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Jak Carter had a morning to remember on day one of the Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet 100th WA Open, breaking the championship course record at Mandurah Country Club to grab the solo lead after day one.
Carter’s 9-under 62 on day one gives him a one-shot lead over three players, Connor McDade, Zachary Maxwell, and local Mandurah hope Jason Scrivener all tied second at 8-under.
Another player making memories on day one was West Australian Ryan Peake, with a perfect 8-iron leading to a hole-in-one on the 149-metre fifth on his way to a 7-under 64, sitting in solo fifth.
Singapore’s Ryan Ang and Matias Sanchez one shot further back in a tie for six, with defending champion Simon Hawkes, Mandurah member and 2021 winner Braden Becker and Josh Armstrong on 5-under.
Much of the scoring came from the morning groups today at Mandurah, and out early, Carter capitalised on the benign conditions.
The Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
“I’d say the majority of the day I was just flagging anything from inside sort of 120 metres, I was hitting those to inches,” Carter said.
“It was just a nice solid day with shorter clubs, the wedges were good today.
“The course is mint, I absolutely love it, it’s pure.”
Starting birdie-eagle, Carter was out for the course record early, and further birdies at four and five continued the charge.
A dropped shot at seven looked like it may slow the South Australian down, however it was evidently quickly forgotten, Carter not recording another bogey for the day. He stormed home with a 5-under 30 on his back-nine, including a near tap-in on the last.
Despite a strong rookie-season last year on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, Carter is yet to secure his first win, a milestone he is eager to tick-off.
“Absolutely starving,” he said of his hunger for that first win. “Just got to keep just rocking up and yeah, who knows what’ll happen.”
Hot on Carter’s tail is Scrivener, whose back fence borders the course and has returned home from the DP World Tour with a keenness to flex his muscles on the course he knows so well.
Playing in a West Australian all-star grouping alongside Curtis Luck and Haydn Barron, Scrivener had much of the Mandurah faithful following him and was pleased to see so many members out supporting.
“I wasn’t sure what we were going to get early on a Thursday, but it was nice to see a few of the members out there and a bit of family,” Scrivener said.
“I was a little nervous to start the day, obviously at my home course there’s a fair bit of pressure on me. Built into the round nicely though and yeah, happy with the day.
“Waking up this morning in my own bed was weird doing warmup in my gym at home and just little things like that. It’s just unusual when most of the year I’m away, but to be honest it was really cool.”
Playing a social round with another Mandurah local in Braden Becker a few months ago, Scrivener managed a 13-under 58 at Mandurah, and although some low scores have come in already this week, he doesn’t believe a round like that will be seen during the tournament.
“No,” he laughed. “That was a one-off and my best score around here by quite a few.”
Andre Stolz extended his lead on the 2024 PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit with a come-from-behind victory at the ACT Senior PGA Championship.
The Queenslander snared his ninth title of the year with rounds of 67-64 at Fairbairn Golf Club to overhaul American Perry Parker who had led following an opening day 64.
A 9-under-par total gave Stolz a two-shot margin over Parker, with a further three shots to Victorian John Wade and NSW’s Grahame Stinson.
It was a successful title defence for Stolz, who won the one-day pro-am at the course in 2023. That event was so successful the Fairbairn club wanted to go bigger and took on the new title across 36 holes.
The on-course entertainment wasn’t just restricted to the golf.
A party proved to be a big hit and included the Legends professionals having specific songs played as they approached the tee. Among the favourites – Tina Turner’s Simply the Best for Hall of Famer Peter Senior and Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the USA for Perry Parker.
HOW THE WINNER’S SCORE UNFOLDED
Stolz started his second round in a four-way tie for second, three shots behind Parker, alongside John Wade, Grahame Stinson and Peter Senior, and he started to reel in the American with back-to-back birdies at the fourth and fifth holes.
The Queenslander was on fire around the turn and into the back nine with birdies at the eighth, 10th, 11th and 13th moving him to 6-under for the day before his only dropped shot arrived at the long par-4 15th.
A closing birdie on the driveable par-4 first hole sealed the win.
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
-9: Andre Stolz (Qld) 67-64
-7: Perry Parker (USA) 64-69
-4: John Wade (Vic) 67-69; Grahame Stinson (NSW) 67-69
-3: Nigel Lane (Qld) 70-67
-2: Peter Senior (Qld) 67-71; Nigel Weldon (Qld) 69-69
NEXT UP
The PGA Legends Tour’s next stop is the Cowra Lamb Legends Pro-Am on Friday-Saturday followed by the Kent Relocation Group NSW Senior PGA Championship at Cromer Golf Club on October 21-22.
An iconic Queensland restaurant will be recreated overlooking the 18th green at Royal Queensland Golf Club as an exciting new feature of this year’s BMW Australian PGA Championship.
Combining world-class golf with Brisbane riverside venue Tillerman Seafood Restaurant and Bar and prominent restaurateur Andrew Baturo, Tillerman on 18 will redefine the tournament’s off-course experience.
The 52-seat pop-up purpose-built restaurant will deliver a four-course menu comprising some of Queensland’s best and freshest seafood – available across two lunch sittings – over each day of the championship.
As well as enjoying unmatched views over Royal Queensland’s closing hole where the Joe Kirkwood Cup winner will be crowned on Sunday afternoon, all Tillerman on 18 guests will receive complimentary course entry and a reserved grandstand seat at the Dabble Party Hole to utilise pre or post-lunch.
Baturo, who is also a keen golfer, said: “Tillerman is excited and honoured to be pairing up with this year’s BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
“A premium seafood dining experience alongside this prestigious golfing event is a match made in heaven – or Queensland. Same thing really!
“November is my favourite time of the year to play disastrous golf and eat some delicious seafood.
“We can’t wait to see our regulars on the golf course and, of course, meet some new ’soon-to-be’ regulars at the 18th.”
Tillerman on 18 will showcase some of the restaurant’s most popular dishes, cooked to perfection by Tillerman Head Chef, Kevin Gallo.
“Start with blue swimmer crab and finger lime on warm brioche, then move onto your entree of Moreton Bay bug dumplings in our wonderful bisque,” he said.
“For mains, select the crispy-skinned Coral Coast barramundi swimming in Tillerman’s signature Meunière sauce.
“Tillerman on 18 will have everything that Tillerman on the river is known for – amazing, fresh seafood, incredible hospitality, resort-style interiors and, of course, iconic views.”
PGA of Australia Chief Commercial Officer, Michael McDonald said: “We’re always looking to innovate and grow the fan experience at the BMW Australian PGA Championship and we are delighted to welcome Andrew and the Tillerman team who will provide a fantastic dining experience with a real Queensland flavour.
“Whilst the golf is always front and centre, delivering a restaurant at a major event of this level has been high on our priorities for a while now.
“We know that many golf fans are also fans of high-quality dining experiences so Tillerman on 18 is a perfect offering for us.
“With 52 seats per sitting, we expect it to be exclusive experience like no other.”
Bookings for tables of two, four or six can be made across two sittings:
• Lunch Sitting 1: 11:30am – 1:15pm
• Lunch Sitting 2: 1:45pm – 3:45pm
Book your place here: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=pgatill24
Photo: Andrew Baturo with Tillerman on 18 ambassador Katherine Galvin
If family and food count for anything, Minjee Lee is well placed to go back-to-back at this week’s BMW Ladies Championship in Korea.
Lee has not won since her playoff victory over Alison Lee at Seowon Valley Country Club 12 months ago, the return to a familiar setting with family support all around here – not to mention the Korean food – putting her in the right frame of mind for a successful defence.
Paired with New Zealand’s Lydia Ko and local hope Haeran Ryu for Thursday’s opening round, the 28-year-old is drawing on every positive memory she can to bring an end to her winning drought.
“It’s always a special week when I get to come back, and I enjoy the Korean food,” said Lee, who was part of an LPGA entourage who feasted on Korean barbecue on Tuesday.
“It’s very close to my heritage and I get to see my extended family as well. That’s always nice.
“And coming back to a golf course where you’ve won before and the memories, that’s cool, too.
“I just played one of the nines, and was like, Oh, this is where I holed a putt. And with Brad (caddie Brad Beecher) out there, we were talking about it just then.
“It’s just nice to come back; we have such great memories.”
Lee is one of five Aussies in the field this week, Hannah Green chasing a third win for the year, Grace Kim seeking her second LPGA Tour title and Gabi Ruffels and Hira Naveed both hunting their first.
The competition between Aussies will be strong in Thailand, too, with a total of 19 to contest the Black Mountain Championship on the Asian Tour.
Currently seventh on the Order of Merit, Travis Smyth will be out to continue his excellent season while Wade Ormsby returns to the same venue where he was victorious in the International Series a year ago.
Like Lee, Ormsby hopes to draw on that experience, albeit in a different tournament.
“It’s always nice to come back to a place where you have had success,” Ormsby said.
“The conditions are a little bit different this year, course looks a little bit wetter.
“They’ve had a lot of rain around here lately but the course looks in great shape.”
Ten Australians have qualified for week one of the PGA TOUR Champions playoffs while Cam Davis and Aaron Baddeley will fly the Aussie flag at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.
Round 1 tee times
PGA TOUR
Shriners Children’s Open
TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada
6:07am Aaron Baddeley
6:29am Cam Davis
7:02am* Ryan Fox (NZ)
Defending champion: Tom Kim
Past Aussie winners: Greg Norman (1986), Stuart Appleby (2003), Andre Stolz (2004), Rod Pampling (2016)
Prize money: $US7 million
TV times: Live 4am-11am Friday, Saturday; Live 8am-11am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
LPGA Tour
BMW Ladies Championship
Seowon Valley Country Club, Seowon Hills, Republic of Korea
10:21am* Grace Kim
10:54am* Hira Naveed
11:49am Hannah Green
12pm Gabriela Ruffels
12:22pm Lydia Ko (NZ), Minjee Lee
Defending champion: Minjee Lee
Past Aussie winners: Minjee Lee (2023)
Prize money: $US2.2 million
TV times: Live 2pm-6pm Thursday, Friday on Fox Sports 503; Live 2pm-6pm Saturday on Fox Sports 505; Live 2pm-6pm on Fox Sports 507 and Kayo.
DP World Tour
Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters
Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, Andalucía, Spain
10:50pm* David Micheluzzi
11:50pm Daniel Hillier (NZ)
Defending champion: Adrian Meronk
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US3.25 million
TV times: Live 11pm-4am Thursday, Friday; Live 10:30pm-3am Saturday; Live 8pm-1am Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Asian Tour
Black Mountain Championship
Black Mountain Golf Club, Thailand
10:45am* Travis Smyth
10:55am* Ben Campbell (NZ)
11:05am* Nick Voke (NZ)
11:15am Zach Murray
11:25am* Jack Thompson
11:45am* Jordan Zunic
3:05pm* Douglas Klein
3:15pm Kazuma Kobori (NZ)
3:15pm* Harrison Crowe
3:25pm* Todd Sinnott
3:45pm Wade Ormsby
3:35pm* Andrew Dodt
4:05pm* Aaron Wilkin
4:15pm Brendan Jones, Kevin Yuan
4:15pm* Maverick Antcliff, Marcus Fraser
4:25pm Deyen Lawson
4:25pm* Justin Warren
4:35pm Jed Morgan, Sam Brazel
4:35pm* Lachlan Barker
Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US2 million
TV times: Live 5pm-6pm Thursday on Fox Sports 505; Live 6pm-9pm Thursday on Fox Sports 503; Live 5pm-6pm Friday on Fox Sports 505; Live 3pm-7pm Saturday on Fox Sports 507; Live 6pm-7:15pm Sunday on Fox Sports 507 and Kayo.
PGA TOUR Champions
Dominion Energy Charity Classic
The Country Club of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia
Australasians in the field: Steven Alker (NZ), Steve Allan, Stuart Appleby, David Bransdon, Greg Chalmers, Richard Green, Mark Hensby, Rod Pampling, Cameron Percy, John Senden, Michael Wright.
Defending champion: Harrison Frazar
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US2.3 million
TV times: Live 5am-8am Saturday on Fox Sports 505; Live 5am-8am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Challenge Tour
Hangzhou Open
Hangzhou West Lake Golf Club, Hangzhou, China
2:20pm* George Worrall
2:40pm* Hayden Hopewell
Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US500,000
Korean PGA Tour
The Charity Classic 2024
Sulhaewon CC, Republic of Korea
9am Sungjin Yeo (NZ)
9:40am Kevin Chun (NZ)
10:20am* Wonjoon Lee
2pm* Junseok Lee
2:10pm Scott Hend
Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize Money: KRW1 billion
Sunshine Tour
Fortress Invitational
Glendower Golf Club, Edenvale, South Africa
Australasians in the field: Austin Bautista
Defending champion: Robin Williams
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: R2 million
Just days after rounding out his illustrious amateur career with two successful weeks in Japan, Victorian Phoenix Campbell will make his debut as a professional golfer at this week’s Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet 100th WA Open at Mandurah Country Club.
Courtesy of his stunning win at last year’s Queensland PGA Championship at Nudgee Golf Club, Campbell has a two-year exemption on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, which he says takes the pressure off slightly for his debut season.
“I’m sitting pretty comfortable at the moment, but yeah, I’m just going to keep playing my game and keep developing, keep learning,” said the Yarra Yarra Golf Club member.
“I’m not going to put too much emphasis on getting anywhere straight away. I just want to keep growing and learning and becoming a better player and I think the rest will take care of itself.”
Campbell took out the 2024 Master of the Amateurs and earlier the 2023 Riversdale Cup. More recently he was the low Australian player at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, and the low amateur at last week’s Japan Open.
However the win at Nudgee almost 12 months ago was certainly the highlight of Campbell’s amateur career.
“It’s still pretty surreal. It all happened really quick. I remember having a pretty rough first day I played, but just nothing really dropped,” Campbell reflected.
“I was around the cut line I remember, and then my good mate, Ben, was actually complaining about it, and I just told him, I said, ‘mate, we’ve got to stick around, I’m going to win this week’.
“I was adamant I was going to have a good week.”
The Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
Many expected Campbell to turn professional immediately after that triumph and make use of his new category, but the Victorian is happy with his decision to wait.
“I gave myself the opportunity to have a few more experiences overseas with different courses and different places, meet new people,” Campbell said.
“Obviously I’ve been leading into this for a long time now and done a lot of work to get here.”
Despite arriving in Perth late on Tuesday night from Japan, Campbell is comfortable with the Mandurah layout, having finished fourth in a Mandurah Amateur a couple of years ago.
“It will be good to see it in the Pro-Am today and just kind of refresh me on what the course looks like,” he said.
“I’m pretty excited to get going. I’m going to try and take it as easy as possible today. I’ve got an afternoon tee time tomorrow so I can sleep in a little bit, which is good.”
Campbell will tee off in round one alongside Matias Sanchez and Harry Hillier at 12.25pm (WA time).
The second week of the Western Australian swing of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia heads to Mandurah Country Club this week for the 100th staging of the Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open.
With names like Ian Baker-Finch, Greg Norman and Gary Player etched into the Roy Paxton Bowl, the WA Open has a long and proud history, with recent stagings often unearthing the next big Australian talent.
In celebration of its 100th year, nine past champions of the event will be in the field at Mandurah. From Tour regulars Simon Hawkes and Braden Becker to overseas based players like Korn Ferry Tour player Curtis Luck and even the likes of three-time champion Kim Felton, all would love to add to their tally.
The tournament has also attracted DP World Tour players Haydn Barron and Jason Scrivener, who despite being two of Western Australia’s brightest stars, have not managed to triumph in their home Open, something they would love to change.
Another two players to watch this week will be youngsters Jack Buchanan and Jordan Doull who battled it out in the playoff last week at the CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics, especially Doull who recently joined Mandurah as a member.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Simon Hawkes (Tasmania)
PRIZEMONEY: $175,000
LIVE SCORES: www.pga.org.au
TV COVERAGE: The Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
*All times AEDT.
Round 3: Saturday 4pm-7pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
Final Round: Sunday 2pm-7pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
THE COURSE
Mandurah Country Club’s original layout was designed by Murray Dawson and opened in the early 1960s as a 9-hole sand greens course, later upgrading to an 18-hole grass green facility with a renovation completed in the late 1990s by Greg Simmonds.
Incorporating new fairway and greenside bunkers, the result is a challenging par-71 known in the region for its pure Santa Ana couch fairways and bentgrass greens.
Trees line the doglegging fairways while the bunkering around the raised greens will pose a threat this week to the players, who would be best to heed the advice of local Becker and keep their approach shots below the hole on the elevated putting surfaces.
A new championship course record was set earlier this year, when Declan Hoskin fired a 67, but word is that many of the players in the field this week have gone very low around Mandurah in social rounds.
HEADLINERS
Jack Buchanan – 2024 WA PGA champion
Jason Scrivener – 2017 NSW Open champion and DP World Tour player
Curtis Luck – 2016 WA Open champion and Korn Ferry Tour player
Braden Becker – 2021 WA Open champion
Haydn Barron – DP World Tour player
Ben Eccles – 2023 WA PGA champion
Jordan Doull – Runner-up at 2024 WA PGA
Will Bruyeres – 2024 PNG Open winner
Dimi Papadatos – Four-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner
Cameron John – 2023 winner of The National Tournament
Phoenix Campbell – 2023 QLD PGA winner and new pro
Reflecting on his win at the 2021 Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open, Braden Becker says staying at home and sleeping in his own bed went a long way in keeping him comfortable that week and gave him the extra edge he needed when the final day went down to the wire with Hayden Hopewell.
Not only is Becker sleeping in his own bed this week, but he’ll be also contesting the 100th WA Open on his home course at Mandurah Country Club.
Having been at Mandurah since he was a junior, Becker also completed the PGA Membership Pathway Program there and still works at the club, even helping a member with a club fit after his practice round on Monday.
“I would’ve played here, I don’t know, somewhere 1,500 to 2,000 times at least,” said Becker of his home track.
“I think the course looks great, they’ve definitely got the greens up and the fairways look fantastic, super smooth.
“Obviously it’s not very long golf course, but it’s very tight, and knowing where to miss is super important.”
The Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
His breakout win in 2021 at Royal Fremantle solidified Becker’s status on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, however despite having consistent seasons, he has been unable to re-enter the winners’ circle since hoisting the Roy Paxton Bowl.
Becker played both the opening events of this season, following up his T35 finish at the PNG Open with a T35 in Kalgoorlie last week in Kalgoorlie, but says he is happy where his game is at.
“The game’s sort of trending in the right direction, so I’m happy with that,” he said. “Obviously I really wanted to peak this week just, because it is what it is, being at my home course.
“I’m happy with how I’m driving the ball, happy with how I’m putting and chipping, so all the aspects of the game are there, just got to just minimise my own mistakes, pick the right holes to make a mistake.”
While Becker will have a significant advantage over most of the field this week, he’s not the only one, with a flurry of Mandurah locals hoping to hoist their home state’s open in its historic 100th year at their home course.
WPGA Tour of Australasia player Kathryn Norris is another Mandurah hopeful, and is one of four women in the field this week continuing a strong tradition of Western Australia’s top women golfers teeing it up in the state open.
Norris’s partner, who was playing so much golf at Mandurah that he has recently joined the club himself, Jordan Doull will be another player the Mandurah members will be backing this week.
Bursting onto the scene with a runner-up finish last week at Kalgoorlie, Doull will be looking to go one better at his new home club in addition to Mount Lawley, where he is among the star members that includes Hannah Green and Hira Naveed.
Arguably Mandurah’s best hope for a local winner however is Jason Scrivener, who is returning to contest his state open fresh off securing his DP World Tour card for another season.
Scrivener’s house is just over the fence from the 10th green at Mandurah, and like Becker, could probably play this course with his eyes closed. The pair played a casual round together a few months ago, with Scrivener lipping out on the 18th green to eventually card a 58.
Come Sunday, the balcony overlooking the 18th at Mandurah will be full, and if one of their fellow members is leading down the stretch, Becker says the scenes will be a sight to behold.
“I think anyone from here could do it, you definitely will see some scenes,” he said. “Everyone will run on the green and it’ll be a pretty wild celebration night.
“If it’s me, I might have to change my Monday flight, I might have to fly out Wednesday, but I mean it would be the best feeling ever.”
With a career of expertise in construction as a registered electrical contractor, Andrew Lacey has now set about transferring his extensive skillset and experience to the golf industry.
Director at Luxury Golf and Scenic Tours Victoria, Lacey, who is originally from Beaumaris and is now based in Shepparton, is one of the PGA Institute’s Diploma of Golf Business and Management scholarship recipients for 2024 and is excited to be broadening his horizons through study.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to know more about the golf industry, and even just connecting with people as well,” he said. “I’m loving who I meet in the golf industry; it’s very different to the construction industry.”
Having worked as an electrician once he completed his schooling, Lacey noticed as his career was progressing his work life was becoming less fulfilling while his passion for golf kept growing.
Knowing that he wanted a career change, Lacey had an idea that had been brewing for some years and took the opportunity to act on it when he met the Director of Luxury Golf and Scenic Tours Tasmania, Adam House.
“I had always thought of doing something similar to Adam in Victoria, trying to combine a lifestyle around golf trips and wine tours,” said Lacey.
“When I met him, I just thought, let’s approach him about partnering up and starting Victoria. That’s sort of been the last 12 months.”
Lacey has conducted trips to several regions in Victoria, highlighted by trips to both the Mornington and Bellarine peninsulas, where golfers were treated to world-class courses, as well as the chance to witness the Vic Open and Victorian PGA Championship on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
Planning on using his learnings from the PGA Institute to help grow his business, Lacey is especially grateful for being chosen as a scholarship recipient.
“The scholarship was really helpful because starting a new business, the cash flow is pretty tight so that definitely helped,” he said.
Having made the leap of faith and changing careers, and now reaping the rewards of following his passion, Lacey is a strong advocate for those thinking about exploring careers within the golf industry through the PGA Institute.
“Definitely do it, follow your passion,” he said. “For me, the simple thing is it’s easier to get up in the morning and do something I love.
“I’m not doing it for the money as much as for the love of the game.”
For more information on entry points into a career in golf, CLICK HERE.
Big sister Minjee Lee claimed bragging rights but only just as she and brother Min Woo led the way for Aussies around the world.
From the point of an opening round of 5-under 67 Minjee was never far from the top of the leaderboard at the Buick LPGA Shanghai event in China.
A second consecutive 67 on Friday saw Minjee enter the weekend just two strokes off the lead, ultimately finishing in eighth position after rounds of 71-69 over the final two days.
Now ranked No.16 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking, it is a second straight top-finish for Minjee, replicating her strong end to the season of a year ago.
“I like playing in Asia. A lot of my family come out to watch, and I have a nice fan support group here as well,” Lee said about playing in Shanghai for the fourth time.
“It makes me feel more at home. Obviously, I enjoy playing everywhere, but Asia, it’s close to my heritage, and just nice to be here.”
Min Woo was also in Asia this past week, defending his SJM Macao Open crown at Macau Golf and Country Club.
Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan shot 9-under 61 and was never headed, Min Woo making steady progress up the leaderboard through the week with rounds of 68-68-67-66 to earn a share of ninth.
The putter proved to be Min Woo’s greatest weapon in his 4-under round on Sunday, needing just 12 putts on the back nine and 26 total to secure just his third top-10 of the year.
David Micheluzzi kept his hopes alive of qualifying for the DP World Tour Playoffs with a tie for 27th at the FedEx Open de France while Phoenix Campbell claimed low amateur honours at the Japan Open in his final event before turning professional.
Photos: Zhe Ji/Getty Images (Minjee Lee); Asian Tour (Min Woo Lee)
Results
PGA TOUR
Black Desert Championship
Black Desert Resort, Ivins, Utah
T46 Ryan Fox (NZ) 65-72-68-70—275
MC Tim Wilkinson (NZ) 69-69—138
MC Aaron Baddeley 70-74—144
LPGA Tour
Buick LPGA Shanghai
Qizhong Garden Golf Club, Shanghai, China
1 Ruoning Yin 70-66-63-64—263 $US315,000
8 Minjee Lee 67-67-71-69—274 $52,307
T47 Hannah Green 77-70-69-69—285 $7,608
T53 Hira Naveed 73-68-71-74—286 $6,657
DP World Tour
FedEx Open de France
Le Golf National, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France
1 Dan Bradbury 67-66-69-66—268 €505,265.12
T27 David Micheluzzi 72-67-67-70—276 €27,343.76
Asian Tour
SJM Macao Open
Macau Golf and Country Club, Macao, China
1 Rattanon Wannasrichan 61-66-67-66—260 $US180,000
T9 Min Woo Lee 68-68-67-66—269 $18,550
T19 Sam Brazel 63-69-70-70—272 $11,050
T23 Douglas Klein 67-68-69-69—273 $9,550
T23 Kevin Yuan 69-67-68-69—273 $9,550
T23 Jack Thompson 72-64-68-69—273 $9,550
T37 Maverick Antcliff 73-66-70-68—277 $6,410
T37 Scott Hend 70-68-73-66—277 $6,410
T56 Wade Ormsby 70-68-70-75—283 $3,400
T56 Denzel Ieremia (NZ) 70-65-74-74—283 $3,400
T61 Aaron Wilkin 72-68-70-74—284 $3,050
T63 Marcus Fraser 74-66-75-70—285 $2,850
T68 Justin Warren 68-71-80-69—288 $2,350
MC Jordan Zunic 71-70—141
MC Zach Murray 71-70—141
MC Todd Sinnott 71-70—141
MC Jed Morgan 72-70—142
MC Lachlan Barker 71-72—143
MC Harrison Crowe 70-74—144
MC Deyen Lawson 70-74—144
MC Nick Voke (NZ) 73-72—145
WD Brendan Jones 71
WD Andrew Dodt
Ladies European Tour
Wistron Ladies Open – Taiwan
Sunrise Golf and Country Club, Chinese Taipei
1 Chiara Tamburlini 66-73-68-69—276 $US182,902.40
T46 Kirsten Rudgeley 71-76-73-73—293 $4,618.29
Japan Golf Tour
Japan Open
Tokyo Golf Club, Saitama
1 Shugo Imahira 66-72-70-68—276 ¥42m
T25 Michael Hendry (NZ) 74-74-73-71—292 ¥1.533m
T31 Brad Kennedy 72-76-67-78—293 ¥1.365m
T34 Phoenix Campbell 70-78-74-72—294 ——-
MC Adam Scott 75-76—151
PGA TOUR Champions
SAS Championship
Prestonwood CC, Cary, North Carolina
1 Jerry Kelly 67-69-67—203 $US315,000
T5 Steven Alker 69-70-69—208 $92,000
T11 Michael Wright 69-73-69—211 $42,000
T29 Steve Allan 73-71-70—214 $14,560
T29 Cameron Percy 71-69-74—214 $14,560
T45 Rod Pampling 74-69-74—217 $8,400
T47 Mark Hensby 73-74-71—218 $6,720
T53 Greg Chalmers 70-74-75—219 $4,935
T61 David Bransdon 74-76-72—222 $3,150
T68 Stuart Appleby 80-74-70—224 $2,037
73 John Senden 81-73-73—227 $1,470
WD Richard Green 72-70—142
Challenge Tour
Hainan Open 2024
Sanya Luhuitou GC, Donghai Bay, China
1 Hamish Brown 66-70-67-66—269 €73,160.56
T49 Hayden Hopewell 70-71-74-69—284 €1,920.46
MC George Worrall 75-72—147
Korean PGA Tour
Baeksong Holdings-Asiad CC Busan Open
Asiad Country Club, Korea
1 Jang Yu-bin 65-69-73-68—275
Won on first hole of sudden-death playoff
T42 Sungjin Yeo (NZ) 70-72-73-70—285
T48 Wonjoon Lee 74-68-74-71—287
T62 Kevin Chun 75-68-76-75—294
MC Junseok Lee 74-73—147
MC Changgi Lee (NZ) 73-75—148
Sunshine Tour
Vodacom Origins of Golf – Wild Coast
Wild Coast Sun Country Club, Port Edward, South Africa
1 Jonathan Broomhead 70-66-63—199
MC Austin Bautista 68-74—142
South Australian Jack Buchanan has claimed a maiden Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff at the CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics at Kalgoorlie Golf Course.
On a day in which three players began with a share of the lead and contenders came and went throughout an absorbing afternoon, Buchanan (66) and West Australian Jordan Doull (67) both finished at 17-under-par, forcing an extension to their duel in the desert.
After a disastrous tee shot on the 72nd hole that led to a closing bogey, Buchanan took the first playoff hole by the scruff of the neck with a bomb down the centre of the fairway.
Doull was forced to scramble his way to the green after his tee shot missed the fairway left yet looked to have stolen the win when he made his birdie putt from just outside 15 feet.
Buchanan then had to make his own putt for birdie from six feet, finding just enough of the left edge to send the playoff down 18 for a second time.
The fairway again proved difficult to find from the tee, Doull’s hopes taking a hit when he was forced to play his second shot backwards to the safety of the fairway.
Although both players found themselves in the bunker to the right of the green, Buchanan had one shot up his sleeve, converting his putt from 10 feet for the birdie that would clinch victory.
Jack Buchanan is the #WAPGA Champion for 2024 🏆@CityofKalBould pic.twitter.com/JlwJmyigAp
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) October 13, 2024
“After I finished, I just accepted that no matter what happened, it was a good week,” said Buchanan.
“Lucky enough to get in a playoff and get it done.
“It was pretty nervy but it happened in the end.
“This means so much. Getting over that first hurdle makes you believe that you can do it more.”
Less than five months into his professional career, Doull began the day tied at the top with Elvis Smylie and Cameron John but it was Buchanan who quickly took the ascendancy.
Less than a year since turning professional, Buchanan made five birdies in his first seven holes to establish a three-shot lead only to three-putt the par-3 eighth and make double-bogey.
Playing his first event as a professional, Singapore’s Ryan Ang joined Buchanan at the top of the leaderboard early in the back nine yet suffered a setback of his own when he dropped shots at both 13 and 14.
Back-to-back birdies at 10 and 11 saw Doull join Buchanan at 15-under, his South Australian opposite responding with a 20-footer for birdie at the par-3 13th to edge one clear once again.
It quickly became a two-man shootout as the pair traded birdies to keep the likes of Ang (65), Smylie (68), John (69) and Brett Rankin (69) at bay.
A birdie on 17 sent Buchanan to the 72nd tee with a two-stroke lead yet Doull’s birdie on 16 and Buchanan’s closing bogey gave the West Australian a putt to win on the final hole.
Heartbreakingly for Doull, he left his 12-foot birdie try short, sending the pair back to the 18th tee for extra holes.
Smylie looks set for a big season after his third-place finish while Ang impressed on debut, sharing fourth place with John.
No need for the putter on this one for Ryan Ang#WAPGA | #TheChaseIsOn | @CityofKalBould pic.twitter.com/oLsBpecCuj
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) October 13, 2024
“I just wanted to make the cut to be honest and make the first paycheck,” said Ang, whose 65 was the low round on Sunday.
“Obviously exceeded my expectations by a lot, but really proud of how the work’s paid off and set a good start to the season.”
In the WA PGA All Abilities Championship played in conjunction across the weekend, Sawtell Golf Club’s Lachlan Smith celebrated his first All Abilities victory.
Photo: Alex Verhagen/PGA of Australia
