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Gale, Coletta join Kobori with DP World Tour cards


Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit champion Kazuma Kobori will get a head start on his DP World Tour exemption after receiving invites to play two tournaments in the next six weeks.

Kobori was presented with the Von Nida Medal as Order of Merit champion and the Rookie of the Year trophy at the completion of the season-ending The National Tournament presented by BMW at The National Golf Club on Sunday.

Brett Coletta and Daniel Gale secured the two remaining DP World Tour exemptions for 2025 on an enthralling final day of a season that will be remembered primarily for Kobori’s three Webex Players Series wins.

As Order of Merit champion, Kobori receives status for the 2025 DP World Tour season and a start at this year’s Open Championship at Royal Troon.

The 22-year-old will have just a week, however, to prepare for the move having received tournament invites to play both the Hero Indian Open (March 28-31) and ISPS HANDA Championship (April 25-28) in Japan.

“It’s actually really nice because I basically get a free run at it,” said Kobori of his upcoming starts.

“I can almost play those and see how it goes.

“Having played those, I will be better for when my exemption category through the Australasian Order of Merit starts.

“Really looking forward to it.”

It’s a remarkable rise for a young player who won the NZ PGA Championship as a 17-year-old amateur in 2019 but didn’t set amateur golf alight until 2023.

The Australian Amateur champion in January, he earned his Tour card by winning Qualifying School last April. With the lure of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in October, Kobori retained his amateur status and became just the second Kiwi after Phil Tataurangi to win individual honours at the Eisenhower Trophy.

After leading into Round 2, Kobori finished sixth at the Asia-Pacific Amateur at Royal Melbourne and turned professional a week later.

In his second start as a professional, Kobori let a six-shot lead slip at the Victorian PGA Championship but returned ready to win after the Christmas break.

He won Webex Players Series events at Cobram Barooga and Rosebud in consecutive weeks and a third inside four weeks at Castle Hill Country Club in Sydney.

That all but guaranteed he would win the Order of Merit and dramatically speed up his career trajectory.

“That’s a testament to everyone,” Kobori said of his rapid ascension.

“To be fair, I played good in amateur golf my last year but before that my world ranking had stalled between 70-100 for two years.

“It feels like I wasn’t making any progress, but I probably was. If you just keep putting in the work, it just goes to show that you can make that quick jump and you’ve got to be ready for it.

“Apart from the Vic PGA, I was able to make the most of the opportunities when they presented themselves and that allowed me to get to this position that I am today.”


Victorian Cameron John absorbed every punch Daniel Gale could throw to claim a breakthrough professional victory at The National Tournament presented by BMW at The National Golf Club.

Three shots clear of Kyle Michel at the start of the final round on the Moonah Course, it soon became clear that John’s greatest threat would come from Gale.

A two-time winner already this season on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, Gale made eagle at the par-5 second and birdie at the par-4 fourth to turn a five-shot deficit into a two-shot inconvenience.

Michel’s double-bogey on four would effectively end his charge, leaving John and Gale to fight it out over the final 14 holes.

John took twice as many shots on the par-3 fifth as he did a day earlier but the birdie edged him three shots clear of Gale, who countered with birdies on seven and eight to draw within one.

But as hard as he fought, Gale would get no closer, John’s three straight birdies from the 10th hole and a crucial up and down on 14 effectively keeping Gale at arm’s length.

The 24-year-old needed just 11 putts on the back nine for a round of 3-under 69 and 16-under total, two clear of Gale (67) with veterans Josh Younger (68) and Aaron Townsend (68) sharing third.

“I didn’t think pars were going to be enough,” John said of the inward nine.

“As much as I played that stretch really well the whole week, ‘Galey’ was playing great. He’s never making bogey, and if he did make a bogey, he’d bounce back with a birdie the next hole.

“It was very much back and forth that back nine. It was good fun.”

It marked the end to an outstanding season for Gale who had earlier victories at the NT PGA and Webex Players Series Hunter Valley.

His runner-up finish meant that he moved past Brett Coletta into second on the Order of Merit, the pair joining Order of Merit champion Kazuma Kobori as the recipients of DP World Tour cards for the 2025 season.

“Cam won that event. I threw my best shot at him but just a few bogeys that killed me,” said Gale.

“Gave it my best shot and he went out and made the putts when he had to.

“I’m pretty chuffed for him because it was a good battle.

“The big goal was to lock up that Europe card for next year, that category, and I’m pretty chuffed.

“Obviously worked really hard for that. Never really succeeded at the Q Schools internationally when I had opportunities but made some good strides this season and getting better and better.”

As the leaders battled it out in the final group, players throughout the field were playing for their immediate futures on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.

Over the course of a gorgeous afternoon on the Mornington Peninsula Nathan Barbieri (70), Jack Munro (71), Kit Bittle (68), Townsend and Younger moved in and out of the top-50 cut-off who keep their category for next season.

Ultimately it would be only Younger who finished the season inside the top 50, Munro (51), Bittle (52), Townsend (53) and Barbieri (54) now facing the prospect of a return to Qualifying School next month to improve their category.

It could not have come at a better time for Younger whose five-year winner’s exemption has now expired and who 18 months ago thought a foot injury had ended his career.

“When I originally stopped, I thought that might be it, only because it was giving me grief,” said Younger, who chipped in on both 16 and 17 on Sunday.

“Pitched in on 16 and then chipped in on 17 so who knows, maybe it’s meant to be.”


We are just hours away from crowning the final champion of the 2023/2024 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season at The National Tournament presented by BMW. To celebrate the season that was, we are counting down 14 shots that defined this season.

Here are the top three defining shots of the season.

3. JESS WHITTING – Third Round, Webex Players Series Murray River

West Australian Jess Whitting had a weekend to remember on the Murray River in early 2024.

Turning 26 on Friday during the Webex Players Series Murray River, the WPGA Tour of Australasia Qualifying School graduate netted a present the following day. One she had previously spoken of believing was in her future.

Standing on the tee of the par-3 third at Cobram Barooga Golf Club, Whitting struck the perfect iron that found the bottom of the cup for a hole-in-one and a BMW i4 eDrive35 Grand Coupe valued at $93,000.

“I kept saying to people, the next time I make a hole-in-one it’s going to be when there’s a car,” Whitting said.

“I’ve said it for years. The one that matters is when there’s going to be a car.

“Still gobsmacked.”

2. MIN WOO LEE – Second Round, Australian Open

Immediately after claiming the Joe Kirkwood Cup, Lee set his sights on an Aussie double and the Australian Open.

Playing alongside Hoshino again, Lee once again set the crowds alight on Friday at The Australian Golf Club with an eagle at a par-5, this time with a simple tap-in from two feet.

Unleashing a monster drive at the 18th and left 174 metres to the pin, Lee hit a swooping hook 9-iron from the pine straw that landed and spun towards the hole to setup another memorable moment of the summer.

“Ended up in the nice pine straw out there and had a really good number for a 9-iron, like really big 9-iron and I’ve been hitting draws all week and it kind of sat up really nicely,” Lee said.

“I saw the (TV) coverage and it spun left towards the hole and nearly actually went in, so really happy with that finish. It’s always nice to make an eagle whenever, but on the last hole, it’s even nicer.”

1. MIN WOO LEE – Final Round, Australian PGA Championship

Entering the final round with the lead, Min Woo Lee got off to an inconsistent start on Sunday at Royal Queensland.

Giving primary challenger Rikuya Hoshino glimmers of hope, Lee caused a crowd eruption at the par-5 ninth.

Missing his second shot short and right of the green, the West Australian floated a perfect pitch up the length of the green that found the bottom of the cup for eagle.

““That was probably the best atmosphere shot I’ve ever hit,” Lee said.

“I’ve had a few chip ins, but at that point it was getting close and I was in a pretty average position after the tee shot. So, to chip that in, it was amazing.

“I want to see it straight away. I would like to see it. It was one of the best shots I’ve probably hit.”


Victorian Cameron John has used a hole-in-one to turn a six-shot deficit into a three-shot lead heading into the final round of The National Tournament presented by BMW at The National Golf Club.

First groups were the beneficiaries of relatively benign conditions at The National’s Moonah Course on Saturday, the wind finding its teeth as the first group reached the 16th tee.

That made scoring challenging for the lead groups, John and Daniel Gale (68) the only players in the final seven groups to break 70.

The highlight of John’s 5-under 67 was a hole-in-one at the par-3 eighth, taking gap wedge at the 133-metre hole and firing straight at the flag.

That narrowed the gap to Round 3 leader Kyle Michel (75) to just two strokes, a lead that had ballooned to six when John and Nathan Barbieri (74) both made bogey at the opening hole.

When Michel made bogey on nine the deficit had shrunk to just one, the pair locked together at 13-under when Michel dropped another shot on 12.

As John parred his way in across the final seven holes, Michel lost his tee shot on his way to a double-bogey on 14, another bogey on 15 relegating him to three shots behind through 54 holes.

Gale strengthened his claims to a DP World Tour card by ending the day in outright third at 8-under, Matt Griffin making birdies at 15, 16 and 18 in a round of 2-under 70 that kept his hopes of a top-three Order of Merit finish alive.

A player who has set course records in PGA Tour of Australasia events at Moonah Links and Kalgoorlie, John put his Saturday performance among the best rounds he has played in his career.

“It’s probably up there with my best round,” said John.

“It might sound a bit weird but I kind of care a little less. It’s the last event of the season, I’ve played really well, I don’t want to put too much expectation on it.

“It’s another day of golf and we’ll see what happens. It’d be nice to play well.”

Such was John’s focus on the back nine, he had forgotten by the end of the round about his first ace in a PGA Tour of Australasia event.

“When you have a hole-in-one, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s going on,” he added.

“Quite often you see 1-5 or 1-6. It was more a matter of forgetting about it.

“I said to the boys when we came in, ‘I actually forgot that was today.’ I forgot I had a hole-in-one. I did a good enough job of it.”

Gale shapes as John’s greatest threat.

A two-time winner already this season, Gale had four birdies in his first seven holes in Round 3.

He is targetting a similar start on Sunday to apply pressure to a player still seeking their maiden win on Tour.

“Cam is obviously playing good golf but if I get off to a hot start tomorrow I’ll definitely have a shot at it if I can take advantage of some of those holes on the back nine, which I really haven’t done the past three days,” said Gale, who is projected to move up to No.2 on the Order of Merit.

“I just haven’t taken advantage of the back nine but hopefully can get hot and run him down.”

How Barbieri responds will be crucial as he tries to play his way into the top 50 who retain their cards at the end of play on Sunday, Jack Munro (70) and Josh Younger (71) also needing a strong finish to play their way into the top 50.

Munro and Younger are in a share of sixth through three rounds with Adam Bland (68), Aaron Townsend (68) and Jordan Zunic, whose 6-under 66 was the round of the day.

The final round of The National Tournament will commence at 10:23am AEDT with the last group to tee off at 1:40pm.

The only place to watch the final round is on Fox Sports, through Foxtel and Kayo.

Photo: Rob Prezioso/PGA of Australia


The National Tournament presented by BMW is into the weekend as we move towards crowning the final champion of the 2023/2024 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season. As we prepare to see who will claim the final title, we are counting down 14 shots that defined this season.

Here are numbers six to four.

6. DANIEL GALE – Final Round, NT PGA

Seeking to end a win-drought of nearly 2000 days, Daniel Gale knew he needed a hot start to the final round at the Tailor-Made Building Services NT PGA Championship.

Chasing overnight leader Andrew Kelly, Gale birdied the first hole then was left with just a sand wedge to the par-5 second.

The New South Welshman’s second shot clipped a branch that sent it into trees near the green, with a third shot to even allow a birdie putt requiring all his touch and skill. Gale delivering to setup a Sunday stroll toward his first of two wins in the season.

“It was in a very, very tricky spot and I hit this bump and run from in the trees to about five feet and rolled that in for birdie,” Gale said.

“That was good to get that one out of the gates.”

5. JOAQUIN NIEMANN – Final Round, Australian Open

Chile’s Joaquin Niemann seemed to fall in love with the 18th hole of The Australian Golf Club on Sunday of the Australian Open, where ultimately, he would be crowned the champion after playing the par-5 three times.

Niemann made a miraculous birdie in regulation from the fan village alongside the final hole, before missing an eagle chance on the first play-off hole with Hoshino.

Going down 18 one last time, this time in drizzling rain, Niemann showed his class with a pure iron shot to 10 feet. The champion poured in the right to left putt for an eagle three to clinch the Stonehaven Cup.

“There are good names here. I saw Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player – a few good men,” Niemann said.

“It means a lot. I wanted to win so bad for a long time. The last one I have is in Riviera.”

4. JAK CARTER – Third Round, CKB WA PGA

It was another hole-in-one and car, this time in the desert, where South Australian Jak Carter was simply hoping to make a good swing to get his third round of the CKB WA PGA back on track.

Following a double bogey six, Carter was looking for a bounce back at the par-3 17th of Kalgoorlie Golf Course, his 8-iron from 178 metres doing just the trick after finding the front of the green and rolling into the hole for a one.

“I walked up to the next hole, the par-3 17th and was standing there thinking, ‘Just swing this good here. Let’s just see what we can do’,” Carter said.

“Stepped up and hit an 8-iron that I thought was short. I hit it and was like, It’s a bit short. Go, please go. Then I’ve seen it land and thought, This thing is on target.

“Rolled straight up, bang, straight in the hole. Then everyone’s just gone mental. It was absolutely crazy.”


Victorian Kyle Michel defied heavy winds that caused leaderboard chaos to build a five-shot lead as the Order of Merit tussle intensified at The National Tournament presented by BMW.

On the back of five-straight birdies to finish at 8-under in Round 1, Michel continued his exemplary ball-striking in winds that gusted as high as 50km/h and which sent balls flying in all manner of directions in Round 2 at The National Golf Club.

Michel himself had to two-putt down three tiers from 100 feet after his 3-iron from 200 metres at the par-4 14th – the hardest hole on the Moonah Course on Friday – sailed onto the adjoining sixth green, making a 12-footer for his self-proclaimed best par of the day in a round of 5-under 67.

Remarkably, on a day in which the course played 2.39 strokes over its par, Michel went bogey free, his lone dropped shot through 36 holes coming courtesy of a three-putt at the par-3 13th in Round 1.

Not only that, the Shepparton product has only one score of five – and nothing higher – through two rounds, playing the par 5s in 7-under to sit five strokes clear of Cameron John (70) and Nathan Barbieri (68) at 13-under par.

To put that in perspective, there were 35 scores of double-bogey or worse on the back nine alone on Friday, the inward nine playing 2.35 shots over its par.

Michel’s closest challengers both have additional motivation in the final event of the season.

Barbieri is projected to move from 63rd to 35th on the Order of Merit, a move that would ensure he retains full status for next season while John would move inside the top 10 with victory on Sunday.

The battle for the final two DP World Tour cards will also go down to the wire, Brett Coletta (74), Daniel Gale (70) and Matt Griffin (72) all inside the top 15 at the halfway mark.

With the outward holes playing downwind, Michel made sure to cash in on birdies at the two early par 5s, adding another at the 374-metre par-4 10th that some players were reaching, such was the strength of the wind.

He couldn’t reach either 12 or 15 in two yet converted chances from just outside 10 feet to pick up two more birdies, holding on across the brutal finish to lead by five heading into the weekend.

“It’s not really a strategy, when it’s this windy around here you need to take advantage of the par 5s,” said Michel, who is projected to move from 38th to eighth on the Order of Merit with a breakthrough win.

“Growing up and playing a lot of tournaments down here and along the (Mornington) Peninsula, it is like a heavier wind down here.

“You just have to trust it and just accept that some shots are going to get taken by the wind and some aren’t.”

Like Michel, John is chasing a maiden Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title and a boost to his Order of Merit standing.

In order to unlock the unquestioned potential he possesses, John has begun working with one of Australia’s leading coaches Denis McDade, and is channelling the spirit of his star pupil, Marc Leishman.

“I’ve been quite a rigid, stiff player for a long time so trying to change the mindset and it seems to be working so far,” said John.

“The last couple of days I’ve probably felt more like ‘Leish’ than I ever have.

“It’s so windy so you’re chipping a lot and it’s probably good for what we’re working on.

“Being in such brutal conditions, if you get stiff out there the fairway gets a lot smaller.”

There is a three-stroke gap from John and Barbieri to a trio of players at 5-under, Queensland amateur Quinn Croker (70), Matias Sanchez (73) and Griffin eight shots off the lead.

A total of 54 players made the cut which fell at 3-over, Order of Merit winner Kazuma Kobori (73) squeezing into the weekend on the number.

The final two rounds of The National Tournament will be broadcast live on Fox Sports, through Foxtel and Kayo, on Saturday and Sunday.


The National Tournament presented by BMW is almost at the halfway mark, the event signalling the conclusion to the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season for 2023/2024. As we prepare to see who will claim the final title, we are counting down 14 shots that defined this season.

10. SIMON HAWKES – Final Round, WA OPEN

Chasing his second Tour win, Simon Hawkes made things interesting after starting the final round of the Nexus Advisernet/Bowra & O’Dea WA Open with a four-shot lead.

Spending the day locked in battle with veteran Jason Norris, Hawkes finally pulled clear late in the day before closing stages that bore remarkable similarities with his 2018 Vic Open win.

Hitting four-iron for his second, Hawkes left a bunker shot of some 40 metres, one he struck near perfectly with an open-faced 9-iron to five feet and victory.

“The weirdest thing for me is that it was identical to the Vic Open,” Hawkes said.

“I had a driver and I had a 4-iron into the green. I hit into a greenside bunker and then got up-and-down from the greenside bunker to win the tournament.

“I don’t know if that’s my formula for winning golf tournaments, but I said to my caddie, ‘I wish I could make it a little easier’. Four-shot lead up the last next time please.”

9. BRETT COLETTA – Final Round, Vic Open

Continuing his career revival after a win the previous season, Brett Coletta found himself in a dogfight on the final day of the Vic Open with Jordan Zunic.

With neither player giving an inch on Sunday, and both knowing the value of a victory at 13th Beach, Coletta pulled clear late in the final round, but saved his best till last at the par-5 18th.

The Victorian uncorked a brilliant fairway wood for his second shot to find the green and reduce the pressure filled walk to the 72nd green, where he would ultimately take par and a two-shot win.

“This is pretty big. I’m pretty emotional inside,” Coletta said.

“I know I’m able to win out here in the smaller events, the tier twos I suppose. The next level is to really up your game and win these bigger ones.

“This was one of those times when it was my time I guess.”

8. PHOENIX CAMPBELL – Final Round, QLD PGA

Phoenix Campbell found himself in the mix at the Queensland PGA on the final day as players and fans alike tried to pick a winner from the congested leaderboard.

Needing a birdie to reach nine-under and set the clubhouse mark, Campbell stepped up to the par-3 18th at Nudgee Golf Club and hit a 7-iron that will live long in his memory and tournament history where the then 22-year-old became the first amateur winner.

His approach finished six feet behind the hole, with the resulting bridie giving him the trophy by a shot.

“I knew the 7-iron was a good club,” Campbell said.

“Walking up there, it was never going to be anything other than that.

“I said to Ben, my caddie, on the tee, we were talking about line and I said, ‘I’m going dead at it. Let’s have a crack.’

“I was a little bit amped up. It definitely went a bit further but it was good to come back and have a crack at the putt.”

7. KAZUMA KOBORI – Final Round, Webex Players Series Victoria

Kazuma Kobori has enjoyed one of the most remarkable starts to a professional career in recent memory throughout this season, with a clutch moment at Rosebud a standout.

Having claimed his first win in the pro ranks the week prior, Kobori was looking to become the first player to win twice in a row since Adam Scott in 2013.

In a head-to-head fight with Mat Goggin on the final day of the Webex Players Series Victoria, Kobori was left with a downhill 12-foot putt for birdie at the 18th to seal victory and avoid extra holes.

The Kiwi doing what has now become expected with his putter in hand when he calmly rolled it in dead in the centre of the cup.

“I was very nervous as you probably saw. A few tips that my coach gave me just came back to me. I just took my time, and then the putt wasn’t difficult. It was dead straight. I had it there, and I knew it was going to drop,” Kobori said.


A putter change on Tuesday has helped Victorian Kyle Michel to take a two-stroke lead after day one of The National Tournament presented by BMW at The National Golf Club.

Four-under through seven holes and playing in the fifth-to-last group, Michel fell to 3-under on his round with a three-putt bogey at the par-3 13th.

But from that point the Odyssey 2-Ball putter that he put in play two days ago caught fire, peeling off five straight birdies to finish for a round of 8-under 64.

That puts Michel two clear of a trio of players, fellow Victorians Matias Sanchez and Cameron John and Kiwi rookie Rhys Thomas all posting rounds of 6-under 66 at The National’s Moonah Course.

Michel’s 64 is just one shy of the course record set by Elvis Smylie 12 months ago, the Shepparton product holing putts from 35 feet, 10 feet and 40 feet in a final three-hole flurry.

“I wanted to make a change because I was using a counter-balance putter which is a bit longer and a bit heavier and I just felt like I wanted a shorter putter in the bag to feel the stroke a little bit more,” said Michel.

“Amazing what happens. Put a new putter in the bag and it gets hot. The new putter syndrome.

“Had a first putt with it on Tuesday and it’s been working so far.”

As Michel set the pace up front, an absorbing Order of Merit developed behind him.

Matthew Griffin enhanced his chances of claiming one of the two remaining DP World Tour cards up for grabs with a 5-under 67, Brett Coletta matching his score playing in the same group to solidify his current position of second on the Order of Merit.

Third-placed Daniel Gale is somewhat vulnerable after opening with a 2-under 70 to sit in a tie for 21st, the trio to play together again in Round 2 on Friday.

“I know they’re both playing great golf and I potentially need to win to change things,” conceded Griffin, who played the final four holes in 2-under.

“Everyone’s playing well and that showed today with the good scores.”

Thomas would need to win to avoid a return to Qualifying School next month, picking the perfect time to compile his best round of the season.

The 20-year-old Kiwi defied a formline that reads just one made cut in 12 starts this season to shoot 6-under in blustery conditions, his round highlighted by a five-hole stretch where he made four birdies and an eagle.

On a day in which the 447-metre par-4 16th played to an average of 4.47, Thomas made one of only five birdies there all day, a hole Sanchez described as “the hardest hole in Australia”.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Thomas conceded.

“I always knew it was coming, just didn’t really know when.”

Currently 21st on the Order of Merit, Sanchez began his tournament in the best possible fashion, a run of three straight birdies sparked by holing a 15-footer at the first.

Boasting two top-five finishes this season, Sanchez’s main focus remains a breakthrough win.

“You play good, good things happen,” said Sanchez, who hit the flag on the first bounce with 5-iron from 184 metres as he made birdie at the par-4 14th.

“Obviously the goal, like every other week, is to win. Just because I haven’t done it doesn’t mean it won’t happen.

“I understand that if I play well, good things will happen, but you don’t really think about that when you’re out there.”

Like Michel, John’s round was fuelled, in part, by a putter change on Tuesday.

Frustrated at what he felt were good putts not finding the bottom of the cup, John switched out his Scotty Cameron GOLO for an Odyssey that delivered eight birdies on day one.

“I changed putter at the start of the week, which isn’t normal for me,” said John.

“I haven’t used an Odyssey for about three years I reckon but it just felt good and I’m trying to speed up the routine a little bit. Get in, get comfortable and pull the trigger.

“It’s very similar to my old putter but today it just worked.”

Further down the Order of Merit, the opportunity to earn full playing rights for next season by finishing inside the top 50 is driving many.

New South Welshman Nathan Barbieri is projected to move up from 65th to 56th after an opening round of 4-under 68 to be in a share of eighth and is well aware of what is at stake.

“Obviously I haven’t had the best season, which is annoying in a way,” said Barbieri.

“I’m on the way back up. I can definitely feel it in my game and today I played really solid.

“I know I have to play well this week but the objective, as always, is to win.”

Future Tour Order of Merit leader Quinn Croker impressed again with a 3-under 69 in Round 1, matched by fellow amateur and Queensland PGA champion Phoenix Campbell.

The final two rounds of The National Tournament will be broadcast live on Fox Sports, through Foxtel and Kayo, on Saturday and Sunday.


With The National Tournament presented by BMW underway, the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season is drawing to a close for 2023/2024. As we prepare to see who will claim the final title, and where the three DP World Tour cards will fall, we are counting down 14 shots that defined this season.

Here are the first four memorable moments of season 2023/2024.

14. DAVID MICHELUZZI – Final Round, Victorian PGA

Standing in the middle of the third fairway at Moonah Links’ Open Course, the Victorian was a distant seven shots behind the leader, Kazuma Kobori, and needing something good to happen.

And what he produced was better than good – a wedge that hit the firm green and rolled to a few centimetres from the cup set up a birdie to kickstart the reigning Order of Merit champion’s charge to the title.

“I’m really proud of how I got myself into the mix, and I holed a few good putts coming in which I’m really proud of,” he said.

“I spoke to my coach yesterday and we just said, ‘Keep moving forward’, and that’s kind of been the message all season really.”

13. BEN ECCLES – Final Round, CKB WA PGA

Enduring a sleepless night despite a six-shot lead, Ben Eccles got off to a rocky start in the final round of CKB WA PGA at Kalgoorlie Golf Course before he found some magic.

Holing solid par putts at the seventh and eighth, the Victorian was unaware that his lead was shrinking playing the par-4 ninth, where he found a bunker long and left of the green.

Facing a shot over some unfriendly green surrounds, Eccles hit what he called the “best shot I’ve ever hit” from the sand that ultimately dived in the bottom of the hole for birdie, kickstarting a back nine march to an emotional victory.

“I knew I had to keep pushing. There are so many good players in there ,” Eccles said.

“I said to myself on the 10th tee, ‘Stick to what you’ve been doing, keep applying yourself the way you want, keep trying to play the game the way that you want to play it’.”

12. KERRY MOUNTCASTLE – Third Round, Gippsland Super 6

Kerry Mountcastle would eventually survive a marathon Sunday of six hole matches to win the Gippsland Super 6. However, the Kiwi’s moment came a day earlier to earn a spot on the final day.

Finishing the 54 holes of strokeplay tied with 10 players in 17th place on six-under, Mountcastle went to extra holes and having already played the 18th hole at Warragul Country Club once and failing to earn a top-24 spot, the Kiwi made the trip again.

Finding the greenside bunker, Mountcastle produced a superb splash shot that rolled past the hole to five feet.

“I only just snuck in today through the play-off yesterday, so I kind of came into today just trying to finish as high as I could for the Order of Merit … and all of a sudden I was in the final,” Mountcastle said.

“I was probably more nervous in that (Saturday) play-off than I was at any point today.”

11. LACHLAN BARKER – Final Round, PNG Open

Lachlan Barker was chasing a first win at the opening event of the season and having reeled in 54-hole leader Chris Wood on the front nine, the South Australian secured the PNG Open.

Adopted by the local crowd as a favourite, Barker made a popular birdie at the par-4 14th with a green ringed by spectators in tents before a second shot at the next that instilled the confidence that he was on his way to victory.

A double dogleg par-5 lined by trees and water, Barker took 4-iron for his second shot that found the green and setup a two-putt birdie ensuring a comfortable walk to the clubhouse.

“I just ripped 4-iron into about 15 feet and I was like, ‘That’s it, I’m not losing’,” Barker said.

“It was just two pure shots. That would be a shot where I go, ‘Yeah, that was good’.”

Tomorrow – We countdown numbers 10-7


‘Mathematically possible.’
It has become the calling card of the all-but defeated.
It suggests hope in the face of odds stacked heavily against a team or an athlete.

Coming into this week’s finale of the 2023/2024 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season, Victorian Ben Eccles knows that, for all of the possible mathematical permutations, the equation is relatively simple.

Win, and hope for the best.

Currently seventh on the Order of Merit, Eccles (pictured) is the last player for whom a DP World Tour is still a possibility.

Kiwi Kazuma Kobori has safely secured the No.1 spot with an unassailable lead from Vic Open winner Brett Coletta (599.76) with two-time winner this season, Daniel Gale (539.84), holding down third spot.

This week’s winner will be awarded 190 Order of Merit points, meaning that third spot is still within reach for Eccles (358.35), Jak Carter (360.60) and David Micheluzzi (372.64).

Matthew Griffin (494.69) can finish as high as second if he were to win across The National’s Moonah Course on Sunday but, as Eccles highlights, the reality of the situation tells a far different story than pure numbers.

“Yes, mathematically it can happen. Realistically, it’s probably not going to happen,” Eccles reasoned.

“‘Galey’ and ‘Micha’ are good players and I can’t see them missing the cut.”

On the surface, it is a disappointing position that Eccles finds himself in.

Winner of the WA PGA at Kalgoorlie – his first win in eight years – Eccles was also runner-up to Micheluzzi at the Vic PGA.

He held a spot in the top three for much of the season but missed cuts at both the Australian Open and New Zealand Open, tournaments with maximum points up for grabs.

Needing a calculator heading into the final event is not where Eccles hoped to be, but is so far from where he was this time last year.

Twelve months ago, Eccles was one of those players teeing it up aware they would not keep their card for the following season. It necessitated a return to Qualifying School and a shift in mindset under coach Grant Field that has delivered results well beyond expectations.

“Twelve months ago was an interesting position,” Eccles added.

“I came into this event knowing I wasn’t going to keep my card and had to go back to Q School. I wasn’t sure where I would be; financially I was in a bit of a tough position, honestly.

“Twelve months on, I’ve got two years exempt and I’ve nearly won twice. It’s totally different. I feel like I’m almost a different person.

“The progress and what I’ve learnt about myself and what I want to do and how I want to do it has just been awesome.

“I’m looking forward to the second half of 2024 and what that looks like and then into next year’s season.”

While Eccles can look forward with optimism, there are others for whom this week is the most important event of the summer.

Darcy Brereton (48th), Blake Proverbs (49th) and Jarryd Felton (50th) currently sit on the inside of the top 50 who keep their status for next season, Jack Munro (52nd), Jason Norris (53rd) and Kit Bittle (55th) all at The National to try and play their way in.

Adding to the intrigue is that, for the first two days at least, Coletta (second), Gale (third) and Griffin (fourth) will play together, fighting it out for the two remaining DP World Tour cards.

At the tournament welcome function on Tuesday night, Griffin recalled being paired with his two nearest rivals in the final event of the season as he tried to keep his card on the Asian Tour.

“I like this scenario much better,” he said.

First tee time is 7:45am AEDT Thursday morning with the final two rounds to be broadcast live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo, on Saturday and Sunday.

Distribution of Order of Merit points for top 10 at The National Tournament
1. 190
2. 107
3. 71
4. 51
5. 42
6. 38
7. 34
8. 31
9. 28.40
10. 26.20


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