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The second week of the Western Australian swing of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia heads to Mandurah Country Club this week for the 100th staging of the Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open.
With names like Ian Baker-Finch, Greg Norman and Gary Player etched into the Roy Paxton Bowl, the WA Open has a long and proud history, with recent stagings often unearthing the next big Australian talent.
In celebration of its 100th year, nine past champions of the event will be in the field at Mandurah. From Tour regulars Simon Hawkes and Braden Becker to overseas based players like Korn Ferry Tour player Curtis Luck and even the likes of three-time champion Kim Felton, all would love to add to their tally.
The tournament has also attracted DP World Tour players Haydn Barron and Jason Scrivener, who despite being two of Western Australia’s brightest stars, have not managed to triumph in their home Open, something they would love to change.
Another two players to watch this week will be youngsters Jack Buchanan and Jordan Doull who battled it out in the playoff last week at the CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics, especially Doull who recently joined Mandurah as a member.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Simon Hawkes (Tasmania)
PRIZEMONEY: $175,000
LIVE SCORES: www.pga.org.au
TV COVERAGE: The Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
*All times AEDT.
Round 3: Saturday 4pm-7pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
Final Round: Sunday 2pm-7pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
THE COURSE
Mandurah Country Club’s original layout was designed by Murray Dawson and opened in the early 1960s as a 9-hole sand greens course, later upgrading to an 18-hole grass green facility with a renovation completed in the late 1990s by Greg Simmonds.
Incorporating new fairway and greenside bunkers, the result is a challenging par-71 known in the region for its pure Santa Ana couch fairways and bentgrass greens.
Trees line the doglegging fairways while the bunkering around the raised greens will pose a threat this week to the players, who would be best to heed the advice of local Becker and keep their approach shots below the hole on the elevated putting surfaces.
A new championship course record was set earlier this year, when Declan Hoskin fired a 67, but word is that many of the players in the field this week have gone very low around Mandurah in social rounds.
HEADLINERS
Jack Buchanan – 2024 WA PGA champion
Jason Scrivener – 2017 NSW Open champion and DP World Tour player
Curtis Luck – 2016 WA Open champion and Korn Ferry Tour player
Braden Becker – 2021 WA Open champion
Haydn Barron – DP World Tour player
Ben Eccles – 2023 WA PGA champion
Jordan Doull – Runner-up at 2024 WA PGA
Will Bruyeres – 2024 PNG Open winner
Dimi Papadatos – Four-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner
Cameron John – 2023 winner of The National Tournament
Phoenix Campbell – 2023 QLD PGA winner and new pro
Reflecting on his win at the 2021 Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open, Braden Becker says staying at home and sleeping in his own bed went a long way in keeping him comfortable that week and gave him the extra edge he needed when the final day went down to the wire with Hayden Hopewell.
Not only is Becker sleeping in his own bed this week, but he’ll be also contesting the 100th WA Open on his home course at Mandurah Country Club.
Having been at Mandurah since he was a junior, Becker also completed the PGA Membership Pathway Program there and still works at the club, even helping a member with a club fit after his practice round on Monday.
“I would’ve played here, I don’t know, somewhere 1,500 to 2,000 times at least,” said Becker of his home track.
“I think the course looks great, they’ve definitely got the greens up and the fairways look fantastic, super smooth.
“Obviously it’s not very long golf course, but it’s very tight, and knowing where to miss is super important.”
The Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
His breakout win in 2021 at Royal Fremantle solidified Becker’s status on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, however despite having consistent seasons, he has been unable to re-enter the winners’ circle since hoisting the Roy Paxton Bowl.
Becker played both the opening events of this season, following up his T35 finish at the PNG Open with a T35 in Kalgoorlie last week in Kalgoorlie, but says he is happy where his game is at.
“The game’s sort of trending in the right direction, so I’m happy with that,” he said. “Obviously I really wanted to peak this week just, because it is what it is, being at my home course.
“I’m happy with how I’m driving the ball, happy with how I’m putting and chipping, so all the aspects of the game are there, just got to just minimise my own mistakes, pick the right holes to make a mistake.”
While Becker will have a significant advantage over most of the field this week, he’s not the only one, with a flurry of Mandurah locals hoping to hoist their home state’s open in its historic 100th year at their home course.
WPGA Tour of Australasia player Kathryn Norris is another Mandurah hopeful, and is one of four women in the field this week continuing a strong tradition of Western Australia’s top women golfers teeing it up in the state open.
Norris’s partner, who was playing so much golf at Mandurah that he has recently joined the club himself, Jordan Doull will be another player the Mandurah members will be backing this week.
Bursting onto the scene with a runner-up finish last week at Kalgoorlie, Doull will be looking to go one better at his new home club in addition to Mount Lawley, where he is among the star members that includes Hannah Green and Hira Naveed.
Arguably Mandurah’s best hope for a local winner however is Jason Scrivener, who is returning to contest his state open fresh off securing his DP World Tour card for another season.
Scrivener’s house is just over the fence from the 10th green at Mandurah, and like Becker, could probably play this course with his eyes closed. The pair played a casual round together a few months ago, with Scrivener lipping out on the 18th green to eventually card a 58.
Come Sunday, the balcony overlooking the 18th at Mandurah will be full, and if one of their fellow members is leading down the stretch, Becker says the scenes will be a sight to behold.
“I think anyone from here could do it, you definitely will see some scenes,” he said. “Everyone will run on the green and it’ll be a pretty wild celebration night.
“If it’s me, I might have to change my Monday flight, I might have to fly out Wednesday, but I mean it would be the best feeling ever.”
With a career of expertise in construction as a registered electrical contractor, Andrew Lacey has now set about transferring his extensive skillset and experience to the golf industry.
Director at Luxury Golf and Scenic Tours Victoria, Lacey, who is originally from Beaumaris and is now based in Shepparton, is one of the PGA Institute’s Diploma of Golf Business and Management scholarship recipients for 2024 and is excited to be broadening his horizons through study.
“I’m really looking forward to getting to know more about the golf industry, and even just connecting with people as well,” he said. “I’m loving who I meet in the golf industry; it’s very different to the construction industry.”
Having worked as an electrician once he completed his schooling, Lacey noticed as his career was progressing his work life was becoming less fulfilling while his passion for golf kept growing.
Knowing that he wanted a career change, Lacey had an idea that had been brewing for some years and took the opportunity to act on it when he met the Director of Luxury Golf and Scenic Tours Tasmania, Adam House.
“I had always thought of doing something similar to Adam in Victoria, trying to combine a lifestyle around golf trips and wine tours,” said Lacey.
“When I met him, I just thought, let’s approach him about partnering up and starting Victoria. That’s sort of been the last 12 months.”
Lacey has conducted trips to several regions in Victoria, highlighted by trips to both the Mornington and Bellarine peninsulas, where golfers were treated to world-class courses, as well as the chance to witness the Vic Open and Victorian PGA Championship on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
Planning on using his learnings from the PGA Institute to help grow his business, Lacey is especially grateful for being chosen as a scholarship recipient.
“The scholarship was really helpful because starting a new business, the cash flow is pretty tight so that definitely helped,” he said.
Having made the leap of faith and changing careers, and now reaping the rewards of following his passion, Lacey is a strong advocate for those thinking about exploring careers within the golf industry through the PGA Institute.
“Definitely do it, follow your passion,” he said. “For me, the simple thing is it’s easier to get up in the morning and do something I love.
“I’m not doing it for the money as much as for the love of the game.”
For more information on entry points into a career in golf, CLICK HERE.
Big sister Minjee Lee claimed bragging rights but only just as she and brother Min Woo led the way for Aussies around the world.
From the point of an opening round of 5-under 67 Minjee was never far from the top of the leaderboard at the Buick LPGA Shanghai event in China.
A second consecutive 67 on Friday saw Minjee enter the weekend just two strokes off the lead, ultimately finishing in eighth position after rounds of 71-69 over the final two days.
Now ranked No.16 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Ranking, it is a second straight top-finish for Minjee, replicating her strong end to the season of a year ago.
“I like playing in Asia. A lot of my family come out to watch, and I have a nice fan support group here as well,” Lee said about playing in Shanghai for the fourth time.
“It makes me feel more at home. Obviously, I enjoy playing everywhere, but Asia, it’s close to my heritage, and just nice to be here.”
Min Woo was also in Asia this past week, defending his SJM Macao Open crown at Macau Golf and Country Club.
Thailand’s Rattanon Wannasrichan shot 9-under 61 and was never headed, Min Woo making steady progress up the leaderboard through the week with rounds of 68-68-67-66 to earn a share of ninth.
The putter proved to be Min Woo’s greatest weapon in his 4-under round on Sunday, needing just 12 putts on the back nine and 26 total to secure just his third top-10 of the year.
David Micheluzzi kept his hopes alive of qualifying for the DP World Tour Playoffs with a tie for 27th at the FedEx Open de France while Phoenix Campbell claimed low amateur honours at the Japan Open in his final event before turning professional.
Photos: Zhe Ji/Getty Images (Minjee Lee); Asian Tour (Min Woo Lee)
Results
PGA TOUR
Black Desert Championship
Black Desert Resort, Ivins, Utah
T46 Ryan Fox (NZ) 65-72-68-70—275
MC Tim Wilkinson (NZ) 69-69—138
MC Aaron Baddeley 70-74—144
LPGA Tour
Buick LPGA Shanghai
Qizhong Garden Golf Club, Shanghai, China
1 Ruoning Yin 70-66-63-64—263 $US315,000
8 Minjee Lee 67-67-71-69—274 $52,307
T47 Hannah Green 77-70-69-69—285 $7,608
T53 Hira Naveed 73-68-71-74—286 $6,657
DP World Tour
FedEx Open de France
Le Golf National, Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France
1 Dan Bradbury 67-66-69-66—268 €505,265.12
T27 David Micheluzzi 72-67-67-70—276 €27,343.76
Asian Tour
SJM Macao Open
Macau Golf and Country Club, Macao, China
1 Rattanon Wannasrichan 61-66-67-66—260 $US180,000
T9 Min Woo Lee 68-68-67-66—269 $18,550
T19 Sam Brazel 63-69-70-70—272 $11,050
T23 Douglas Klein 67-68-69-69—273 $9,550
T23 Kevin Yuan 69-67-68-69—273 $9,550
T23 Jack Thompson 72-64-68-69—273 $9,550
T37 Maverick Antcliff 73-66-70-68—277 $6,410
T37 Scott Hend 70-68-73-66—277 $6,410
T56 Wade Ormsby 70-68-70-75—283 $3,400
T56 Denzel Ieremia (NZ) 70-65-74-74—283 $3,400
T61 Aaron Wilkin 72-68-70-74—284 $3,050
T63 Marcus Fraser 74-66-75-70—285 $2,850
T68 Justin Warren 68-71-80-69—288 $2,350
MC Jordan Zunic 71-70—141
MC Zach Murray 71-70—141
MC Todd Sinnott 71-70—141
MC Jed Morgan 72-70—142
MC Lachlan Barker 71-72—143
MC Harrison Crowe 70-74—144
MC Deyen Lawson 70-74—144
MC Nick Voke (NZ) 73-72—145
WD Brendan Jones 71
WD Andrew Dodt
Ladies European Tour
Wistron Ladies Open – Taiwan
Sunrise Golf and Country Club, Chinese Taipei
1 Chiara Tamburlini 66-73-68-69—276 $US182,902.40
T46 Kirsten Rudgeley 71-76-73-73—293 $4,618.29
Japan Golf Tour
Japan Open
Tokyo Golf Club, Saitama
1 Shugo Imahira 66-72-70-68—276 ¥42m
T25 Michael Hendry (NZ) 74-74-73-71—292 ¥1.533m
T31 Brad Kennedy 72-76-67-78—293 ¥1.365m
T34 Phoenix Campbell 70-78-74-72—294 ——-
MC Adam Scott 75-76—151
PGA TOUR Champions
SAS Championship
Prestonwood CC, Cary, North Carolina
1 Jerry Kelly 67-69-67—203 $US315,000
T5 Steven Alker 69-70-69—208 $92,000
T11 Michael Wright 69-73-69—211 $42,000
T29 Steve Allan 73-71-70—214 $14,560
T29 Cameron Percy 71-69-74—214 $14,560
T45 Rod Pampling 74-69-74—217 $8,400
T47 Mark Hensby 73-74-71—218 $6,720
T53 Greg Chalmers 70-74-75—219 $4,935
T61 David Bransdon 74-76-72—222 $3,150
T68 Stuart Appleby 80-74-70—224 $2,037
73 John Senden 81-73-73—227 $1,470
WD Richard Green 72-70—142
Challenge Tour
Hainan Open 2024
Sanya Luhuitou GC, Donghai Bay, China
1 Hamish Brown 66-70-67-66—269 €73,160.56
T49 Hayden Hopewell 70-71-74-69—284 €1,920.46
MC George Worrall 75-72—147
Korean PGA Tour
Baeksong Holdings-Asiad CC Busan Open
Asiad Country Club, Korea
1 Jang Yu-bin 65-69-73-68—275
Won on first hole of sudden-death playoff
T42 Sungjin Yeo (NZ) 70-72-73-70—285
T48 Wonjoon Lee 74-68-74-71—287
T62 Kevin Chun 75-68-76-75—294
MC Junseok Lee 74-73—147
MC Changgi Lee (NZ) 73-75—148
Sunshine Tour
Vodacom Origins of Golf – Wild Coast
Wild Coast Sun Country Club, Port Edward, South Africa
1 Jonathan Broomhead 70-66-63—199
MC Austin Bautista 68-74—142
South Australian Jack Buchanan has claimed a maiden Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff at the CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics at Kalgoorlie Golf Course.
On a day in which three players began with a share of the lead and contenders came and went throughout an absorbing afternoon, Buchanan (66) and West Australian Jordan Doull (67) both finished at 17-under-par, forcing an extension to their duel in the desert.
After a disastrous tee shot on the 72nd hole that led to a closing bogey, Buchanan took the first playoff hole by the scruff of the neck with a bomb down the centre of the fairway.
Doull was forced to scramble his way to the green after his tee shot missed the fairway left yet looked to have stolen the win when he made his birdie putt from just outside 15 feet.
Buchanan then had to make his own putt for birdie from six feet, finding just enough of the left edge to send the playoff down 18 for a second time.
The fairway again proved difficult to find from the tee, Doull’s hopes taking a hit when he was forced to play his second shot backwards to the safety of the fairway.
Although both players found themselves in the bunker to the right of the green, Buchanan had one shot up his sleeve, converting his putt from 10 feet for the birdie that would clinch victory.
Jack Buchanan is the #WAPGA Champion for 2024 🏆@CityofKalBould pic.twitter.com/JlwJmyigAp
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) October 13, 2024
“After I finished, I just accepted that no matter what happened, it was a good week,” said Buchanan.
“Lucky enough to get in a playoff and get it done.
“It was pretty nervy but it happened in the end.
“This means so much. Getting over that first hurdle makes you believe that you can do it more.”
Less than five months into his professional career, Doull began the day tied at the top with Elvis Smylie and Cameron John but it was Buchanan who quickly took the ascendancy.
Less than a year since turning professional, Buchanan made five birdies in his first seven holes to establish a three-shot lead only to three-putt the par-3 eighth and make double-bogey.
Playing his first event as a professional, Singapore’s Ryan Ang joined Buchanan at the top of the leaderboard early in the back nine yet suffered a setback of his own when he dropped shots at both 13 and 14.
Back-to-back birdies at 10 and 11 saw Doull join Buchanan at 15-under, his South Australian opposite responding with a 20-footer for birdie at the par-3 13th to edge one clear once again.
It quickly became a two-man shootout as the pair traded birdies to keep the likes of Ang (65), Smylie (68), John (69) and Brett Rankin (69) at bay.
A birdie on 17 sent Buchanan to the 72nd tee with a two-stroke lead yet Doull’s birdie on 16 and Buchanan’s closing bogey gave the West Australian a putt to win on the final hole.
Heartbreakingly for Doull, he left his 12-foot birdie try short, sending the pair back to the 18th tee for extra holes.
Smylie looks set for a big season after his third-place finish while Ang impressed on debut, sharing fourth place with John.
No need for the putter on this one for Ryan Ang#WAPGA | #TheChaseIsOn | @CityofKalBould pic.twitter.com/oLsBpecCuj
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) October 13, 2024
“I just wanted to make the cut to be honest and make the first paycheck,” said Ang, whose 65 was the low round on Sunday.
“Obviously exceeded my expectations by a lot, but really proud of how the work’s paid off and set a good start to the season.”
In the WA PGA All Abilities Championship played in conjunction across the weekend, Sawtell Golf Club’s Lachlan Smith celebrated his first All Abilities victory.
Photo: Alex Verhagen/PGA of Australia
Dabble, one of Australia’s fastest growing sports betting brands, is throwing one million dollars worth of extra excitement into the famous Party Hole at this year’s BMW Australian PGA Championship.
For the first time in Australian tournament golf history, it will be the lucky fans on site who will share the massive cash bonus if a player produces the perfect shot and makes a hole-in-one on the par-3 17th on Saturday, November 23.
Thanks to Dabble, the newest partner of the BMW Australian PGA Championship, the one million dollars will be up for grabs for the first ace on 17 during the tournament broadcast window, between 11am and 4pm (Qld time).
To be eligible to share in the million-dollar prize, fans must have a valid 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship ticket for the day’s play, be 18 years of age or older and register via the QR codes at the Dabble Party Hole.
PGA of Australia Chief Commercial Officer Michael McDonald said: “There’s always an awesome vibe at the Party Hole and this new Million Dollar Hole-in-One promotion thanks to our new partner Dabble is going to raise the level even higher.
“You can only imagine the scenes at 17 if someone like Cam Smith, Min Woo Lee or Jason Day makes an ace on Saturday afternoon. It would be off the charts.
“Every shot on the Dabble Party Hole during the Million Dollar Hole-in-One on the Saturday afternoon is going to be huge. There’ll be thousands of expectant eyes on the ball every time someone tees off.
“We’ve seen holes-in-one on the Party Hole in previous championships, including by Curtis Luck last year. Hopefully we will see a repeat so everyone in the crowd can go home with extra dollars to their name.”
Over the past three years, Dabble has revolutionised the market with its socially-led product, combining features of Instagram, X and WhatsApp with a sports betting app. Dabble provides an innovative platform for their community who enjoy a more inclusive, social and engaging betting experience.
Dabble CEO Tom Rundle said: “At Dabble, we thrive on bringing our community together, whether it’s through shared bets or moments like this Million Dollar Hole-in-One.
“We believe that sport is best enjoyed when it’s social, inclusive, and packed with excitement. With a million dollars up for grabs for the crowd at the Dabble Party Hole, everyone’s part of the action, and if goes off, you better believe it’ll be an experience no one will forget!”
To be a chance of sharing in the million dollars, head to ticketek.com.au for your PGA tickets.
About Dabble
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Prodigal talent Elvis Smylie has vowed to focus on the positives after he saw a growing lead evaporate late on day three of the CKB WA PGA Championship at Kalgoorlie Golf Course.
Smylie looked like building a big buffer heading into Sunday’s final round but had to settle for a share of the lead through 54 holes after a bogey, double-bogey finish in a round of 2-under 70.
Joining Smylie at 12-under is course record holder Cameron John (66), who is hunting a second straight Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia win, while West Australian rookie Jordan Doull (67) can record a maiden victory just five months after joining the pro ranks.
Now in his fourth year as a professional, a breakthrough win is again tantalisingly within reach for the 22-year-old Smylie.
Five-under through 16 holes of his third round, a tricky chip from left of the green at the par-3 17th saw the Queenslander drop to 14-under-par and then a wayward tee shot that nestled in the desert debris led to a double-bogey at the par-5 18th.
As a result, Smylie finds himself in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard with Brett Rankin (67), Jack Buchanan (68) and Will Florimo (68) all now just one stroke off the lead.
“This is why I practise, and the fact that I get to put myself in a position like that again tomorrow, it’s only going to help me improve, not only as a golfer, but as a player,” said Smylie.
“I’m taking the positives out of today’s round heading into tomorrow. There was lots of good stuff. I made a lot of great putts when I needed to.
“Perhaps just a bit of a mental switch off on the last tee shot and I got into a bad position and then that led to a poor decision for my second shot and so on.
“But there’s lots of good stuff and my game feels great.”
After getting out of position with his tee shot on 18, Smylie went from bad to worse when his punch-out 7-iron went from one side to the other and coming to rest under a shrub.
He and caddie Andrew Evans were left with little option but to take a drop for an unplayable lie, Smylie unable to get up-and-down for bogey from right of the 18th green.
“I thought the 7-iron was going to come out a little bit softer,” Smylie admitted.
“The reason why I hit the 7-iron was because there were trees overhanging that I wanted to keep under.
“Just little decisions like that, obviously I would’ve liked to have over, but I think there’s lots of positives to take out of today.”
Winner of the season-ending National Tournament in March, John was leading the DP World Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland just eight days ago.
He ultimately finished in a tie for 54th at St Andrews but says the experience of holding the 36-hole lead will hold him in good stead on Sunday.
“I feel like I got an extra week in the schedule, something massive to lead into these Aussie events and I played really well,” said John, who shares the Kalgoorlie course record of 9-under 63 with 2023 champion Ben Eccles.
“I took a lot of confidence playing with some of the best players in the world and being able to sort of tick that box. Play really well, give myself a chance going into the weekend to win.”
He is in position to win again after a 66 on Saturday that culminated with four birdies in his final five holes, a position he perhaps didn’t expect given the travel required to tee it up at all.
“First day I was pretty much half asleep,” said the 25-year-old Victorian.
“Second day it got a little bit better. Jet lag, wasn’t so bad.
“It was a long, long journey back to Kalgoorlie, but it’s definitely been worth it so far.”
The CKB WA PGA presented by TX Civil & Logistics is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo. Broadcast of the final round will begin at 2pm AEDT.
Photo: Alex Verhagen/PGA of Australia
Chris Taylor used a stroke of good fortune to hold off two legends of Australian golf and claim the Mollymook NSW Senior Masters at Mollymook Golf Club.
A former winner at Mollymook, Taylor’s win was set-up by a 4-under par round of 68 on day one and a crucial birdie on his penultimate hole of a final round even-par 72 for 4-under total.
With Peter Senior (74) and Peter Lonard (70) both breathing down his neck, Taylor conjured a birdie at the par-3 17th that he admitted post-round came with an element of good fortune.
“I haven’t told a lot of people, but I did pull it left,” Taylor said of his tee shot on 17.
“It ended up lying left of the hole, which is underneath the hole there.
“Made a nice two and I knew Pete had to get it up and down out of the bunker.
“It was one of those shots you take, but you don’t tell anyone that you weren’t aiming over there.”
Senior did make his up-and-down on 17 but bogeyed the last to finish four back of Taylor with Lonard and Adam Henwood (72) sharing third at 1-over.
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
Leading New South Welshman Scott Ford by a shot after Round 1, Taylor also had Senior for company in the final group and it was Senior who struck first.
The icon of Australian golf birdied the opening hole to draw within one and set up an enthralling final round of cut and thrust.
Taylor’s lead remained one after Senior made bogey on three and he dropped a shot of his own on five but two birdies after the turn would prove crucial.
It gave Taylor a three-shot buffer that was soon four when Senior made bogey at the par-3 12th.
Taylor made back-to-back bogeys of his own on 14 and 15 to tighten the contest once again before the critical birdie on 17 essentially wrapped up the win.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“It just sort of suits my eye,” Taylor said of his affinity with Mollymook.
“A lot of the holes work both left-to-right and right-to-left but, not only that, the greens are always in pristine condition.
“I haven’t been under the pressure like that to win a two-dayer for a while now. It was actually good to get under the gun and hope your swing hangs on.
“People put some pressure on you and it sorts you out whether your swing’s working or not.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Chris Taylor 68-72—140
2 Peter Senior 70-74—144
T3 Peter Lonard 75-70—145
T3 Adam Henwood 73-72—145
5 Brad Burns 75-71—146
6 Roland Baglin 73-74—147
T7 Mike Zilko 73-75—148
T7 Andre Stolz 73-75—148
T7 Martin Peterson 72-76—148
T7 John Wade 70-78—148
NEXT UP
The PGA Legends Tour moves into the nation’s capital on Tuesday for the two-day ACT Senior PGA Championship at Fairbairn Golf Club.
Both suffered late slip-ups yet Aaron Maxwell and Alex Simpson did enough to share victory at the 2024 Cumberland City Junior Pro-Am.
Played at the spectacularly-presented Woodville Golf Course, veteran Matthew Millar led the field into Round 2 but early struggles brought the likes of fellow Canberran Maxwell and Simpson into the mix.
Paired with Millar for the final round, Maxwell (68) was 6-under on his round and 10-under total before he dropped three shots in his final three holes to end the day at 7-under.
Simpson (67) teed off on his final hole at 8-under for the tournament only to bogey the par-4 17th to finish square with Maxwell at 7-under.
Jordan Mullaney’s 6-under 66 was the low round of the tournament and propelled him into outright third with Millar’s even-par 72 enough to snare fourth.
HOW THE WINNING ROUNDS UNFOLDED
The par-5 18th hole was Simpson’s first of the second round, a birdie the ideal start of a 2-under 70 on day one.
The par 5s would continue to provide good fodder as he eagled the par-5 third which he followed up with three straight birdies around the turn at Woodville.
He made his first bogey of the day at the par-4 12th but responded immediately with a birdie on 13, yet another par 5.
Like Simpson, Maxwell made his move on the early holes at Woodville.
Maxwell birdied the par-5 third and then made eagle at the par-5 sixth to make the turn in 3-under.
He had the tournament in his grasp when he made three birdies in the space of four holes from the par-4 12th but a double-bogey on 16 and bogey on 17 left him needing a birdie on 18 to match Simpson’s 7-under total.
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
T1 Aaron Maxwell 69-68—137
T1 Alexander Simpson 70-67—137
3 Jordan Mullaney 73-66—139
4 Matthew Millar 68-72—140
T5 Wil Daibarra 71-70—141
T5 Samuel Slater 73-68—141
T5 Dean Mulley 69-72—141
T5 Nathan Miller 71-70—141
T5 Jake Kable 70-71—141
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series has a week off before resuming at Anglesea Golf Club for the Anglesea Golf Club Pro-Am on Tuesday, October 22.
The first television broadcast of the new Summer of Golf season will get underway this weekend with exciting improvements and more tournaments for golf fans to watch the best in Australasian golf.
Starting from this week’s CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil and Logistics in Kalgoorlie through to The National Tournament in late March, all Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia events in Australia will be available for viewing by golf fans around the country – with WPGA Tour of Australasia and PGA Legends Tour action adding to the largest amount of live broadcast golf ever shown on Australian screens.
Fox Sports will cover 18 events via Foxtel and Kayo, while the BMW Australian PGA Championship and ISPS HANDA Australian Open will also be simulcast on the NINE Network and 9Now.
Sky Sport NZ, the presenting partner of the NZ Open, will also screen all Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia tournaments.
Among the improvements to the broadcasts that viewers will see from week-to-week, delivered by the PGA of Australia production partner JAM TV, will be enhanced live data presentation of scores and hole information, as well as leaderboards and Order of Merit updates as the chase for titles and opportunities runs throughout the summer.
Augmented drone footage, dynamic first-person view fly throughs and inside access to players and more will also help bolster the coverage each and every week, while the two Australian majors will see an increase in not only live golf but coverage.
The BMW Australian PGA will have all four rounds shown live across Foxtel, Kayo, NINE and 9Now, before the ISPS HANDA Australian Open sees the introduction of a new week-long Australian Open channel on Foxtel and Kayo.
Featuring historical footage and other presentations, the Australian Open Channel will be in the mould of the content delivered to Australian fans during The Masters and The Open each year.
As in previous seasons, Trackman will offer an insight into ball flights and data from the impressive play of the next wave and well-known names of the Australian golf scene.
Delivering that data alongside insights from years playing and covering the game at the highest level, the commentary team has been bolstered and will be led throughout the season by two of the pre-eminent voices in Australian golf alongside Fox Sports News rising star Isabella Leembruggen as host.
Former PGA TOUR regulars and winners on their home circuit, the familiar faces and voices of Nick O’Hern and Paul Gow will lead the coverage each week across the season with support provided by a growing group of experts in their field.
O’Hern and Gow will feature in the booth taking fans through what is seen on screen, as well as what can’t be seen, while also offering up their opinions on thoughts on play and the game of golf overall.
The pair supported by Leembruggen and an outstanding line-up of experts and on-course commentators including Ryan Lynch, Jimmy Emanuel, Ali Whitaker, Warren Smith, Ewan Porter, Mark Allen, Stacey Peters, Brenton Speed, Mathew Thompson and more.
The WA PGA Championship coverage this weekend starts with Saturday’s third round live from 4pm–7pm (AEDT) with Sunday’s final day action from 2pm–7pm.
2024/25 CHALLENGER PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA BROADCAST SCHEDULE
FOXTEL/KAYO/NINE/9NOW/SKY SPORT NZ
CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics
Kalgoorlie Golf Course
October 12 – 13
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Bowra & Odea Nexus Advisernet WA Open
Mandurah Country Club
October 19 – 20
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Webex Players Series South Australia hosted by Greg Blewett
Willunga Golf Course
October 26 – 27
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Queensland PGA Championship
Nudgee Golf Club
November 2 – 3
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
BMW Australian PGA Championship
Royal Queensland Golf Club
November 21 – 24
Nine/9Now/Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
ISPS HANDA Australian Open
Kingston Heath Golf Club and Victoria Golf Club
November 28 – December 1
Nine/9Now/Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Victorian PGA Championship
Moonah Links Resort
December 7 – 8
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Gippsland Super 6
Warragul Country Club
December 14 – 15
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Webex Players Series Perth hosted by Minjee and Min Woo Lee
Royal Fremantle Golf Club
January 11 – 12
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Webex Players Series Victoria
Rosebud Country Club
January 23 – 26
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Webex Players Series Murray River in honour of Jarrod Lyle
Cobram Barooga Golf Club
February 1 – 2
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Tournament TBC
February 8 – 9
Webex Players Series Sydney
Castle Hill Country Club
February 22-23
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
NZ Open presented by Sky Sport
Millbrook Resort
February 27 – March 2
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
Heritage Classic
The Heritage Golf and Country Club
March 22 – 23
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
The National Tournament
The National Golf Club, Old Course
March 29 – 30
Foxtel/Kayo/Sky Sport NZ
