Stephenson claims wire-to-wire win at Qld PGA Associate Championship

Damon Stephenson is the new Zigrete Queensland PGA Associates champion after a rollercoaster final day at Windaroo Lakes.

The leader after all three rounds, building on his gap to his nearest challengers each day, Stephenson surrendered a four-shot advantage early in the final round before rallying on the back nine to score a one-shot victory – his first in a four-round professional event.

A second year associate pro at nearby Gainsborough Greens Golf Club, Stephenson finished at 8-under-par for the tournament after his closing 3-over-par 76, holing a curling three-metre par putt on the final hole to see off ACT’s Lachlan Chamberlain (73) by a single shot.

Drew Herbert’s best of the day 6-under-par 67 moved him into outright third place, two back.

Stephenson’s hard-earned four-shot overnight lead disappeared within six holes today thanks to a double-bogey and two bogeys and a charge from former champion Jack Wright who went 4-under-par through the same stretch.

“I went out with a four-shot lead, not being complacent at all, but it disappeared really quickly and then it was a mental reset,” Stephenson said.

“It was like ‘okay, we’re tied for the lead. How do we approach this now’?”

While Wright, who had started the day seven behind, fell away on the back nine, Stephenson showed great resilience to birdie 10, 12 and 13 to regain his advantage.

Chamberlain moved back in touch thanks to an eagle on 16 and had a real chance to force a playoff when the leader bogeyed the 17th to see his margin cut to one and then missed the final green with his approach shot.

“I was reading the putt (to win) and I could feel myself getting emotional about it, thinking about making it,” Stephenson said.

“I had to snap back and realise you’ve just got to hit a good putt here. You’ve still got to make it, otherwise you’re going to a playoff.

“I got back in the present and just read it perfectly. It was lightning fast, broke about three cups and it went right in the heart. It was awesome.”

Next on his target list – a bottle of celebratory red wine with his father and maybe a late start at work at tomorrow.

With the support of Brisbane-based concreting company Zigcrete, this year’s championship boasted minimum total prize money of $47,500 and has become one of the most prestigious tournaments for those on the path to becoming a PGA Professional.

Leaderboard

1 Damon Stephenson 74-69-72-76 (284)

2 Lachlan Chamberlain 69-70-73-73 (285)

3 Drew Herbert 72-71-76-67 (286)

T4 Dylan Knox 73-70-69-76 (288)

T4 Justin Morley 71-74-73-70 (288)

6 Jack Wright 70-72-73-75 (290)

T7Jordan Rooke 79-69-71-73 (292)

T7 Campbell Jones 73-75-74-70 (292)

T9 Conor Whitelock 69-77-70-79 (295)

T9 Samuel Reece 74-74-73-75 (295)

Victorian Marc Leishman has had a career to date that most golfers only dream of, however, there are two notable absences from his otherwise illustrious resume.

The boy from Warrnambool is yet to break through in an Australian Open or a BMW Australian PGA Championship, and major championship glory has proved just as illusive.

However, if playing – and surviving – 38-holes on Tuesday at US Open Final Qualifying wasn’t evidence enough, 41-year-old Leishman revealed to Australian media today that despite his nearly three-year absence from the sport’s greatest tests, his hunger still burns bright.

“Obviously golf’s a funny game and you need a lot of stuff to go right on the right weeks, particularly the major weeks,” he said.

“I’ve never treated them any different to the event I’m playing this week or to the Australian PGA or whatever it might be.

“I just sort of prepare the way I prepare and hope that I’ve got my good stuff on the right week.

“I feel like that my game is probably as good as it’s ever been. My mindset is as good as it’s ever been and hopefully I can get the breaks and come out on top.”

Leishman has six top-10s in majors, yet none have come at the US Open, which he confesses have not been his “forte”.

Tied for 14^th at The Country Club (Brookline) in 2022 – his last US Open start – is his best finish to date, however prior to that, it was his T18 finish in the 2016 championship, at none other than next week’s venue, Oakmont Country Club.

While the US Open may have not proved kind to Leishman in the past, he says that Oakmont is a very familiar and inviting venue for him.

“I love it,” he said of the Pennsylvanian links-inspired layout. “I love the feel of the place, not even just at a US Open, obviously there’s people everywhere and all that, but the feel of the golf course, it’s very working class.

“It reminds me a lot of home. The members are all, they seem like really good people and I feel like I fit in there.

“The golf course is unbelievable. I love how hilly the greens are, how fast the greens are. I feel like if I can have a good week with my driver, and I’ve been driving it well, I can really let my iron play do its thing.”

Yes, Leishman would have loved to have been a part of the 2023 and 2024 majors, however he says the two years away has given him some added perspective which may bode well for him at Oakmont.

“I never really enjoyed the mental test of it to be honest,” he said of the most penal of the men’s major championships. “Obviously I enjoyed being there, but how mentally draining it is, I never really enjoyed that.

“I think the older I’ve gotten the more I’ve embraced that and enjoyed it.

“Also the way my game’s evolved over the years, I’m driving it a lot better or probably better than I ever have, and I’ve gradually improved that over the last, particularly since probably about 2015.

“It’s gotten a lot better since then and I think that lends itself to good play in the US Open.”

Leishman will be joined at Oakmont by fellow Australians Cam Davis, Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott and Cameron Smith.

Some of the most loved names in Australian golf will team up this week in a new-look American Family Insurance Championship on the PGA TOUR Champions.

For the first time, the event will see 38 teams of two play a best-ball format on the Friday and Saturday, before a final day scramble format.

With so many Australians now playing on the US over-50s Tour, the new format has allowed old friends – and competitive foes – to band together for a chance of glory.

Past Australian Open champions Greg Chalmers and Steve Allan have paired up, Chalmers likely hoping Allan can reproduce some of the golf that led to his first professional victory in 22 years at this year’s Galleri Classic.

Another Australian Open champion in John Senden has teamed up with 2008 Australian Masters champion Rod Pampling, while the inform Richard Green and Mark Hensby have formed a team in other notable pairings.

Elsewhere just three Australian’s are heading north across the border for the RBC Canadian Open on the PGA TOUR, while reigning Vic Open champion Su Oh makes just her second start for the year as the LPGA Tour heads to the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer.

Victorian Marc Leishman will be up and about with a US Open spot in his back pocket as the LIV Golf League returns this week for the inaugural LIV Golf Virginia.

Round 1 tee times AEST

PGA TOUR

RBC Canadian Open

TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley, North Course, Ontario

10:46pm* Harrison Endycott

2:00am Aaron Baddeley

2:33am Ryan Fox (NZ)

3:06am* Karl Vilips

Past champion: Robert MacIntyre

Past Aussie winners: Joe Kirkwood Snr (1933), Jim Ferrier (1950, 1951), Kel Nagle (1964), Greg Norman (1984, 1992), Nathan Green (2006), Jason Day (2015).

Prize money: $US9.8m

TV times: Live 8:45pm Thursday and Friday Fox Sports 503 and Kayo, Live 9:30pm Saturday and Sunday Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.

LPGA Tour

ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer

Seaview Golf Club, Galloway, New Jersey

Australasians in the field: Sarah Kemp, Fiona Xu (NZ), Karis Davidson, Robyn Choi, Su Oh, Sarah Jane Smith

Past champion: Linnea Strom

Past Aussie winners: Karrie Webb (2013).

Prize money: US$1.75m

TV Times: Saturday 2am Fox Sports 505 and Kayo, Sunday 5am Fox Sports 505 and Kayo, Monday 4am Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.

LIV Golf

LIV Golf Virginia presented by MAADEN

Robert Trent Jones Golf Club, USA

Australasians in the field: Ben Campbell (NZ), Lucas Herbert, Matt Jones, Danny Lee (NZ), Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith

Past champion: Inaugural event.

Prize money: US$20m

TV times: Live Saturday to Monday 2am 7mate and 7Plus.

PGA TOUR Champions

American Family Insurance Championship

TPC Wisconsin

Australasians in the field:

Steven Alker (NZ), (Bernhard Langer)

Steve Allan and Greg Chalmers

Stuart Appelby and Michael Wright

David Bransdon and Cameron Percy

Richard Green and Mark Hensby

Brendon Jones, (Thongchai Jaidee)

Rod Pampling and John Senden

Past winner: Ernie Els

Past Aussie winners: Nil

Prizemoney: US$3m

DP World Tour

KLM Open

The International, Amsterdam, Netherlands

4:40pm Daniel Gale

4:50pm* Jason Scrivener

5:00pm Danny List (NZ)

8:40pm Daniel Hillier (NZ)

9:20pm* David Micheluzzi

9:50pm* Kazuma Kobori (NZ)

Past champion: Guido Migliozzi

Past Aussie winners: Jack Newton (1972), Graham Marsh (1979, 1985), Stephen Leaney (1998, 2000).

Prize money: €2.75m

TV Times: Live Thursday and Friday 9pm Fox Sports 505 and Kayo, Saturday 9:30pm Fox Sports 505 and Kayo, Sunday 8:30pm Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.

Ladies European Tour

Tenerife Women’s Open

Abama Golf, Tenerife, Spain

5:41pm* Maddison Hinson-Tolchard

6:47pm Kirsten Rudgeley

6:58pm Kelsey Bennett

Past champion: Becky Brewerton

Past Aussie winners: Nikki Garrett (2007)

Prizemoney: €500,000

TV Times: Live Thursday and Friday 9:30pm Fox Sports 507 and Kayo, Saturday 10:45pm Fox Sports 507 and Kayo, Sunday 10pm Fox Sports 507 and Kayo.

Japan Golf Tour

BMW Japan Golf Tour Championship Mori Building Cup 2025

Shishido Hills Country Club West Course

8:44am Michael Hendry (NZ)

12:02pm Brad Kennedy

Past winner: Hiroshi Iwata

Past Aussie winners: Nil

Prizemoney: ¥150,000,000

HotelPlanner Tour

Swiss Challenge

Golf Sempach, Lucerne, Switzerland

4:00pm Hayden Hopewell

8:35pm* Sam Jones (NZ)

Past winner: Euan Walker

Past Aussie winners: Nil

Prizemoney: €300,000

Korn Ferry Tour

BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by TD SYNNEX

Thornblade Club and Carolina Country Club

10:02pm* Harry Hillier (NZ)

2:28am* Rhein Gibson

Past winner: Ryan Gerard

Past Aussie winners: Nick Flanagan (2007, 2012), Michael Sim (2009), Rod Pampling (2015), Rhein Gibson (2019).

Prizemoney: US$1m

KPGA

Baeksong Holdings-Asiad CC Busan Open

Asiad CC

8:56am Jun-Seok Lee

12:40pm Lee Changgi (NZ)

1:35pm Won Joon Lee

2:19pm Sungjin Yeo

Past winner: Jang Yu-bin

Past Aussie winners: Nil

Prize money: ₩1,000,000,000

Sunshine Tour

The Mopani Zambia Open

Nkana Golf Club

Australasians in the field: Austin Bautista

Past winner: M.J. Viljoen

Past Aussie winners: Nil

Prizemoney: US$150,000

Damon Stephenson is one round away from completing an all-the-way victory in the 2025 Zigcrete QLD PGA Associate Championship at Windaroo Lakes.

The leader by two shots following round one and three shots after round two, Stephenson will take a four-stroke lead into Thursday’s final round after shooting a 1-under-par 72 today.

His nearest challengers are fellow Queenslander Dylan Knox, whose 69 was the best score in round three, and ACT’s Lachlan Chamberlain who lost ground with his 73.

Chasing his biggest win as a professional, Stephenson’s steady third round included two birdies and the solitary bogey to move him to 11-under for the tournament.

“I’m in a good position,” the Gainsborough Greens associate professional said.

“I just need to execute my game plan, stick to my process and do what I’ve been doing and hopefully that’s good enough at the end of the week.

“Nothing’s going to change in terms of prep. Just go home, recover, rest up and a bit of a later tee time so a bit more sleep and get back out here tomorrow.”

Knox made his move with a back nine of 4-under 33. After being six shots behind Stephenson following round one, he has four to make up on the final day.

“I was just giving myself a lot of birdie looks and chances and that’s all I can really ask for out there, Knox, a third year associate from Indooroopilly Golf Club, said.

“I’ve really got to compliment my iron play. That’s something I’ve been working pretty hard on and I’m really happy with it.”

With the support of Brisbane-based concreting company Zigcrete, this year’s championship boasts minimum total prize money of $47,500 and has become one of the most prestigious tournaments for those on the path to becoming a PGA Professional.

Leaderboard

1 Damon Stephenson 74-69-72 (208)

T2 Dylan Knox 73-70-69 (212)

T2 Lachlan Chamberlain 69-70-73 (212)

T4 Jack Wright 70-72-73 (215)

T4 Beau Lavery 69-71-75 (215)

6 Conor Whitelock 69-77-70 (216)

7 Justin Morley 71-74-73 (218)

T8 Jordan Rooke 79-69-71 (219)

T8 Drew Herbert 72-71-76 (219)

For the second straight year, Damon Stephenson is the 36-hole leader at the Zigcrete QLD PGA Associate Championship at Windaroo Lakes.

The associate professional at nearby Gainsborough Greens followed up his opening round 67 with a 69 today to be 10-under-par for the tournament, three shots clear of ACT’s Lachlan Chamberlain (69-70).

In last year’s event, Stephenson led by four at the halfway mark before eventually finishing third.

“Everything’s in a good spot,” the 32-year-old said.

“Head feels good, swing feels good. Last year was last year, this year’s this year so it is just going to be about staying present, staying patient and just trying to execute my game plan.”

Stephenson has had 13 birdies throughout the first two rounds but noted the par-5s at Windaroo had not been as gettable as they were in this championship last October.

“A lot of the fives, which were probably iron into last year, are now either a 3-iron hybrid or a 3-wood,” he said.

“It’s more about leaving those approaches in the right spot around the greens to give yourself an easy up and down.”

Chamberlain, with top-10s on his record from both the NSW and Victoria Associate Championships, is on his first visit to Windaroo Lakes but has shown he will be a threat over the final two rounds.

“It’s my first time seeing the course and I’m enjoying it,” he said.

“Getting used to the grain has been a little bit tricky coming from Canberra so that’s been a bit of an adjustment.”

The big move in the second round came from Jordan Rooke who followed an opening 79 with a 4-under-par 69 to climb to a share of 13th place.

Leaderboard

1 Damon Stephenson – 67-69 (136)

2 Lachlan Chamberlain – 69-70 (139)

3 Beau Lavery – 69-71 (140)

4 Jack Wright – 70-72 (142)

T5 Drew Herbert – 72-71 (143)

T5 Dylan Knox – 73-70 (143)

T7 Bronson White – 69-76 (145)

T7 Justin Morley – 71-74 (145)

T7 Minami Inoue – 75-70 (146)

The same 10 Aussie professionals feature in this week’s Australian Golf Power Rankings list with Hannah Green and Marc Leishman the notable improvers as we hit the middle of majors season.

On the outside looking in as some big events loom on the schedules of the elite tours are the likes of Cam Davis, Cam Smith, Grace Kim and Gabi Ruffels.

10. Elvis Smylie (Last week: 8)

After playing all four rounds in a major for the first time in his career at the PGA Championship, Smylie unfortunately missed the cut in the DP World Tour event in Austria and now sits 21st in the Race to Dubai standings.

9. Adam Scott (9)

Majors are on Scott’s mind with the US Open and The Open coming up. He had a horror first round at The Memorial, but fought back to finish T31, his fourth made cut in a row since The Masters.

8. Jason Day (6)

Day had to miss out on The Memorial due to soreness in his left wrist. He’s had just two top-25 finishes in 15 starts and won’t be seen in action again until the US Open next week.

7. Marc Leishman (10)

The LIV Golf Miami champion will be in a confident mood at LIV Golf Virginia, the closest Leishman gets to a home game, after he came through US Open Qualifying to reach his first major since 2022.

6. Minjee Lee (7)

Lee was thereabouts on the US Women’s Open at Erin Hills before sliding in the final round, eventually finishing T22. She’s only finished outside the top 25 twice this season.

5. Stephanie Kyriacou (4)

Coming off the back of T5 and T6 finishes in her previous two starts, the Sydneysider would have been hopeful of challenging at the US Women’s Open. However she missed the cut by three after rounds of 74-75.

4. Min Woo Lee (3)

The Texas Children’s Houston Open champion had another so-so week at The Memorial, finishing in equal 49th. He’s been outside the top 40 in each of his last four events since that breakthrough win.

3. Hannah Green (5)

It was a steady US Women’s Open performance from Australia’s highest ranked golfer. She tied for 12th which was nice improvement on her missed cut at the previous women’s major, the Chevron.

2. Karl Vilips (2)

The PGA Tour rookie, 65th in the FedEx Cp standings, unfortunately missed out on qualifying for the US Open today. He’s back in action at the Canadian Open this week after almost jagging a top-10 finish at The Colonial.

1. Lucas Herbert (1)

A rare setback for our No.1 this week, missing out on qualifying for the US Open. His last tournament appearance was a sixth career win at the International Series Japan on the Asian Tour. Boasts three top-five finishes on LIV Golf this season and will be one of the favourites this week in Virginia.

The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.

It took more than 36-holes on Golf’s Longest Day, but Victorian Marc Leishman has booked his ticket to the next week’s US Open at Oakmont Country Club.

Leishman played his Final Qualifying at Woodmont Country Club’s North Course, alongside fellow Australians Karl Vilips and Ripper GC teammate Lucas Herbert.

Scores of 70-69 and a 3-under total were good enough for a share of third alongside Sebastian Munoz and Bryan Lee, which meant a three-for-two playoff ensued.

Woodmont’s par-3 sixth was used for the decider, and the Warrnambool product stuffed his tee-shot to six feet. The pressure was off after Munoz failed to convert his 10-foot par putt, and with two-putts Leishman’s destiny was confirmed.

He will be joining Cam Davis, Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Adam Scott and Cameron Smith at this year’s third major, and has already confirmed his place in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush courtesy of his finish at the Australian Open.

To see the results from all our Australian’s playing US Open Final Qualifying, CLICK HERE.

Opting for a late change of mind with his putter proved to be a good decision for Damon Stephenson who leads the 2025 Zigcrete QLD PGA Associate Championship by two shots after day one at Windaroo Lakes Golf Course.

Stephenson shot a 6-under-par 67 to lead a group of five players following a round that featured eight birdies, the leader revealing post-round the thinking behind his equipment switch the night before the opening round.

“I’ve been tossing up between two putters this week. I had the Scotty Cameron and the L.A.B. which I’ve been using for about eight months,” Stephenson said.

“I played the practice round with the Scotty yesterday and then woke up this morning and said ‘nah, put the L.A.B. in’. It was a pretty last-minute thing, but I just went back to what was comfortable and putted pretty well for most of the day.”

Based at nearby Gainsborough Greens, Stephenson caught fire on the front nine, with birdies at the third, fourth, sixth, seventh and ninth to turn in just 31 shots.

His back nine started with a couple of bogeys but three birdies in a row from the 13th hole ensured the 32-year-old would be the overnight leader.

“It was relatively stress-free. Obviously pretty good scoring conditions today with no wind and pretty soft,” Stephenson said.

While the Queensland PGA Associates Championships has been dominated by players from the south-east corner of the state, Beau Lavery, from Rowes Bay Golf Club in Townsville, is flying the flag for the northerners.

He is part of the group of four players at 4-under-par following a round that was highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 12th.

Also firing 69s on day one were Bronson White (Noosa), Conor Whitelock (Brisbane), and Lachlan Chamberlain (Gold Creek).

The second round gets underway at 7am Tuesday.

Leaderboard

67: Damon Stephenson

69: Bronson White, Conor Whitelock, Beau Lavery, Lachlan Chamberlain

70: Jack Wright, Caerwyn Ross, Kane Whitelock

71: Justin Morley

Two Australians have come up agonisingly short of victory over the weekend, with both Victorian Cameron Percy and Queenslander Justice Bosio losing in playoffs on the PGA TOUR Champions and Ladies European Tour (LET) Access Series respectively.

For Percy, the T2 finish at the Principal Charity Classic in Iowa marks a third top-10 finish this year in his quest for a maiden Tour victory.

Finishing the week tied with European legends Søren Kjeldsen and Miguel Angel Jiménez at the top on 17-under, Percy lost out to a Jiménez birdie on the first extra hole.

Similarly chasing a milestone maiden victory, rookie professional Bosio looked to be in control at the Santander Golf Tour – AVILA event tied for the lead with one round to play.

A final day charge from Mexico’s Alejandra Llaneza (64) however, resulted in another three-way playoff, which Llaneza won with birdie on the first extra hole.

Fellow Australians Stephanie Bunque and Abbie Teasdale finished in a share of eighth at 4-under, five shots back of Bosio.

Elsewhere, West Australian Hannah Green was Australia’s best finish at the US Women’s Open, finishing T12 at 1-under – her best finish at the event – six shots adrift of eventual winner Maja Stark.

“I felt like I hit the ball really well. I hit a couple loose shots coming in into the back nine. The bogeys on 16 and 17 kind of hurt, but overall, a solid week,” said Green after her final round at Erin Hills.

“I feel like on some of the days and some of the rounds I got a lot out of the round, and then some days I didn’t and left things out there, which I guess always happens at major championships.

“It was nice to build on some form though, we obviously have KPMG (Women’s PGA Championship) coming up soon as well, hopefully I can take it into those events.”

Results

US Women’s Open

Erin Hills, Erin, Wisconsin

1 Maja Stark 70-69-70-72-281 $US2.4m

T12 Hannah Green 72-70-73-72-287 $229,198

T22 Minjee Lee 73-69-71-77-290 $110,035

T26 Lydia Ko (NZ) 73-71-73-74-291 $91,570

MC Steph Kyriacou 74-75

MC Grace Kim 72-78

MC Gabi Ruffels 73-78

MC Jennifer Elliot 78-76

PGA TOUR

the Memorial Tournament

Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio

1 Scottie Scheffler 70-70-68-70-278 $US4m

T20 Ryan Fox (NZ) 72-72-73-73-290 $250,666.67

T31 Adam Scott 79-69-73-72-293 $114,857.14

T49 Min Woo Lee 76-71-76-75-298 $53,000

MC Cam Davis 78-78

DP World Tour

Austrian Alpine Open

Gut Altentann GC, Salzburg, Austria

1 Nicolai Von Dellinghausen 65-66-65-65-261 €411,818.41

T17 Daniel Gale 68-66-69-69-272 €30,232.32

T27 Danny List 71-66-64-73-274 €21,559.91

T37 Daniel Hillier (NZ) 66-67-70-73-276 €15,746.00

MC David Micheluzzi 67-74

MC Kazuma Kobori (NZ) 74-68

MC Jason Scrivener 73-69

MC Elvis Smylie 71-71

PGA TOUR Champions

Principal Charity Classic

Wakonda Club, Des Moines, Iowa

1 Miguel Angel Jiménez 63-66-70-199 $US300,000

T2 Cameron Percy 64-67-68-199

T6 Michael Wright 66-68-68-202

T8 Mark Hensby 72-68-63-203

T18 Steve Allan 69-66-71-206

T24 Greg Chalmers 73-70-65-208

T32 David Bransdon 70-69-70-209

T62 Richard Green 70-69-75-214

T69 Brendan Jones 74-72-71-217

T72 John Senden 76-70-73-219

Korn Ferry Tour

UNC Health Championship

Raleigh Country Club, Raleigh, North Carolina

1 Trace Crowe 68-62-64-65-259 $US180,000

T43 Harry Hillier (NZ) 66-69-72-68-275

MC Harrison Endycott 70-68

WD Rhein Gibson 73

Japan Golf Tour

Road to the British Open Mizuno Open

JFE Setonaikai Golf Club, Okayama

1 Mikiya Akutsu 67-69-68-71-275 ¥20,000,000

T30 Michael Hendry (NZ) 70-68-74-74-286 ¥610,000

T50 Brad Kennedy 69-70-78-73-290 ¥255,428

LET Access Series

Santander Golf Tour – AVILA

Naturavila Golf, Spain

1 Alejandra Llaneza 74-69-64-207

T2 Justice Bosio 67-70-70-207

T8 Stephanie Bunque 72-71-69-212

T8 Abbie Teasdale 74-70-68-212

MC Belinda Ji 78-71

MC Kristalle Blum 79-77

HotelPlanner Tour

Challenge de Cadiz

Iberostar Real Golf Novo Sancti Petri, Cadiz, Spain

1 Rocco Repetto Taylor 66-72-69-68-275 €48,000.00

MC Hayden Hopewell 75-72

MC Sam Jones (NZ) 75-72

Sunshine Tour

Gary and Vivienne Player Challenge

Benoni Country Club, Gauteng, South Africa

1 Malcolm Mitchell 67-66-71-204

T8 Austin Baustista 70-67-71-208

The Queensland PGA Associate Championship will take place at Windaroo Lakes Golf Course for the seventh straight year but in a new spot on the calendar and with a new title sponsor.

Moving from its traditional date in October, the 72-hole 2025 Zigcrete Queensland PGA Associate Championship starts Monday, June 2 and will draw Associates currently undertaking the PGA of Australia’s Membership Pathway Program from across Australia to the City of Logan.

In his final year of the Membership Pathway Program (MPP) at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Golf Club, Jack Wright will return to defend the title that he won in dramatic fashion last year but face stiff opposition from fellow Queenslanders and interstate players alike.

Damon Stephenson, Wade Edwards and Dylan Knox are other strong contenders from Queensland, Victoria’s hopes will be led by Lachlan Chamberlain and Ryan Isherwood while Thomas Heaton, Ho Tae Kim and Lachlan Tisma are expected to feature from New South Wales.

With close to 100 aspiring professionals set to tee it up for the richest purse in the tournament’s history, City of Logan Mayor Jon Raven is thrilled that the tournament will be held in the region for the seventh year in succession.

“The City of Logan is a great place to live, work and play which means it’s also an amazing location to host the Queensland PGA Associate Championship,” Mayor Raven said.

“We love having this event in Logan and want to keep it here for as long as we can.

“Windaroo Lakes Golf Course is a great course from the tee to the green which is why it’s able to attract this high-profile competition here.

“I’m sure the 2025 event will be action-packed, and I wish all the players success on the course.”

Given the flooding that the course sustained in the aftermath of Cyclone Alfred in March, PGA Membership Services Coordinator for Queensland and the Northern Territory, Mark Weir, paid tribute to the course staff at Windaroo Lakes to get the course ready for a June hosting.

“The event has been held in October in the past so it’s been an amazing effort from Course Superintendent Daniel Stack and his team to get the course to get the course back in such great condition after Cyclone Alfred,” said Weir.

“The Queensland PGA Associate Championship has made Windaroo Lakes and the City of Logan its home in recent years and, with the support of Zigcrete, we’re thrilled to increase total prize money on offer once again.”

When the tournament nears its conclusion on Thursday, June 5, all attention will turn to the final four holes at Windaroo Lakes.

The party hole at the par-3 15th will bring the energy while the par-5 16th – affectionately known as ‘Snake Gully’ for the water that winds its way down the left – will bring the drama.

Field

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