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Given their shared history dating back to Mark Gibson coaching her father as a junior at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Golf Club, Ali Orchard conceded that day one felt weird.
Having spent the past four years working under Gibson at Mark Gibson’s Exceptional Golf teaching facility at RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast, Tuesday marked the first day of the transition to Ali Orchard Golf Performance.
It was a day where Gibson’s coaching diary was full… and greatly appreciated by his new boss.
“He’s obviously got a really strong client base that he still wants to look after and take care of,” said Orchard.
“The first day he was pumping the lessons and then he left.
“I was like, ‘Well done today.’
“I’ll remember that forever.”
At 67 years of age and a Life Member of the PGA of Australia in his 46th year of service to the game, Gibson is quick to clarify that he is not retiring.
Yes, there is a trip to Europe with his wife planned later this year, but Gibson is not yet ready to relinquish what he describes as the best of both worlds, where he is excited to go to work and excited to get home each day.
He was, however, ready to hand over the reins to a facility he has spent the past 19 years building, but only to the person he felt was perfectly suited to the role.
“I needed someone who was smart, good coach, business minded, professional, respected and with a growing profile. Every box she ticked was a no brainer,” said Gibson.
“I would’ve felt an injustice if when I finished at Royal Pines – and I’m not finishing yet – to not have someone that could carry on that legacy of the quality coaching that the team produces here.
“I’d hate to see it deteriorate and I know that won’t ever happen under Ali’s stewardship.”
The daughter of PGA Professional Paul Orchard, Ali Orchard has been able to call upon Gibson throughout her professional development.
A talented amateur player who dabbled in professional golf, Orchard completed the Sports Management Diploma at the PGA International Golf Institute where Gibson served as a PGA mentor.
It is a relationship that has only strengthened over the past four years, and which gives Orchard the foundation to build on what Gibson has established.
“Even though I admire him immensely, I’ve always felt comfortable around ‘Gibbo’,” Orchard added.
“I think he was Chairman of the PGA at the time, but I pulled him up at the PGA Awards and asked if he could take a photo of me with Mum and Dad.
“More than anything, he’ll always be a role model or a mentor. If I’m questioning something, I’ll just always ask him.
“I don’t know that I ever thought that I’d follow in his footsteps but I always felt like he’d play a part in my career.”
The opportunity is now there for Ali Orchard Golf Performance to create its own legacy.
While her work in coaching elite players and juniors and growing the number of women playing the game will continue, Orchard will apply a portion of her time to making sure her fellow PGA Members have the chance to excel.
The current coaching team also includes Nancy Harvey, Colin Edwards and Douglas Chow, Orchard eager to highlight their individual strengths within the facility.
“What excites me most about this next phase is helping everyone be the best version of themselves, both players and coaches,” she said.
“Coaches all have their own niche so it’s just highlighting why they’re awesome and then targeting their market to help more people.”
At a time when there are more and more women entering the sport, Gibson believes Orchard can leave an indelible mark during her career within Australian golf.
“To get more women professionals, you’ve got to have more women golfers. It’s a percentage thing,” said Gibson.
“Just yesterday I was reflecting on the people that I see Ali coaching, and a fairly solid proportion of her coaching list is females aged between 25-35 who are really excited to be in golf.
“Never in my whole coaching career would I have said that I had that as part of my client base.
“Ali’s going to be a great asset in bringing a lot of women into the game.”
As for their new working arrangement, Gibson likes how it has begun.
“Ali’s empathy for people will make her a great boss,” said Gibson.
“We’ve had three days so far and haven’t had a blue yet.”
Ali Orchard is currently recruiting for a Teaching Professional at RACV Royal Pines Resort. To express your interest or apply, click here.
Twelve PGA Members have secured their place at the PGA Professionals Championship National Final following state qualifiers held in South Australia and Western Australia.
Twenty-one PGA Professionals teed it up at Mount Osmond Golf Club to determine the South Australian qualifiers, 28 WA Members fighting it out for seven spots at Cottesloe Golf Club.
Based at Thaxted Park Golf Club, Cody Sherratt shot 72 at Mount Osmond to win the PGA Professionals Championship of South Australia, finishing one shot clear of Legends Tour regular Simon Pope (73).
A playoff was needed to determine the third qualifier for the National Final after Damian Wrigley, Patric Kroschel and Benjamin Stowe all shot 75, Stowe clinching his place at the National Final at The Heritage Golf and Country Club from November 11-13.
As the leading senior player on the day, Pope also earns a place in the field for the Australian PGA Senior Championship from November 7-9 while Anne-Marie Knight qualified for the National Final as the leading female Professional.
A playoff was needed also at Cottesloe to finalise the WA qualifiers.
Scott Barr, Stephen Herbert and Conor Brown (pictured top) each shot 3-under 69 to finish tied at the top and guarantee their spots at The Heritage in November.
Two-under 70 was enough for Brody Martin to clinch the fourth spot but four players – Damian Chatterley, Joshua Madden, Ackzel Donaldson and Michael Draper – were forced to play extra holes to decide the final three qualifiers.
Draper would be the unlucky player to miss out as Nicole Martino finished top among the female professionals to also advance to the National Final.
The NSW PGA Professionals Championship scheduled for this week had to be postponed due to the wild weather in Sydney, the Queensland qualifier due to be played at Nudgee Golf Club on July 29.
Four years ago, it was to be his professional launch pad yet this week’s BMW International Open represents simply the next step in the development of Elvis Smylie.
The 2021 BMW International Open in Germany was Smylie’s first international start as a professional.
It was the first of eight sponsor exemptions across two years extended to a talent barely out of his teens that had good judges drooling.
With eight missed cuts in his first eight DP World Tour appearances on foreign soil, Smylie’s introduction to the elite level largely fell flat but potential is now evolving into professional respect.
Still just 23 years of age, Smylie stared down Cameron Smith to win the co-sanctioned BMW Australian PGA Championship last November and last month played all four rounds of a major championship for the first time at the US PGA Championship.
As he looks ahead to a three-week stretch that includes the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open Championship at Royal Portrush, Smylie took a moment to look back on the four years it has taken to get here.
“It’s very hard to be able to plan what the next four years are going to look like,” Smylie reflected.
“You want it to be this smooth increment of progression, but, in hindsight, it’s actually been very up and down.
“A lot of things have changed. I’ve changed my team within the last year-and-a-half and I feel like I’m on a really good plateau to be able to achieve what I want to.
“I definitely feel like I’ve got the right people around me now to be able to guide me in the right direction.
“It’s my first full year out here where I can pick and choose what events I want to play in. Just having that comfortable feeling, knowing that you don’t have to get your card in five starts.
“You can just slowly keep building, going to all these new courses and learning as much as you can.
“Professional golf can throw a lot of things at you left, right and centre, being able to juggle all those things and trying to put your best foot forward and working hard and doing the right stuff.
“That’s something that I’ve continued to feel like I’m doing a really good job at.”
Confirming that he will return to Royal Queensland in November to defend his BMW Australian PGA Championship title, the reigning Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner also has one eye on a second consecutive appearance at The Open.
Having come through Final Qualifying 12 months ago, Smylie is excited at the prospect of preparing for Portrush with some links golf next week in Scotland.
“You want to feel confident by having good results going into big events,” said Smylie.
“That’s definitely on my mind, to be able to put a good week here and a good week in Scotland to build that confidence, knowing that the results are there as well as the good feelings that I can produce.
“Portrush will be great. I’m looking forward to getting there and doing the work and seeing how we go.”
Another with an eye on Portrush is New Zealand Open champion Ryan Peake (pictured below).
Forced to play last week’s Asian Development Tour event in Morocco with borrowed clubs – he finished tied 21st – Peake has been reunited with his sticks as he joins 13 other Australasian players for International Series Morocco.
“Game’s good. Feel like I’m starting to swing it pretty well, found more of a groove,” Peake told Asian Tour Media.
“I’ve been in Morocco for a week, playing last week, lost my clubs for seven days.
“I picked them up yesterday from the airport so feeling pretty good about this week and being able to use my old stuff again.
“Obviously excitement (about playing The Open) is starting to set in a little bit more now.
“Still not 100 per cent yet, still got this week here in Morocco but after this week’s finished, I’ll be pretty switched on and the excitement will start to hit a little bit harder.”
Photo: Maddie Meyer/PGA of America via Getty Images
Round 1 tee times AEST
PGA TOUR
John Deere Classic
TPC Deere Run, Silvis, Illinois
3:38am Karl Vilips
3:49am Jason Day
5:17am Harrison Endycott
Past champion: Davis Thompson
Past Aussie winners: Mark Hensby (2004), John Senden (2006)
Prize money: $US8.4m
TV times: 9:30pm-9am Thursday, Friday; Live 11pm-9am Saturday; Live 1am-8am Monday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
DP World Tour
BMW International Open
Golfclub München Eichenried, Munich, Germany
4:10pm David Micheluzzi
4:20pm* Daniel Hillier (NZ)
4:40pm* Elvis Smylie
5pm* Jason Scrivener
10:30pm Daniel Gale, Kazuma Kobori (NZ)
Past champion: Ewen Ferguson
Past Aussie winners: Peter Fowler (1993)
Prize money: $US2.75m
TV times: Live 8:30pm-2am Thursday, Friday; Live 8:45pm-1:30am Saturday; Live 8:30pm-1:30am Sunday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo.
Asian Tour
International Series Morocco
Royal Golf Dar Es Salam (Red Course), Morocco
4:30pm Kevin Yuan
5:10pm* Jack Thompson
5:50pm* Brett Coletta
6:20pm* Brett Rankin
9:50pm Ben Campbell (NZ)
9:50pm* John Lyras
10pm Ryan Peake
10:10pm Travis Smyth
10:20pm* Nick Voke (NZ)
10:40pm Maverick Antcliff
10:50pm* Lawry Flynn
11pm Jack Buchanan
11pm* Denzel Ieremia (NZ)
11:10pm Todd Sinnott
Past champion: Ben Campbell
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US2m
TV times: Live 11pm-3am Thursday; Live 1am-3am Saturday on Fox Sports 508; Live 10:30pm-1am Saturday; Live 9pm-1am Sunday on Fox Sports 503 and Kayo.
Ladies European Tour
KPMG Women’s Irish Open
Carton House, Ireland
5:12pm Sarah Kemp
5:48pm Amelia Garvey (NZ), Wenyung Keh (NZ)
6:12pm Amy Walsh
6:12pm* Kelsey Bennett
6:36pm* Maddison Hinson-Tolchard
10:24pm Kirsten Rudgeley
11:12pm Momoka Kobori (NZ)
Past champion: Annabel Dimmock
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €450,000
TV times: Live 3am-4:30am Friday on Fox Sports 508; Live 2:40am-4:30am Saturday on Fox Sports 506; 11:30am-1pm Sunday on Fox Sports 503; Live 10:30pm-2:30pm Sunday on Fox Sports 508 and Kayo.
PGA TOUR Americas
Explore NB Open
Mactaquac Golf Course, New Brunswick, Canada
9:30pm* Grant Booth
2am Charlie Hillier (NZ)
Past champion: Ian Holt
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: $US225,000
HotelPlanner Tour
Interwetten Open
Schladming-Dachstein Golf Club, Oberhaus, Austria
Australasians in the field: Hayden Hopewell, Sam Jones (NZ), Tom Power Horan
Past champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €300,000
LET Access Series
Swedish Strokeplay Championship
Golf Uppsala Soderby, Sweden
4:22pm* Stephanie Bunque
9:33pm* Abbie Teasdale
9:45pm Justice Bosio
9:55pm* Kristalle Blum
10:29pm Belinda Ji
Past champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
Prize money: €45,000
Legends Tour
Reignwood Legends Championship
Reignwood Pine Valley, Beijing
Australasians in the field: Michael Campbell (NZ), Scott Hend, Michael Long (NZ), Stephen Leaney
Past champion: Inaugural event
Past Aussie winners: Nil
If you told Max Ford that he could be playing major championships inside three years, the 23-year-old Queenslander would quickly shake your hand and ask where to sign.
Yet as he takes another step up in class at this week’s $60,000 Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am at Rockhampton Golf Club, Ford is in position to follow the Ryan Peake playbook and play his way into the highest levels of the sport.
A talented junior who moved from Cairns at the age of 16 to link with Chris Gibson at Royal Queensland Golf Club, Ford had fellow RQ member and Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner Jake McLeod on the bag for First Stage of Qualifying School in April.
The pair successfully navigated stage one, but Ford was unable to secure full status for the 2025/2026 season, finishing 44th at Final Stage at Moonah Links.
It’s a position Peake knows well.
As he sought to make his return to professional golf after five years in jail, Peake finished 39th at Final Stage in 2023, shifting his focus towards the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series as a means to play his way into main Tour events.
He won five times on either side of the country in less than six weeks, and, although he missed out on the major events, played 10 events across the 2023/2024 season thanks to his improved category.
A further 12 months on and Peake is a New Zealand Open champion destined to play The Open at Royal Portrush in a fortnight’s time, a timely reminder to Ford that playing well solves all.
“I didn’t know that, but now I know it’s pretty amazing to see,” Ford said of Peake’s progression.
“It’s pretty amazing how quickly life can change for everyone really in the game of golf. If you’re playing well, it can progress pretty quickly.
“It’s great to see that and that’s a great example of what can happen.”
The 2024 club champion at Royal Queensland, Ford turned professional following Final Stage, heading west shortly thereafter to play the WA swing of the Pro-Am Series.
His best performance came with a tie for seventh at the 54-hole Spalding Park Open, his breakthrough win coming in impressive fashion during the Mining Towns Series back in his home state.
Ford shot 10-under 63 to win the JET Engineering Tieri Pro-Am two weeks ago and then went back-to-back, shooting 18-under over two rounds to take out the Bolt Off Clermont Pro-Am.
With two professional wins now to his name, Ford is excited at the prospect of three rounds at Rockhampton in a field full of Tour winners.
“It’s probably more that I’ll enjoy the fact we get to play three rounds of golf instead of one or two days,” added Ford, who like Quinn Croker, James Mee and Lincoln Morgan works on the greens staff at Royal Queensland.
“Get it closer to four rounds because inevitably that’s where I want to be playing.
“That’s four rounds of golf on a week-to-week basis so I see this as a really valuable stepping stone.”
Reigning Rockhampton champion Chris Wood is back to defend his title, the field boasting winners from last year’s Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season in Ben Henkel (Gippsland Super 6), Will Bruyeres (PNG Open) and James Conran (Heritage Classic).
Round 1 tees off at 6:50am Thursday.
Victorian Lucas Herbert will play just his second major championship in the past two years after he topped Final Qualifying at West Lancashire to secure a place in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
Herbert’s 5-under 67 was the best of the second round by two strokes, his 8-under par total for 36 holes enough to clinch medallist honours by one stroke from China’s Sampson Zheng.
Herbert was the lone Australian across four qualifying venues to earn a place at The Open to be played July 17-20, Sydney’s Kevin Yuan missing out on the playoff at West Lancashire by a single shot after making birdie at his final hole.
Queensland amateur Billy Dowling finished two strokes out of the playoff at West Lancashire, Daniel Gale was tied 24th at Royal Cinque Ports, Hayden Hopewell tied 29th at Dundonald Links and Jake McLeod tied 30th at Bernham and Burrow. Also playing at West Lancashire, Harrison Crowe was tied 53rd.
The 2024 US PGA Championship is the only major that Herbert has played since missing the cut at the 2023 Open Championship.
The reigning Ford NSW Open champion has won on the Asian Tour this year and been Ripper GC’s most consistent performer on LIV Golf, the 29-year-old thrilled to be returning to major championship golf.
“I’m super excited to be going to Portrush. I love playing in The Open,” said Herbert, who narrowly missed out on qualifying spots at the Australian Open, New Zealand Open and International Series Macau.
“For us Australians, it was the major we watched overnight growing up. It’s really cool be playing in another one and joining my (Ripper GC) teammates, Cam Smith and Marc Leishman, there.
“I’ve made it hard on myself just missing out on qualifying before now, but I’ve finally got there.
“I had chances in Australia, Macau and New Zealand and I couldn’t finish it off so it’s definitely tested my patience.
“I’m glad it’s held out in the end.”
Herbert’s qualification takes the total number of Australians in the field to nine. He joins Jason Day, Min Woo Lee, Marc Leishman, Curtis Luck, Ryan Peake, Adam Scott, Cameron Smith and Elvis Smylie.
Photo: Getty Images
Australian golf rising star Elvis Smylie has today locked in the defence of his BMW Australian PGA Championship title.
This year’s championship, co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour, will again be hosted by Royal Queensland Golf Club from November 27-30.
The 23-year-old from the Gold Coast provided one of the major highlights of last season’s Summer of Golf when he held off three-time champion Cameron Smith to win the Joe Kirkwood Cup for the first time.
It propelled Smylie onto the world stage by earning him status as a full-time member of the DP World Tour and he went on to claim the 2024/25 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit title.
“Winning the Joe Kirkwood Cup for the first time was a huge honour and definitely the highlight of my career so far,” Smylie said.
“I have some great memories of that final Sunday. It meant so much to win at home in front of my family and friends in one of Australia’s most important championships.
“Being a BMW ambassador just made it even more special. “Although there’s still a lot of this year to play out, I can’t wait to get back to RQ and try to do it all again.”
PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said: “Elvis played some spectacular golf at Royal Queensland last year, especially down the stretch when he had one of our game’s greats in Cam Smith playing alongside him and trying to chase him down”.
“It’s been very rewarding to see his progress since then, winning our Order of Merit for the first time and going on to play successfully internationally, including at his first US PGA Championship where he made the cut at his first attempt of a US Major and he now has The Open Championship to come.
“We look forward to seeing Elvis back at Royal Queensland where I’m sure he will be determined to get his name on the Kirkwood Cup for the second time.”
Wolfgang Buechel, CEO of BMW Group Australia – the title partner of the Australian PGA Championship – said: “BMW has a long and proud association with Elvis, and it has been delightful for us to witness his remarkable rise in world golf.
“We look forward to his return to the BMW Australian PGA Championship in 2025, where our entire team will be there to cheer him on.
“We also look forward to again be the title partner of the BMW Australian PGA Championship – an event that continues to go from strength to strength and perfectly complements our partnerships with the PGA, Golf Australia and the WPGA.”
Minister for Sport and Racing and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander said:“Elvis Smylie’s win last year was a standout moment for Queensland and Australian golf, you could see how much it meant to him to lift the Joe Kirkwood Cup on home soil.
“It’s no surprise he’s eager to return and defend his title, and I’ve no doubt fans will turn out in force to see if he can do it again.”
“Now in its fifth consecutive year at Royal Queensland Golf Club and just 15 minutes’ drive from Brisbane, the BMW Australian PGA Championship continues to deliver for Queensland. It brings in thousands of visitors, fills hotels and restaurants, and showcases our state as a premier destination for world-class sporting events.”
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said: “Brisbane is excited to host this world-class event for the fifth straight year in 2025, bringing thousands of passionate fans back to Royal Queensland Golf Club.
“Elvis Smylie is the first big name confirmed to compete, but certainly won’t be the last – promising fans another thrilling Championship.
“Brisbane is Australia’s lifestyle capital, and this event is a hole in one for our city, boosting our economy as visitors pack our hotels, restaurants, and local attractions.”
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.
Sunshine Coast Professional TJ King will be joined by three new faces when the PGA of Australia team travels to Canada to contest the 2025 Four Nations Cup.
To be held at The Pulpit Club an hour outside Toronto from September 2-5, the 2025 tournament marks the third playing of the Four Nation’s Cup that brings together PGA Members from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa.
King, the Assistant Professional at Mount Coolum Golf Club, has been a constant in the Australian team since 2022 and was part of the victorious Australian team along with Scott Laycock, Jayden Cripps and Brad McLellan at Moonah Links in 2023. The Four Nation’s Cup was not held in 2024.
The past two winners of the PGA Professionals Championship National Final, Matthew Docking (2023) and Samuel Eaves (2024), will make their Four Nations Cup debuts along with Sanctuary Cove Teaching Professional Mitchell Smith.
Smith finished tied second alongside Docking at last year’s PPC National Final at The Heritage Golf and Country Club and will now try to play his part in Australia’s title defence on foreign soil.
PGA Member Director, Steve Hutchison, will travel with the team as the non-playing manager and is excited that three Members will experience the Four Nations Cup for the first time.
“The Four Nations Cup is not only a chance to compete and represent the PGA of Australia internationally, it is an opportunity to learn and establish relationships with fellow PGA Members across the globe,” said Hutchison.
“The issues faced by our Members on a day-to-day basis are very similar to those that PGA Professionals around the world are experiencing.
“Sharing what we know and hearing how other Professionals deal with certain challenges can be of great benefit to our Membership as a whole.”
The Lees have made a habit in the past of winning in consecutive weeks and, for one round, it looked like it might happen again this past week.
Just four days after sister Minjee won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, Min Woo took an early front-running position at the Rocket Classic in Detroit with a round of 9-under 63.
Equalling his low round of the year – the other 63 coming in Round 3 of his Texas Children’s Houston Open win – Lee dropped back with a 73 in Round 2 but shot 10-under across the weekend to earn a share of 13th.
It was the standout performance for the Aussies across the weekend, Kelsey Bennett’s tie for 19th at the Amundi German Masters another strong showing in her maiden season on the Ladies European Tour.
10. Karis Davidson (New)
After taking time away from the game in 2024 is now establishing herself as a bona fide talent on the LPGA Tour. A tie for seventh at the Meijer LPGA Classic was Davidson’s best result on the LPGA Tour. She has since followed that up by playing all four rounds at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and tie for 10th at the Dow Championship.
9. Stephanie Kyriacou (8)
Skipped the two-player teams event at the Dow Championship after surviving four brutal rounds at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Can now look ahead to next week’s Amundi Evian Championship where she was runner-up 12 months ago.
8. Karl Vilips (7)
Finally able to get back on course but the Puerto Rico Open champion played just two rounds before missing the cut at the Rocket Classic in Detroit. One of just three Aussies in the field for this week’s John Deere Classic.
7. Min Woo Lee (9)
Four days after sister Minjee won her third major, Min Woo burst from the blocks at the Rocket Classic in Detroit. His 9-under 63 in Round 1 was a course record for just a few hours, his eventual tie for 13th his best result since winning the Texas Children’s Houston Open in March.
6. Hannah Green (6)
Remains 11th on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking despite missing the Dow Championship in Michigan. Without a top-10 finish since the JM Eagle LA Championship in April.
5. Marc Leishman (5)
In something of a struggle for the Ripper GC boys at LIV Golf Dallas, the LIV Golf Miami champion finished in a tie for 25th, second to skipper Cameron Smith who was tied 13th.
4. Adam Scott (4)
Squeezed in a social hit at home in Switzerland after a run of five tournaments in seven weeks on the PGA TOUR, highlighted by his tie for 12th at the US Open. Next slated to tee it up at the Genesis Scottish Open next week.
3. Jason Day (3)
A tie for fourth at the Travelers Championship on the back of his top-25 finish at the US Open saw Day reclaim the mantle as Australia’s highest-ranked male player in the Official World Golf Ranking. In the field for this week’s John Deere Classic.
2. Lucas Herbert (2)
A second straight disappointing result for Herbert on LIV Golf, shooting 6-over in the final round to finish tied 40th at LIV Golf Dallas. Dropped to seventh in the individual season standings as Ripper GC finished tied seventh in the team event.
1. Minjee Lee (1)
Australia’s most recent major winner revelled in the week off to celebrate her KPMG Women’s PGA Championship triumph. Now sets her sights on the Amundi Evian Championship next week, the tournament where she made her major breakthrough in 2021.
The Australian Golf Power Rankings is a subjective list developed with input from members of the Australian Golf media team.
His birthday wish may not have come true yet Mark Hensby left happy after contending all week at the US Senior Open in Colorado.
Co-leader each of the first three days at The Broadmoor, Hensby played in the final group for the second straight day alongside major champions Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink.
A poor start where he dropped shots at the first and fifth holes would ultimately prove costly for Hensby, Harrington (67) establishing a five-stroke gap with birdies at two, three and five, the Irishman claiming his second US Senior Open in three years by one stroke from Cink (68).
Celebrating his 54th birthday, Hensby (73) finished in a tie for fourth, his second top-five finish in the event since 2022.
“When you play with a Hall of Famer and Stewart Cink, obviously a very accomplished player, it’s always fun,” said Hensby.
“You always learn something from them, what they do.
“I felt comfortable, I must admit. Obviously, we all get nervous, but I just didn’t get off to the start I needed to really contend.
“Overall, I’m happy for the week. I had a good week.
“I’m going to be honest, today I just got off to a bad start. We just hit a few clubs that probably weren’t the right clubs and hit it in some bad spots where it’s hard to two-putt.
“Just couldn’t get any momentum going. Just couldn’t get the putter right today.”
Victorian Cameron Percy closed with a superb 4-under 66 to sneak inside the top 10, Scott Hend (70) and Greg Chalmers (69) making it four Aussies inside the top 20.
A briefly held course record 9-under 63 in Round 1 gave Min Woo Lee the foundation for his best PGA TOUR result since his win in Texas in March, a tie for 13th at the Rocket Classic in Detroit.
Cameron Smith closed well to also earn a share of 13th at LIV Golf Dallas while Cassie Porter teamed up with Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh to finish tied sixth at the Dow Championship, the second top 10 of her rookie season on the LPGA Tour.
Results
PGA TOUR
Rocket Classic
Detroit Golf Club, Detroit, Michigan
1 Aldrich Potgieter 62-70-65-69—266 $US1.728m
Won on fifth hole of sudden-death playoff
T13 Min Woo Lee 63-73-68-66—270 $172,000
T82 Harrison Endycott 67-66-78-72—283 $17,280
MC Cam Davis 74-70—144
MC Aaron Baddeley 71-73—144
MC Karl Vilips 71-74—145
US Senior Open
The Broadmoor (East Cse), Colorado Springs, Colorado
1 Padraig Harrington 67-67-68-67—269 $US800,000
T4 Mark Hensby 67-67-68-73—275 $165,012
7 Steven Alker (NZ) 69-72-66-70—277 $119,882
T9 Cameron Percy 72-71-70-66—279 $85,798
T16 Scott Hend 71-69-71-70—281 $54,727
T18 Greg Chalmers 70-72-71-69—282 $45,563.75
T22 Steve Allan 71-71-69-72—283 $34,923.50
T22 Rod Pampling 70-71-69-73—283 $34,923.50
T32 Stuart Appleby 71-70-73-72—286 $20,952
T45 Richard Green 71-71-73-73—288 $10,630
MC Michael Campbell (NZ) 74-73—147
MC Mathew Goggin 77-74– 151
MC Brendan Jones 83-70—153
MC Richard Lee (NZ) 78-77—155
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Dallas
Maridoe Golf Club, Carrollton, Texas
1 Patrick Reed 67-68-75—210 $US4m
Won in sudden-death playoff
T13 Cameron Smith 75-71-68—214 $320,000
T21 Ben Campbell (NZ) 73-70-74—217 $225,000
T25 Marc Leishman 75-70-74—219 $180,000
T40 Danny Lee (NZ) 74-76-74—224 $134,333
T40 Lucas Herbert 75-71-78—224 $134,333
T46 Matt Jones 79-75-71—225 $124,000
DP World Tour
Italian Open
Argentario GC, Monte Argentario, Italy
1 Adrien Saddier 69-64-67-66—266 €436,314.18
T16 Kazuma Kobori (NZ) 66-71-67-70—274 €34,648.48
T28 Daniel Gale 68-71-70-68—277 €22,842.33
T41 Daniel Hillier 70-68-71-70—279 €14,629.36
T50 Danny List 68-67-70-76—281 €9,606.24
T69 David Micheluzzi 68-69-71-76—284 €4,619.79
MC Elvis Smylie 70-72—142
MC Jason Scrivener 69-74—143
MC Brett Coletta 76-77—153
LPGA Tour
Dow Championship
Midland Country Club, Midland, Michigan
1 Jin Hee Im/Somi Lee 67-63-68-62—260 $US399,510 ea
Won on second hole of sudden-death playoff
T6 Cassie Porter/Gemma Dryburgh 66-62-73-63—264 $50,621
T10 Karis Davidson/Daniela Darquea 68-66-69-62—265 $35,017
T30 Robyn Choi/Jenny Bae 70-62-74-63—269 $8,282
T35 Fiona Xu (NZ)/Mariel Galdiano 68-66-74-64—272 $6,638
MC Lydia Ko (NZ)/Danielle Kang 71-68—139
MC Sarah Kemp/Alena Sharp 73-68—141
MC Hira Naveed/Sofia Garcia 72-70—142
Ladies European Tour
Amundi German Masters
Green Eagle Golf Courses, Germany
1 Shannon Tan 70-69-68-76—283 €45,000
3 Amelia Garvey (NZ) 68-72-73-72—285 €18,000
T14 Maddison Hinson-Tolchard 75-74-71-72—292 €5,362.50
T19 Kelsey Bennett 70-73-73-77—293 €4,545
T46 Momoka Kobori (NZ) 75-71-75-77—298 €1,590
MC Amy Walsh 79-80—159
MC Wenyung Keh (NZ) 75-85—160
Korn Ferry Tour
Memorial Health Championship
Panther Creek Country Club, Springfield, Illinois
1 Austin Smotherman 65-63-68-63—259 $US180,000
T69 Harry Hillier (NZ) 70-67-72-68—277 $3,910
MC Rhein Gibson 72-67—139
MC Brett Drewitt 72-69—141
HotelPlanner Tour
Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge
Golf PGA France du Vaudreuil, Le Vaudreuil, France
1 David Horsey 72-66-65-69—272 €48,000
Won in sudden-death playoff
T28 Sam Jones (NZ) 71-70-73-67—281 €2,520
MC Hayden Hopewell 74-76—150
Epson Tour
Otter Creek Championship
Otter Creek Golf Course, Columbus, Indiana
1 Jillian Hollis 66-68-68—202 $US37,500
T22 Jess Whitting 71-69-73—213 $2,620
T43 Su Oh 72-71-73—216 $1,373
MC Jennifer Elliott 74-77—151
MC Soo Jin Lee 73-79—152
LET Access Series
PGA of Sweden Championship Landeryd
Landeryds Masters & Landeryds Vasterby, Sweden
1 Katharina Muehlbauer 66-68-71-74—279 €8,678.08
T10 Kristalle Blum 72-73-74-68—287 €1,450.87
T10 Belinda Ji 72-72-74-69—287 €1,450.87
T14 Stephanie Bunque 72-73-69-74—288 €1,152.56
T33 Justice Bosio 77-68-73-73—291 €722.27
T41 Abbie Teasdale 73-71-77-71—292 €629.16
Korean PGA Tour
KPGA Gunsan CC Open
Gunsan Country Club, Korea
1 Tae Hoon Ok 69-67-65-68—269
T47 Sungjin Yeo (NZ) 70-72-71-74—287
MC Wonjoon Lee 71-76—147
WD Junseok Lee 78
Mark Hensby can make it a birthday to remember after maintaining his place at the top of the leaderboard through three rounds of the US Senior Open in Colorado.
The New South Welshman will mark his 54th birthday by playing in the final group at The Broadmoor alongside major champions Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink on Sunday after all three posted rounds of 2-under 68 in Round 3.
Harrington and Cink both made fast starts on Saturday, Hensby reviving his hopes with an eagle at the par-5 ninth and a chip-in birdie at the par-4 13th.
He assumed the outright lead at 9-under with birdie at the par-4 14th but squandered a golden chance to end the day one clear, missing a short birdie chance at the par-4 finisher to remain locked together with Harrington and Cink at 8-under par.
Hensby is seeking to become just the second Australian to win the US Senior Open and the first Aussie to win a senior major championship since Stewart Ginn at the 2002 Senior Players Championship.
It marks the third straight week an Aussie has played in the final group of a major championship (Adam Scott at US Open, Minjee Lee at KPMG Women’s PGA), Hensby embracing his place within the marquee grouping.
“Any time you play with two great players like that, it’s definitely fun,” said Hensby.
“Didn’t get off to the best start, but as Padraig said, we all kind of made a few birdies there in a row and we started to get things going.
“It’s fun playing with those two guys. They’re just such great players.
“When you get two great players like that who start off as well as they did, especially Padraig, you kind of expect it to a certain extent.
“I just felt like I’ve just got to play my game and try and just do the best I can do all day and see what happens.
“Fortunately, some things started to go my way, got a couple of nice breaks.”
Expecting an early birthday call from family back home in Australia before sleeping on a share of the lead, Hensby hopes to make it a celebration to remember.
“It’s funny, my birthday is always on this week. It’s either Thursday, Wednesday, or tomorrow it’s Sunday,” he added.
“My family will call me tonight, I’m sure, but yeah, we’ll celebrate tomorrow.”
Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn is the only other player within four strokes of the lead, Kiwi Steven Alker five back after a superb 4-under 66 in Round 3.
Photo: Logan Whitton/USGA
Round 3 Australasian scores
T1 Mark Hensby -8
T6 Steven Alker (NZ) -3
T12 Rod Pampling E
T14 Steve Allan +1
T14 Scott Hend +1
T23 Greg Chalmers +3
T23 Cameron Percy +3
T29 Stuart Appleby +4
T38 Richard Green +5
MC Michael Campbell (NZ) +7
MC Mathew Goggin +11
MC Brendan Jones +13
MC Richard Lee (NZ) +15
Round 4 tee times AEST
11pm Stuart Appleby
11:11pm* Richard Green
11:22pm Cameron Percy
11:33pm Greg Chalmers
11:55pm Scott Hend
12:06am Steve Allan
12:17am Rod Pampling
12:39am Steven Alker (NZ)
12:50am Mark Hensby
