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The PGA Legends Tour will return to Western Australia for the first time in four years as the WA swing of the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series reaches new heights again in 2024.
A shift from its traditional June long weekend slot will see the $40,000 South West Isuzu South West Open start the WA stretch this weekend at Bunbury Golf Club.
It marks the beginning of a run of tournaments worth $275,000 with three Legends Tour events added worth a total of $75,000.
The Lyndsay Stephen Cottesloe Invitational will be played in conjunction with the Sanwell Cottesloe Open from May 11-12 and the veterans will play alongside the youngsters again at the inaugural Mitchell & Brown Spalding Park Legends Open.
The $25,000 Busselton Legends Pro-Am will conclude the Legends Tour’s foray in WA, their return helping to further elevate professional golf throughout the state.
“The Legends Tour boasts familiar names that golf fans throughout Western Australia would love to see play in person,” said Loretta Hughes, WA Tournaments and Membership Services Coordinator.
“We’re thrilled that they are able to return this year and that we will have them play alongside the current crop on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series at both Cottesloe and Spalding Park.”
A few of the names to have committed already to the Legends Tour swing are reigning Order of Merit champion Andre Stolz, current Order of Merit leader Chris Taylor and Australian Senior PGA champion Jason Norris.
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series stretch has also drawn a host of big names.
DP World Tour winners Scott Strange and Marcus Fraser are both locked in to play the South West Open starting Saturday where they will be joined by Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia tournament winners in Cameron John, Braden Becker, Daniel Fox and Rick Kulacz.
Other notable names who will tee it up during the WA swing include DP World Tour player Jason Scrivener, Korn Ferry Tour player Curtis Luck, Jarryd Felton, James Marchesani and Josh Greer.
“With our own home-grown talent and those making the trip across from the eastern states, the quality of golf we will see over the next month will be exceptional,” added Hughes.
“Our host golf clubs and sponsors have done a wonderful job in growing their events to the point where our top players now see the WA swing as an important part of their schedule.”
The GMW & Radlink Wembley Pro-Am at Wembley Golf Course will follow the South West Open on May 8 to be followed a day later by the WA PGA Foursomes Championship at Nedlands Golf Club.
Now playing the DP World Tour, Haydn Barron has vowed to team up again with good mate Ben Ferguson to go one better than their runners up finish last year to Brett Rumford and Scott Strange.
Barron’s home club, The Western Australian Golf Club, makes a welcome return to the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series for the Toro Australia – TQUIP Pro Am on May 13 before play moves five hours north to Spalding Park Golf Club.
The 2024 Mitchell & Brown Spalding Park Open will be the 50th anniversary of arguably the most popular tournament of the swing, and winner of the WA PGA Tournament of the Year in 2023. It promises to be an unforgettable event with the introduction of the PGA Legends Tour over the three days.
Sun City Country Club will host the Total Tree Services Perth Sun City CC Pro-Am for the second year after a very successful return to the schedule in 2023 where players will be asked to wear yellow as the event will incorporate the club’s Doing It For Jarrod fundraiser.
The Sun City Pro-Am was Lyle’s last professional win, his winning score remains the current course record.
The Urban Quarter Dunsborough Lakes Pro-Am will take place at Dunsborough Lakes Golf Club on May 24 before a two-week break leading into the Bennco Karratha Pro-Am in the state’s north-west.
Recent winner of the WA Regional Golf Facility of the Year and 12 months on from all 18 grass greens being in play, prize money at Karratha has increased again to $35,000, a 300 per cent increase in just two years.
The only sand green course on the WA swing, Port Hedland Golf Club will host the two-day Roy Hill Golf Classic Pro-Am from June 15-16 with the Broome WS6 and Carpet Paint & Tile Broome Pro-Am once again completing the WA leg of the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series for 2024.
Click here for PGA Legends Tour schedule
Click here for adidas PGA Pro-Am Series schedule
West Australian Hannah Green has set her sights on doubling her career win tally after joining an exclusive list of Aussie greats with a fifth LPGA Tour win in Los Angeles.
Playing in the final group with fellow Aussie Grace Kim in defence of her JM Eagle LA Championship crown, Green produced a superb back nine to sign for a Sunday round of 5-under 66 and 12-under total, three clear of Sweden’s Maja Stark (68) with a further three shots to Korea’s Haeran Ryu (69).
It was her third LPGA win inside 12 months and fifth of her career, dating back to her breakthrough KPMG Women’s PGA Championship victory in June of 2019.
The 27-year-old now joins Karrie Webb (41), Jan Stephenson (16), Minjee Lee (10) and Rachel Hetherington (8) as the only Australians with at least five LPGA Tour titles but has no intention of slowing down.
“That’s really cool. Didn’t know that stat,” said Green in her winner’s press conference.
“It’s a great honour to have my name up there along with them.
“Hopefully I keep pushing and try and get into double digits.”
Starting the final round at 7-under, Green was even par through 11 holes before a chip-in for birdie at the par-3 12th impelled her drive to the finish line.
A chip in to extend her lead 🤯@hannahgreengolf is in her element right now 🫣 pic.twitter.com/hnz83ISOgx
— LPGA (@LPGA) April 28, 2024
She backed that up with a birdie at the par-5 13th and then all but wrapped up her second straight victory at Wilshire Country Club with an eagle at the par-5 15th.
A birdie at 16 provided an extra cushion that she savoured on the 72nd hole, in particular.
“I’m really grateful that I’ve been able to step up and win by a few,” said Green, who passed $US5 million in career earnings with the winner’s cheque of $US562,500
“When I chipped in on 12, I felt like I really snagged one there.
“When I made eagle on 15 that kind of sealed the deal.
“I did see that Maja got it to 9-under so I knew what I needed to do but usually I make it really tricky on myself and only win by a shot.”
Victorious at the HSBC Women’s World Championship earlier in the season, it marks just the second multiple-win season of Green’s career. Ranked No.18 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking at the start of the week, the win also puts Green within reach of locking up a spot at the Paris Olympics in August.
“It’s definitely been on my mind,” said Green, who finished just three shots out of the medals at Tokyo 2020.
“Obviously still have six or seven weeks until the team is announced, so still a lot that can happen between now and then.
“Now that I’ve had two wins in the season, obviously this jumps me close to the top 10 in the world and solidifies my spot, but I don’t want to assume I’m on the team.
“Whatever I do between now and then, I’m just going to try and play my best golf and hope to make that team.”
Good night from Adelaide 🏆#RipperGC #LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/glkdSeSXcG
— Ripper GC (@rippergc_) April 28, 2024
There was an Aussie celebration closer to home, too, with Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman securing victory for Ripper GC in the first ever playoff in the teams event at LIV Adelaide.
After American Brendan Steele claimed individual honours at The Grange Golf Club, Smith and Leishman went out against Louis Oosthuizen and Dean Burmester of Stinger GC in the two-man aggregate format.
Two pars on the second playoff hole would be enough to claim the win, Smith and Leishman joined in wild celebrations by teammates Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones.
Results
LPGA Tour
JM Eagle LA Championship
Wilshire Country Club, Los Angeles, California
1 Hannah Green 67-69-70-66—272 $US562,500
T25 Grace Kim 64-66-76-77—283 $31,864
T39 Sarah Kemp 71-69-71-74—285 $17,644
T57 Karis Davidson 69-71-70-77—287 $9,909
MC Stephanie Kyriacou 75-71—146
MC Minjee Lee 74-72—146
MC Robyn Choi 71-75—146
MC Gabriela Ruffels 76-71—147
MC Hira Naveed 74-78—152
PGA TOUR
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana
1 Rory McIlroy/Shane Lowry 61-70-64-68—263 $US1,286,050 each
T4 Garrick Higgo/Ryan Fox (NZ) 63-72-65-65—265 $234,181
MC Erik Barnes/Harrison Endycott 67-73—140
DP World Tour
ISPS HANDA Championship
Taiheiyo Club (Gotemba Cse), Gotemba, Japan
1 Yuto Katsuragawa 70-65-65-63—263 €356,625.02
T11 Daniel Hillier (NZ) 68-67-67-68—270 €32,755.56
MC Haydn Barron 70-68—138
MC Kazuma Kobori 69-70—139
MC Anthony Quayle 69-72—141
MC Brad Kennedy 70-72—142
MC Jason Scrivener 72-71—143
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Adelaide
The Grange Golf Club, Adelaide, South Australia
1 Brendan Steele 66-64-68—198 $US4m
T9 Matt Jones 66-68-68—202 $385,500
T9 Danny Lee (NZ) 64-67-71—202 $385,500
T14 Lucas Herbert 73-65-65—203 $275,000
T14 Marc Leishman 67-71-65—203 $275,000
T14 Cameron Smith 68-65-70—203 $275,000
Korn Ferry Tour
Veritex Bank Championship
Texas Rangers Golf Club, Arlington, Texas
1 Tim Widing 62-63-65-63—253 $US180,000
MC Brett Drewitt 67-69—136
MC Rhein Gibson 66-70—136
MC Steven Bowditch 76-68—144
WD Dimi Papadatos 71
Ladies European Tour
Investec South African Women’s Open
Erinvale Country and Golf Estate, Cape Town, South Africa
1 Manon De Roey 69-67-66-72—274 €48,000
T2 Momoka Kobori (NZ) 69-70-68-71—278 €24,000
PGA TOUR Champions
Mitsubishi Electric Classic
TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, Georgia
1 Stephen Ames 71-64-67—202 $US300,000
T4 Steven Alker (NZ) 65-71-71—207 $108,000
T6 John Senden 67-70-71—208 $76,000
T17 Mark Hensby 72-71-69—212 $28,280
T17 Richard Green 67-72-73—212 $28,280
T26 Michael Wright 74-66-74—214 $17,000
T35 Stuart Appleby 74-72-70—216 $10,460
T35 Steve Allan 69-69-78—216 $10,460
T46 David McKenzie 73-73-72—218 $6,800
66 David Bransdon 73-77-74—224 $2,400
Challenge Tour
UAE Challenge
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE
1 Rasmus Neergard-Petersen 65-72-70-67—274 €44,752.94
T25 Connor McKinney 69-69-69-75—282 €2,293.59
MC Hayden Hopewell 77-75—152
MC Tom Power Horan 77-76—153
Korean PGA
2024 Woori Finance Championship
Ferrum Club (East-West Cse)
1 Seongjae Lim 70-67-71-69—277 KRW300m
T23 Wonjoon Lee 73-69-73-70—285 KRW13.8m
T44 Kevin Chun (NZ) 69-74-77-70—290 KRW7.26m
T49 Junseok Lee 68-73-74-76—291 KRW6.78m
Epson Tour
IOA Championship
Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon, Beaumont, California
1 Juliana Hung 64-64-67—195 $US30,000
2 Fiona Xu (NZ) 68-69-67—204 $19,053
T54 Su Oh 71-71-75—217 $797
MC Cassie Porter 74-74—148
MC Amelia Garvey (NZ) 81-74—155
PGA TOUR Americas
Diners Club Peru Open
Los Inkas Golf Club, Lima, Peru
1 Stuart Macdonald 69-66-65-71—271
T18 Harry Hillier (NZ) 68-70-71-71—280
T62 Jason Hong 69-73-77-74—293
MC Charlie Hillier 73-73—146
We have four on home soil and 32 players spread between the US, South America, South Africa, Asia and the Middle East in another massive week for Australia’s best golfers.
Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones return to The Grange Golf Club this week for the second edition of LIV Golf Adelaide as Hannah Green defends her JM Eagle Championship on the LPGA Tour in Los Angeles, the field boasting all nine Aussies who played last week’s Chevron Championship.
Japan Golf Tour regulars Brad Kennedy and Anthony Quayle join West Australians Jason Scrivener and Haydn Barron at the DP World Tour’s ISPS HANDA Championship where Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner Kazuma Kobori has been drawn to play with fellow Kiwi Daniel Hillier for the opening two rounds.
Queenslander Scott Hend narrowly missed out on adding to the eight-strong Aussie contingent for the PGA TOUR Champions Mitsubishi Electric Classic, he and Greg Chalmers both falling just short at the pre qualifier.
Tom Power Horan, Connor McKinney and Hayden Hopewell are playing the Challenge Tour’s UAE Challenge in Abu Dhabi, Sydney’s Jason Hong is in Lima for the PGA TOUR Americas Diners Club Peru Open and Harrison Endycott has paired up with Erik Barnes for the Zurich Classic, the PGA TOUR two-man teams event.
Ahead of her title defence, Hannah Green is ready to look past the disappointment of a missed cut at a major, and she has history on her side.
The 27-year-old missed the cut at last week’s Chevron Championship in Texas, pointing to her disastrous start on Thursday for putting her back against the wall.
Yet if she was concerned that it will hamper her return to Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles, Green needs only look back 12 months to find a formula that proved fruitful.
“Last year I also missed the cut at Chevron and came into the week and obviously won,” Green recalled.
“I am pretty good at taking results from the previous week and putting them aside, but it’s maybe a little bit more pressure now that I’ve actually won here.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge. It helps that I like the golf course. I wish that I could say that about every course we played and had the same feeling.
“It’s kind of the same when we go to Portland. I won there and had some good results and I get the same type of feelings.
“Even just playing the back nine kind of remembering the putts that I holed, I kind of recreated the putt that I holed on 18 in regulation. Just things like that really make it helpful and give me more confidence.
“I don’t want to get too ahead of myself. I still need to make sure I play four solid days of good golf.”
Round 1 tee times AEST
PGA TOUR
Zurich Classic of New Orleans
TPC Louisiana, Avondale, Louisiana
10:13pm* Garrick Higgo/Ryan Fox (NZ)
11:44pm* Erik Barnes/Harrison Endycott
Defending champions: Davis Riley, Nick Hardy
Past Aussie winners: Cameron Smith/Jonas Blixt (2017), Cameron Smith/Marc Leishman (2021)
Prize money: $US8.9 million
TV times: Live 10pm-8:30am Thursday; Live 11:15pm-8:30am Friday; Live 11pm-8am Saturday; Live 1am-8am Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
LPGA Tour
JM Eagle LA Championship
Wilshire Country Club, Los Angeles, California
12:48am Stephanie Kyriacou
12:59am Grace Kim
1:10am* Minjee Lee
1:21am* Hannah Green
1:43am* Robyn Choi
1:54am Karis Davidson
5:48am Sarah Kemp
6:21am* Hira Naveed
6:32am* Gabriela Ruffels
Defending champion: Hannah Green
Past Aussie winners: Minjee Lee (2019), Hannah Green (2023)
Prize money: $US3.75 million
TV times: Live 8:30am-11:30am Friday, Saturday; Live 8am-11am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
DP World Tour
ISPS HANDA Championship
Taiheiyo Club (Gotemba Cse), Gotemba, Japan
7:10am Jason Scrivener
12:30pm Kazuma Kobori (NZ), Daniel Hiller (NZ)
1:10pm* Anthony Quayle
2:20pm* Brad Kennedy, Haydn Barron
Defending champion: Lucas Herbert
Past Aussie winners: Lucas Herbert (2023)
Prize money: €2 million
TV times: Live 1pm-6pm Thursday, Friday; Live 1pm-5:30pm Saturday; Live 12:30pm-5:30pm Sunday on Fox Sports 503.
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Adelaide
The Grange Golf Club, Adelaide, South Australia
Shotgun start 11.45am
Australasians in the field: Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert, Matt Jones, Danny Lee (NZ)
Defending champion: Talor Gooch
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US20 million
TV times: Live 11:30am-4:30pm Friday, Saturday and Sunday on Channel 7 and 7 Plus.
Korn Ferry Tour
Veritex Bank Championship
Texas Rangers Golf Club, Arlington, Texas
10:36pm Steven Bowditch
10:59pm Dimi Papadatos
3:36am* Rhein Gibson
4:34am* Brett Drewitt
Defending champion: Spencer Levin
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US1 million
Ladies European Tour
Investec South African Women’s Open
Erinvale Country and Golf Estate, Cape Town, South Africa
6:35pm* Momoka Kobori (NZ)
Defending champion: Ashleigh Buhai
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €320,000
TV times: Live 9pm-1am Thursday, Friday, Saturday on Fox Sports 505; Live 9pm-1am Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
PGA TOUR Champions
Mitsubishi Electric Classic
TPC Sugarloaf, Duluth, Georgia
Australasians in the field: Steven Alker (NZ), Steve Allan, Stuart Appleby, David Bransdon, Richard Green, Mark Hensby, David McKenzie, John Senden, Michael Wright
Defending champion: Stephen Ames
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US2 million
TV times: Live 2am-5am Saturday; Live 6am-8am Sunday; Live 5am-8am Monday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.
Challenge Tour
UAE Challenge
Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE
12:40pm Tom Power Horan
5:40pm* Connor McKinney
6:30pm Hayden Hopewell
Defending champion: Maximilian Rottluff
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €300,000
Epson Tour
IOA Championship
Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon, Beaumont, California
Australasians in the field: Amelia Garvey (NZ), Cassie Porter, Su Oh, Fiona Xu (NZ)
Defending champion: Miranda Wang
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US200,000
PGA TOUR Americas
Los Inkas Golf Club, Lima, Peru
10:25pm Charlie Hillier (NZ)
2:55am* Jason Hong
3:25am Harry Hillier (NZ)
Defending champion: Marcos Montenegro
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US225,000
The five women-strong team who will represent Australia in this year’s Women’s PGA Cup in Oregon in October has been decided today after two days of qualifying at Sandhurst Club.
Queenslander Katelyn Must and Victorian Jenna Hunter made sure they would be on the Australian team, both tied at the top of the qualifying at 5-under after the two rounds.
Grace Lennon from Victoria finished in third place, and previous Australian captain Lisa Jean, who coaches at Royal Canberra finished fourth after 36-holes.
Tied for fifth after today’s round, a playoff was needed to determine who would make up the final spot on the team between Sienna Voglis and Jessica Cook.
Heading back to the first tee of the Champions Course at Sandhurst, Cook pulled her tee-shot left, and struggled from there while Voglis held steady to secure the final spot.
Captain of Australia in the first edition of the Women’s PGA Cup in 2019, Lisa Jean was emotional post-round, relieved she will get another chance to represent her country.
“Full of emotion at the moment. I played pretty bad today, and I knew the scores coming up 18,” she said.
Playing in the final group, a par on 18 would have put Jean into the playoff with Cook and Voglis, a bogey or worse and she wouldn’t be on the team.
“I just stood up and smashed driver, had 105-metres slightly into the wind, clubbed up to 9-iron and hit a great shot to about a metre-and-a-half,” she said.
“I was pretty nervous over the putt, and then just finally hit a really good solid putt.
“I seemed to put it all together when it mattered. I guess all those years on the European Tour paid off!”
Jean and her team mates will be looking to lean on that tour experience again in October, with all of this year’s qualifiers having plenty of past playing experience past.
“We’ve all played on tour, yeah we’re club pros now but I think that being ex-tour players and competitive, we might go alright,” said Jean.
“We’ve got a good team this year, Sienna and I are the originals we call ourselves from the first team. Then Katelyn played in the second Cup two years ago, and Grace and Jenna are just great golfers.”
The Women’s PGA Cup will be held at Sunriver Resort in Oregon from October 1-5 later this year, with Australia up against teams from Canada, Great Britain & Ireland, South Africa, Sweden and the United States.
Photo: Lisa Jean, Sienna Voglis, Katelyn Must and Grace Lennon. Absent: Jenna Hunter.
One of the unsung heroes of the Australian golf industry, Ray Walkerden, has passed at the age of 90.
Founder of Walkerden Golf in 1977, Walkerden passed suddenly last week having left an indelible mark on Australian golf.
The Managing Director of a successful pharmaceuticals company in Thailand, Walkerden was invited to make a career switch in his early 40s to become partners with colleague Geoff Howarth in a newly-established golf accessories business.
Sensing the opportunity to provide a more complete service to PGA Professionals and golf clubs throughout Australia than was being provided by major distributors, Walkerden drew parallels with what he had experienced in the pharmaceuticals game.
As Howarth covered Newcastle and northern New South Wales, Walkerden went on the road, covering an estimated 1 million kilometres travelling from golf club to golf club.
Such were his travels that Walkerden once received an award from Mercedes Benz acknowledging the 250,000 kilometres he had covered in the space of just four years.
Specialising in software such as headwear, apparel, socks and accessories, Walkerden grew the business to the point where Walkerden Golf became the Australian distributors for Softspikes, Texace and Lyle & Scott, among others.
Walkerden became sole proprietor in 1981 and developed it into very much a family business, wife Brigita taking care of the accounts back in Sydney as she raised their two boys, Brent and Clinton, both of whom continue to build on the Walkerden Golf legacy.
A club golfer at Oatlands Golf Club in Sydney, Walkerden received the Services to Golf Industry Award at the PGA Show dinner in 2002, the highest honour that the PGA can bestow on a non-Member.
“Dad’s golfing highlight was winning the C Grade Club Championship one year but to be recognised by golf professionals for his services to the industry was something he clearly treasured,” said Clinton.
In addition to servicing PGA Professionals in their retail business, Walkerden Golf was a long-time supporter of the PGA’s Trainee Program, further entrenching their positive influence on the Australian golf industry.
PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman paid tribute to the contribution Walkerden made to PGA Professionals and golfers across Australia.
“Sourcing equipment back in the 1980s and 1990s was not as easy as it is now,” Kirkman said.
“I first met Ray in 1990 and he was passionate about providing a complete service to PGA Professionals far and wide.
“Many thousands of golfers across the country will have purchased equipment distributed by Walkerden Golf without perhaps understanding the effort it took to put various items in their pro shop.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of Ray’s passing but will never forget the contribution that Walkerden Golf has and continues to make to golf in Australia.”
Presidents Cup Captain Assistant’s Geoff Ogilvy has declared Min Woo Lee a “captain’s dream” as the International Team looks to find ways to counter the might of an American team led by rampant world No.1 Scottie Scheffler.
On the day that Scheffler completed his win at the RBC Heritage to back up his second Masters victory, Ogilvy was announced as one of four Captain’s Assistants by Captain Mike Weir for the biennial matches to be played at Royal Montreal Golf Club from September 24-29. Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman and Camilo Villegas were also named Captain’s Assistants.
In current standings, Lee and Jason Day would be the only two automatic qualifiers from Australia for the 12-man team with Adam Scott and Cam Davis in the frame to either qualify or receive one of six captain’s picks.
It will be the fourth time that Ogilvy has served as a captain’s assistant and the 2006 US Open champion believes the International team is getting ever closer to breaking the stranglehold the US has possessed for the past 26 years.
Key to that may be debutant Lee, whose energy and crowd engagement Ogilvy saw first-hand at the Australian PGA Championship last November.
“I would’ve thought he’d be a captain’s dream bringing in what he brings,” said Ogilvy.
“Everybody saw at home at the PGA last year at Royal Queensland how he can take the crowd along with him. He’s that sort of guy.
“He brings such enthusiasm with an unbelievable game as well. He’s clearly world-class, one of the best young players in the world, but he’s going to bring excitement and the fist pumps and all that sort of stuff.
“When the other players see that, even if they’re not in the same group, the messages get around the golf course. If Min is getting excited and doing his thing, it inspires other groups and other players to do the same thing.
“He’s tailor made for something like this.”
Business dinner in Orlando with Captain @MWeirsy and the boys 🍽️#IntlTeam pic.twitter.com/8j3VXT5rbN
— Presidents Cup International Team (@IntlTeam) March 6, 2024
On the back of his commitment to represent Australia at the Paris Olympics, Day is also set for a return to Presidents Cup competition for the first time since 2017.
Day first qualified for the Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club in 2011 but injuries and form have kept him from participating in the past two matches.
Given his form the past 18 months and experience at the highest level, Ogilvy said that he will be a welcome addition to the 2024 International Team.
“It is great to have him back. It looks like he’s set to be back,” Ogilvy added.
“He brings a lot of experience and in these things, experience is quite important. It’s not everything, but it’s quite important.
“Clearly, he’d be happy to be sent out against anybody. He’s not going to be intimidated playing against anybody.
“His body seems to be back and he seems to have a bit of a lighter sort of feeling on the golf course.
“I think it got a bit heavy for him, but he seems to be in a really good spot.”
As for his own aspirations to potentially captain the International Team at the 2028 Presidents Cup at Kingston Heath Golf Club in his home city of Melbourne, Ogilvy couldn’t hide his interest.
“I’ve thought about it. If I had that job, that would be amazing, obviously,” said the 46-year-old.
“I’d be a captain’s assistant for the next 25 of these if they let me. It’s just such a good week.
“If I got the chance, it’d be amazing. But as long as they keep asking me to come along, I’m going to be happy.”
Photo: Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty
South Australian Wade Ormsby has delivered his best result in more than a year with a runner-up finish at the Asian Tour’s Saudi Open in Saudi Arabia.
Winner of the International Series Thailand last March, Ormsby began the final round needing to make up nine shots on runaway leader, American John Catlin.
Playing in the final group, Ormsby threw everything he had, hitting 16 of 18 greens in a superb round of 7-under 64.
It was enough to secure outright second as Catlin continued his dominant run with a 5-under par 66 and seven-shot triumph.
“John had a big lead, it was difficult, you just want to go out and play as well as you can,” said Ormsby.
“I played great, probably one little blemish on number five. There were a couple of potential tiny openings there, but he closed the door straight away.
“I am really happy with the way I played. First week after 10 years with a new caddie, Mike, so it’s nice to get off on the right foot.”
Four of the 18 Aussies in the field in Saudi Arabia finished the week inside the top 10.
The ageless Scott Hend set a cracking early pace and held on to earn a share of eighth, Maverick Antcliff (64) and Aaron Wilkin (70) logging top-20 finishes.
The women’s game crowned Nelly Korda a major champion for a second time at The Chevron Championship as Gabi Ruffels and Stephanie Kyriacou ended the week as the leading Aussies.
It marked Korda’s fifth consecutive LPGA Tour win, matching the all-time record that she now shares with Nancy Lopez (1978) and Annika Sorenstam (2004-2005).
Congratulations to Nelly Korda on her second major title and fifth straight @LPGA victory.
— WPGA Tour of Australasia (@WPGATour) April 22, 2024
It was a week at @Chevron_Golf where we made some history of our own, via @TonyWebeck.
Final wrap: https://t.co/KPELgo9OOc pic.twitter.com/e22daAK4Mp
Ruffels sat just outside the top 10 entering the final round but endured a difficult finish, including a double-bogey on the 72nd hole.
Harrison Endycott was tied for 33rd at the Corales Puntacana Championship but Jason Day and Cam Davis will have to wait an extra day to know their final result after the RBC Heritage was forced into a Monday finish.
Day (66) and Davis (67) both completed their fourth rounds as Masters champion Scottie Scheffler established a five-stroke lead with three holes to play at Harbour Town Golf Links.
The Australian flag was prominent too on the PGA TOUR Champions, Steve Allan’s first top-five finish leading the way at the Invited Celebrity Classic in Texas.
Photo: Jason Butler/Getty Images
Results
LPGA Tour
The Chevron Championship
The Club at Carlton Woods, The Woodlands, Texas
1 Nelly Korda 68-69-69-69—275 $US1.2m
T40 Stephanie Kyriacou 72-69-73-75—289 $37,299
T40 Gabriela Ruffels 69-73-70-77—289 $37,299
T54 Robyn Choi 73-73-69-77—292 $23,365
T70 Sarah Kemp 70-73-75-80—298 $15,150
T72 Karis Davidson 72-74-74-79—299 $14,515
MC Grace Kim 76-72—148
MC Hannah Green 77-72—149
MC Minjee Lee 74-77—151
MC Hira Naveed 78-77—155
Asian Tour
Saudi Open presented by PIF
Riyadh Golf Club, Saudia Arabia
1 John Catlin 65-67-62-66—260 $US180,000
2 Wade Ormsby 66-69-68-64—267 $110,000
T8 Scott Hend 66-67-70-71—274 $22,950
T14 Maverick Antcliff 67-73-72-64—276 $13,850
T17 Aaron Wilkin 73-64-70-70—277 $10,672.73
T28 Jordan Zunic 72-67-71-68—278 $8,280
T28 Harrison Crowe 68-71-70-69—278 $8,280
T37 Jack Thompson 71-70-67-72—280 $6,800
T43 Travis Smyth 70-72-69-71—282 $5,450
T62 Sam Brazel 70-72-73-72—287 $3,050
MC Justin Warren 67-76—143
MC Jed Morgan 73-70—143
MC Lachlan Barker 69-74—143
MC Daniel Gale 76-68—144
MC Todd Sinnott 70-74—144
MC Deyen Lawson 73-71—144
MC Zach Murray 73-73—146
MC Kevin Yuan 71-75—146
MC Doug Klein 73-79—152
PGA TOUR
Corales Puntacana Championship
Puntacana Resort & Club (Corales Cse), Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
1 Billy Horschel 67-69-66-63—265 $US720,000
T33 Harrison Endycott 68-70-71-69—278 $22,800
Ladies European Tour
Joburg Ladies Open
Modderfontein Golf Club, South Africa
1 Chiara Tamburlini 70-68-67-70—275 €45,000
MC Amy Walsh 81-80—161
Korn Ferry Tour
LECOM Suncoast Classic
Lakewood National Golf Club (Commander Cse), Lakewood Ranch, Florida
1 Tim Widing 67-64-67-66—264
Won on second hole of sudden death playoff
T84 John Lyras 67-67-76-73—283
86 Brett Drewitt 67-69-78-71—285
MC Dimi Papadatos 69-73—142
MC Rhein Gibson 69-73—142
Challenge Tour
Abu Dhabi Challenge
Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting & Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE
1 Garrick Porteous 66-63-64-63—256 €45,148.70
T55 Hayden Hopewell 65-70-66-72—273 €973.52
MC Connor McKinney 66-71—137
MC Tom Power Horan 69-68—137
MC Haydn Barron 71-72—143
PGA TOUR Champions
Invited Celebrity Classic
Las Colinas Country Club, Irving, Texas
1 Paul Broadhurst 65-66—131 $US330,000
5 Steve Allan 69-66—135 $105,600
T6 Stuart Appleby 71-65—136 $68,200
T12 Richard Green 69-68—137 $38,802
T12 Greg Chalmers 68-69—137 $38,802
T26 David McKenzie 70-69—139 $17,527
T26 John Senden 66-73—139 $17,527
T35 Mark Hensby 69-71—140 $12,194
T48 David Bransdon 71-71—142 $6,820
T53 Michael Wright 70-73—143 $4,730
T61 Rod Pampling 73-71—144 $3,190
PGA TOUR Americas
69th Brazil Open at Rio Olympic Golf Course
Rio Olympic Golf Course, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Reduced to 54 holes due to rain
1 Matthew Anderson 63-65-69—197 $US40,500
MC Jason Hong 73-68—141
New South Welshman Alex Edge has held off a fast finishing Caleb Bovalina to complete a wire-to-wire win at the 2024 Tasmanian Open at Launceston Golf Club.
Just the second professional winner since Darren Cole in 1992, Edge began the final round with a two-stroke lead, a buffer he increased with birdies at each of his opening two holes.
Given he began the day seven strokes off the lead, Bovalina was not expected to be one of Edge’s strongest threats yet after turning in 4-under surged into contention with an eagle at the par-5 10th to go 6-under on his round.
He would log three straight birdies from the 15th hole in a bogey-free course record of 9-under 63, one shot shy of Edge’s 9-under tournament total.
Bovalina would share second with Kyle Michel (68) as Edge closed out the biggest win of his career with a 3-under 69.
Michel drew to within one with an eagle at the par-5 15th but only briefly, Edge answering with birdie to move two clear with three holes to play.
But rather than his final birdie, Edge pointed to a par at the previous hole as the key moment in a tense final round.
“The previous hole, the tough par 3, we both missed the green and I managed to make my putt and he didn’t,” said Edge, who made a two-foot putt for bogey on the final hole for the win.
“I knew I was a few up then and then he hit a great shot into the par 5. He would’ve had six feet for eagle and I had about 20 feet. I figured that if I holed that, it’d probably be lights out for everyone else, but I didn’t.
“He did and it made it exciting for the finish.”
Bovalina could do nothing but watch on as Edge and Michel went toe-to-toe over the closing holes.
He didn’t consider that he was mounting a genuine charge for the title until he chipped in on 10 to move to 5-under.
“It’s a course that if you hit it straight and keep it on the straight and narrow you can score,” said Bovalina.
“I was 2-under through six and then I birdied seven and eight and when I chipped in for eagle on 10, that’s when I sort of knew I was in for a good day.
“Birdie on 15 – I had maybe like 15 feet for eagle – and then 16 hit a nice shot in.
“Seventeen, I was in the right rough and a bit of a sandy area. Hit a nice shot to six feet and holed the putt and ended up holing a six-foot par putt on the last to keep it bogey free.”
In the Women’s Tasmanian Open, Launceston local Jorjah Bailey produced the round of the tournament to complete a five-stroke win.
Surrounded by family and fellow Launceston Golf Club members, Bailey took a stranglehold on the title with three birdies in her opening five holes, going on to post 3-under 70 for a 2-under total.
Sydney’s Rebecca Zhao (73) was second at 3-over, three clear of Round 1 leader Matilda Miels (75).
It was a dominant win for Cameron Pollard in the Tasmanian Inclusive Championship, his rounds of 76-78 enough for an 18-shot win from Rod Welsh.
The Men’s and Women’s Tasmanian Opens are supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania
New South Welshman Alex Edge denied Ash Hall a steak dinner by extending his lead at the Tasmanian Open at Launceston Golf Club.
The second year that the Tasmanian Open has returned to the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series schedule, Edge backed up his 4-under 68 from day one with a 2-under 70 on Saturday, enough to double his lead to two strokes.
Hall delivered the round of the tournament to date – 6-under 66 – to join a logjam in second place at 4-under with Mark Panopolous (67), Kyle Michel (70) and Tim Hart (70) heading into Sunday’s third and final round.
Edge remains the man to beat, though, who overcame the disappointment of his beloved Parramatta Eels going down on Friday night to hold his position as outright leader.
Square with the card after two birdies and two bogeys in his opening seven holes, Edge showed admirable patience on the tight Launceston layout.
After a run of seven straight pars he moved to 1-under on his round with a birdie at the par-5 15th, adding a second two holes later to lead the way at 6-under par.
“Just tried to do similar to yesterday by keeping it in play,” said Edge.
“I found myself in a few awkward positions at times so I had to take my medicine and not compound any mistakes.
“I started getting a few looks when I had wedges in my hand to make some birdies and it was fine.
“This place is not all about power. You can be creative and I think that as long as I’m doing that and chip and putt nicely, then it’ll make it harder for them to get me.”
After a practice round together at Barnbougle Dunes in the days leading up to the tournament, Hall had promised himself a steak dinner on Saturday night if he’d reined Edge in.
That will now have to wait at least 24 hours despite a round that boasted nine birdies.
“I was 2-over through three, so it was good from there. Very good from there,” said Hall.
“I even dropped one on the par-5 10th as well.
“It was a bit of an in-joke. I wanted to get to the lead then we’ll go out to a nice steak restaurant.
“But if ‘Edgey’ is two in front, then no steak for me tonight.
“He is in good form though, I must admit.
“I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing, play aggressive tomorrow and see what happens.”
In the Women’s Tasmanian Open, Jorjah Bailey has moved two strokes clear at her home club thanks to a brilliant back nine in her second round of 1-under 71.
Trailing South Australian Matilda Miels by four after day one, Bailey unleashed a birdie barrage in Round 2 to move two strokes clear.
Starting from the 10th tee, Bailey had three bogeys on the trot early in her round but a birdie at the par-5 15th was a taste of what was to come.
Her second birdie of the day came at the par-5 second, the first of six in a front nine of 5-under 31 and 1-under 71 total.
At 1-over par she leads Rebecca Zhao (75) by two with Miels (78) a further shot back in outright third.
“I got a bit unlucky I’d say on my first nine,” said Bailey.
“Hit into a few trees, had a three-putt, few bunkers, but really turned it around on the front, which was really nice to see.
“I chipped in on the seventh for birdie and then I pitched two close ones up on eight and nine to really seal it with three in a row.”
Playing on her home course, Bailey admitted that there will be an extra sense of expectation in trying to close out the win in front of members and family.
“I’d say there’s a lot of pressure being at your own course,” said Bailey.
“Hitting it really well, striking it well. It all came together on that last nine so hopefully can keep doing it tomorrow.”
Saturday also saw the opening round of the Tasmanian Inclusive Championship with Coffs Harbour’s Cameron Pollard establishing a 11-shot lead with a round of 4-over 76 from Brett Misso and Rod Welsh.
The Men’s and Women’s Tasmanian Opens are supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania
NSW professional Alex Edge birdied his final hole to grab a one-shot lead after the opening round of the 2024 Tasmanian Open at Launceston Golf Club today.
The 34-year-old, who has been a regular on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia since 2016, shot a 4-under-par 68 to lead Tasmania Golf Club PGA Professional Scott Priest by a shot heading into the weekend, with Tim Hart (Qld) and Kyle Michel (Vic) sharing third at 2-under.
The leading amateur, Victorian Christopher Sayer, is part of a group of six players at 1-under, while defending champion Toby Walker is six back after a 74.
Edge’s opening round in the 54-hole adidas Pro-Am Series event featured five birdies with his only slip-up coming at the 330m par-4 16th.
“I was a pretty nice round to be fair. I kept it out of the strife all day pretty much,” Edge said.
“It was enjoyable playing a course that wasn’t crazy long and gave us a lot chances for up and downs for birdie.
“I hadn’t been here for a couple of years. It’s a nice old, style course that gives you the chance to be a bit creative and get wedge in hand pretty often.”
In the all-amateur women’s Open, Matilda Miels turned in the only under-par round on day one, a 1-under 72, to grab a two-shot lead over Rebecca Zhao with Jorjah Bailey a further two shots back.
Miels, from Kooyonga in South Australia, picked up six birdies, including a sequence of three to start her day when she took advantage of the back-to-back par-5 10th and 11th holes and the short-par 12th.
”The course is short and the greens are running quick,” Miels said.
“It was good to hole a couple of putts out there today.
“I don’t mind coming to Tasmania. My boyfriend’s parents live here. so we’ve been back a few times this year.”
Zhao (NSW) staged a great fightback on the back nine, shooting a 3-under 34 after going out in 4-over 40.
The Men’s and Women’s Tasmanian Opens are supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania
