finishes in his previous three starts including a tie for 12th at the WM Phoenix Open.
8. Kelsey Bennett (7)
Rose to a career high of 304 on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking on the back of her fourth-place finish at the Vic Open. After a week off returns to the WPGA Tour of Australasia this week at Webex Players Series Sydney where she missed the cut on the number 12 months ago.
7. Lucas Herbert (8)
Began the final round of LIV Golf Adelaide in a share of ninth and with aspirations of a podium finish. Tied for fourth in the season-opener, Herbert shot 75 in the final round at The Grange but shapes as one of the tournament favourites at next week’s New Zealand Open.
6. Elvis Smylie (6)
The BMW Australian PGA champ is currently catching his breath before the New Zealand Open in Queenstown next week. Will tee it up at Millbrook Resort with the opportunity to clinch the 2024-2025 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
5. Minjee Lee (5)
After two encouraging performances first up on the LPGA Tour has returned home to continue her preparation for the bigger block of the 2025 season. Slated to return to play at the HSBC Women’s World Championship next week in Singapore.
4. Jason Day (4)
On the back foot after shooting 76 in the rain and wind of day one at the Genesis Invitational. Added one final memory to a course where he has tremendous history, holing a 33-footer for eagle on the 72nd hole despite finding the trap with his tee shot.
3. Adam Scott (3)
Was our highest-placed finisher at Torrey Pines, making birdie at each of his final two holes to climb into a tie for 37th at the relocated Genesis Invitational.
2. Cam Davis (2)
Missed the cut in challenging conditions at the Genesis Invitational after earning a tie for fifth at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
1. Hannah Green (1)
Spent the week home in Perth working with coach Ritchie Smith on the back of a fourth-place finish at the Founders Cup. A six-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Green will next tee it up in defence of her HSBC Women’s World Championship next week in Singapore.
The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.
The golf tournament ‘Where Champions Are Made’, the BMW Australian PGA Championship, has locked in its dates for 2025 with tickets now on sale.
The best of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour will be at Royal Queensland Golf Club on November 27-30.
It will be the 25th Australian PGA in a row to be staged in Queensland and the fifth consecutive year at Royal Queensland, the venue designated for the golf competition at the 2032 Olympic Games.
The BMW Australian PGA Championship remains one of the best value sporting events in Australia with tickets now available at special early bird prices.
https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=PGAGOLF25.
After selling out last year, tickets for the PGA’s famous Party Hole, the par-3 17th, will again be in high demand.
More than 12,000 fans are expected to enjoy the offering on this hole alone, with hospitality suites, grandstands and family areas surrounding the par-three, providing a fun experience for all fans during the tournament.
PGA of Australia chief executive Gavin Kirkman said: “Although our planning for this year’s tournament has been underway since Elvis Smylie holed the winning putt in front of a home crowd last November, today is the start of the official countdown to the 2025 BMW Australian PGA Championship.
“We’re looking forward to returning to Royal Queensland, watching some fantastic golf, enjoying all the on-course and off-course activities and seeing who emerges as the 2025 winner of the Joe Kirkwood Cup.
“With the support of our title partner BMW, and via our partnerships with the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland, and Brisbane City Council, through Brisbane Economic Development Agency, we saw our championship go to another level in 2024.
“We have some great ideas coming together to make it an even better experience for our golf fans this November.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said: “Brisbane was excited to be able to host this world-class event for the fifth time running in 2025 and welcome thousands of passionate fans to Royal Queensland Golf Club to experience the action firsthand.
“The Championship is a standout event in our major events calendar, drawing world-class golfers to our courses and visitors from across the world.
“This is a hole-in-one for Brisbane, injecting millions into economy as visitors frequent our to restaurants, hotels and tourism experiences during their stay.”
The BMW Australian PGA Championship is co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour and will serve as the opening event of its season-long Race to Dubai.
Ben Cowen, the DP World Tour’s Chief Tournament and Operations Officer, added: “Our members have thoroughly enjoyed playing in the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland in recent years, and we’re excited for their return to Brisbane this November.
“The championship has become a key launchpad for our Race to Dubai, providing members with a pathway to the world stage and showcasing the global nature of the DP World Tour.
“The incredible victory of Elvis Smylie on home soil in 2024 was a highlight, and it has given him the opportunity to play a world-wide schedule, joining a select group of Australian golfers competing internationally.
“We also extend our sincere thanks to the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council for their continued support of this prestigious tournament.”
The Australian PGA Championship is supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland’s Major Events Program and Brisbane City Council, through Brisbane Economic Development Agency.
Danny Lee is set to make a highly anticipated return home to tee it up in Queenstown at next week’s New Zealand Open after years of competing on the global stage.
Lee became the youngest-ever winner of the U.S. Amateur in August 2008, aged 18 years and one month, six months younger than Tiger Woods when he won in 1994. He became No.1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in August 2008 and remained No.1 until he turned pro in April 2009.
Lee represented New Zealand at the Eisenhower Trophy in 2008 and the World Cup of Golf in both 2009 and 2016. He was also part of the New Zealand Olympics team in 2016 alongside Ryan Fox and Lydia Ko.
In his professional career, Lee has played on the Web.com tour, DP World Tour and PGA TOUR. Lee now plies his trade as part of the Iron Heads GC team in the LIV Golf League.
Lee, whose career highlights include wins on the PGA TOUR and the LIV Golf League, as well as a top-10 finish at the U.S. Open, is “excited to be coming home.”
This marks his fourth appearance in the New Zealand Open, but his first as a professional.
“It will be great to be playing back on home soil in front of my family, friends, and the New Zealand fans,” Lee said.
“New Zealand holds a special place in my heart, and I am proud to represent New Zealand. I am looking forward to reconnecting with so many people who have supported me over a number of years.”
New Zealand Open Tournament Director Michael Glading is delighted that Lee is coming home to play in his national Open and is looking forward to watching the fans out in force to watch him in action.
“It’s great that Danny is making his long-awaited return to the New Zealand Open.
“It will be a special moment for him, the tournament and the golf community here in New Zealand.
“Danny has had an incredible career from being the No.1 amateur golfer in the world, playing at the Olympics, and winning on the PGA TOUR, DP World Tour and the LIV Golf League.
We are excited to have him back, and we know the energy from the crowd will make it a truly memorable experience for everyone.”
The 104th New Zealand Open will tee off at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown between February 27 and March 2. For more information, please visit nzopen.com.
Queenslander Scott Hend produced the round of the week but came up two shots short of victory at the Legends Tour’s season-opening Staysure Marbella Legends in Spain.
Hend had seven birdies and a bogey in an eight-hole stretch from the ninth hole in the final round to exert pressure on Englishman Simon Griffiths on his way to a round of 8-under 64.
Sensing the Aussie in his rearview mirror, Griffiths made birdie at the par-4 15th to build a three-shot buffer that meant that his closing bogey reduced the winning margin to two.
Hend was not the only member of the Aussie over-50s to log a top-five result.
Still in pursuit of a breakthrough win on the PGA TOUR Champions, Richard Green shot 4-under 68 in the final round of the Chubb Classic in Florida.
Five birdies in the final seven holes saw Justin Leonard claim his first PGA TOUR Champions title by four strokes, Green six strokes back in a tie for fourth.
Making her first appearance on the Ladies European Tour, West Australian Hira Naveed impressed with a tie for eighth at the PIF Saudi Ladies International.
Entering her second year on the LPGA Tour, Naveed was tied for fourth after an opening round of 5-under 67 and then climbed back into the top 10 on the back of a 2-under 70 in the final round.
Photo: Octavio Passos/Getty Images
PGA TOUR
The Genesis Invitational
Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Cse), San Diego, California
1 Ludvig Åberg 74-66-70-66—276 $US4m
T37 Adam Scott 74-70-75-70—289 $96,500
48 Min Woo Lee 71-77-74-70—292 $56,000
T50 Jason Day 76-72-74-72—294 $51,500
MC Danny List 79-72—151
MC Cam Davis 77-74—151
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Adelaide
The Grange Golf Club, Adelaide
1 Joaquin Niemann 67-71-65—203 $US4m
T21 Marc Leishman 73-70-70—213 $225,000
T23 Ben Campbell (NZ) 73-70-71—214 $190,714
30 Cameron Smith 72-73-70—215 $170,000
T31 Lucas Herbert 71-70-75—216 $153,833
T37 Danny Lee (NZ) 70-74-74—218 $135,285
44 Matt Jones 75-71-73—219 $128,000
50 Wade Ormsby 79-71-75—225 $60,000
Ladies European Tour
PIF Saudi Ladies International
Riyadh Golf Club, Saudi Arabia
1 Jeeno Thitikul 67-64-69—200 $US647,493.75
T8 Hira Naveed 67-70-70—207 $99,282.38
T18 Stephanie Kyriacou 68-68-74—210 $69,066
T27 Momoka Kobori (NZ) 73-69-70—212 $46,115.95
MC Kirsten Rudgeley 75-72—147
PGA TOUR Champions
Chubb Classic
Tiburon Golf Club, Naples, Florida
1 Justin Leonard 68-65-68—201 $US270,000
T4 Richard Green 70-69-68—207 $82,800
T12 Cameron Percy 72-70-68—210 $31,748
T12 Michael Wright 71-69-70—210 $31,748
T23 Rod Pampling 70-75-67—212 $18,450
T31 Steve Allan 72-70-72—214 $12,150
T47 Mark Hensby 70-72-75—217 $6,120
T51 Greg Chalmers 70-76-72—218 $4,860
T57 Stuart Appleby 73-74-73—220 $3,690
T69 David Bransdon 77-77-72—226 $1,584
HotelPlanner Tour
NTT DATA Pro-Am
Fancourt Golf Estate, George, South Africa
1 Wilco Nienaber 60-66-66-70—262 €57,473.21
T3 Sam Jones (NZ) 68-65-69-69—271 €17,151.31
MC Haydn Barron 70-69-74—213
MC Hayden Hopewell 67-76-75—218
Legends Tour
Staysure Marbella Legends
Aloha GC, Marbella, Spain
1 Simon Griffiths 65-68-68—201
2 Scott Hend 69-70-64—203
T39 Michael Campbell (NZ) 73-72-73—218
T52 Michael Long (NZ) 74-72-76—222
Ripper GC’s Adelaide reign came to an end as Joaquin Niemann out-duelled fellow Australian Open winner Abraham Ancer to take the individual title at LIV Golf Adelaide.
Part of a three-way tie for the lead overnight, birdies at each of his opening two holes put Ancer in a front-running position early on day three at The Grange Golf Club.
Yet as he endured a frustrating run of nine straight pars, 2023 Australian Open champion Niemann made his move.
After an early birdie of his own at the par-3 third, the Torque GC captain closed out his front nine with three birdies in his final four holes. He completed a bogey-free 7-under 65 with birdies at 12, 15 and finally a superb up-and-down after driving it into the greenside bunker at the par-4 18th.
Niemann finished the three rounds at 13-under par, three clear of Ancer (71) and Carlos Ortiz (71) with David Puig (67) outright fourth at 9-under par.
“Man, I love it,” Niemann said of his impressive record in Australia.
“I’m starting to feel the chills now because I didn’t want to get out of that game rhythm because you never know what can happen on the last one. But now for the relief, and man, it feels awesome.”
Ancer and Puig were part of the Fireballs GC team captained by Sergio Garcia that claimed a dominant six-stroke win in the teams event as an early Ripper GC charge could not be sustained over the final nine holes.
Trailing by nine heading into Sunday’s final round, Ripper GC moved into fifth in the teams event on the back of captain Cameron Smith.
Smith was the hottest player on course with an eagle and two birdies in his opening four holes of Round 3 and was 5-under on his round when he birdied the par-4 15th.
But that was where Smith’s forward momentum ended as he made three bogeys in the space of four holes to sign for a 2-under 70 and 30th for the week, Ripper GC ninth at 1-under par.
“I scrambled really well the first day to kind of stay in the tournament, and then the last couple of days I actually did a lot of good stuff and just couldn’t really keep on top of it, keep the momentum going,” admitted Smith.
“I hit a lot of good shots that ended up in bad spots, and it was one of those weeks where you had to be really patient.
“Obviously being home, you’re always pushing, and perhaps that got us out of the tournament. That’s the only thing I can really think of.”
Marc Leishman had three birdies in his round of 2-under 70 to lead the way for Ripper GC in a tie for 21st, Lucas Herbert (75) and Matt Jones (73) finishing tied for 31st and 44th respectively.
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
Individual
1 Joaquin Niemann (Torque GC) 67-71-65—203
T2 Carlos Ortiz (Torque GC) 67-68-71—206
T2 Abraham Ancer (Fireballs GC) 68-67-71—206
4 David Puig (Fireballs GC) 70-70-67—207
5 Richard Bland (Cleeks GC) 69-73-66—208
Australians
T21 Marc Leishman (Ripper GC) 73-70-70—213
30 Cameron Smith (Ripper GC) 72-73-70—215
T31 Lucas Herbert (Ripper GC) 71-70-75—216
44 Matt Jones (Ripper GC) 75-71-73—219
50 Wade Ormsby (Iron Heads GC) 79-71-75—225
Team
1 Fireballs GC -21
2 Legion XIII -15
3 Torque GC -13
9 Ripper GC -1
Golf fans across the nation will be able to watch the 2025 Australian WPGA Championship live on the 9Network, and Fox Sports available on Foxtel and Kayo.
By Alanna Mullan
In what is a major coup for the new standalone women’s golf event set to be hosted at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club on March 6-9, the 9 Network, Foxtel and Kayo will showcase 10 hours of action-packed golf during the final two days of play. The domestic rights compliment the global reach provided through the event’s Tour co-sanctioning partner in the Ladies European Tour (LET).
The 9Network has been the free to air home of Australia’s major golf tournaments including the BMW Australian PGA Championship and the Australian Open for last three years, alongside Foxtel and Kayo who have helped to drive the largest amount of Australian golf on television in the sports history as the broadcast partner of the Australian majors, the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and WPGA Tour of Australasia.
The Saturday and Sunday of the 2025 Australian WPGA Championship will be broadcast live from 12pm-5pm AEDT on 9GEMHD and 9Now, and on Fox Sports available on Foxtel and Kayo.
PGA of Australia and Golf Australia’s Chief Commercial Officer, Michael McDonald, said:
“We’re excited to have both the 9Network and Foxtel group simulcast the 2025 WPGA Championship,” McDonald said.
“Our broadcast partners understand the unprecedented growth and demand for golf across the country, and we are excited to showcase more elite women’s golf to our fans through this broadcast.
“We are excited that Grace Kim will headline an elite field from Australia and around the world tackling the sensational The Palms golf course layout at Sanctuary Cove, and we look forward to showcasing Gold Coast golf through the broadcast.”
The 2025 Australian WPGA Championship will be played at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club on the Gold Coast from March 6-9.
The Gold Coast Festival of Golf will also be held as part of the event, combining the thrill of the game with an unforgettable festival atmosphere. Featuring live music, pop-up bars, dedicated participation zones, interactive experiences, plus golf and lifestyle displays showcasing the latest and greatest in golf.
Tickets to the 2025 Australian WPGA Championship are now available via Ticketek and are just $15 or adults, with kids 17 and under free.
The 2025 Australian WPGA Championship is supported by Experience Gold Coast and the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.
