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Stephanie Kyriacou produced a second miracle shot and Minjee Lee received a major honour as an historic season of majors reached its conclusion at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl.
Arriving at Wales on the back of consecutive wins by Australians in LPGA major championships, Kyriacou and Lee ensured the Australian flag remained prominent on the final day.
After making an ace at the par-3 eighth in Round 2, Kyriacou came within inches of a second inside three days at the par-3 fifth on Sunday.
What happened next almost defied belief.
As Kyriacou’s ball sat just to the left of the hole, playing partner Mim Rhodes also took dead aim, bouncing off the Australian’s ball and into the hole for a major championship ace of her own.
“We actually just watched the video, and it hit my ball, and it went in. So I’m kind of claiming it, even though Mimi is probably not going to say that,” said the 24-year-old.
The good karma obviously rubbed off, Kyriacou tapping in for the first of five birdies on her run home to a tie for eighth, the fourth major championship top 10 of her career.
“The first hole was quite rough. It’s not ideal when you hit your second ball OB, onto the beach,” Kyriacou added with a laugh.
“I stuck in there, showed some grit, and finished 1-under today. I’m very happy.”
Winner of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June, Lee completed an outstanding major season with a tie for 13th, becoming the first two-time winner of the Rolex ANNIKA Major Award.
Although finishing outside the top 10 meant that Lee didn’t add to her points tally, the KPMG win and tie for third at the Amundi Evian Championship gave her 78 points to add to her win in 2022.
“From where I was at the beginning of the year and obviously winning KPMG and played Chevron
and had a good finish at Evian and all right at US Open and all right here… I’m going to say I’ve done pretty well,” was Lee’s summary of her season in the showpiece events after an even-par 72 on Sunday.
“Maybe like an 8.5 (out of 10).”
A tie for 19th by Karl Vilips was the best of the Aussies at the final event of the PGA TOUR’s regular season, not enough to force his way inside the top 70 who will now contest the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Adam Scott (T55) also missed out for just the second time since the inception of the FedEx Cup in 2007 while Cam Davis’s tie for 44th saw him squeeze into the Playoffs in 69th position.
Results
AIG Women’s Open
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Porthcawl, Wales
1 Miyu Yamashita 68-65-74-70—277 $US1.4625m
T8 Stephanie Kyriacou 74-70-69-71—284 $228,359
T13 Minjee Lee 70-76-68-72—286 $145,533
T36 Lydia Ko (NZ) 73-73-70-75—291 $57,632
T67 Grace Kim 71-75-74-80—300 $19,006
MC Amelia Garvey (NZ) 74-73—147
MC Gabriela Ruffels 71-76—147
MC Hira Naveed 78-71—149
MC Momoka Kobori (NZ) 74-77—151
MC Cassie Porter 79-73—152
MC Karis Davidson 76-77—153
MC Hannah Green 79-77—156
MC Kirsten Rudgeley 78-79—157
PGA TOUR
Wyndham Championship
Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, North Carolina
1 Cameron Young 63-62-65-68—258 $US1.476m
T19 Karl Vilips 67-67-69-67—270 $112,750
T44 Cam Davis 68-68-69-71—276 $23,951\
T55 Adam Scott 65-71-69-72—277 $19,106
T72 Aaron Baddeley 70-67-74-71—282 $16,564
MC Ryan Fox (NZ) 68-73—141
Japan Golf Tour
Richard Mille Charity Tournament
Noto Country Club, Ishikawa
1 Tomoyo Ikemura 65-66-69-64—264 ¥19m
MC Brad Kennedy 72-68—140
Korn Ferry Tour
Utah Championship
Ogden Golf & Country Club, Ogden, Utah
MC Rhein Gibson 70-69—139
WD Harry Hillier
HotelPlanner Tour
Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A
SCHLOSS Roxburghe, Heiton by Kelso, Scotland
1 Daniel Young 64-67-64-70—265 €46,196
T62 Hayden Hopewell 67-72-72-72—283 €851.74
T72 Tom Power Horan 71-69-71-76—287 €563.01
LET Access Series
Q-Tour Himmerland Championship
Himmerland Resort, Denmark
1 Fernanda Lira 74-64-69—207 €8,000
Won in sudden-death playoff
T26 Justice Bosio 74-71-73—218 €665.83
T26 Abbie Teasdale 68-78-72—218 €665.83
T36 Stephanie Bunque 73-74-74—221 €501.25
MC Belinda Ji 77-79—156
Epson Tour
Four Winds Invitational
South Bend Country Club, South Bend, Indiana
1 Leah John 63-70-74—207 $33,750
MC Jess Whitting 74-73—147
MC Su Oh 73-77—150
MC Jennifer Elliott 76-77—153
Legends Tour
Staysure PGA Seniors Championship
Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeen, Scotland
1 Bo Van Pelt 74-72-68-71—285
Won on first hole of sudden death playoff
3 Scott Hend 76-73-71-69—289
T24 Mark Brown (NZ) 79-75-74-70—298
T33 Michael Long (NZ) 75-77-68-81—301
MC Andre Stolz 78-83—161
MC Michael Campbell (NZ) 83-79—162
PGA TOUR Americas
Osprey Valley Open
TPC Toronto (Heathlands), Caledon, Ontario
1 Carson Bacha 65-67-65-64—261
Won on second hole of sudden death
MC Grant Booth 69-70—139
MC Tony Chen 74-69—143
Defending national champion Samuel Eaves is on course to go back-to-back after a commanding victory at the PGA Professionals Championship of South-East Queensland at Nudgee Golf Club on Tuesday.
As winner of the PPC National Final at The Heritage Golf and Country Club last November, Eaves’s place in the field for the 2025 National Final (November 1-13) was already secure.
Selected in the Four Nations Cup team that will travel to Canada next month, Eaves was a late entry in the field at Nudgee but ended the day first on the leaderboard with a superb 8-under 62 on the Bulka Course.
While he had played the adjacent Kurrai host that is home to the Queensland PGA Championship, Eaves was taking his first look at the Bulka, inhaling a hamburger on his way to the 10th tee before unleashing a four-stroke win in the field of 80 PGA Professionals.
“I didn’t necessarily know where the trouble was so was able to commit to a lot of the shots and gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities,” said Eaves, pictured with Club Car Vice President for Oceania, Kevin Gates.
“It was a late decision to play the local event knowing I had already qualified for the National Final although I am extremely glad I did and gives me plenty of confidence heading into the back half of the year.
“It’s a really big year for me not only representing Australia at the Four Nations Cup and being defending champion at the PGA Professionals Championship National Final though now also a start in the Queensland PGA Championship which is exciting.”
Nudgee’s own resident Professional Chris Duke shot 66 to finish second and secure the second exemption into the Queensland PGA and a spot in the National Final, Steve Vail (67) edging Andrew Brennan (67) on a countback to claim the third and final Queensland PGA exemption.
Matt Guyatt was the leading Professional over the age of 50 and therefore receives an exemption into the 2025 Australian PGA Senior Championship while Emily Byrne is also headed to the PPC National Final as the leading female Professional.
A big thank you to event partners Club Car, CCEP and Acushnet who help to make the day such a success, a day that also incorporates the Annual State Member Forum.
Queensland qualifiers for PPC National Final
1 Samuel Eaves 62
2 Chris Duke 66
T3 Steve Vail 67
T3 Andrew Brennan 67
T5 Cameron Bell 68
T5 Craig Davis 68
T5 Mitchell Smith 68
T8 Brenton Fowler 69
T8 Matthew Guyatt 69
T8 Luke Parker 69
T8 TJ King 69
T8 Zach Ion 69
T8 Peter Martin 69
T14 Dale Walker 70
T14 Leon Trenerry 70
T14 Zac Chipperfield 70
Emily Byrne (Leading Female Professional)
Qualifiers went down to 16th place as Eaves was already exempt into National Final
Minjee Lee can move one step closer to her ambition of the LPGA ‘Super Slam’ with a victory at this week’s AIG Women’s Open that would make her a career grand slam winner.
With five majors each year since the elevation of the Amundi Evian Championship in 2013, the best players in women’s golf aspire to the Super Career Grand Slam.
Karrie Webb is the only player in history to complete the ‘Super Slam’ while those who win four of the five are bestowed Career Grand Slam status.
Only seven women have ever won four of the five, Lee now with the opportunity to become No.8 having won the 2021 Amundi Evian Championship, 2022 US Women’s Open and this year’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in Texas.
With consecutive top-five finishes from 2020-2022 the 29-year-old has not been without her chances and, given her exceptional season to date in 2025, knows there is another this week at the stunning Royal Porthcawl.
“All the majors are a great motivator for me,” said Lee, who was third at the Evian Championship and tied 21st at last week’s Women’s Scottish Open.
“Yes, I definitely want to win it at some stage and be able to get the career grand slam. That would be absolutely amazing.
“Lydia (Ko) is in the Hall of Fame and, now that I look back at it, what I can say is that’s quite a big motivation for me, to try and get those over the line.”
Lee is one of nine Australians in the final field for the final golf major of 2025, a far cry from when she joined the LPGA Tour a decade ago alongside veterans such as Karrie Webb, Sarah Jane Smith and Katherine Kirk.
With an influx driven by Grace Kim, Stephanie Kyriacou, Karis Davidson, Gabriela Ruffels, Hira Naveed and Cassie Porter – all of whom are in the field at Porthcawl – Lee reflected on her changing role within the Australian contingent on Tour.
“Obviously I’m a little older than the girls coming through now,” she added
“I don’t know how to say it. I’m not a veteran, but more of an older sister to these guys so it just feels a little bit different.
“I’ve seen them since their amateur days and junior days and now they’re on circuit with me so it kind of feels like more of a full circle moment.
“It’s really great to see them all doing pretty well and settling down on the Tour now.”
Australia’s latest major winner, Grace Kim, will be the first of the Aussies out on Thursday at 5:09pm AEST alongside Ruoning Yin and Brooke Henderson.
This week is also the final opportunity to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs with three Aussies sitting on the bubble and in danger of missing out.
Adam Scott has missed the Playoffs just once in his career and needs a two-way tie for third or better at the Wyndham Championship to move into the top 70 who advance.
Puerto Rico Open champion Karl Vilips also needs a strong showing to improve on his current position of 83rd while Cam Davis will be doing all he can to protect his current position of 67th.
Photo: Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images
Round 1 tee times AEST
AIG Women’s Open
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Porthcawl, Wales
5:09pm Grace Kim
5:31pm Minjee Lee
5:47pm Hannah Green
5:58pm Gabriela Ruffels
6:31pm Kirsten Rudgeley
7:26pm Karis Davidson
7:48pm Momoka Kobori (NZ)
9:54pm Lydia Ko (NZ)
10:32pm Steph Kyriacou
11:49pm Hira Naveed
12:11am Amelia Garvey (NZ)
12:22am Cassie Porter
Recent champion: Lydia Ko
Past Aussie winners: Corinne Dibnah (1988), Karen Lunn (1993), Karrie Webb (1995, 1997, 2002)
TV times: Live 9pm-4am Thursday, Friday; Live 9:45pm-4am Saturday; Live 9pm-4am Sunday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo Sports.
PGA TOUR
Wyndham Championship
Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, North Carolina
9:23pm* Adam Scott
10:18pm* Cam Davis
2:21am Aaron Baddeley
3:27am Ryan Fox (NZ)
3:27am* Karl Vilips
Recent champion: Aaron Rai
Past Aussie winners: Steve Elkington (1990)
Prize money: $US8.2m
TV times: Live 8:30pm-8am Thursday, Friday; Live 9:30pm-8am Saturday, Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo Sports.
Japan Golf Tour
Richard Mille Charity Tournament
Noto Country Club, Ishikawa
9:15am* Brad Kennedy
Recent champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: ¥100m
Korn Ferry Tour
Utah Championship
Ogden Golf & Country Club, Ogden, Utah
12:25am Harry Hillier (NZ)
5:10am Rhein Gibson
Recent champion: Karl Vilips
Past Aussie winners: Jeff Woodland (1992), Karl Vilips (2024)
Prize money: $US1m
HotelPlanner Tour
Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A
SCHLOSS Roxburghe, Heiton by Kelso, Scotland
10:10pm Hayden Hopewell
Recent champion: Brandon Robinson Thompson
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: £250,000
LET Access Series
Q-Tour Himmerland Championship
Himmerland Resort, Denmark
8:46pm* Stephanie Bunque
9:08pm Justice Bosio
9:08pm* Belinda Ji
9:30pm Abbie Teasdale
Recent champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €50,000
Epson Tour
Four Winds Invitational
South Bend Country Club, South Bend, Indiana
Australians in the field: Su Oh, Jess Whitting, Jennifer Elliott
Recent champion: Yahui Zhang
Past Aussie winners: Julia Boland (2012), Gabriela Ruffels (2023)
Prize money: $US225,000
Legends Tour
Staysure PGA Seniors Championship
Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeen, Scotland
5:25pm* Michael Long (NZ)
10:03pm Scott Hend
10:25pm Michael Campbell (NZ)
11:09pm* Mark Brown (NZ)
11:20pm Andre Stolz
Recent champion: Robert Coles
Past Aussie winners: Nil
PGA TOUR Americas
Osprey Valley Open
TPC Toronto (Heathlands), Caledon, Ontario
10:12pm Grant Booth
4am Tony Chen
Recent champion: Davis Shore (2023)
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US225,000
One of Australia’s most decorated golfers, and fan favourite, Adam Scott has today confirmed he will return home in 2025 as one of the headliners for the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club from November 27-30.
The first Australian to win The Masters at Augusta National, Scott is a two-time winner of the Kirkwood Cup in his home state of Queensland but has yet to win at Royal Queensland, where he was a junior member.
“Australia will always be home and returning to compete in front of the passionate and knowledgeable fans is always a nice way to end the year,” Scott said today.
“It is always exciting to play in Queensland, and especially at RQ where I spent time developing my game.”
Currently on track to join Jack Nicklaus as the only players to contest 100 consecutive major championships, with the 2026 US Open the potential century celebration, Scott returns home having recorded top-10s in his last appearances at Australia’s two major events – the BMW Australian PGA and Australian Open.
Tied for sixth at the 2023 PGA Championship, Scott was in the mix late on Sunday for a second Australian Open crown, with more silverware in his home country in Scott’s sights as he seeks to add to his 28 official wins worldwide.
He will also contest this year’s Australian Open at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
“It is an honour to have both the BMW Australian PGA and Australian Open on my resume, and I would love nothing more than to win again at home in front of family and friends,” the 44-year-old said.
“Both trophies have honour rolls full of the biggest names in not just Australian golf, but world golf, and anytime you can have success at the end of the year always makes for a nice break and sense of satisfaction.
“The Summer of Golf at home has been a constant talking point on Tour recently, and it will be great to have a truly international field showcasing our world-class courses and players.”
Joined as a confirmed starter for the BMW Australian PGA Championship by defending champion Elvis Smylie, Scott will make his 17th appearance in his home state event where he owns nine top 10s and claimed the title in 2019.
“Adam has always been one of the great supporters of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, and it is a huge boost for both tournaments that he will be teeing it up in 2025, starting at the BMW Australian PGA Championship,” PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said.
“The effort of our overseas based players to return home after a long year is highly appreciated, and after again contending at the majors in 2025, I am sure Adam will be targeting another of our biggest trophies in Australian golf.”
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said: “We’re thrilled to again be hosting Australia’s oldest professional golf tournament in 2025, an event that always assembles world-class fields, attracts massive galleries and further cements Queensland’s reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events”.
Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said: “Last year’s tournament welcomed tens of thousands of people to the manicured lawns of the Royal Queensland Golf Club, making an economic contribution of more than $15 million. We can’t wait to see what the 2025 tournament holds.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said: “Adam Scott’s return to the world-class Royal Queensland fairways will make this November’s Championship truly unmissable, especially for Queenslanders.
“The Australian PGA Championship is shaping up to be a major highlight on our sporting calendar, drawing fans from near and far to enjoy not just the action on the green, but everything Brisbane has to offer.
“As Australia’s lifestyle capital, Brisbane is the perfect backdrop for this blockbuster event, which is set to deliver millions of dollars in economic benefits for our restaurants, hotels and tourism operators.”
Tickets for the BMW Australian PGA Championship and men’s Australian Open are on sale now at www.ticketek.com.au
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.
The PGA of Australia has joined the golf world in mourning the passing of groundbreaking jewellery magnate and golf visionary, Sir Michael Hill.
The driving force behind Michael Hill Jewellers passed at the age of 86 following a battle with cancer and will be remembered not only for his jewellery empire, but for channelling his passion for golf and his homeland into the resurrection of the New Zealand Open.
Now one of the marquee events on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia schedule, the New Zealand Open was first staged at The Hills golf course near Queenstown in 2007 and Sir Michael was pivotal in its evolution into its current pro-am format.
Its success over the past decade has made it one of the most popular events each summer, for both professionals and their amateur playing partners alike, drawing titans of industry and sporting superstars from across the globe to tee it up in Queenstown.
The CEO of the PGA of Australia, Gavin Kirkman, shared his condolences on the passing of such an important figure for golf in the Asia-Pacific region.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Sir Michael,” Mr Kirkman said.
“The success of the New Zealand Open on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia owes so much not only to his generosity, but the spirit in which he gave it.
“I have no doubt that the growing stature of the New Zealand Open on the global stage has been inspirational to young golfers in New Zealand and to those professionals currently playing around the world.
“He has left an indelible mark on everyone who has had the good fortune to play the New Zealand Open over the past two decades and The Hills golf course that Sir Michael so lovingly created was a magnificent venue for the 10 occasions that it hosted and co-hosted the New Zealand Open.
“Sir Michael’s legacy will live on through the New Zealand Open and through the players he impacted along the way.”
A keen student of the violin who founded the Michael Hill International Violin Competition, Sir Michael spoke in a 2009 interview with Australian Golf Digest on not just his passion for golf, but why the New Zealand Open held such an important place in his heart.
“What is really great is being able to give something back to two extremely difficult things, golf and music,” Sir Michael said.
“That is a very odd combination and, just as important, with the New Zealand Open we are giving back to the community. To New Zealand and Australasia really, because I think our Australasian ties are becoming more and more important.”
With parents who were avid golfers, Sir Michael took up the sport at a young age and quickly turned his hand to course design.
He mowed 18 greens at the family’s property north of Whangarei and created holes using baked bean tins, the Red Star Golf Club soon becoming a popular hangout for fellow young golfers in the region.
“Looking back now it’s quite funny,” he added.
“The local boys would come along and would have to pay 1-and-6 to be a member and we had tournaments, just chipping and putting.
“It’s funny how these things come back later in life.”
Photo: Sir Michael Hill (right) with 2016 New Zealand Open champion Matthew Griffin and the late Mr Ishii, founder of Millbrook Resort. Credit: Photosport NZ
There were enough encouraging signs at last week’s Women’s Scottish Open that we can dare dream of a third straight women’s major win at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl starting Thursday.
The stunning Welsh links will welcome eight Aussies for the final women’s major of 2025, two of whom were inside the top 10 going into the final round at Dundonald Links on Sunday.
Cassie Porter and Karis Davidson were both tied ninth through three rounds in Scotland, Davidson continuing her recent strong run of form highlighted by a tie for seventh at the Meijer LPGA Classic.
While both dropped shots on the back nine to finish tied 21st alongside fellow Australian Minjee Lee, it should instil hope that they have what it takes to counter what Porthcawl throws at them and add to recent wins by Lee (KPMG Women’s PGA) and Grace Kim (Amundi Evian Championship).
Amongst the Aussie men this past week, Marc Leishman built on his four rounds at The Open Championship with a tie for 11th, enough to edge ahead of Ripper GC teammate Lucas Herbert in this week’s Power Rankings.
10. Min Woo Lee (9)
Texas Children’s Houston Open winner celebrated his 27th birthday on Sunday and is not expected to tee it up again until the FedEx St Jude Championship next week.
9. Hannah Green (8)
A tie for 12th at the US Women’s Open is the lone bright spot for Green in the 2025 major championships to date. She can rectify that at this week’s AIG Women’s Open where her best finish is a tie for 16th in 2019.
8. Karis Davidson (new)
A superb 6-under 66 in Round 3 catapulted Davidson inside the top 10 heading into the final round of the Women’s Scottish Open. Although she closed with a 74 for a tie for 21st, is in the type of form that should instil confidence heading into a major.
7. Stephanie Kyriacou (7)
Tied for 14th at the Evian Championship, Kyriacou copped a couple of bruises inflicted by the vagaries of links golf to miss the cut at the Women’s Scottish Open. Has the chance to bounce back quickly at the AIG Women’s Open.
6. Jason Day (6)
Has missed his past two cuts – including The Open Championship – after finishing tied fourth at the Travelers Championship. Has made just six starts since the Masters and is not in the field for this week’s Wyndham Championship.
5. Lucas Herbert (4)
Arguably Australia’s best-performing men’s golfer for the first half of the year, Herbert’s struggles continued at LIV Golf UK. A winner on the Asian Tour this year, Herbert struggled to keep pace at JCB Golf and Country Club, finishing tied 34th, 15 strokes back of the winner, Joaquin Niemann.
4. Adam Scott (3)
Dusted himself off after a missed cut at The Open to be the lone Aussie to play all four rounds at the 3M Open. Tied for 25th after shooting 5-under 66 in Round 3, Scott made two late bogeys in his round of 1-over 72 to drop into a tie for 53rd.
3. Marc Leishman (5)
The lone Aussie to make the cut at The Open, Leishman carried his consistent form into LIV Golf UK. Tied sixth going into the final round, the LIV Golf Miami champ lost ground with a closing 1-under 70, ultimately finishing in a tie for 11th.
2. Grace Kim (2)
With her head perhaps still spinning from what transpired at Evian Resort Golf Club, Australia’s latest major champion missed the cut at the Women’s Scottish Open. Back in action this week at the AIG Women’s Open.
1. Minjee Lee (1)
A tie for 21st at the Women’s Scottish Open was Lee’s 10th top-25 finish from 12 starts this year. A three-time major winner after her victory at the KPMG Women’s PGA, Lee’s worst result this year is a tie for 35th at the T-Mobile Match Play.
The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.
Jeremy Ward obtained full membership of the PGA of Australia 15 years ago and now sits at the centre of a three-generational tradition that is as old as the PGA itself.
Applications for the 2026 Membership Pathway Program have been open since July 1, providing not only an opportunity for enthusiastic and dedicated golfers to pursue a career in the golf industry but for existing PGA Members to help mould the next generation of PGA Members.
Ward learned the true value of mentorship first under Bruce Burrows and then David Northey at Castle Hill Country Club, Ward and Northey continuing to catch up to talk life and pro shop retail operations over dinner.
Ward has other mentors whom he seeks out to talk coaching and is now sharing that knowledge with Associates he supervises in his role as Head Professional at Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney.
Currently, Ward has Sam Reece at Oatlands in the second year of the MPP while 2025 graduate Max Dakic recently moved to the United States to take up the position of Assistant Professional at the prestigious Montecito Club in California.
It is this progression that Ward values most as a Supervising Professional.
“I’m so proud of him for that,” Ward said of Dakic, who only left Oatlands in April. “I just love that part of it.
“We have FaceTime calls every couple of weeks and he’s telling me what it’s all about.
“With Sam, I have watched this young man grow. His personality has come out over the last two years and he’s just a completely different human being.
“I’m always receiving positive feedback from members about Sam, which is awesome. That’s why I do it.”
As a Supervising Professional, Ward endeavours to instil a high level of professionalism within his Associates while offering opportunity to explore areas of the business and take responsibility for particular areas of the shop.
During his time under Ward, Dakic was trusted with the responsibility of food and drink ordering for the pro shop while, in a short space of time, Reece has become the go-to man for club repairs at Oatlands.
“A lot of the members go to Sam now for repairs,” Ward explained.
“He’ll complete the work, I’ll go and have a look at it, make sure that he’s on the right track, but that’s it. For the most part, I just let him go because he has earned that right over the past 12 months to be the repair guy.
“He’ll zip off to the repair bench and spend an hour or two there doing whatever work that needs to be done and he can do that completely unsupervised.”
It is Ward’s view that by providing an opportunity for growth, Associates don’t only become more highly-skilled, they absorb an element of the daily workload that provides the Supervising Professional time to conduct lessons and circulate amongst the membership.
Crediting former Oatlands General Manager and fellow PGA Professional Sam Howe for understanding the value of a PGA Professional, Ward invests the time saved through his Associates to better serve the Oatlands members.
“Knowing that they’re capable of doing the work allows me to do my job properly and frees me up to build relationships with members and coach,” Ward added.
As for his role within the chain of accumulated knowledge within the PGA of Australia Membership, Ward believes it is a duty that every PGA Professional should seek to accept.
“I’m a direct result of a guy like David Northey, who I learned so much from,” said Ward.
“I’m sure he felt a responsibility over me, to make sure that I finished with some idea as to how to run a golf shop and how to be a Head Professional or a Director of Golf.
“It’s the same with the Associates that I take on. I see myself as being responsible for the finished product after three years and I also feel a continued responsibility to mentor them even after their time with me has ended.
“I feel like that is my duty as a PGA Professional.”
There is still time to apply for the Membership Pathway Program. For more information click here.
Scott Hend consolidated his position at the top of the Legends Tour Order of Merit with his career-best finish in a senior major at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open in London.
Irishman Padraig Harrington became just the fifth player to win both The Open Championship and the Senior Open as Hend matched the low round of the final round – 5-under 65 – to snare outright fourth.
It betters the 51-year-old’s tie for fourth at the 2024 Senior PGA Championship and extends his advantage as the Legends Tour Order of Merit leader from Dane Thomas Bjorn and South African Keith Horne.
While they couldn’t push into contention on Sunday, the Aussie flag was prominent throughout the final men’s senior major of 2025.
Cameron Percy matched Hend’s Sunday 65 to move up into a tie for fifth, Kiwi Steven Alker (68) was outright seventh and Steve Allan (66) and Greg Chalmers (69) tied for eighth at 9-under par.
An Aussie charge also failed to materialise in the final round of the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links.
Queensland pair Karis Davidson and Cassie Porter began the final round in a tie for ninth but both shot 2-over 74 to drop into a tie for 21st alongside fellow Australian Minjee Lee (71).
Captain Cameron Smith’s tie for 10th led the way for Ripper GC at LIV Golf UK, Marc Leishman a shot further back in a tie for 11th as Ripper GC finished sixth in the teams event.
Photo: Luke Walker/Getty Images
Results
PGA TOUR Champions
ISPS HANDA Senior Open
Sunningdale GC, Sunningdale, Berkshire, United Kingdom
1 Padraig Harrington 67-65-65-67—264 €381,190.20
4 Scott Hend 68-71-64-65—268 €114,316.20
T5 Cameron Percy 69-65-70-65—269 €88,405.82
7 Steven Alker (NZ) 63-73-66-68—270 €68,512.09
T8 Steve Allan 68-67-70-66—271 €51,335.54
T8 Greg Chalmers 70-66-66-69—271 €51,335.54
T12 Richard Green 68-69-70-66—273 €37,943.66
T17 Michael Wright 72-65-68-70—275 €28,685.80
T24 Mark Hensby 64-72-69-72—277 €22,361.39
T47 Mark Brown (NZ) 70-69-74-67—280 €11,418.68
T61 Stuart Appleby 70-68-74-72—284 €5,446.52
MC Rod Pampling 68-74—142 €2,426.07
MC Michael Long (NZ) 71-72—143 €2,096.12
MC Michael Campbell (NZ) 70-76—146 €1,581.79
MC David Bransdon 75-76—151 €1,263.49
LPGA Tour/Ladies European Tour
ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open
Dundonald Links, Gailes, Ayrshire, Scotland
1 Lottie Woad 67-65-67-68—267 €255,554.10
T21 Minjee Lee 68-74-70-71—283 €22,391.41
T21 Cassie Porter 70-70-69-74—283 €22,391.41
T21 Karis Davidson 70-73-66-74—283 €22,391.41
MC Hira Naveed 71-75—146
MC Gabriela Ruffels 73-73—146
MC Momoka Kobori (NZ) 73-74—147
MC Kelsey Bennett 76-72—148
MC Kirsten Rudgeley 73-75—148
MC Grace Kim 73-76—149
MC Amelia Garvey (NZ) 78-75—153
MC Robyn Choi 79-75—154
MC Stephanie Kyriacou 72-83—155
PGA TOUR
3M Open
TPC Twin Cities, Blaine, Minnesota
1 Kurt Kitayama 65-71-60-65—261 $US1.512m
T53 Adam Scott 69-67-66-72—274 $20,118
MC Karl Vilips 70-71—141
MC Cam Davis 71-72—143
MC Aaron Baddeley 73-73—146
MC Harrison Endycott 73-73—146
MC Thomas Campbell (NZ) 73-77—150
LIV Golf
LIV Golf UK
JCB Golf and Country Club, Rochester, England
1 Joaquín Niemann 65-63-68—196 $US4m
T10 Cameron Smith 68-70-67—205 $405,000
T11 Marc Leishman 67-69-70—206 $322,143
T34 Lucas Herbert 69-72-70—211 $147,667
T40 Matt Jones 70-70-73—213 $134,000
T42 Ben Campbell (NZ) 70-74-70—214 $127,750
T50 Danny Lee (NZ) 72-72-74—218 $60,000
Korn Ferry Tour
NV5 Invitational
The Glen Club, Glenview, Illinois
1 Johnny Keefer 65-63-61-69—258 $US180,000
T30 Harry Hillier (NZ) 65-67-66-69—267 $6,155
MC Rhein Gibson 67-71—138
PGA TOUR Americas
Commissionaires Ottawa Open
Eagle Creek Golf Club, Ottawa, Ontario
1 Brett White 71-64-68-59—262 $40,500
Won on second hole of sudden-death playoff
MC Grant Booth 72-67—139
MC Tony Chen 70-70—140
Greg Chalmers will have to conjure a Grace Kim-like miracle finish as he looks to rein in runaway leader Padraig Harrington at the ISPS HANDA Senior Open at Sunningdale Golf Club.
While fellow Australian Scott Hend was the big mover in Round 3 – an equal-low round of the day 6-under 64 rocketing the Queenslander 28 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for eighth – Chalmers also made inroads.
A bogey-free 4-under 66 moved Chalmers up six spots into a tie for fourth at 8-under through three rounds, five strokes back of Harrington (65) who leads by two as he seeks to make it consecutive senior major championship victories.
Conscious of the class of the man leading the pack, Chalmers knows it will take something out of the ordinary – like Kim at the Amundi Evian Championship – to come out on top.
“He’s obviously very confident at the moment and a world-class player,” said Chalmers.
“Ultimately it’s going to take, I would imagine, some really good golf from me, regardless of who is leading or what’s going on because you rarely get to just coast around and win the Senior British Open.”
With just one bogey from consecutive rounds of 4-under 66, Chalmers again took advantage of Sunningdale’s two par 5s on day three along with birdies at the par-4 ninth and par-4 17th.
After a somewhat slow start to the week, the West Australian is now in position to better his previous best finish in a senior major, a tie for third at the 2024 Senior PGA.
“I really didn’t play that well on Monday. I didn’t strike the ball very well at all,” said Chalmers. “Sometimes stress can sort of make you go to work, and so I had a really good practice session yesterday morning before my round and shot another 4-under there yesterday and continued that today.
“I’m pleased with how I’m holing out from sort of four to six feet, and things have been going nicely. I’m happy the last two days.”
It was hard to tell whether Hend was happy despite his round of 64 that elevated him inside the top 10.
Bemoaning the poa annua greens that he says is his least favourite surface to putt on, Hend’s main motivation on Sunday will be a win that opens the door to more time in the United States.
“It means I can stay at home a lot more in the States and play the Champions Tour,” Hend said of the prospect of a Senior Open triumph.
“That’s the end goal. Just keep cracking at it.
“Just got to have my week and hopefully it’s the right week where I’m situated and playing at a Champions Tour event.”
An even-par 70 saw Cameron Percy drop six spots into a tie for 10th, Aussie trio Michael Wright (68), Mark Hensby (69) and Steve Allan a shot further back in a tie for 13th at 5-under.
Photo: Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
Round 3 Australasian scores
T4 Greg Chalmers -8
T4 Steven Alker (NZ) -8
T8 Scott Hend -7
T10 Cameron Percy -6
T13 Michael Wright -5
T13 Mark Hensby -5
T13 Steve Allan -5
T22 Richard Green -3
T61 Stuart Appleby +2
T65 Mark Brown (NZ) +3
MC Rod Pampling +2
MC Michael Long (NZ) +3
MC Michael Campbell (NZ) +6
MC David Bransdon +11
Round 4 tee times AEST
9pm Mark Brown (NZ)
9:20pm Stuart Appleby
9:55pm Richard Green
10:35pm Steve Allan
10:45pm Mark Hensby, Michael Wright
11pm Cameron Percy
11:20pm Scott Hend
11:30pm Greg Chalmers, Steven Alker (NZ)
Cameron Percy dusted off the rust after a week of sightseeing in London to lead the Aussie charge at the halfway mark of the ISPS HANDA Senior Open at Sunningdale Golf Club.
On the back of his victory at the US Senior Open, Irishman Padraig Harrington (65) moved out to a one-stroke lead through two rounds, his closest challengers coming from defending champion KJ Choi (67) and Thomas Bjorn (63).
Percy is one of four players in a share of fourth at 6-under par, fellow Australians Steve Allan (67), Mark Hensby (72) and Greg Chalmers (66) and Kiwi Steven Alker (73) also well placed heading into the weekend.
Tied for ninth at the US Senior Open, Percy conceded that school holidays and family time in London had limited his preparation but found a spark just prior to teeing off in Round 2.
“I actually haven’t touched a club for three weeks,” said Percy after a 5-under 65.
“I’ve been hanging out with the kids. They’re on school holidays. Haven’t done much at all. I’ve been over here in London sightseeing with the kids.
“I’ve been really quite rusty and really showed the way I finished yesterday.
“I found something on the range this morning with about five minutes to go and I’ve rolled with it and drove really, really nicely today.”
Percy took no time in transferring good feels on the range to the golf course in Round 2.
He hit his approach shot into the par-5 first to three feet to set up eagle, steadying after making bogeys at two and four to go bogey-free over his final 14 holes.
Perhaps indicative of the strong Aussie presence at the top of the leaderboard, Percy sees similarities between Sunningdale and the courses back home in Australia.
“It’s definitely not easy, but it’s just brilliant,” was Percy’s Sunningdale summary.
“It’s an actual golf course. It’s not a housing development.
“It reminds me so much of Australia. We water the fairways and greens, rough is whatever it is, either bare or dry, and then you got the rough rough if you really hit it off-line.
“It looks wide, but it’s not. You get off the beaten track you could be in all sorts of trouble. Fantastic.”
One back at the start of the day after a 6-under 64 on day one, Hensby was 8-under for the championship through 12 holes but dropped four shots in his final six holes to fall four shots from the lead.
Four straight birdies around the turn provided the backbone of Allan’s 3-under 67 while, playing in the same group, Chalmers had the one bogey and five birdies in his 66 to join the eight-way tie for 10th.
Last year’s runner-up, Richard Green (69), enters the weekend at 3-under alongside Queenslander Michael Wright, who kept bogeys off the card in his second round of 5-under 65.
Photo: Luke Walker/Getty Images
Round 2 Australasian scores
T4 Cameron Percy -6
T8 Steve Allan -5
T10 Mark Hensby -4
T10 Greg Chalmers -4
T10 Steven Alker (NZ) -4
T18 Richard Green -3
T18 Michael Wright -3
T25 Stuart Appleby -2
T36 Scott Hend -1
T36 Mark Brown (NZ) -1
MC Rod Pampling +2
MC Michael Long (NZ) +3
MC Michael Campbell (NZ) +6
MC David Bransdon +11
Round 3 tee times AEST
7:45pm Scott Hend
8:30pm Mark Brown (NZ)
9:35pm Stuart Appleby
9:55pm Michael Wright
10:05pm Richard Green
10:25pm Greg Chalmers
10:45pm Steven Alker (NZ)
11pm Mark Hensby
11:20pm Steve Allan
11:40pm Cameron Percy
