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David Micheluzzi is regarded as one of the best putters on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia. His long-time coach, Martin Joyce, shares the fundamental they check most often to ensure his best chance of success on the greens.
Every week that David is playing on Tour, we know that the greens are different, the speeds are different and the surfaces are different.
I’m big on making sure that the ball rolls end over end so that is an element of David’s putting that we will check every day.
Loft of the putter, shaft lean and ball position can all impact how quickly the ball begins its true roll so we will make whatever adjustments we need to get that ball to roll correctly.
Ideally, that true roll will happen as soon as possible off the putterface and I will monitor it by taking a video of the first couple of feet after the strike.
There’s a simple way that you can check your roll.
Head out to the golf course early when there is some dew on the ground and practice hitting putts from 30 feet.
You will immediately see when the ball starts to stick to the ground and roll properly.
Move to a different spot, play with your hand position and ball position, and try to get the ball rolling end over end as soon as possible.
Make it a complete putting drill by picking a spot on your intended line and see whether the line that the ball leaves through the dew travels over it or not.
Rolling the ball correctly on the target line is a great start towards making more putts.
Based at Spring Valley Golf Club in Melbourne, Martin Joyce is the High Performance Director for Victoria and National Coach for Golf Australia and has been a PGA Member since 2005.
Paris Olympian Jason Day will return home to Queensland to play in the 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship on November 21-24.
In a huge boost for the tournament, Day will make his first appearance in a PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club, joining defending champion Min Woo Lee as feature players for the event co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour.
Part of an elite group of Australian golfers to reach No.1 in the Official World Golf Ranking and win a major championship, the world No.33 will be hunting his first victory in one of Australian golf’s majors.
The 2015 US PGA champion has had five top-10s in 2024, continuing a career resurgence over the past two years which re-established him as one of the world’s best players.
As Australia’s No.1, he earned a place alongside Lee in Australia’s men’s golf team at the Olympics where he finished T9 and he was an automatic selection in this year’s International Team for the Presidents Cup in Canada this month.
“I’m extremely excited to be coming back home to Queensland this summer to contest the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland,” said Day.
“Wearing the green and gold for Australia at the Olympics in Paris was an extremely proud moment for myself and my family and it will be very special to get back on home soil and play in front of the Aussie fans.
“I’ve seen the amazing atmosphere at ‘RQ’ the past few years and can’t wait to experience it for myself.”
PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said Day was an exciting addition to this year’s BMW Australian PGA Championship field.
“I know there will be thousands of golf fans who will keen to come out and see Jason play at Royal Queensland,” Kirkman said.
“After learning the game in Beaudesert, Jason has gone on to become one of the best players of his generation.
“We’re delighted to welcome him back home and to see him challenge for his first Joe Kirkwood Cup.”
Queensland Minister for Tourism and Sport, Michael Healy said: “Jason Day is Australian golf royalty and to have him play in the 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship is absolutely sensational, his first ever at Royal Queensland.
“It’s terrific to welcome a player as accomplished as Jason back to our state to compete in this world-class event, especially when they’re Queenslanders.
“The Australian PGA continues to go from strength to strength with tens of thousands of fans expected to flock to this event, contributing $17 million into Queensland’s local visitor economy.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the event coming to the Royal Queensland fairways would be an unmissable showdown.
“Brisbane is Australia’s lifestyle capital and our major events bring more to see and do to our suburbs,” Cr Schrinner said.
“With a suite of world class athletes confirmed to play, the BMW Australian PGA Championship is going to be a must-see event for local and visiting golf fans.
“The benefits of this world-class tournament will be felt across the region, delivering millions in economic support to local Brisbane restaurants, hotels and tourism businesses.”
The BMW Australian PGA Championship is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, and Brisbane City Council via Brisbane Economic Development Agency.
Jason Day is a Testimonee for Rolex a major partner of the PGA of Australia and the BMW Australian PGA Championship.
For tickets, click here https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=PGAGOLF24
A new name joins the Aussie contingent on the PGA TOUR this week with New South Welshman Jeffrey Guan to make his debut at the Procore Championship in California.
The club champion at Bexley Golf Club in Sydney at just 12 years of age, good judges have been closely monitoring Guan’s progress for close to a decade.
He won the 2022 Junior PLAYERS Championship in record-setting fashion and represented the International team in the Junior Presidents Cup that same year.
With three top-10 finishes on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia as an amateur during the 2022/2023 season, Guan finished atop the Future Tour Order of Merit. That provided a direct pathway onto his home Tour, a Tour he joined as a professional last November at the Queensland PGA Championship.
Guan logged his first top-five finish in just his second start at the Victorian PGA Championship, had top 10s in two Webex Players Series events and was added to the Golf Australia Rookie Squad in February this year.
Last month he signed with management company, Sportfive, joining a stable of stars that boasts major winners Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Keegan Bradley and Brian Harman.
Thanks to a sponsor invitation, the 20-year-old will now tee it up alongside the likes of Wyndham Clark, Max Homa, defending champion Sahith Theegala and fellow Aussies Min Woo Lee and Aaron Baddeley at the Silverado Resort.
In announcing Guan’s signing to Sportfive, President of Global Golf, Steve Loy, said he was eager to help Guan’s growth on the world stage.
“We are very excited about Jeff, an excellent young player with the skills and dedication to succeed at the highest level,” said Loy.
“He’s talented, determined, and ambitious, and we have the perfect worldwide set-up to guide him throughout his career.”
Guan has played four events on the Challenge Tour in Europe this year, his best result a tie for 10th at the Le Vaudreil Golf Challenge, a tournament in which he had a share of the lead at the halfway mark.
As Guan begins his PGA TOUR career, Cameron Smith and his Ripper GC teammates play their final individual event of the 2024 LIV Golf season in Chicago.
Winner of the inaugural Chicago event in 2022, Smith enters the week sixth in the individual standings, Ripper GC third in the team standings. If Ripper GC can hang onto third, they will earn a first-round bye in next week’s Dallas Team Championship.
Jason Scrivener and David Micheluzzi will fly the Aussie flag at the Amgen Irish Open, Karl Vilips can lock up a PGA TOUR card at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Simmons Bank Open and there are nine Aussies in the field for the Sanford International on the PGA TOUR Champions.
Photo: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images
Round 1 tee times AEST
PGA TOUR
Procore Championship
Silverado Resort (North Cse), Napa, California
12:11am* Aaron Baddeley
1:50am* Jeffrey Guan
5:27am* Tim Wilkinson (NZ)
5:38am Min Woo Lee
Defending champion: Sahith Theegala
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US6 million
TV times: Live 3am-11am Friday; Live 3am-11:30am Saturday; Live 8:30am-11:30am Sunday; Live 8am-11am Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
DP World Tour
Amgen Irish Open
Royal County Down GC, Co Down, Northern Ireland
5:40pm Sam Jones (NZ)
6:30pm David Micheluzzi
9:40pm Ryan Fox (NZ)
11pm* Jason Scrivener
11:10pm Daniel Hillier (NZ)
Defending champion: Vincent Norrman
Past Aussie winners: Brett Rumford (2004), Lucas Herbert (2021)
Prize money: $US6 million
TV times: Live 10pm-3am Thursday; Live 1am-3am Saturday; Live 9:30pm-2.30am Saturday, Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Chicago
Bolingbrook Golf Club, Bolingbrook, Illinois
Australasians in the field: Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, Lucas Herbert, Danny Lee (NZ)
Defending champion: Bryson DeChambeau
Past Aussie winners: Cameron Smith (2022)
Prize money: $US20 million
TV times: Live 3:15am Saturday, Sunday, Monday on 7 Plus.
Japan Golf Tour
ANA Open Golf Tournament
Sapporo Golf Club (Watatsu Cse), Hokkaido
8:50am Anthony Quayle
9:05am* Brad Kennedy
12:20pm Brendan Jones
Defending champion: Hideto Tanihara
Past Aussie winners: Graham Marsh (1979), Kurt Barnes (2011), Brendan Jones (2016)
Prize money: ¥150 million
Korn Ferry Tour
Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation
Vanderbilt Legends Club (North Cse), Franklin, Tennessee
11:25pm* Brett Drewitt
3:29am* Karl Vilips
3:51am Rhein Gibson
Defending champion: Grayson Murray
Past Aussie winners: Cameron Davis (2018)
Prize money: $US1.5 million
TV times: Live 3am-6am Friday on Fox Sports 503; 12pm-1:30pm Saturday; 5pm-6:30pm Sunday; Live 5am-8am Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Epson Tour
Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic
Ol’ Colony Golf Complex, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Australasians in the field: Fiona Xu (NZ), Cassie Porter, Maddison Hinson-Tolchard
Defending champion: Isabella Fierro
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US237,500
Challenge Tour
Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos
Royal Óbidos Spa & Golf Resort, Vau Óbidos, Portugal
5:20pm Hayden Hopewell
Defending champion: Marco Penge
Past Aussie winners: Dimitrios Papadatos (2018)
Prize money: €270,000
LET Access Series
Hauts de France Pas de Calais Golf Open
Golf Saint Omer, Lumbres, France
Australasians in the field: Kelsey Bennett, Wenyung Keh (NZ)
Defending champion: Lejan Lewthwaite
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €40,000
PGA TOUR Champions
Sanford International
Minnehaha Country Club, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Australasians in the field: Steven Alker (NZ), Steve Allan, Stuart Appleby, David Bransdon, Greg Chalmers, Richard Green, Mark Hensby, Rod Pampling, John Senden, Michael Wright.
Defending champion: Steve Stricker
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US2.1 million
TV times: 1:30pm-3pm Saturday; 11:30am-1pm Sunday; 11am-12:30pm Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Legends Tour
European Legends Cup
Golf Almerimar, Andalucia, Spain
Australasians in the field: Michael Campbell (NZ), Michael Long (NZ), Scott Hend
Defending champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
PGA of Australia has announced a new major partnership with Rolex, the prestigious Swiss watchmaker.
The agreement sees Rolex become Official Timekeeper of the BMW Australian PGA Championship, one of Australian golf’s majors, as well as a Major Partner of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and WPGA Tour of Australasia.
Commenting on the partnership, PGA of Australia CEO, Gavin Kirkman, said: “We are delighted to welcome Rolex as a Major Partner of the PGA of Australia; our premier tournament, the BMW Australian PGA Championship; and our tours which are producing the new generation of stars.
“Rolex is synonymous with golf with a rich history in our sport, and through major championships around the world, that dates back almost six decades.
“Rolex shares our dedication to enhancing the game for future generations and we look forward to the mutual benefits that will come from having Rolex at the heart of professional golf in Australia through the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and WPGA Tour of Australasia.”
The iconic Rolex clock, which has become a feature of golf events at all levels of the game across the world, will sit beside Royal Queensland’s first tee at the BMW Australian PGA Championship on November 21-24 in Brisbane.
Managing Director of Rolex Australia, Benoit Falletti, commented: “Rolex is proud to expand its support of golf in Australia, a country with more than 3.5 million active golf players and some of the world’s top ranking golf courses.
“The PGA of Australia promotes a thriving industry of golf professionals and presents a world-class tournament with the annual Australian PGA Championship event.
“We look forward to this exciting new partnership and to further developing the alignment between Rolex and Golf in this region.”
The PGA of Australia is the third oldest Professional Golfers Association in the world and traces its origins back to 1911 when a group of expatriate Scottish golf Professionals formed a national association to promote the game of golf and elevate the vocation of the golf Professional within Australia.
Rolex has deep roots with Australian golf, with its long-standing support including having 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott and 2015 PGA Championship winner Jason Day among its family of Testimonees.
ABOUT ROLEX AND GOLF
Rolex is committed to the permanent quest for excellence in all its endeavours and has been a long-term supporter of golf in its pursuit of the same. The brand’s enduring relationship with the sport began almost 60 years ago, in 1967, when Arnold Palmer, joined by Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, became the brand’s first golfing Testimonees.
Known together as The Big Three, these legendary players changed the face of golf forever, and their partnership with Rolex marked the beginning of a relationship based on the shared commitment to continuous improvement and unwavering precision.
Since then, the affiliation has grown and flourished, permeating every level of the game worldwide. From elite players and golf legends to all the game’s Major championships, where success represents the pinnacle of achievement in the sport, as well as the foremost professional tours and worldwide amateur championships, Rolex is ever-present.
Rolex is deeply committed to the amateur game and is a partner of important amateur tournaments across the globe, including the ground-breaking Augusta National Women’s Amateur launched in 2019, The British Amateur Championship, U.S. Amateur Championship, European Amateur Championship, Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, Latin America Amateur Championship and Women’s Amateur Latin America Championship.
Rolex also supports the leading amateur team competitions, the Arnold Palmer Cup, Walker Cup, Curtis Cup, Junior Ryder Cup and World Amateur Team Championships.
A week in the company of two of the greats of Australian golf has lit the fire within Min Woo Lee ahead of his Presidents Cup debut at Royal Montreal Golf Club.
Lee will tee it up in this week’s Procore Championship in California, his first PGA TOUR appearance in a month and what will be his final hit-out prior to joining the International team in Canada from September 26-29.
A thrill-a-minute crowd favourite wherever he plays in the world, the 26-year-old shapes as a lightning rod for an International team craving home course advantage so close to the United States.
But rather than looking for ways to ignite a parochial Canadian crowd, Lee will have the words of wisdom from two icons of Australian golf ringing in his ears.
Selected to represent Australia at the Paris Olympic Games, Lee was urged by teammate and former world No.1 Jason Day and Captain and seven-time major champion Karrie Webb to do what’s required to realise his promise of becoming one of the best players in world golf.
“Obviously we did the Olympics together and Jason has been such a big help over the last couple of months and put my mindset in a different spot,” Lee revealed.
“He’s my opponent most weeks but he is a good friend. He has put a good mindset in me, saying that I have the potential to be a really good golfer and to just work hard and not waste my potential.
“Same as Karrie, she said the same thing. Just a little bit of a mindset switch, I guess.
“I’m not saying I don’t work hard – I do work hard – but just doing that extra little bit that I should be doing because I’m still young and I can still do it and my body’s healthy.”
Lee was one of six Captain’s picks named by Mike Weir last week, joining fellow Australians Day and Adam Scott in an International team chasing its first win since the Peter Thomson-led team of 1998.
The additional Aussie influence comes courtesy of Assistant Captain Geoff Ogilvy, who is also excited at the prospect of the energy Lee will bring to the team.
“It really is a tournament where you can, not show off as such, but just go full enthusiasm more than you can in a 72-hole strokeplay tournament,” said Ogilvy, a veteran of three Presidents Cup campaigns.
“The format I think will really suit Min. He’s clearly one of the best players in the world, hits hit miles and will really bring his enthusiasm and excitement to it.
“That has an effect not just on the course, but that has an effect in the team room, too.”
But while a social media profile now boasting 598,000 followers on Instagram alone brings an audience all his own, Lee insists he won’t go to extra lengths to whip the Canadian crowd into a frenzy.
“I know it’s going to be very exciting. The crowd’s going to bring it,” added Lee, currently ranked No.40 in the Official World Golf Ranking.
“I know the Canadians love their hockey, love their sport, and there’s a few Canadians on the team so it’s going to be a massive deal.
“I’m just going to do my thing. Nothing planned, but at the end of the day we’re trying to play as good as we can.
“Nothing to hinder my golf, but a lot of excitement and a lot of support, which would be great.”
Photo: Courtesy PGA TOUR
Fairways and greens are set to heat up across southern New South Wales next week when the NSW Open Golf Regional Qualifying Series returns.
Competition will be fierce with a substantial $50,000 purse on offer. Importantly, the top three players who are not already qualified will lock away a coveted spot in the NSW Open at the magnificent Murray Downs Golf & Country Club from November 14-17 and the chance to go head-to-head with 2022 Open Champion and LIV Golf’s Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith.
Supported by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, the six-event series brings Australia’s brightest up-and-coming golfers to compete at some of the state’s best regional courses.
The series continues at Wollongong Golf Club next Tuesday, September 17, with a capacity field set to tee off at the city course. The series moves to Catalina Club at Batemans Bay (September 20-22), then finally onto Queanbeyan Golf Club for the sixth and last event of the series on September 23-25.
Some of the biggest names in Australasian golf will be in action, including four-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner Dimi Papadatos, as well as Korn Ferry Tour (US) Member John Lyras. Canberra’s Matt Millar, a dominant force with two wins in the first three qualifiers, will also be out to claim a record fifth regional crown.
Four former NSW Open champions – Harrison Crowe (2022), Josh Younger (2019), Aaron Townsend (2008) and Rick Kulacz (2006) – are also in town for the tournament.
There will be plenty of hometown interest at Wollongong next week, with several local hopes in the 120-plus strong field.
Port Kembla-based touring professional Lincoln Tighe will be a player to watch. The big-hitting Tighe will be out to secure his spot in the NSW Open after a disappointing finish in the series’ first event at South West Rocks last month. Adding to the local flavour, three-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner Jordan Zunic will also be competing.
Local amateur hopes playing include Australian Junior Champion Sam Cascio, NSW and Australian Mid-Amateur champion Colin Mitchell, and the Wollongong trio Axel Thomsen (WGC club champion), Zac Oyston and Thomas Heaton.
Olivia Wilson, General Manager – Golf at Golf NSW, said the 2024 Regional Open Qualifying Series was an important vehicle for aspiring professionals and elite amateurs looking to kick-start their Australian Summer of Golf.
“The series offers a fantastic platform for future stars to elevate their careers, with substantial prize money and the chance to secure a spot in the NSW Open,” he said.
“We expect some fierce competition, not just at Wollongong but at all of the remaining Qualifiers.”
Graeme Phillipson, Chief Operating Officer at Golf NSW, emphasised the positive impact of these tournaments on local communities.
“The Regional Open Qualifying Series brings a welcome financial boost to the host clubs and their surrounding towns. The influx of players and spectators significantly benefits the local visitor economy,” Phillipson stated.
Entry is free for spectators giving those attending the rare opportunity to walk the fairways alongside the players and witness the drama up close as the sport’s future stars emerge.
The final round of each qualifying tournament will be broadcast via Golf NSW’s broadcast partner, the Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) on the NSW Open Tournament website, nswopen.com.
Qualifying Series Schedule
Wollongong Golf Club: September 17-18
Catalina Club Batemans Bay: September 21-22
Queanbeyan Golf Club: September 23-25
(Previous qualifying series tournaments in this series):
South West Rocks: August 3-4 (Won by Matt Millar – ACT)
Coffs Harbour: August 6-7 (Won by Brett Rankin – QLD)
Teven Valley: August 9 &10 (Won by Matt Millar – ACT)
The Men’s NSW Open Golf Regional Qualifying Series is proudly supported by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.
Photo: Dimi Papadatos
After lifting the trophies in front of record crowds in 2023, Chile’s Joaquin Niemann and South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai have today confirmed they will defend their titles at the 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open in Melbourne.
Played again in the world-first format of men, women and all abilities alongside one another, the ISPS HANDA Australian Open will be held at Kingston Heath Golf Club and The Victoria Golf Club from November 28 to December 1.
Claiming her second consecutive Patricia Bridges Bowl in 2023, after winning across the same host venues on Melbourne’s famed Sandbelt in 2022, Buhai will seek to become the first woman, and second player ever, to win a consecutive hat-trick of Australian Opens.
“I have a long history with Australia and have always loved visiting, and especially competing in the Australian Open which I’m thrilled is returning to the Melbourne Sandbelt,” Buhai said.
A major champion in 2022 when winning the AIG Women’s Open, Buhai already has a place among highly decorated company with fellow multiple winners Karrie Webb, Laura Davies and Yani Tseng all ranked as world No.1 during their careers.
“The names on the Australian Open trophy are special to be included alongside. Fortunately, I have had two years of looking at the trophy and I am hoping to make it a third this year.”
Lifting the Stonehaven Cup at The Australian last December following a thrilling play-off with Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino, Niemann will defend a title for the first time in a professional career that includes five wins around the globe and seven at home in Chile.
Considered one of the rising stars of men’s golf, Niemann’s victory in Sydney was part of a bountiful run that saw the 25-year-old earn a special invitation to The Masters at Augusta National.
“To have the opportunity to defend a title, especially a national Open, is something truly special that I am greatly looking forward to. I thoroughly enjoyed the Australian Open experience last year and think it will be a fantastic way to end a successful year,” Niemann said.
“Having played on the Melbourne Sandbelt previously, I can’t wait to try and go back-to-back across Kingston Heath and Victoria at this year’s tournament.”
The two defending champions join Min Woo Lee among the confirmed players for the 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
“Having our men’s and women’s defending champions now confirmed as returning for the 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open is a magnificent boost for the tournament,” Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said.
“Ash has the chance to do something we haven’t seen before, while Joaquin is hoping to defend a title for the first time, and both have the chance to do so on two of Australia’s finest courses.”
The 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open will be broadcast on Fox Sports and Kayo, as well as the NINE Network.
Limited first release tickets for the ISPS HANDA Australian Open are available now via Ticketek. Save 20% off all tournament day passes until September 17.
Queenslander Cory Crawford has his eyes on the summer of golf after earning his second adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win of the year at Yamba.
Returning from a long layoff due to a back injury with zero status on the national pro-am circuit, Crawford added to his win at Ballina with a commanding five-shot victory at the Ray White Yamba Pro-Am at Yamba Golf and Country Club.
With international experience playing in China, Asia and Canada, Crawford lost all associated status required to play regularly in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series.
Now 39th on the Order of Merit, that situation has now been rectified with Crawford eyeing off even bigger scalps during the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season.
“I had five months off and was planning on playing some pro-ams but I looked at my ranking and I had no status, which I had no idea,” said Crawford.
“I hadn’t played a pro-am for four years so my goal was to try and get into 10 events somehow.
“I was able to do that and then obviously make enough money to get some status for next year to give me the option to go play.
“Now that I’ve been able to tick that box I’m going to play the Tour starting in October and play all the way through until March.”
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
Tied with Order of Merit leader Brett Rankin after matching rounds of 6-under 66 on day one, Crawford patiently waited for scoring opportunities to present themselves on the tight Yamba layout.
Playing in the group behind, Rankin moved one clear with birdie at the short par-4 fourth but momentum would shift sharply at the par-5 eighth.
As Rankin made bogey to drop to even par on his round, Crawford made eagle to establish a two-stroke advantage.
That lead became three with birdie at the par-4 11th but Rankin fought back with birdies at 13 and 14.
Crawford took command again when Rankin dropped a shot at 15, his final winning margin ballooning from two to five when he birdied 18 and Rankin made double-bogey.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“Got off to a bit of a slow start yesterday but got it going after that,” said Crawford.
“Just drove it really well, which made it a little nicer to play the golf course and just played really steady.
“It’s pretty narrow. If you’re in the fairway a lot, you’re going to have plenty of good looks.
“I was able to do that, which I’ve been able to do the last month as well.
“Getting it in play was huge.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Cory Crawford 66-68—134
T2 Brett Rankin 66-73—139
T2 Andrew Campbell 69-70—139
T4 Jay Mackenzie 69-71—140
T4 Lucas Higgins 71-69—140
T4 Aaron Townsend 72-68—140
NEXT UP
Focus of the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series now turns to the southern end of New South Wales, starting with the PSC Insurance Brokers Wagga Wagga Pro-Am at Wagga Wagga Country Club starting Thursday.
Travis Smyth’s stunning Sunday assault came up just short in Korea as Scott Hend also had to settle for second at the Legends Open de France.
Trailing by three at the start of the final round of the 40th Shinhan Donghae Open, a tournament co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour, Smyth unleashed an astonishing birdie barrage to earn a share of the lead.
The New South Welshman peeled off a career-best seven consecutive birdies to start his final round and added an eighth at the par-4 ninth to go out in 28.
It would have been regarded as one of the finest nine-hole scores ever recorded on the Asian Tour but, as preferred lies were in play, can not be recognised as official.
Regardless, it put Smyth in prime position to challenge for a second Asian Tour title.
But the flood of front nine birdies dried up on the more challenging inward nine, Smyth’s nine pars to finish seeing him fall just one shot short of Japan’s Kensei Hirata.
“Bittersweet, after shooting eight under, but not winning,” said the 29-year-old, who now moves to sixth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
“Seven-under yesterday and then 8-under today; amazing weekend.
“To fall one short sucks a bit, but my game is in a good spot; I think I am pretty close. I am just proud of the way I played.
“The front nine, obviously everything went my way. I do have the ability to hit good shots but to hit so many good shots in the space of nine holes is pretty amazing.
“Never had seven birdies in a row, that’s another PB of mine.”
Hend’s hopes of a second Legends Tour title were also bolstered by a strong start to his final round.
He wiped away a two-shot deficit with birdies at his opening two holes and looked the man to beat when he added a third at the par-5 fifth.
But a bogey-free 4-under 68 would not be enough as Scotland’s Greig Hutcheon stormed home with an 8-under 64 to win by two strokes.
West Australian Jason Scrivener produced his best result in close to two years to ignite his hopes of qualifying for the DP World Tour playoffs.
Scrivener’s closing round of 3-under 67 was enough for a tie for fourth at the Omega European Masters. He climbed 45 spots to 78th in the Race to Dubai Rankings and moved up 117 spots on the Official World Golf Ranking.
Cameron Percy took another step towards securing his future on the PGA TOUR Champions with a tie for sixth at the Ascension Charity Classic, projected to move up six spots to 31st in the Schwab Cup standings.
Photos: Jung Yeon-Je/AFP via Getty Images (Smyth); Phil Inglis/Getty Images (Hend)
Results
DP World Tour
Omega European Masters
Crans-sur-Sierre GC, Crans Montana, Switzerland
1 Matt Wallace 64-62-73-70—269 €496,979.28
Won in sudden-death playoff
T4 Jason Scrivener 64-69-72-67—272 €135,061.43
MC Haydn Barron 70-70—140
MC Sam Jones (NZ) 67-75—142
MC David MIcheluzzi 72-71—143
MC Andrew Martin 77-71—148
Asian Tour/Japan Golf Tour
The 40th Shinhan Donghae Open
Ocean Course at Club72, Korea
1 Kensei Hirata 71-67-62-66—266 $US191,343.96
2 Travis Smyth 68-70-65-64—267 $116,932.42
T40 Brad Kennedy 69-65-71-74—279 $5,515.45
MC Anthony Quayle 67-75—142
MC Kevin Yuan 73-71—144
MC Brendan Jones 72-75—147
MC Junseok Lee 76-74—150
MC Wonjoon Lee 75-76—151
PGA TOUR Champions
Ascension Charity Classic
Norwood Hills Country Club, St Louis, Missouri
1 YE Yang 65-69-66—200
Won at first hole of sudden-death playoff
T6 Cameron Percy 69-69-67—205
T8 Richard Green 71-69-66—206
T15 Rod Pampling 68-68-72—208
T20 Steven Alker (NZ) 74-70-65—209
T23 Stuart Appleby 72-71-67—210
T23 Steve Allan 67-73-70—210
T23 Greg Chalmers 70-68-72—210
T31 David Bransdon 70-72-69—211
T31 Mark Hensby 70-70-71—211
T60 Michael Wright 69-75-72—216
T64 John Senden 71-74-72—217
Challenge Tour
Big Green Egg German Challenge
Wittelsbacher Golfclub, Neuburg an der Donau, Germany
1 Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen 69-73-67-64—273 €43,200
MC Hayden Hopewell 72-72—144
PGA TOUR Americas
Fortinet Cup Championship
TPC Toronto (North Cse), Caledon, Ontario
1 Will Cannon 72-65-69-69—275 $US40,500
MC Grant Booth 71-74—145
MC Harry Hillier (NZ) 78-67—145
Epson Tour
Guardian Championship
Capitol Hill Golf Club, Prattville, Alabama
1 Fatima Fernandez Cano 69-66-67—202 $US39,375
T41 Fiona Xu (NZ) 71-71-71—213 $1,341
T41 Cassie Porter 76-68-69—213 $1,341
MC Maddison Hinson-Tolchard 75-71—146
MC Su Oh 74-80—154
LET Access Series
Rose Ladies Open
The Melbourne Club at Brocket Hall, England
1 Helen Briem 68-69-66—203 €13,600
T17 Momoka Kobori (NZ) 72-71-68—211 €1,320.33
MC Kelsey Bennett 76-72—148
MC Stephanie Bunque 73-76—149
MC Munchin Keh (NZ) 77-75—152
MC Wenyung Keh (NZ) 79-76—155
Legends Tour
Legends Open de France
Le Touquet Golf Resort (La Forêt Cse), France
1 Greig Hutcheon 69-70-64—203
T2 Scott Hend 69-68-68—205
11 Michael Long (NZ) 70-69-69—208
T40 Michael Campbell (NZ) 76-73-68—217
Victorian Kyle Michel has put on a superb display of iron play to take out the 67th cluBarham Border Open at CluBarham Golf and Sports Club.
The longest running event on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series circuit, the two-day tournament attracted a field full of familiar faces but it was Michel who added his name to an impressive honour roll of past winners.
A one-stroke leader after Round 1, Michel wasted no time in asserting his ascendancy in Round 2 on Sunday.
His bogey-free round of 9-under 64 gave him a 13-under total and five-shot win from fellow Victorians Lachlan Armour (70) and Josh Younger (70).
Faced with windy conditions, Michel showed wonderful control of his ball flight which yielded birdies on three of the four par 3s.
“Your iron control had to be important on a windy day like today,” said Michel.
“I managed to get the distances right on pretty much all of them and roll in a few putts.”
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
Starting his round from the par-4 fourth hole for the second straight day, Michel opened with a par before embarking on a birdie blitz.
He picked up shots at five, six and seven and then made it four in the space of five holes with birdie at the par-3 ninth.
Birdies at the par-5 11th and par-3 12th got Michel to 6-under through nine holes, finishing up a faultless round with closing birdies at 18, two and three.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I got off to a really good start birdieing three of the first four holes,” said Michel.
“I made another birdie on my sixth hole, the par 3, and managed to get to 6-under through the first nine holes and kind of went on with it from there.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Kyle Michel 69-64—133
T2 Lachlan Armour 68-70—138
T2 Josh Younger 68-70—138
4 Andrew Kelly 66-73—139
5 Bradley Kivimets 67-73—140
T6 Konrad Ciupek 72-69—141
T6 James Gordon 67-74—141
T6 Michael Isherwood 71-70—141
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series moves further north into New South Wales on Thursday for the $50,000 PSC Insurance Brokers Wagga Wagga Pro-Am at Wagga Wagga Country Club.
