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The story of the day from the top of the leaderboard of the Webex Players Series Sydney was good groupings and good times as Sydney amateur Declan O’Donovan took the round one lead with a 9-under 63.
Technically counted as a new course record with two new tees in place at Castle Hill Country Club since last year’s event, and a complete course redesign since the days of Paul Gow’s 60 in 2000, O’Donovan leads by one from fellow Sydneysiders Nathan Barbieri and Kiwi Nick Voke.
LPGA Tour player Cassie Porter another shot further back on 7-under in her adopted hometown, with Victorian amateur Jazy Roberts impressing tournament host Peter O’Malley during her 6-under opening round to sit tied fifth with Louis Dobbelaar.
“I guess for some people it would help them and it definitely seemed like it helped me today,” O’Donovan said of his all Avondale Golf Club first round trio alongside Christopher Fan and Rachel Lee.
“It’s very, very weird feeling playing with people I play with a lot in a tournament, especially in a professional tournament because usually I’m playing with people I’ve never met before and it makes me kind of zone in a little more.”
It was a similar sentiment from Barbieri, who played Thursday’s first round with good friend James Conran and Kristalle Blum. Barbieri’s good feelings further extended by the company of Josh Greer, Jack Thompson and Dobbelaar staying at his family home in Sydney’s North West.
“I mean it’s always good staying in your own bed,” Barbieri said.
“We’ve got a few boys this week (staying at home), so it’s a good vibe. And this is very similar to where I play at Monash. Kikuyu. It’s slopey greens. I feel very comfortable.”
Barbieri believing his only error came off the 10th tee, where he managed to recover for par, while O’Donovan remarkably included a dropped shot at the par-4 sixth hole in his 63.
Voke and Porter the only players in the first handful to manage bogey-free rounds. Voke’s good play coming as he focuses energies elsewhere including helping friend and golf influencer Luke Kwon.
“It almost seems less significant out here,” Voke said.
“The side things that I am doing, I really enjoy it and I’m with really cool people … It’s just nice not being fully, having my identity fully as just a pro golfer.”
For Porter the nice side was a bounce back from her less than ideal start to her LPGA Tour career earlier this month, with five birdies in six holes around the turn powering an opening 65.
“When I got here, no,” she said when asked if her score of 7-under, or even O’Donovan’s, was on her mind early Thursday.
“I wasn’t actually feeling too great on the range, but sometimes that’s good. You just lower your expectations and hit it to a foot on the first.
“I love playing at home. I’ve got all my family here and they’re coming out on the weekend, so it’s a bit of motivation to make the cut, so they’ve got something to do.
“I mean, last week was, elephant in the room, was a bit of a nightmare, but it was Bermuda (grass). Coming out here on the Kikuyu, it’s just quite refreshing.”
The unique nature of Sydney golf something Roberts picked up during her round with O’Malley and Marcus Fraser.
“I was definitely watching what they were doing,” Roberts said.
“Some of the shots they hit, I would never have thought of ever doing. I think it was the second hole using a wood from off the grain to chip. Probably would never do that, but it was cool to watch.”
Watching a theme for friends and families with plenty of local players putting themselves in contention early, including O’Donovan whose score was a measure of his development.
“I played this event last year and I was definitely a different golfer,” O’Donovan said.
“I finished my round 6-over last year in the first round, which is, and I honestly, I didn’t see an 8-under out there, which Josh Armstrong had last year after the first round, and I think it was a nice little wake up call to how good you got to play to compete out here.
“I teed it up today definitely seeing a score like that, but I’m very, very happy with how I’ve played.”
Webex Players Series Sydney is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
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.
The Webex Players Series reaches its 2024/25 finale this week as the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season hits the business end and the WPGA Tour of Australasia gets into full swing.
Being played for the second time at Castle Hill Country Club, Webex Players Series Sydney features a field of 144 men and women competing for one prize purse and one trophy joined by all abilities and junior players on the weekend.
New host Peter O’Malley is in the field and no doubt harbouring hopes of presenting himself the trophy.
O’Malley is joined by another veteran in Brendan Jones, who not only holds a record three top-10 finishes at this event, but is also a member at Castle Hill with his photo on the wall as an adidas Australian Amateur winner. He is bound for the PGA TOUR Champions this year.
The two experienced campaigners are joined by some of the brightest lights of the local circuits, including Cassie Porter in a final Australian tune-up before she heads back to the LPGA Tour in her debut year.
Porter is joined on the women’s side by birthday girl Kelsey Bennett who enters in red-hot form after firing a 7-under round at Terrey Hills Golf Club on Monday in a pro-am, while the sister of last year’s winner, Momoka Kobori, returns from a top-30 in Saudi Arabia.
The men’s field features seven winners from this season, as well as past Order of Merit winners Jake McLeod and Jed Morgan. A strong contingent of Asian Tour -based Aussies, including Travis Smyth and Jack Thompson, will also be hoping to have some success in the north-western suburbs of the Harbour City.
For those who teed it up last year, the challenge will present differently after the 2024 event was played following a deluge of rain in Sydney that left the course softer and slower than desired for all.
Firmer and faster playing surfaces have been a constant theme early in the week at the Bob Harrison-redesigned layout, which will feature five new tee locations across both the men and women with more chances to challenge the par-5s for the women’s field.
The closing stretch will provide plenty of interest, with lots of scoring opportunities starting at the par-5 15th, driveable par-4 16th, par-3 penultimate hole and par-5 last.
Players needing to find their best to challenge Kazuma Kobori’s mark of 24-under-par for the event, a winning total still one short of the tournament scoring record of David Micheluzzi from 2023.
LAST YEAR’S CHAMPION: Kazuma Kobori
PRIZEMONEY: $250,000
LIVE SCORES: www.pga.org.au; www.wpga.org.au;
TV COVERAGE: Webex Players Series Sydney is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
*All times AEDT.
Round 3: Saturday 3pm-6pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
Final Round: Sunday 1pm-6pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
HEADLINERS
Jack Buchanan – 2024 WA PGA and Webex Players Series SA champion
Cassie Porter – LPGA Tour member
Jediah Morgan – 2021 Australian PGA Championship winner
Kelsey Bennett – 2024 The Athena champion
Brendan Jones – PGA TOUR Champions player
Momoka Kobori – 2023 Women’s NSW Open winner
Anthony Quayle – Two-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner
Jeongmin Cho – Five-time LPGA of Korea Tour winner
Phoenix Campbell – 2023 & 2024 QLD PGA winner
Abbie Teasdale – 2025 Melbourne International champion
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.
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A) confirmed today that the New Zealand Open will join the Open Qualifying Series offering one entry into the 2025 Open Championship at Royal Portrush
The entry will go to the winner (or leading non-exempt player) of the 104th New Zealand Open presented by Sky Sport later this month.
Tournament Chairman John Hart is delighted that the hard work put in has seen the New Zealand Open join the Open Qualifying Series and hopes we will see another Kiwi on golf’s biggest stage.
“This certainly signals that our event has continued to grow in stature on the world stage and we are delighted that the R&A have opened the door for us to be a part of the Open Qualifying Series. This has been one of the tournament goals for some time, and it’s great to see it now come to fruition” said Hart.
“My thanks to Golf New Zealand, the R&A and our Tour partners for all their efforts in making this happen.
“This will act as extra motivation for our Kiwi professionals to not only win the New Zealand Open but then to make their mark at Royal Portrush next year. We certainly hope that this is the year that sees another Kiwi winner.”
Sir Bob Charles, the only New Zealander to have won The Open Championship, commended the tournament on this achievement.
“I’m very pleased that the R&A have recognised the growth that the New Zealand Open has achieved in recent years, and I have no doubt that the winner will cherish this opportunity to tee it up at Royal Portrush next year,” said Charles.
Golf New Zealand CEO Jeff Latch is thrilled by the announcement, calling it a defining opportunity for the sport in this country.
“This is a massive moment for golf in New Zealand. To have a direct pathway from Queenstown to The Open at Royal Portrush is huge – not just for the players, but for the prestige of the event itself.
“It reinforces our place on the global stage and provides a dream opportunity for a rising star to compete for the Claret Jug.”
As per official Open Qualifying Series criteria, the tournament winner or leading player not already exempt at the New Zealand Open in Queenstown next year will earn a place at the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush to be held on July 13-20.
The New Zealand Open tees off at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown between February 27 and March 2. For more information, please visit nzopen.com.
After a windswept final round he described as “super, super tough”, New Zealand’s Josh Geary clinched the 2025 Vic Open at 13th Beach Golf Links, his first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title in almost 12 years.
The leader after rounds two and three, Geary would never have thought a closing 6-over-par 78 to finish on 13-under-par would be good enough. But it was, by four strokes over West Australian Connor McKinney.
Only three men shot under-par rounds on Sunday – two-under-par 70s from McKinney, New Zealand’s Kerry Mountcastle, who took equal third, and local favourite Ben Eccles, who soared to a share of eighth.
Former Vic Open champion Michael Hendry (74) and NSW’s Austin Bautista (79) also had a share of third.
The afternoon of unyielding, buffeting winds from the Southern Ocean blew the scoring average for Sunday to 76.5 shots.
“It’s the hardest round of golf I’ve had to play,” the new champion said.
“It’s hard enough trying to close out a tournament, let alone in those conditions which meant literally you can make any score from anywhere.
“If you’d asked me if I shot 78 tomorrow if I’d still have a four-shot margin, I’d tell you you’re dreaming, but that’s just how hard it was.
“I’m super happy, obviously, and stoked to get it done.”
It was always going to be extremely difficult for Geary to match his near-faultless first 54 holes, a double-bogey on his final hole of the Creek Course on Friday were his only dropped shots in rounds of 64-65-68.
He bogeyed the first hole on Sunday but was impressively under par for the day after back-to-back birdies at the fifth and sixth.
It was at the par-four eighth, playing as the toughest hole of the day at almost a shot over par, where Geary’s round threatened to unravel – a penalty drop after a wayward approach shot into the greenside bush and three putts leading to a triple-bogey.
But a bounce-back birdie on No.9 ensured he would take a five-shot lead into the final nine holes of the tournament.
As his potential challengers fell away, the 2013 WA Open champion only had to avoid a catastrophe. Five bogeys on the way to the clubhouse didn’t create too many concerns.
“Even when you got downwind, you couldn’t hold the greens. You’d have a sand wedge and 180 metres and it’s going through the back of the green,” Geary said.
“I was just trying to keep it out of the real trouble.”
McKinney’s 70 allowed him to climb from a tie for 23rd overnight to second place, his best finish on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, just surpassing his tie for second at the 2023 WA Open.
The Scottish-born West Australian turned in 3-under 33 and finished his round with a total of four birdies.
Defending champion Brett Coletta (Vic) closed with a 72 to end in a share of 18th place.
The next Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia tournament is Webex Players Series Sydney, starting on Thursday, February 20.
The ultra-steady play of New Zealander Josh Geary has him in the box seat to win the 2025 Vic Open at 13th Beach Golf Links on Sunday.
A two-shot leader at the start of the third round, Geary adopted a conservative approach and played exceptional bogey-free golf in difficult, windy conditions to record a 4-under-par 68.
Chasing a first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia victory since the 2013 WA Open, he moved to 19-under for the tournament and a four-stroke advantage over NSW’s Austin Bautista (69).
NSW Amateur champion Declan O’Donovan (71) showed great resilience after a tough start to stay in the hunt at 14-under, while another shot behind is the Queensland duo of Kade McBride and Aaron Wilkin, who both posted 4-under 68s.
Thanks to birdies on the fourth, 10th and 13th holes, Geary was as many as five shots up before a late rally from Bautista slightly improved his chances of winning on Sunday.
“I’m really happy with the way I handled myself today,” Geary said after closing his day with a birdie at the last.
“My long game hasn’t been great, so a lot of times I played quite conservative, but you sort of could today.
“It was windy enough for 4-under to be a good score and to keep the bogeys off the card was good.
“Got a bit loose near the end but it was just hard. It was very hard.”
Back in contention for the first time in more than a year, Bautista has been in a similar mindset to the leader.
He’s had just one bogey and one double-bogey in the first 54 holes, the double coming on the par-4 14th on Saturday, but he bounced back with birdies on 15 and 17.
Bautista has been adopting the “when it’s breezy, swing easy” approach to playing in the winds on the Bellarine, which proved to be a real challenge late on day three and will be a factor again in the final round.
“I’ve focused really hard just on just tempo and transition and noticed a big difference,” the 2023 Webex Players Series South Australia champion said.
“I remember when I’m playing well, that is the tempo. It’s just funny when you start playing bad, you’re just trying to hit it so hard.”
In his first start on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia this season, Wilkin’s 68 included birdies on three of his last four holes to get him into the mix for his second Tour title.
“Hit it very well in the wind. Had a lot of chances, but also had to save a few for par, so I sort of just hung in there,” the former Queensland PGA champion said.
“It’s great to be in contention. That’s why I’ve come back and played.
“I love this golf course and the tournament set-up is really, really cool. I’m going to have to produce a pretty good one tomorrow by the looks of it but you never know.”
First-round leader McBride described his 68 as “about as bad a score as I could have shot out there today”.
“It’s always nice to have a chance. That’s all you want. And then you’ve just got to make sure the cards fall your way,” the Queenslander said.
The big morning moves came from Victorian Todd Sinnott (64) and Tasmania’s Simon Hawkes (66) who both moved to 11-under-par and a share of seventh.
After making the halfway cut on the number, Sinnott’s bogey-free round included just 31 strokes on the back nine, while Hawkes collected seven birdies with just the one dropped shot.
Defending champion Brett Coletta (72) made it through to Sunday’s play at 4-under.
LIVE SCORES: www.golf.org.au; www.pga.org.au; www.wpga.org.au
TV COVERAGE: The Vic Open is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
Kiwi Josh Geary’s preparation for another New Zealand Open tilt later this month may just include victory at the 2025 Vic Open.
Rounds of 64-65 on the first two days at 13th Beach Golf Links have handed Geary a two-stroke lead over NSW amateur Declan O’Donovan (65-66) as he tries to secure his first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title since the 2013 WA Open.
Not that there hasn’t been success in recent years. The 40-year-old has won the Order of Merit on the Charles Tour in his homeland the past two seasons, including claiming four event titles.
“My plan was to come over here and get ready for the New Zealand Open in a few weeks and the New Zealand PGA,” Geary said.
“I wasn’t feeling great about the way things felt coming into this week and, to be honest, some of the long stuff’s still pretty rough. But I managed to get it around and the scoring clubs are really sharp.”
Geary played 35 holes without a bogey across the Beach and Creek courses the past two days.
He was leading by five shots when he made double-bogey on his final hole, the par-4 18th on the Creek, when he missed the green to the right.
Two chips later, he was facing a bogey putt that lipped out.
“It all kind of turned to custard on one hole. To be honest, it was kind of coming,” said Geary.
“I had a few loose ones out there so it wasn’t that surprising.
“It just would’ve been nice to have it earlier on and finish on a better note. It always makes lunch taste a bit off.
“I’ve got a pretty poor history over on the Creek course. It was nice to get a good score there today, regardless of the last hole.”
Playing in his eighth Tour event as an amateur, O’Donovan has continued the form that took him into the last group of the final day of the Australian Amateur Championship at Commonwealth Golf Club followed by successfully defending his NSW Amateur title and then claiming the Avondale Amateur.
He played in the final group in Round 3 of the Queensland PGA Championship last November and has made just one bogey through 36 holes at 13th Beach.
“I’m not going to change anything,” the 21-year-old said of his plans for the weekend.
“My mate (Sean Ryan) and I have been doing a really good job. We’re just focusing on my processes and trying to stay away from the result as much as possible and I think I’ll just try to have as much fun as I can.”
Sharing third place at 12-under-par are two former Tour winners, South Australian Lachlan Barker (66-67) and NSW’s Austin Bautista (65-67).
With just one bogey across the two days, Bautista is delighted to be back in the mix at the weekend. The Sydney professional has endured a difficult run, with just one top 10 on Tour since his victory at the 2023 Webex Players Series South Australia.
“This is where I want to be. I mean, this is why I play golf,” Bautista said of his lofty position on the leaderboard.
“You want to be in the mix and be in contention. So yeah, definitely very excited about it.
“I’ve been working really hard. It’s definitely not just one thing with golf. I find that it’s not by chance you have good golf that comes out of nowhere.”
Overnight leader Kade McBride (Queensland) followed up his opening 62 with a second round of 1-over 73 in the afternoon wind on the Beach course to sit at -9-under overall.
Defending champion Brett Coletta (Vic) safely made the weekend play with rounds of 69-71, but is 11 shots from the lead. Order of Merit No.4 Jack Buchanan (72-69) is 12 behind.
Among those to miss the halfway cut at -3 were Order of Merit No.8 Corey Lamb (71-75) and two-time Vic Open champion Dimi Papadatos (73-75).
The final two rounds will be played on the Beach Course.
The leading group will tee off at 2pm on Saturday.
LIVE SCORES: www.golf.org.au; www.pga.org.au; www.wpga.org.au
TV COVERAGE: The Vic Open is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
