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Australian Greg Chalmers is ready to embrace the pressure of a maiden PGA TOUR Champions title after joining Ernie Els at the top of the leaderboard at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in Michigan.
Following the completion of Round 2 on Saturday morning, Round 3 began with Chalmers seven strokes back and in a tie for 13th but would end with the West Australian tied with Els at 10-under in a congested leaderboard.
Fellow Aussie Richard Green (70) is part of that log-jam at 8-under and outright fifth, Richard Bland (74) and Chris DiMarco (71) one back of Chalmers (66) and Els (69) at 9-under.
Making just his fifth start in the senior ranks and without full status on the Champions Tour, Chalmers knows that there will be emotions in the final round that he has not experienced since his lone win on the PGA TOUR in 2016.
“This is the thing, I haven’t had this for so long” said Chalmers, who soared up the leaderboard with a run of six birdies in seven holes around the turn in Round 3.
“This is the great thing about Champions Tour golf. It feels like you’re part of a big event, which you are.
“I’ve been looking forward to this opportunity. I need the challenge. I’m looking forward to see how I do tomorrow and how I play.
“See if I can embrace it with both hands and play some good golf.”
What a Third Round for Greg Chalmers! #SrPGAChamp pic.twitter.com/Ye4N1FEj20
— KitchenAid Senior PGA Champ (@seniorpgachamp) May 25, 2024
Although he had three bogeys on the front nine, Green was able to keep himself in contention with twin eagles at five and nine.
He holed an 80-foot putt from the front of the green for eagle on five and then chipped in from 35 yards on nine, the three-time winner on the Legends Tour in Europe eager to convert a chance to win in the US for the first time.
“Those two eagles, you know, they saved my round today big time,” said Green.
“I dropped a couple shots, and to get myself back under par and through nine holes was really nice.
“When things go right like that, you feel like you’re in for a good week.
“You know, I work so hard on my game in the background and it feels like it would be nice to be my time.”
Leave the putter in the bag, Richard Green! 🙌
— KitchenAid Senior PGA Champ (@seniorpgachamp) May 25, 2024
Watch LIVE on @NBC. #SrPGAChamp pic.twitter.com/261JsPhB8p
The Australian flag is prominent down the leaderboard through three rounds.
Scott Hend (70) is just one back of Green in a tie for sixth, Cameron Percy (68) is tied for 16th in his PGA TOUR Champions debut, Stuart Appleby (72) and Michael Wright (75) are in a share of 25th with David McKenzie (71), Mick Smith (74) and Mark Hensby (77) eager to improve their standings in the final round.
Australasian scores after Round 3
T1 Greg Chalmers 69-68-66—203
5 Richard Green 64-71-70—205
T6 Scott Hend 68-68-70—206
T16 Cameron Percy 69-72-68—209
T25 Stuart Appleby 70-69-72—211
T25 Michael Wright 69-67-75—211
T49 David McKenzie 72-72-71—215
T55 Mick Smith 72-70-74—216
T55 Mark Hensby 68-71-77—216
T60 Vijay Singh (FI) 67-77-73—217
MC Steve Allan 73-73—146
MC Michael Long (NZ) 72-74—146
MC Rod Pampling 70-77—147
MC David Bransdon 76-75—151
MC Brad Burns 72-81—153
DQ John Senden 75-70—145
WD Michael Campbell (NZ)
Photo: Patrick McDermott/Getty Images
Sydney’s John Lyras has got the better of Elvis Smylie in an epic back-nine duel to claim the $50,000 Lexus Townsville Classic at Townsville Golf Club.
A day after breaking the course record with a round of 10-under 61, it took just three holes for Lyras move past Smylie and take the outright lead for the first time all week.
Two holes later that advantage pushed out to two before the pair separated themselves from the field with a brilliant display of top-class golf.
Starting from the par-4 ninth, Lyas made seven birdies in the space of eight holes as Smylie endeavoured to keep pace with five straight birdies of his own from the short par-4 10th.
When Lyras birdied the par-5 16th he held a four-stroke lead, Smylie’s birdie at 17 and Lyras’s bogey on the final hole reducing the final margin of victory to two shots.
Five-over through four holes on Thursday, Lyras played his next 50 holes in 23-under par, backing up Friday’s 61 with a 9-under-62 for an 18-under par winning total, his first official win on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series.
“When I made the birdie on 16, that was the first time I felt comfortable,” said Lyras.
“Elvis pushed all the way. We played incredible golf on the back nine. I think we both reeled off five birdies straight at one point.
“It was good to see we holed a couple of putts on top of each other on the back nine too, and a couple of incredible up and downs.
“It was really high quality golf and honestly, every time I’ve played with Elvis, it’s been high quality golf.
“He is a super kid and he’s an incredible player with an incredible personality and mindset about the game, too.”
As other players fought against the wind that buffeted the twisting Townsville layout, Lyras decided to ride with it.
It is a skill he has honed playing alongside the likes of Travis Smyth, Stephanie Kyriacou and Harrison Crowe at St Michael’s Golf Club in Sydney’s east, a skill he believes brings out his best.
“The wind opens up a bit more of a creative mind in me,” said Lyras, who has five top-five finishes on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
“It’s been a really incredible development to my game and opened a lot of doors for a bit more of a creative and artistic mindset about the game.
“Really trying to zone in on a shot and picture it a little bit more than maybe some of the guys can. I know for me, I struggle seeing straight shots, so with wind there it kind of helps me a little bit.”
Smylie had to settle for second with a round of 6-under 65 and 16-under total, four shots clear of James Mee (65) with Blaike Perkins (68) and Andrew Campbell (70) rounding out the top five.
Although he finished well down the leaderboard, Michael Dean left with one of the tournament highlights, making a hole-in-one at the par-3 second hole.
Playing 144 metres, Dean used the disappointment of a bogey on the opening hole to muscle an 8-iron that finished in the bottom of the cup.
“Hole two played a little into the wind so I hit 8 a little harder with a little draw,” Dean said.
“The wind pushed it back onto the hole and it one-hopped and in.”
Richard Green continues to lead the Australian contingent at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, where eight of his fellow countrymen will make the cut and England’s Richard Bland leads at the halfway mark.
Sharing the lead after round one, it was an up-and-down day for Green on Friday at Harbor Shores, where he mixed five birdies with the same number of bogeys for an even par 71 and 7-under total.
The Victorian shares sixth place, five shots back of Bland, who signed for a second round 66 to lead American Scott Dunlap by one at the year’s second major for the over-50 crowd on a day when weather halted play and Miguel Angel Jimenez made a 15th career hole-in-one.
Playing his first year on the PGA TOUR Champions, Queenslander Michael Wright had the best round of the day for of the 14 strong Australian group, with his 4-under 67 lifting him into a share of 11th alongside Scott Hend, who signed for a second straight 68 to be 6-under.
Greg Chalmers needed the same number of shots as Hend on day two to be a shot further back in joint 13th, with Stuart Appleby and Mark Hensby tied 20th on 3-under the next best.
Making his senior golf debut after topping the qualifying school and waiting for his 50th birthday, Cameron Percy is at 1-under and in a tie for 34th, while Wisconsin based club pro Mick Smith on even par will also be through to the final 36 holes once the cut is made on Saturday morning when the final groups complete the second round.
David McKenzie set to make the cut on the number of 2-over, with Fijian Vijay Singh also scraping through thanks to a final hole birdie to jump back inside the top half of the field.
The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
Australasian Scores
T6 Richard Green -7
T11 Michael Wright -6
T11 Scott Hend -6
T13 Greg Chalmers -5
T20 Stuart Appleby -3
T20 Mark Hensby -3
T34 Cameron Percy -1
T41 Mick Smith EV
T60 David McKenzie +2
T60 Vijay Singh +2
T70 John Senden +3
T86 Steve Allan +4
T86 Michael Long +4
T95 Rod Pampling +5
T126 David Bransdon +9
T133 Brad Burns +11
WD Michael Campbell
Josh Greer’s first win as a professional was again a joint effort as he and Ryan Peake shared victory at the Urban Quarter Dunsborough Lakes Pro-Am on Friday.
Winner of the WA PGA Foursomes Championship with Nathan Barbieri two weeks ago, Greer was still chasing an individual title on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series.
He got that at Dunsborough Lakes Golf Course, albeit a shared victory with Peake with rounds of 5-under 67.
Greer’s Foursomes partner Barbieri was one of six players to finish in a tie for third at 3-under 69, Braden Becker, Kathryn Norris, Daniel Fox, Rick Kulacz and Tim Elliott also finishing two shots back.
HOW THE WINNING ROUNDS UNFOLDED
Remarkably, both eventual champions began their rounds on the eighth tee, Peake playing in the group in front with Greer just behind.
Peake wasted little time making forward progress on the leaderboard with two opening birdies, Greer also picking up a shot at the par-5 eighth before three straight pars.
Greer put the foot down with four straight birdies from the par-5 12th but gave two back with bogeys at 16 and 17 before rounding out the back nine with a birdie.
One after the other, the pair both headed to the first tee at 4-under par and took advantage of a par 5 again to start the front nine with birdies.
Peake countered a bogey on two with a birdie at six to be the first to post 5-under, Greer giving up the chance at an outright win with a bogey on his final hole.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
Peake: “It’s always a pleasure to drive down here. It’s obviously going to be much more pleasurable driving home as well tonight after having a good day.
“As happy as I am obviously to share the win, congratulations to Josh. What an absolute milestone.
“Tonight’s probably a little bit more about you receiving all your medals and awards and things like that.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
T1 Ryan Peake 67
T1 Josh Greer 67
T3 Braden Becker 69
T3 Nathan Barbieri 69
T3 Daniel Fox 69
T3 Kathryn Norris 69
T3 Rick Kulacz 69
T3 Tim Elliott 69
NEXT UP
With a short break in the WA swing, attention on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series now turns to North Queensland. The Lexus Townsville Classic concludes on Saturday to be followed by the Abbot Point Operations Bowen Pro-Am at Bowen Golf Club on Wednesday.
Queenslander Elvis Smylie has a one-stroke advantage after John Lyras broke the course record on a day of low scores at the Lexus Townsville Classic at Townsville Golf Club.
Playing in the same group as Round 1 leader Andrew Campbell, Smylie began the day three back but had drawn level by the time the pair walked off the fifth green.
The talented left-hander edged one clear with a birdie on six, had Campbell draw level on seven before he took a one-stroke lead into the back nine with a birdie at the par-4 ninth.
He and Campbell both made birdie at the short par-4 10th before Smylie built a handy buffer with an eagle at the par-5 14th.
A final birdie at the par-5 16th saw Smylie sign for a round of 6-under 65 and two-round total of 10-under, one clear of Lyras (61) with Campbell (70) a shot further back in outright third at 8-under.
Now in his third year as a professional, Smylie is still chasing that elusive first win but knows he need not veer from the game-plan on Saturday to break through.
“I felt like I gave myself a lot of looks at birdies and a couple of greens are just tricky and hard to read,” said Smylie, who will shortly head to Europe to play on the secondary Challenge Tour.
“I felt like if I just keep knocking them close and giving myself chances, I’ll have a good shot tomorrow.
“I’ve just got to keep doing what I’m doing.”
In what may be a good omen as he seeks to close out a maiden win on Saturday, it was late in the round where Smylie made his move.
An aggressive tee shot set up an eagle from 12 feet on the par-5 14th and a monster drive on 16 left Smylie with just a 46-degree wedge into the final par 5 on the golf course.
“I felt like you have a really good chance at making some shots up against the field, especially 16,” Smylie said of the finish at Townsville.
“The wind was playing straight down fan today, so I was hitting a 46-degree wedge into there. I feel like if you are not making four, you’re losing shots against the field.
“My game-plan tomorrow is just go and attack the par 5s I have been and then leaving myself on the right side of the holes with the shorter holes.
“I feel like I’m driving it well so if I can give myself nice little chips from the right areas around the short par 4s, I think I’ll do a good job tomorrow.”
Lyras’s hopes of contending looked slim when he played his first four holes in 5-over par in Round 1.
The New South Welshman fought back to end day one at 1-over and then went on a tear on Friday.
He had 10 birdies and no bogeys to set a new benchmark of 10-under at Townsville, making birdie at each of his final four holes to keep the heat on Smylie.
“Very different round of golf, very different start,” Lyras said post-round.
“Hit two beautiful shots into number one and that kind of kick-started the round.
“It was still tough to make putts but I was fortunate to give myself a lot of really short birdie putts today.
“That was very important out there given the wind and how difficult it was to make putts from length.”
As a teaser to the large crowd that gathered on Friday afternoon, Lyras lit up the par-3 18th with a lasered 4-iron to close with a birdie and set a new course record.
“That birdie on 18 was phenomenal,” he added.
“I was tossing and turning between 4 and 5-iron and I just committed to hitting like a punchy, cutty 4-iron that held up against the wind.
“It couldn’t have come out any better and rolled in a really nice seven-foot putt for birdie.
“That was a cherry on top of a really good day out there.”
The final round will begin at 7:15am on Saturday with the Smylie and Lyras to tee off on the first hole at 12:15pm.
Australia’s Richard Green took full advantage of some strong lead-in form and an early tee time to share the lead at the conclusion of the first round of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores.
Tied with Englishman Richard Bland on 7-under, the pair leads the second over-50 major championship of the year by two shots from a five-strong group that includes Mike Weir (Canada), Steve Stricker (US) and K.J. Choi (Korea).
“It was an exceptionally good day. You know, it’s a very challenging golf course, and one that can really bite you at times,” Green said.
“The start of the day it was to go out there and treat it with as much respect as possible and play good golf shots, and I was doing that, which was nice. Got off to a great start.”
One of 14 Aussies in the field in Michigan, Green’s “great start” came in the second group of the day with immediate success following a birdie at the par-4 first with another at the third before switching to another gear two holes later.
Taking on the par-5 fifth in two, the Victorian nearly didn’t need his putter as the ball took a look going past the hole before the left-hander rolled in his eagle putt to reach 4-under.
“Hit a great drive down five and left myself about 250 yards to the flag I think I had, something like that. I knew my hybrid carries around the high 220s,” he said.
“Hit it just perfect and just shaped it in there nicely and it was tracking towards the hole. I think it ran across the edge of the hole and finished about maybe seven feet past the hole; then hit a really nice putt and made it.
“So that was obviously one of those exceptional holes at the right time and get the round going really well.”
Green would drop a shot at the next, before finding more joy on the par-5s when birdieing the ninth and 10th holes, as well as the par-3 11th to sit alone on top of the leaderboard on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course that is hosting the tournament for a sixth, and final time, this week.
His opening 64, which follows four top-15 finishes in PGA Champions events already this year, was only matched by Bland in the fifth last group of Thursday.
Vijay Singh is the next best of the Australasian contingent in a share of eighth on 4-under, while Scott Hend and Mark Hensby are another shot back in a tie for 13th.
Making his first start on the PGA TOUR Champions after topping the qualifying school but needing to wait for his 50th birthday earlier this month, Cameron Percy is in joint 20th on 2-under alongside compatriots Greg Chalmers and Michael Wright.
The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
Australasian Scores
T1 Richard Green -7
T8 Vijay Singh -4
T13 Scott Hend -3
T13 Mark Hensby -3
T19 Cameron Percy -2
T19 Greg Chalmers -2
T19 Michael Wright -2
T38 Stuart Appleby -1
T38 Rod Pampling
T65 David McKenzie +1
T65 Michael Long +1
T65 Mick Smith +1
T65 Brad Burns +1
T85 Steve Allan +2
T107 John Senden +4
T122 David Bransdon +5
WD Michael Campbell
A new driver and a hot putter proved a potent mix as Andrew Campbell took a two-stroke lead after Round 1 of the Lexus Townsville Classic at Townsville Golf Club.
The reigning adidas PGA Pro-Am Series Order of Merit winner, Campbell opened with a round of 7-under 64 on Thursday morning, a score that held up as the day’s best at the completion of Round 1.
Queensland’s Dylan Gardner (66) is Campbell’s closest challenger with Elvis Smylie in a four-way tie for third with newly-minted professional Jye Pickin, Brock Gillard and Jack Pountney at 4-under 67.
Playing with Smylie, Campbell found himself two shots back of his playing partner when he made bogey at the par-4 12th but responded with birdies at 14, 16 and 18 to turn in 2-under.
He still trailed Smylie by a shot but there was a two-shot swing at the par-5 first when Smylie made bogey and Campbell made birdie.
It was the second in a run of five in the space of six holes, the highlight of which was a 35-footer that rolled in dead centre at the par-3 third.
“It was playing 180, I hit 7-iron pin high to about 35 feet left of it just on the green,” said Campbell.
“I took relief from a bare patch and obviously put it in the right spot. Aimed it just outside the left and it just motored straight in the middle of the hole.
“It’s a nice feeling to hole a long putt any time then I just kicked on from there, making two birdies after that.”
Campbell made a switch from a Titleist to a Callaway driver on the eve of the tournament, a move that created opportunities for the flatstick to do its thing on the green.
“For me, it’s a deadly combination when I can drive it good and putt it well,” Campbell added.
“I’ve been playing Titleist for the last couple of years and had a chat to Dan Cooper, the tour rep for Callaway. I’m at a position where I can test a few different things and I just brought it up with me and had a practice round yesterday.
“Didn’t miss a shot so it kind of spoke for itself and had to go in the bag.
“I just trusted it and it’s working well so I’m just going to keep rolling with it.”
A recent graduate of the PGA’s Membership Pathway Program based at Pelican Waters Golf Club on the Sunshine Coast, Gardner was quick out of the blocks.
He began with a birdie at the par-5 first and birdied four, six, seven and nine to play the front nine in 5-under 30.
Six straight pars followed into the back nine before a birdie on 16 and bogey on 18 saw him end the day two back.
A birdie at the par-4 eighth had Smylie in line to also finish Round 1 at 5-under par only to drop a shot on his final hole.
Veteran Sam Brazel made a late charge with four straight birdies on the back nine to reach 3-under par as defending champion Brett Rankin struggled to a 2-over 73 to be tied for 31st.
Adam Scott hopes that a win as world No.1 a decade ago can be the catalyst to a drought-breaking win at this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas.
Scott, Min Woo Lee and Cam Davis make up the Aussie contingent at a tournament that has been kind to their countrymen dating back to Bruce Crampton’s win in 1965.
The only player on the PGA TOUR with victories at all four annual tournaments in Texas, Scott’s win in 2014 only came after a last-minute decision to tee it up having been crowned the No.1 player in the world only a week earlier.
Headed by his 2013 Masters triumph, Scott’s Colonial victory 10 years ago was his third in the space of 13 months as he scaled professional golf’s highest peak.
It’s now been more than four years since Scott’s most recent win but in his first start at Colonial since 2018 the Queenslander is excited to tap into some former glories.
“It was a really special week,” Scott reflected. “It was a great time in my career.
“I had just moved to world No.1 the week prior and I hadn’t planned on playing the event.
“I was world No.1 by the smallest of margins and I felt like if I didn’t play I could lose the position.
“I decided to enter fairly last minute, and actually came in and got off to a pretty bad start that week. I shot 4-over my first nine and ended up winning the tournament.
“It was a great week to play as world No.1 and I managed to hang on to that spot, at least that week anyway.”
Home away from home 🤠
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 22, 2024
Adam Scott is the only player to win all four of the annual PGA TOUR stops in Texas. pic.twitter.com/vXQxwR9nXz
Impressed by the “refresh” undertaken by course designer Gil Hanse, Scott insists his own form is not indicative of recent results.
Disappointed not to play the weekend at last week’s US PGA Championship at Valhalla, Scott’s last top-10 finish came at the WM Phoenix Open in early February but believes he just needs a turn of fortune to feature on the leaderboard.
“I think my game is in better shape than results are showing,” said the world No.62.
“I know pretty much everyone who is not in the top 10 in the world is probably saying that, but that’s how I feel.
“I hope that some good karma from this golf course kind of inspires a few better things for me on the golf course this week.”
There are 14 Aussies and two Kiwis teeing it up at the second senior major of the year, the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship at Harbor Shores in Michigan.
Cameron Percy and Greg Chalmers will make their senior major championship debut while four-time PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit winner Brad Burns is taking the rare opportunity to play in the US.
Round 1 tee times AEST
PGA TOUR
Charles Schwab Challenge
Colonial Country Club, Fort Worth, Texas
10:22pm* Cam Davis
10:55pm* Adam Scott
11:28pm Min Woo Lee
4:40am Ryan Fox (NZ)
Defending champion: Emiliano Grillo
Past Aussie winners: Bruce Crampton (1965), Bruce Devlin (1966), Ian Baker-Finch (1989), Adam Scott (2014)
Prize money: $US9.1 million
TV times: Live 10pm-3am Thursday, Friday, Saturday on Fox Sports 503; Live 11:20pm-3am Sunday on Fox Sports 507 and Kayo.
PGA TOUR Champions
KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship
Golf Club at Harbor Shores, Benton Harbor, Michigan
9:15pm* Scott Hend
9:26pm Richard Green
9:48pm Cameron Percy
9:59pm* Stuart Appleby
10:21pm* Rod Pampling
10:32pm* David McKenzie, Mark Hensby
10:43pm* John Senden
11:16pm* Michael Long (NZ)
11:27pm* David Bransdon
2:40am Mick Smith, Greg Chalmers
3:02am Brad Burns
3:35am Michael Campbell (NZ)
4:41am Michael Wright
4:52am Steve Allan
Defending champion: Steve Stricker
Past Aussie winners: Peter Thomson (1984)
Prize money: $US9.1 million
TV times: Live 3am-6am Friday, Saturday; Live 3am-8am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
DP World Tour
Soudal Open
Rinkven International GC, Antwerp, Belgium
5pm David Micheluzzi
5:20pm Sam Jones (NZ)
9:10pm* Jason Scrivener
9:20pm Daniel Hillier (NZ)
10pm* Haydn Barron
Defending champion: Simon Forsstrom
Past Aussie winners: Noel Ratcliffe (1978)
Prize money: $US2.5 million
TV times: Live 9pm-2am Thursday, Friday; Live 9:30pm-2am Saturday on Fox Sports 505; Live 9pm-2am Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Ladies European Tour
Jabra Ladies Open
Evian Resort Golf Club, France
5:06pm Kirsten Rudgeley
8:13pm Amy Walsh
8:40pm Momoka Kobori (NZ)
Defending champion: Linn Grant
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €300,000
Japan Golf Tour
Road to the British Open Mizuno Open
JFE Seto Inland Sea Golf Club, Okayama
9am Anthony Quayle
9:10am Brad Kennedy
1:35pm Michael Hendry (NZ)
Defending champion: Kensei Hirata
Past Aussie winners: Brian Jones (1990), Roger Mackay (1991), Brendan Jones (2004, 2013), Chris Campbell (2005), Brad Kennedy (2012)
Prize money: ¥100 million
Korn Ferry Tour
Visit Knoxville Open
Holston Hills Country Club, Knoxville, Tennessee
9pm Brett Drewitt
10:50pm Jimmy Zheng (NZ)
1:55am Rhein Gibson
2:45am* Dimi Papadatos
Defending champion: Rico Hoey
Past Aussie winners: Kim Felton (2005), Jarrod Lyle (2008)
Prize money: $US1 million
Challenge Tour
Danish Golf Challenge
Odense Eventyr Golf, Odense, Denmark
6:10pm Connor McKinney
6:20pm Hayden Hopewell
10:10pm Andrew Martin
10:20pm Tom Power Horan
Defending champion: Matteo Manassero
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €270,000
Korean PGA Tour
KB Financial Liiv Championship
Blackstone Golf Club, Icheon, Korea
8:35am* Wonjoon Lee
12:50pm Junseok Lee
1:05pm* Kevin Chun (NZ)
2:05pm* Sungjin Yeo (NZ)
Defending champion: Kim Dong-min
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: KRW700 million
Sunshine Tour
KitKat Cash & Carry Pro-am
Irene Country Club, Centurion
3pm* Austin Bautista
Defending champion: Louis Albertse
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: R2 million
The run of major championship golf continues, this time with the over-50s getting their turn. Here is all you need to know about the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship where 14 Australians, a trio of Kiwis and a Fijian will be among those teeing it up in Michigan.
The great Peter Thomson was a winner of this title back in 1988.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Steve Stricker (US)
PRIZEMONEY: US$3.5 million
LIVE SCORES: www.srpgachampionship.com
TV COVERAGE: The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
*All times AEST.
Round One: Friday 3am–6am (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
Round Two: Saturday 3am–6am (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
Round Three: Sunday 3am–9am (Fox Sports 507/Kayo)
Final Round: Monday 5am–8am (Fox Sports 505/Kayo)
AUSTRALASIAN PLAYER PROFILES
STEVE ALLAN
Age: 50
The lowdown: One of the new crop of Aussies on the PGA TOUR Champions this year, Allan has experienced some mixed results since turning 50, with the Victorian first trying his hand at senior golf at home in Australia before earning his card in America at Q School.
Fifth at the Invited Celebrity Classic, which was one of four top-25 finishes in 2024, the 2002 Australian Open winner still works incredibly hard at his game and his ball striking and fitness should help with the increased test of a major.
STUART APPLEBY
Age: 56
The lowdown: A nine-time PGA TOUR winner, Appleby made his living with an incredibly high standard of ball striking and a putter that could catch fire at any moment.
Finishing in the top-25 four times this season, Appleby’s lead-in form bodes well for his chances this week, with the Cohuna native finishing tied 11th last start at the most recent senior major (Regions Tradition) and joint runner-up at the Insperity Invitational in his previous appearance.
DAVID BRANSDON
Age: 50
The lowdown: Earning his card at the qualifying school earlier this year and gaining instant success on the PGA Legends Tour at home, Bransdon makes his senior major debut this week in Michigan.
Already with a top-10 on his record from seven starts, and two more inside the top-25, Bransdon is a well-travelled professional who continues to compete on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and is in the upper echelon for driving distance on the PGA TOUR Champions.
BRAD BURNS
Age: 57
The lowdown: A prolific winner at home on the PGA Legends Tour, and four-time Order of Merit champion, Burns is a much loved fixture of Australian golf who relishes the rare chances he gets to ply his trade overseas.
Played this event in 2021 and missed the weekend action, but his form over the summer would suggest a better showing for Burns and his dart like iron play.
MICHAEL CAMPBELL
Age: 55
The lowdown: The winner of the 2005 U.S. Open doesn’t play much in America these days, but remains a joy to watch in every facet of the game that made him one of the purest strikers of the golf ball when he first emerged and nearly claimed The Open at St Andrews.
Campbell played all four rounds at Harbor Shores two years ago, and while he hasn’t shown much in the States this year, the Kiwi has always been a mercurial player who can catch lightning in a bottle for a week as he did at Pinehurst nearly 20 years ago.
GREG CHALMERS
Age: 50
The lowdown: After falling just short of a full card at qualifying, everyone’s favourite Twitter follow has earned a number of starts at pre-qualifying, including this week at Harbor Shores.
From his four starts this year, Chalmers has recorded three top-15 finishes and while known throughout his career as one of the finest putters in the game, Chalmers competing regularly on the PGA TOUR until turning 50 and working hard on his body means his distance is a distinct advantage.
RICHARD GREEN
Age: 53
The lowdown: One of the players to truly thrive post turning 50, Green is a regular presence on the PGA TOUR Champions, although the Victorian is still chasing a first victory on the biggest stage for over-50 golfers.
Already this year Green has amassed six top-25s from nine starts, while he is one of the Aussie contingent with previous experience at Harbor Shores from his missed cut back in 2022.
SCOTT HEND
Age: 50
The lowdown: Arguably the golfer to have travelled more miles to conduct his profession than any other, although Gary Player would like a word, Hend has remained active, and more importantly competitive, on the Asian Tour into his fifth decade.
Hend is a proven winner around the world and as the first non-American to lead the PGA TOUR distance statistic will be having plenty of short clubs into the greens this week. A genuine smoky who could get himself some status with a win.
MARK HENSBY
Age: 52
The lowdown: Providing one of the highlights of 2023 when he claimed the Invited Celebrity Classic after his rollercoaster career, Hensby has yet again been a consistent performer so far in 2024.
Third twice this year, Hensby was T18 at the Regions Tradition and the last time the Senior PGA was held at Harbor Shores, the PGA TOUR winner shared eighth after back-to-back rounds of 67 to close.
MICHAEL LONG
Age: 55
The lowdown: The tall New Zealander who makes his home in Western Australia headed for Europe upon turning 50, before the pandemic altered his plans after winning the Legends Tour qualifying school.
Four times a winner on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, Long is no stranger to success in America, with two wins on the Korn Ferry Tour and his mid-field result last start in Europe suggests he could be a factor here this week.
DAVID MCKENZIE
Age: 56
The lowdown: Highly experienced on the PGA TOUR Champions, with more than 100 starts to his name, McKenzie has been solid if not spectacular from his limited opportunities so far in 2024.
A long-time player on the Korn Ferry Tour, and one-time winner, McKenzie has plenty of experience at Harbor Shores having played two Senior PGAs there previously and it is with the putter where the Victorian can be dangerous.
ROD PAMPLING
Age: 54
The lowdown: A two-time winner on the PGA TOUR Champions, including last year’s SAS Championship, Pampling has long held a reputation as a high quality ball striker with a capability to go very low.
Already has two top-10s this year, including earlier this month at the Insperity Invitational, the Queenslander is another of the Australasian contingent with previous experience at Harbor Shores that should help his cause this week.
CAMERON PERCY
Age: 50
The lowdown: Percy makes not only his senior major debut this week, but also his PGA TOUR Champions maiden appearance this week after winning the Q School but only turning 50 earlier this month.
Having picked the brain of close friend Greg Chalmers, and similarly competing on the PGA TOUR until last season, Percy knows his distance will be an advantage on the over 50s circuit and will hope his birthday luck continues after backing the winner of the Kentucky Derby at his celebrations.
JOHN SENDEN
Age: 53
The lowdown: A two-time winner on the regular PGA TOUR, Senden has plenty of experience already in the senior game and showed what he is capable of at the end of last month when finishing joint sixth at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic.
A straight driving and green hitting machine in his prime, the Harbor Shores layout should fit the eye of the Queenslander if he can find close to his best.
VIJAY SINGH
Age: 61
The lowdown: Despite being more than 10 years into his senior golf career, the World Golf Hall of Fame member continues to outwork the vast majority of professionals of any age.
A five-time winner on the PGA TOUR Champions, Singh’s best finish so far this year was a share of sixth last month, and despite being eligible multiple times has only teed it up at Harbor Shores once, limiting his course knowledge.
The Fijian still ranks highly for driving distance among the over 50s and that will be a significant advantage this week, however, as always for Vijay, a good result is dependent on the putter.
MICK SMITH
Age: 51
The lowdown: The first results of a Google search of Mick Smith will bring about details of his impressive credentials as a teaching professional, however, make no mistake the Wisconsin-based Aussie can seriously play.
A regular winner in his local PGA section, think Michael Block in the west coast, Smith makes his second PGA TOUR Champions start this week and will no doubt be keen to show what he can do on a big stage.
MICHAEL WRIGHT
Age: 50
The lowdown: A journeyman who epitomises never giving up, Wright’s big moment came with a hole out at Q School to earn his way onto the PGA TOUR Champions, but bigger yet could come this week.
As one of the fresh 50 year olds, Wright is one of the longest drivers on Tour so far this year and performs well in the birdie categories that could bode well if this week offers up some low scores. A very consistent putter, Wright’s competitiveness and resilience are arguably his greatest attributes at the senior majors.
THE COURSE
For the sixth time, The Golf Club at Harbor Shores welcomes the best players over the age of 50 in the game, with the Jack Nicklaus designed layout last hosting the event in 2022 when Kiwi Steve Alker triumphed.
Offering a mix of vegetation lined inland holes and more open parts with vistas of Lake Michigan, the course stands out for its rugged bunkering and dunes that mean players are really greeted with a flat lie or uninterrupted view of the putting surface.
He insists the swing needs some tweaks but Nathan Barbieri’s putter proved the difference at the Total Tree Services Perth Sun City CC Pro-Am at Sun City Country Club.
Winner of Q School in April and with a maiden adidas PGA Pro-Am Series victory at the Cottesloe Open, the New South Welshman is riding high on confidence and with a flatstick to match.
Barbieri’s round of 7-under 65 was enough to edge West Australian Ben Ferguson by a shot with left-hander Ryan Peake third at 5-under 67.
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
After starting his round from the par-4 12th hole it took Barbieri just two holes to record his first birdie of the day at the par-3 14th.
He backed that up with a second at the par-5 15th and then closed out Sun City’s back nine with three straight pars.
Three birdies in the first four holes to start the front nine helped to separate Barbieri from the field, two further birdies at seven and nine enough to build the buffer he needed for a second win in the WA swing.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I started well. I was a couple under through four or five holes and then picked up a couple after the turn,” said Barbieri.
“I then had the easiest stretch with the short par-4 and the short par-5s and then just played steady from there.
“I made some really nice putts all day. Didn’t have any three-putts and the greens were quick, so the putting definitely took over today.
“I’ve been rolling it really nice pretty much since I got here. I’ve still got to fix the swing a little bit before the season starts but it’s been good.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Nathan Barbieri 65
2 Ben Ferguson 66
3 Ryan Peake 67
T4 Brady Watt 68
T4 Jordan Doull 68
6 Daniel Hoeve 69
NEXT UP
The $50,000 Lexus Townsville Classic begins on Thursday at Townsville Golf Club while the WA swing continues on Friday with the Urban Quarter Dunsborough Lakes Pro-Am at Dunsborough Lakes Golf Course near Busselton.
