He was already a bona fide celebrity at Willunga Golf Club in Adelaide but the golf world couldnât get enough of Steve Alderson following his emotional victory at a G4D Tour event in Spain.
Affectionately known as âSpudâ for his love of chips, Alderson became the first person with autism to win a G4D Tour event, taking out the G4D Tour @ Estrella Damm N.A. AndalucĂa Masters by an incredible nine strokes.
Yet it was not so much his performance on the golf course that caused people to fall in love with his story, but his emotional post-round speech where he spoke about his struggles with bullying and was interviewed live on The Today Show just hours after finishing his round.
Winner of the Webex All Abilities Players Series event at Willunga in 2023, Alderson returned home to a heroâs welcome and interest from global media organisations.
As he prepared to defend his Willunga win in October, Alderson spoke with golf magazines, radio stations and CNN International, completing an extraordinary two-week period with a second Webex All Abilities Players Series victory at Willunga.
But it didnât end there.
âSpudâ won the net event at the G4D Tour Series Finale in Dubai and then made his debut at the Australian All Abilities Championship at Kingston Heath Golf Club in conjunction with the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
It stands as a pathway or purgatory. Sitting one rung below the promised land, secondary tours the world over are the equivalent of quicksand: The longer you stay there, the harder it is to get out.
Queenslander Cassie Porter had two top-10s and finished 54th in the Race for the Card standings in her rookie season on the Epson Tour in 2023, the primary pathway to the LPGA Tour.
It gave her the grounding to push ahead in her second season, a year in which she broke through with a one-stroke victory at the FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship in Battle Creek, Michigan.
From that moment forward, Porter was in position to secure one of the 15 cards to the LPGA Tour in 2025 yet wasnât guaranteed until after the final round of the Epson Tour Championship.
A 5-under-par round of 66 in Round 3 elevated Porter from 42nd to 22nd on the Tour Championship leaderboard, a 2-under 69 in the final round enough to end the week tied for 17th and claim the 10th of the LPGA Tour cards on offer.
By moving inside the top 10, Porter receives the Category 9 exemption category on the LPGA Tour next year while those who finish 11-15 earn the Category 15 exemption category.
A third-place finish in the opening event of the season was the ideal start to 2024 for Porter, who had two additional top-10s along with her victory to join fellow Aussies Hannah Green and Gabriela Ruffels as recent graduates of the Epson Tour.
Unheralded. Under-appreciated. Under the radar. Unperturbed. You might win a bet if you ask your golf mate to name the lone Aussie to win on the PGA TOUR in 2024, but Cam Davis is chasing trophies, not public recognition.
Yes, he would have dearly loved a Presidents Cup appearance at Royal Montreal having been part of the Internationals team two years prior, but Davis achieved a special career milestone with a second PGA TOUR title this year at the Rocket Mortgage Classic at Detroit Golf Club.
With putts repeatedly burning the edge of the hole and a lasered second shot into the par-5 14th that somehow dribbled into the water late on Sunday, it looked as though the golf gods would conspire against Davis.
Fellow Australian Min Woo Lee (69) made a back-nine charge to earn a share of the lead at 18-under but made bogey on the final hole when his approach shot finished in the rough behind the green and he was unable to get up-and-down for par.
Davis, too, needed to scramble from the rough on 18 for a 2-under 70 to claim the clubhouse lead at 18-under, Akshay Bhatiaâs par miss on the 72nd hole handing a stunned Davis a treasured win.
The fact that it came at the same venue as his first win three years earlier was another element of serendipity for the 29-year-old New South Welshman who now spends the majority of his year in Seattle.
In his winnerâs press conference, Davis revealed how at the suggestion of his wife, Jonika, Davis had undertaken two weeks of hypnotherapy in the lead-up to his one-stroke victory.
Read: https://pga.org.au/news/aussies-on-tour-davis-stunned-by-second-pga-tour-title/
Davis was also part of one of the most compelling storylines for Aussies in 2024 after he and Adam Scott faced off in a playoff at US Open qualifying at Springfield, Ohio.
It took three holes for Davis to best one of his childhood heroes, threatening to bring to an end Scottâs streak of 91 consecutive majors.
Scott ultimately received an exemption by the USGA on the Monday of the tournament, his record now standing at 93 majors and counting.
Such was Josiah Gilbertâs performances playing for Auburn University in the NCAA in 2024, there is a tug-of-war taking place in Gilbertâs mind as to which country he will represent during his professional career.
Gilbertâs US college season was highlighted by a historic NCAA Division 1 championship for Auburn, the first in the schoolâs history,
He was twice named SEC Golfer of the Week and won the Valero Texas Collegiate Individual Champion title. In addition, Gilbert claimed the individual gold medal at the Spirit International where he partnered Kai Komulainen as Australia finished third in the menâs competition.
Born in Queensland, Gilbert grew up in Perth and established himself as one of the stateâs most promising juniors.
Early in the COVID pandemic, Gilbertâs American parents decided to return to their home country, in part to help foster their sonâs ambitions in golf.
Such has been his success, the 20-year-old dual citizenship holder is now weighing up where to pledge his allegiance.
Photo: Courtesy Auburn University
For the first time in tournament history, extra holes were required to decide a winner of any category at Geoff Ogilvyâs Sandbelt Invitational, with Ryan Peake triumphing over David Micheluzzi at Royal Melbourne to claim the overall prize.
Joined at the presentation by Kayun Mudadana, Caitlin Peirce and Amelia Harris as winners of the menâs amateur and womenâs pro and amateur sections respectively, it was all eyes on Peake as he defied a back nine struggle to lift the trophy.
Having jokingly asked members of the following crowd for the best lines off some of The West Courseâs tees having last played the course as a 14-year-old, Peake limped into the clubhouse in regulation, including bogeying the 72nd hole after authoring a remarkable start to Thursdayâs final round.
Three straight birdies from the first tee were followed by an eagle at the fourth and another birdie at the fifth as Peake made the turn in 6-under on a day when Royal Melbourne member Tom Power Horan equalled the professional course record of 63.
West Australian Peake signing for a 67 and 3-under total before having some lunch as he waited for what he thought was a foregone conclusion of Micheluzzi winning the title.
âSeventeen years ago, I think. So I can’t remember anything,â Peake said of when he last played Royal Melbourne.
âI mean, that front nine was pretty straightforward. What you see is what you get. Obviously, I’d just done everything right, not knowing that I was doing everything right. Just I guess a bit of luck my way.
âThen on that back nine, you’ve got to play this course a bunch of times to know your lines, know what’s good, what’s bad. I made I think three bogeys and a double out of nowhere, and I didn’t really feel like I hit bad shots.
âTo be honest, I’m a bit lost for words. I’m still trying to figure it all out myself. I don’t really know what happened there, but youâve got to expect that when you’ve never played it before.â
Far more experienced around what many consider the best course in Australia, and a previous winner at Royal Melbourne, it was another day of Micheluzziâs score not necessarily reflecting the quality of his play, with the DP World Tour player 2-under through 16 holes before finishing bogey-bogey to match the 3-under mark and head back for the 18th tee.
Peake finding the fairway, while Micheluzziâs tee shot missed right and found a sandy lie that resulted in a 60 metre wedge for this third as Peake found the front left portion of the green.
Micheluzzi taking two putts, but unable to send it to more extra holes after his left handed opponent rolled in his second putt to celebrate his first victory as a pro with one hole fill-in caddie Jye Pickin.
âI mean, events turned around really quickly. I guess when you’re in that position, you just expect the best and I guess hope for the worst, but expect the best. And âMichaâ being Micha I’m like, âOh, he’s going to make a par,â Peake said of the closing stages.
âI went to the bar and I bought the boys a round of beers and the refs come in and just said, âMate, you’re required for a play-offâ.
Peake speaking again of his plan to enjoy the event and Sandbelt as a first priority having spoken with coach Ritchie Smith about how quickly things can turn.
âI mean, it’s a bit of self-belief. I mean, you can only beat who you’re playing against, but I think just in an event like this, like I said, at the start of the week, I really just wanted to embrace the whole, the Sandbelt culture and just really enjoy being out here.
âEven when things weren’t going my way, I was still really enjoying it. I knew what I was here for, but to get an invitation into something like this that not many people get, and then to be able to play some good golf as well.
âMy coach, Ritchie Smith, he said I’m pretty much in the same predicament as Elvis (Smylie). It was so close to switching. You just donât know when, and then Elvis just went bang, bang, bang ⊠He told me after a missed cuts at the Open and PGA. He said, just hang in there. Because it’s so close to switching.â
Peake joking earlier in the week that he would need to win to pay for his pricey Monday night dinner. Perhaps less of a concern when he returns to the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia at the Webex Players Series Perth at Royal Fremantle in early January.
âI’m not too sure what the whole thing is,â he said of the potential cash injection from winning.
âI haven’t looked too into it, but that trophy looks amazing. I think it’s a pretty unique and a pretty special one. So yeah, that’s the only thing I really kind of thought about. If I was to win, I just really wanted that trophy.â
Matias Sanchez finishing third alone on 1-under and one shot ahead of Cam John and Richard Green, with Mudadana on 1-over and taking plenty away from the week.
âIt was going to be always tough having never played here, but I started pretty well,â Mudadana said.
âI was two through eight and missed a short part on nine and made bogey on 10. I was a bit on a back foot there, but it’s all right. I had a lot of fun out there.â
Peirce closing out her week with a 70 to finish 6-over for a second triumph since turning pro in November.
âNot really, but it’s nice to get the wins,â she said when asked if she was finding professional golf easy having won a NSW Womenâs Open Regional Qualifier in recent weeks.
âIt was more being able to play four rounds on four good Melbourne Sandbelt courses. I played it twice as an amateur, so playing it as a pro, I guess the money’s a little bit of a bonus, but the format and the places you get to play is probably the key highlight of it.â
Headed for a drive back to Adelaide tomorrow, Peirce will take only a slight break before teeing it up across the Australian summer and heading for the Epson Tour in America.
It will be a similar story for Harris heading into year 12 with her eyes on the adidas Australian Amateur on the Sandbelt in January before moving to America and the University of South Carolina.
âIt feels really great to be able to get the title back. Obviously it feels great playing against really good amateurs, but it’s as special as my first win,â Harris said.
âI think it helps boost my confidence a lot. I hadn’t been playing good as of recent, so I think winning this is really going to help me in my big tournaments.
Tournament host Ogilvy surmising a fourth successful staging of his and âTournament Directorâ Mike Claytonâs brainchild having taken in all the action over four days.
âIt was unique for me to watch on this year and truly host the Sandbelt Invitational and I have loved the experience,â Ogilvy said.
âThe courses and clubs have been magnificent, and our four champions exemplify the word.â
âHearing Ryanâs words about the event is exactly why we do this.â
Final scores available at www.sandbeltinvitational.com
It was hands down the best season by any Australian without a win in 2024.
In his second year as a full-time member of the PGA TOUR Champions, Victorian Richard Green was in the hunt for the season-long Charles Schwab Cup until the very last hole, despite not logging a single victory.
His year began with back-to-back top-10 finishes but it was at the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship where Greenâs season of near misses took flight.
Read: https://www.golf.org.au/aussies-on-tour-green-second-again-on-champions-tour/
That would be the first of five runner-up finishes on the year â two of which came in major championships and one in a playoff loss to Steve Stricker at the Sanford International.
Seventeen years after setting a new course record in the 2007 Open Championship, Green returned to Carnoustie for The Senior Open Championship and finished second to KJ Choi by two strokes.
Read: https://pga.org.au/news/aussies-on-tour-bennett-wins-green-second-again/
He was also third at the US Senior Open Championship, the 53-year-old amassing $US2,168,079 in prize money without any additions to the trophy cabinet.
Photo: Phil Inglis/Getty Images
Despite admitting his score could be substantially better, David Micheluzzi shares the lead at the 2024 Sandbelt Invitational on 3-under with amateur Kayun Mudadana ahead of the final round at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
Signing for a 2-under 69 at Woodlands Golf Club on Wednesday, 2022/2023 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner Micheluzzi will be chasing a second triumph at Royal Melbourne after claiming the Master of the Amateurs at the famed course in 2018.
Micheluzzi admitting that if things were to go his way tomorrow it would be extra special due to his relationship with tournament host and 2006 US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy.
âIt would also be really cool if I did, because Geoff has been a mentor, how he’s helped me out quite a bit, but he’s helped me out more than people know it with turning pro and what to expect,â Micheluzzi said.
âTo have a major champion like him giving that advice. You can’t pay for that kind of stuff, that experience. So that would mean the world if I did get up ⊠it would be sick.â
The Sandbelt Invitational itself is designed around the same concept of experienced players interacting with younger ones across men and women from both pro and amateur ranks.
Some, like Mudadana, clearly comfortable in the environment, where parts of the learning is through conversation while also visually from the likes of Richard Green, who fired the equal low round of the day.
The left handerâs 65 only matched by Cameron John, with Green at 1-under for the tournament and one shot back of fellow Victorian Matias Sanchez after his 1-under round at Woodlands.
Green continuing to knock the rust off his game after only playing nine holes with his dog for company since ending his tremendous 2024 PGA TOUR Champions campaign, where he came agonisingly close to a win.
âI’ve had good coaching over the last probably five or six years with Darrell Brown, and we’ve worked on a lot of things that have squared my golf swing up,â Green said of his impressive play despite a break.
âAs opposed to prior to that I was all over the place. My game’s up and it’s down and it’s up and it’s down. Whereas my game’s more on an even keel and a lot closer to playing really well.
âTo win would be great for my confidence going into next year and in some way wouldn’t surprise me with how I’ve played this year, to be honest.â
Perhaps surprising some as co-leader through 54-holes, Mudadana is certainly not planning on making way for Micheluzzi, Green or Sanchez, who as a Royal Melbourne member would love to lift the trophy on Thursday.
A New South Wales Golf Club member who has been spending his time on the driving range with the course closed for renovations, Mudadana looked likely to lead on his own with 18 holes to play until the closing stages of his 1-under 70.
âI was playing good. I was 5-under through 15 and hit a bit of a shocking tee shot of 16 and made triple,â Mudadana said.
âJust worrying about playing good golf and sort of enjoying the course. It’s been a lot of fun when you’re just not really worrying about it and yeah, just that’s how I sort of play it,â he added when asked about the names he sits ahead of that includes a congested group behind Green.
Sandbelt local Matt Griffin, 36-hole leader Ryan Peake and NSW Amateur winner Declan OâDonovan, who was tied for the lead until a triple-bogey at the 18th, all at even par and sharing fifth.
Cam John the next best at 1-over and one in front of American-based amateur Niall Shiels Donegan and one of Woodlandsâ favourite sons Steve Allan.
Amateur Annika Rathbone in a share of 11th at 4-over and leading the womenâs contingent, with Amelia Harris and Shyla Singh two shots back and Tour player Karis Davidson on 7-over trying to claim the womenâs trophies.
Harris getting a good window into what the field faces tomorrow as they attempt to deny Micheluzzi another win after playing the third round with the man who shot 59 in preparation for this event.
Preparation that alongside Micheluzziâs assessment of his week so far provides an ominous warning for his competition.
âI really, almost every day this week, felt like I should have been five or six (shots) better every round, which speaks volumes of all the swings, changes and the confidence I’ve got in all my swing changes.â
Full scores available at www.sandbeltinvitational.com
Fresh off his best Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia finish of the season at the Gippsland Super 6, West Australian Ryan Peake has taken the halfway lead at the Geoff Ogilvy hosted Sandbelt Invitational.
Moving to Yarra Yarra Golf Club from Commonwealth, Peake emerged best from another tough day on the Melbourne Sandbelt when the wind blew and he signed for a 2-under-par 68 to reach 4-under overall.
Peake leading by one from amateur Declan OâDonovan, with Asian Tour player Kevin Yuan and overnight co-leader Kayun Mudadana at 2-under before a trio of Victorian pros in David Micheluzzi, Matias Sanchez and Harry Goakes round out the under par scores on 1-under.
Battling through fatigue one of the challenges for Peake as he reaches the Christmas break after travelling around Australia and beyond, with the left hander also having to overcome two bogeys at the second and third on Tuesday.
âI think obviously a lot of guys were happy to finish last week. Everyone’s just mentally fatigued. They’re worn out,â Peake said.
âMyself, this is the first year I’ve had a category, so it’s the first year I’ve been able to play that massive run of summer events. I’m getting tired, but when I got the opportunity to play I was like, âWell I can just push my body a little bit moreâ.
âIt’s top courses that you never want to turn down to play, but I think it’s going to be the perfect warm down for me as well because it’s a little bit more of a relaxed event.â
Noting the atmosphere of the unique event where male and female professionals and amateurs compete alongside one another, Peake spoke after his round of trying to instil confidence in the amateurs as well as enjoying the Sandbelt region having not fully appreciated the famed courses first time around.
âWhen I came into this week, honestly, I just wanted to embrace the Sandbelt,â he said.
âI took it for granted when I was younger, so I wanted to come out and just observe the architecture.
âAt the start of the year, I was working as a greenkeeper at Royal Perth doing some of Michael Clayton’s redesigns out there. So actually getting to see that side of things ⊠they have a vision of what it looks like, so being a part of that as well now is just quite cool to actually soak it all in and know exactly know it’s all about.â
Hailing from Avondale Golf Club in Sydneyâs north, OâDonovan might not be quite looking at the venues as much as Peake as he continues a special summer that included playing the opening two rounds of the Ford NSW Open with Lucas Herbert and Cam Smith as the reigning NSW Amateur champion.
Speaking of the learnings from that week, OâDonovanâs opinion of this week and further chances to gain insights from more experienced players in a competitive environment falling exactly into line with the goals of Ogilvy and fellow tournament creator Clayton.
âIt doesn’t change at all,â OâDonovan, who had the equal low round of the day (65) with Goakes, said of his goal entering this week. âI mean probably even I’d have even more of a feeling of wanting to win because there’s bigger names than most amateur events.
âThere’s a tonne of guys that I want to beat this week, but I think if I just focus on what I’m doing, I worry about other scores later on.â
It was a similar thought for his fellow Sydney amateur Mudadana who admitted he didnât even look at the leaderboard after leaving the course on Monday, before following up his 5-under first round with a 3-over 73 to sit in a tie for third.
âThe last year I’ve really learned how to just grind it out and even if you’re having not the best day, sort of have an okay score,â Mudadana said.
âBeing low amateur is definitely a good goal. I’d really hope to get that and hopefully play some good golf. But yeah, playing alongside the pros, just trying my best to play as good as them, if not better, is really good opportunity here.â
In his first year as a pro, and after a tough run on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, Goakes is enjoying the chance to play competitive golf on the Sandbelt where he grew up as a Royal Melbourne member. His round of 65 including nine birdies and even a par with a dreaded shank on the 13th.
Two shots further back on 1-over is amateur Amelia Harris, who leads the womenâs contingent of both pros and amateurs having first come to prominence at this event in 2021 when 14 years old and playing with Peter Fowler.
Yarra Yarra member Harris one in front of adidas Australian Amateur winner Shyla Singh with Karis Davidson another shot back on 3-over.
âObviously I’m trying to win. That’s the goal that everyone else has, but have fun as well and do my best because all the best amateur girls are here,â Harris said.
âI knew it was going to be a tough week, so hopefully a couple good days. The next couple days will be good and see where I end up.â
Those next couple of days will see the tournament head to Woodlands Golf Club for the first time on Wednesday before the conclusion on the West Course at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club, where Peakeâs Sandbelt appreciation could go to another level if he continues with the play that has delivered the 36-hole lead.
Full scores at www.sandbeltinvitational.com
Perth will welcome its strongest womenâs professional field in more than a decade and showcase Australiaâs up-and-coming male players when Royal Fremantle Golf Club hosts the Webex Players Series Perth from January 9-12.
Hosted by superstar siblings Minjee and Min Woo Lee, Webex Players Series Perth brings men and women together on the same golf course playing for the same prize purse, the inaugural Perth edition worth $250,000.
It is the second of five Webex Players Series events on the 2024/2025 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia with confirmed entries including home-grown West Australian stars and a host of internationals with impressive credentials.
WA trio Haydn Barron, Hayden Hopewell and Kirsten Rudgeley all spent 2024 playing in Europe, Rudgeley narrowly missing out on an LPGA Tour card in finishing 12th on the Ladies European Tour Order of Merit.
Joining Rudgeley in the womenâs field will be LPGA Tour-bound Queenslander Cassie Porter, 2024 LPGA Tour rookie Yue Ren of China, Vic Open and Malaysian Olympic representative in Paris, Ashley Lau, and West Australians Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, Jess Whitting and Kathryn Norris.
Whitting and Norris both have top-10 finishes in previous Webex Players Series events while Porter graduates to the LPGA Tour next year after finishing 10th on the Epson Tour points list.
The last time WA was witness to such high-quality womenâs golf was when Dame Laura Davies, World Golf Hall of Famer Jan Stephenson and current WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO Karen Lunn played the Handa Australia Cup at Nedlands Golf Club in 2011.
Given the quality of golfers WA has produced in the 13 years since, Lunn is thrilled to see top-class womenâs golf back in the west.
âWith the likes of Minjee Lee, Hannah Green and Kirsten Rudgeley, the production line coming out of Western Australia in recent years is extremely impressive,â said Lunn.
âI have fond memories of playing the Handa Australia Cup at Nedlands, although I canât believe itâs now 13 years ago!
âThe depth of talent we have in the womenâs game here in Australia at present is as good as I have ever seen it, and with the influx of international players that we saw last year Iâm confident the girls will give the boys a run for their money at Royal Fremantle.â
The first event of the 2025 WPGA Tour schedule, Webex Players Series Perth marks the start to the second half of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season.
A two-time winner already this season and fourth on the Order of Merit, South Australian Jack Buchanan will continue his push towards one of three DP World Tour cards in Perth, as will Queensland PGA champion Phoenix Campbell.
Other notables in the menâs field include 2021 Australian PGA champion Jed Morgan, 2022 WA Open winner Deyen Lawson, six-time European Tour winner Brett Rumford and four-time PGA Tour of Australasia winner and Perth local, Jarryd Felton.
Webex Players Series Perth hosted by Minjee and Min Woo Lee will be played at Royal Fremantle Golf Club from January 9-12. The final two rounds will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo from 4pm-7pm Saturday and 2pm-7pm Sunday AEDT.
As most players were pondering what might be on the menu for Christmas lunch and how long they could put the clubs away, David Micheluzzi was preparing to play the Sandbelt Invitational, as well as an important desert swing on the DP World Tour.
Teeing it up at his home club of Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club on Sunday ahead of the Geoff Ogilvy-Mike Clayton brainchild event getting underway today at Commonwealth Golf Club, Micheluzzi would have felt very positive about his chances.
However, the Cranbourne boy couldnât have pictured what would eventually transpire during his casual warm up game, with Micheluzzi birdieing his final three holes to record golfâs magic number of 59.
Although not in an official Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia event like Connor McKinney just two days prior at the Gippsland Super 6, it still meant plenty to Micheluzzi who raised his arms and ran around the green after the final putt dropped and he finally broke the 60 barrier.
âI used all the putts yesterday and didn’t use any of them today, which was not smart. But any chance you have, any chance you have to shoot 59, you try and take it and I took it,â Micheluzzi joked after an even par opening round at the Sandbelt Invitational today.
âI think I’ve shot 61 at PK on both courses about a combined kind of 13 times. So I’ve been close here or there and got to do it with my mates as well.
âTheyâre guys that I grew up playing golf with and they were actually fortunate enough to see Ben Murphy’s 57 on the North. So the two guys that I played with yesterday have both seen 59s on both courses at âPKâ, which was pretty cool.â
Making his score on the South Course, Micheluzzi made four birdies on the front nine to turn in 32 before he got hot coming home.
Birdieing the 10th and 11th, the 2022/2023 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit champion finished with some truly remarkable golf, the Victorian going birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie-birdie for a nine hole score of 27 and golfâs most elusive number of 59.
âThe finish, we knew that I had to boot the last three and so we’re all trying to keep me not trying to lose my s*&t and just hit it in the right spots,â he said.â
âI holed a really good putt on 17 and we were just like, come on, let’s better your, let’s better your lasts. And then yeah, holed that putt and yeah, it was a lot of fun.â
Micheluzzi no doubt hoping some similar low scores continue at the Sandbelt Invitational where he shares 13th, five shots adrift of amateur co-leaders Kayu Mudadana and Ti Fox on 5-under.