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All the action from Cam Smith’s second round at Nudgee.
And we’re away
Cam Smith’s second round is underway at the 2024 Queensland PGA Championship.
After a 5-under 67 in round one, Smith is still one shot back of leaders Phoenix Campbell, amateur Billy Dowling and Declan O’Donovan.
Solid start in front of huge crowds at Nudgee
Starting on Nudgee’s front nine today, Smith has begun his day with three solid pars and remains at 5-under for the championship.
Here we go on the fourth
Smith has piped his drive over the water on the fourth which sets him up to reach the par-5 in two.
With long way left in, Smith launched driver off the deck for his second, finding the reeds left of the green.
A masterful chip on gives him a 10-foot look at his first birdie of the day.
The birdie attempt just slides by and Smith taps in for par. No harm done through four holes.
Drama on the fifth
Smith’s tee shot has found the pond to the right of the fifth fairway and he has had to go back almost 40m to take a drop.
Coach and caddie for the week, Grant Field works hard to get a number for Smith who is now left with a 3-wood in from tight rough.
Smith’s 3-wood has gone long left of the green and he now lies three.
Chipping up from the back of the green, Smith left himself 12-feet for par which he missed, tapping in for bogey.
1-over on his day, Smith drops back to 4-under for the championship, now 3-shots back of the leaders.
More trouble on the sixth
Smith’s tee shot on the par-4 sixth found the left rough, and then his second lies left of the green in the light rough, requiring another up and down for par.
A clutch chip leaves Smith with a tap-in par, limiting the damage.
Crowds are out in force watching the Queenslander
Photo: Dylan Evans
Back in business on the seventh
After a monster drive on the par-4 seventh, Cam finds himself pin high off the green with just a pitch over the bunker left in.
Just clearing the bunker, Smith has left himself with 15-feet for birdie.
Another one just slides by on the left, Smith taps in for a stress-free par.
Almost an ace on the eighth
Smith’s tee shot on par 3 8th dances around the hole before coming to rest six feet away, one of his best looks at birdie so far today.
It’s in! Smith gives the crowd something to cheer about as he rolls in his birdie putt on eight to get back to even on his round.
Scrambling again on the ninth
After his drive found the bark chips left of the ninth fairway, Smith’s second has come up 15m short of the green, requiring another clutch up and down to save par.
After a decent approach, Smith has 6 feet left for his par.
Another par putt slides just by on the left edge as Smith makes the turn 1-over on his day, and 4-under for the championship as a storm is brewing behind him over Brisbane.
How about these shots from Dylan Evans.
Highs and lows to start the the back nine
After a birdie to get things going on the tenth, Smith was forced to take his shoes and socks off to play his second from the water on the 11th.
After a decent recovery, Smith missed the 12-footer for par, tapping in for bogey and giving his gained shot straight back.
Bounce back on the 12th
After a perfect tee shot on the short par-4 12th, Smith was able to nestle his pitch to just outside a foot and converted the birdie putt.
He gets back to even on his day and 5-under for the championship, four shots back of leader Phoenix Campbell.
Riding the wave on the 13th
Smith bombs another drive to the front of the green on 13, leaving a perfect line in to back left pin.
Smith’s itch comes up 5 feet short of the hole, a good look at birdie to go under-par on his day.
BRUTAL! Smith’s birdie putt lips out hard the left edge, he taps it in for par.
Safely in the fairway on the 14th
Driving down the right side, Smith finds the fairway on the par-4 14th, setting up a strong chance to knock one close and set up another birdie.
After his approach trickled off a knob of the green on the right side, Smith faces a very tricky up and down to save par.
A flop shot left Smith 8-feet for par, his putt lipping out on the right side this time.
Tapping in for bogey, Smith’s round is back to 1-over, 4-under for the week.
Stroke of luck on the 15th
It looked as if Smith’s drive had found the water on the 15th, but it just hangs on, he was forced to pitch back to the fairway though.
Smith has managed to get his third up on the front edge of the green on the par-5, and has 18-feet for an outside birdie chance.
Just missing on the left side, Smith taps in for par, likely a relieving result after thinking his drive was in the water off the tee.
Go time on the 16th
Smith’s tee shot is in the perfect position down the left side of 16, opening up a great angle into the back right pin position.
Smith safely made par.
Finishing strong
Smith made a final birdie on the par-5 17th to get his round back to even, and finished with a par on the tough par-3 18th.
Starting and finishing his day at 5-under, Smith limited a lot of the damage today, however the overnight leaders both continued scoring, and Smith now finds himself five shots off the pace heading into the weekend.
The name at the top of the PNG Open leaderboard changed countless times on moving day, but Andrew Campbell has held onto the solo lead heading into the final round of the opening event of the 2024/25 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season.
After a day three 3-under 69, Campbell (NSW) is on top at 14-under, with William Bruyeres (QLD) and James Conran (NSW) tied second at 13-under.
PNG specialists Brett Rankin (QLD) and Peter Cooke (SA) find themselves at 12 and 11-under respectively, with New Zealander James Hydes joining Cooke in a share of fifth at 11-under.
Despite the battle for top spot playing out behind him, Tour veteran Anthony Choat had the highlight of day three, making a hole-in-one at the 153-metre par-3 18th at Royal Port Moresby, the ace pocketing the New South Welshman a cool AUD$19,000.
It comes just weeks after 46-year old Choat made his first ever hole-in-one at the Tin Can Bay Pro-Am, when it rains it pours!
Campbell got to work consolidating his 36-hole lead early, getting to 3-under on his day after six holes.
Bogeys at eight and nine brought Campbell back to the rest of the field as he made the turn though, as the name at the top of the leaderboard continued to update.
A flawless back-nine, with back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15, showed Campbell, and his quest for a first tour win was not going down without a fight.
“I’m feeling good,” said Campbell. “I played really solid again today, I just did me really well again, and that’s all I’m trying to do today and tomorrow.
“I had one (54-hole lead) last year, so I’ve been in this position before and I know what to expect tomorrow.
“I’m just going to go out there and again, do myself and go through my process to the best of my ability.”
With a lot of players within a few shots of his lead, Campbell knows that anything can happen on Sunday, and to expect someone to make a charge ahead of him.
“There’s a lot of good players out here, but like I said before, I just got to go through my process and stick to my game.
“I know what I can do and what I’m capable of doing around this course, so I’ll just, like I said, stick to my process and just keep doing my thing, play my own game and see what happens on 18.”
Bruyeres shot the equal low round of the day, a 7-under 65, rightfully earning him a share of second heading into the final round.
“I sadly had gastro yesterday, so I spent most of the night before the round up in the bathroom,” said Bruyeres.
“I felt horrible going on the course, and was really happy to shoot under par yesterday.
“I knew I was playing well and if I was healthy today I could go shoot something low, and I did.
“Momentum’s always a big thing, so to have a good start to the season’s always good.”
Plenty of low scoring was produced on day two of the PNG Open, but it is New South Welshman Andrew Campbell who sits alone atop the leaderboard at the halfway mark at Royal Port Moresby.
Searching for his first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia win after a string of top-10s last season, Campbell was one of six players to card a 7-under 65 today to move to 11-under for the week, one shot ahead of James Conran (NSW).
New Zealander James Hydes sits in third alone at 9-under, with Daniel Fox (WA) a further shot back at 8-under after a 65 of his own today.
West Australian Braden Becker heads up a strong group of players tied seventh at 7-under after an albatross on the par-5 first hole kickstarted an incredible 7-under 30 on his second nine.
Although he enjoyed a breakout season on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia last summer, including six top-10 finishes, a win eluded Campbell who ended the campaign in 14th on the Order of Merit.
“I got off to a good start and gave myself a lot of chances early,” Campbell said.
“Didn’t quite make that many putts but I managed to turn 1-under and then sort of just got on a run on the back nine.”
Starting his day on what has proved to be a more difficult back nine, the 34-year-old was able to capitalise on scoring opportunities in the latter part of his round, going 6-under on Royal Port Moresby’s front nine.
His surge up the leaderboard included seven threes in a row from the third to the eighth.
“Just really happy with where I’m at. I was putting it quite well and just hitting a lot of good shots, giving myself chances, which is the main thing you got to do around here,” he said.
“I feel like I’m in a great place with my game, a great place mentally, so just got to put myself in the fight. That’s all, I know I’m good enough to win.”
Second-placed Conran’s 65 included eight birdies with just the sole bogey at the par-4 seventh.
“I drove it in play for most of the day where you need to on those short par-4s, got it up next to the green and hit a few good chips and had tap-in birdies, then sort of just kept it going into the back nine,” said Conran.
“A good finish is pretty pivotal for me because I’m not actually a part of the tour this year.
“I’ve got a full membership category, so I don’t have that guaranteed start to each event. It’s nice to get a good week going here. I mean, a win would be great.”
Papua New Guinea amateur Morgan Annato fought hard today in his national open, carding a 1-under 71 to make the cut on the number at even-par.
Notable players to miss the cut included 2023 Webex Players Series South Australia winner Austin Bautista, as well as last year’s PNG Open runner-up Jack Murdoch.
It’s not often that the first reserve gets called up on the Thursday of a professional golf tournament due to the Prime Minister withdrawing, but that’s exactly what occurred today at the PNG Open and young Victorian Connor McDade made the most of the opportunity it created.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, an avid golfer who played in his national Open in 2023, was unable to take his position in the field due to official duties, giving McDade, who was warming up waiting for his chance, his first start as a professional on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
The former Australian amateur representative took the opportunity with both hands and didn’t look back, carding a 5-under 67 at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club for a share of the lead as the 2024/25 Tour season got underway.
Joining McDade at the top of the leaderboard are fellow young gun Josh Greer (WA), William Bruyeres (Qld) and in-form Brett Rankin (Qld)
Four players – James Gibellini (Vic), Zachary Maxwell (Qld), Andrew Campbell (NSW), James Hydes (NZ) – share fifth position, just one back from the leaders.
The leading PNG player after day one is amateur Morgan Annato, who carded a tidy 1-over 73 on the opening day of his native open.
McDade’s score is made all the more remarkable by the fact that when he arrived at Royal Port Moresby at 6.45 this morning, he was not 100% sure he would be in the field, although there had been suggestions a vacancy may open up.
By 7am, PM Marape’s name had come off the timesheet and by 7.38am, McDade’s first tee shot was sailing down the 10th fairway.
“I mean, this is probably as good as this day could have gone for me,” McDade said post-round.
“There was a lot of uncertainty, but yeah, played really well and took it how it came so I’m happy.”
McDade took a while to getting going, making two early bogeys before reaching the turn at 1-over.
After missing out on a scoring opportunity at the par-5 first, McDade soon caught fire, collecting four consecutive birdies from holes three through six before making eagle at the par-5 ninth, his last hole.
As the first reserve, McDade could have been waiting all day for a player to withdraw, if at all, so admits the early tee time was a welcome surprise.
“I came a long way to come and play golf and was just waiting to see what happened for me,” he said.
“It was definitely an easier day than I thought it was going to be.
“I was kind of prepared to sit on the first and 10th tees for 12 hours, but it didn’t really work out that way. I was off the tee within an hour, so yeah, that was really lucky.”
Leading the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series Order of Merit, Rankin continued his good form with four birdies and an eagle in his 67.
Bruyeres snared seven birdies, including a run of three to start the front nine, while Greer cashed in late with four birdies in his last five holes.
Defending champion Lachlan Barker (SA) slipped to +4 after his first seven holes but fought back to shoot 1-over 73.
With a new season of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia getting underway in Port Moresby on Thursday, not many players can say they are in as rich a vein of form as Brett Rankin right now.
The Queenslander leads the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series Order of Merit list and enters this week at the PNG Open hot off a playoff win at the North Coast Open at Coffs Harbour in his last start, but he says he still has room to grow.
“My iron play has been a bit average the last few weeks and I didn’t feel it was that great last week either, but I’m driving the ball really well and I’m putting well,” Rankin said.
Also in his favour this week is the experience he has gained across previous trips to PNG, including a victory at the Morobe Open, the 36-year-old admitting the Tour’s most northerly stop can be a bit of a shock to the system – even in winter.
“I’m feeling quite comfortable and pretty confident … I’ve played well in PNG in the past,” he said.
“I think the biggest battle is just where you are, and the heat. You have to go in with a strong mental game and just accept it’s different.
“If I just go off and play my game, I’ve had good results here in the past, there’s no reason why I can’t have more good results.”
Rankin successfully went back to Q-school this year to improve his category after finishing outside the top-50 on last season’s Order of Merit, and says that has been a positive springboard heading into this year.
“Last year it was a pretty frustrating season. I actually felt like it was one of my best ball striking seasons, but I just was nowhere with the putter,” he said.
“To play at Moonah Links, I haven’t really played well there in the past, so to play well there and basically know that I’ll get every start, or I should get most starts anyway, is very encouraging.
“I’ve basically got a full schedule, so I’m just excited to get back into playing the Tour season and having a crack.”
While his most recent win grants him entry into the New South Wales Open, Rankin has another big event in his sights.
“The Australian Open is probably the one I’m really looking forward to,” he said.
“I love Kingston Heath, and I love Victoria Golf Club, and I love the Sandbelt”.
The PNG Open, with a field of 108 professionals and amateurs, starts on Thursday morning, and is the first event of the 2024/25 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season. Follow the live scores HERE.
Australia’s Richard Green has a huge opportunity to win his first seniors major title after moving into second place after the third round of the Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex.
The Victorian lefthander trails Korea’s KJ Choi by just one shot after firing a 4-under-par 68 at Carnoustie on day three.
Choi (70) sits at 8-under for the championship, with Green one ahead of India’s Arjun Atwal (67) who is two clear of former champion Paul Broadhurst (England)
The Korean, who had four consecutive birdies on the front nine, looked like he could run away with the title when he led the field by five after 14 holes on Saturday.
But he slipped up with consecutive double-bogeys after finding the rough on the 15th and a devilish pot bunker on 16 only to regain the outright lead with a birdie on the 18th.
Meanwhile, Green, who already has two top-fives in seniors majors this year, played the back nine in 3-under.
The 53-year-old will be chasing his first win on PGA TOUR Champions in his 45th start.
Greg Chalmers is the next best Australian, tied 13th on 2-under. Compatriots John Senden and Scott Hend are in a share of 29th.
The leaders tee of at 10.35pm (Aust time)
Australasian scores
2 Richard Green -7
T8 Steven Alker (NZ) -1
T13 Greg Chalmers +3
T25 Michael Campbell (NZ) +5
T29 John Senden +6
T29 Scott Hend +6
T52 Rod Pampling +9
60 Michael Long (NZ) +10
T61 Jason Norris +11
T63 Michael Wright +12
T66 David McKenzie +13
T66 Peter Fowler +13
An even-par 72 was good enough to keep Richard Green in the hunt, as many players went backwards on day two of The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex at Carnoustie.
The Victorian is in a share of third place at 3-under, three shots back of leader K.J Choi from Korea.
New Zealander Steven Alker is a few shots back at even-par, while Australians Scott Hend and Greg Chalmers find themselves together at 3-over.
In total, 13 of the Australasian contingent made the cut, with four Australians and Fijian Vijay Singh sadly missing out on the weekend.
Green had somewhat of a horrid run in the middle of his round, carding four straight bogeys from holes eight through 11.
The tall lefthander bounced back quickly though, with an eagle at 12, and a further birdie at 14 to get his round back to even.
Canadian Stephen Ames, who is solo second behind Choi, talked to the conditions after his Friday round.
“I think it was a bit tougher today, this morning, than it was yesterday afternoon,” said Ames.
“A lot more blustery. It was more going for the middle of the greens, 25-, 30-footers. It was tough to make birdies from there.
“They did a good job of tucking the pins. It was obviously a bit more difficult to get birdies out there.”
Australasian scores
T3 Richard Green -3
T11 Steven Alker (NZ) E
T21 Scott Hend +3
T21 Greg Chalmers +3
T28 Michael Campbell (NZ) +4
T33 Peter Fowler +5
T49 John Senden +6
T49 Rod Pampling +6
T60 Michael Long (NZ) +7
T60 Michael Wright +7
T60 David McKenzie +7
T60 Jason Norris +7
MC Peter O’Malley +9
MC Vijay Singh (FIJI) +11
MC Steve Allan +11
MC Stuart Appleby +12
WD Mark Hensby
Victorian Richard Green has continued his trend of finishing day one of a major championship up the pointy end of the leaderboard as play at The Senior Open Championship presented by Rolex got underway overnight at Carnoustie.
The tall left-hander is in a share of second after an opening round 3-under 69, one shot back of leader Stephen Ames.
The next best placed Australian is Scott Hend in solo sixth, the Queenslander opening with a 2-under 70, highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 12th.
New Zealander Steven Alker is just one shot further back after a 1-under 71, while Australian pair Peter O’Malley and Greg Chalmers find themselves in a share of 19th at even-par.
No other Australasians managed to break par at Carnoustie on the opening day, but with the leader at 4-under, many are only one good round from clawing back into contention.
Having held the course record for 10 years, Green said post-round that he was very pleased to be back at the Scottish links he holds such cherished memories of.
“It’s great to come back to Carnoustie after a lot of experience here, you know through The Opens that I’ve played, and the Dunhill Links tournaments that I’ve played,” he said.
“To go out there a shoot a score on this course is very rewarding.”
Taking a little bit of time to get going, Green opened with eight-straight pars, before back-to-back birdies at nine and ten got the momentum going at the turn.
A further two birdies at 14 and 17, with a sole bogey sandwiched in at 15, marked a fairly stress free round for Green.
“No doubt it’s extremely challenging, and really difficult, we all know that,” Green said of Carnoustie.
“But it just seems to pull out great golf when you score well, and I like that, I’ve been hitting some good golf shots lately and I’m getting a bit of reward for it.”
Green was also asked post-round about his close calls in majors this year, and where his confidence levels are at.
“Yeah it’s up there a little bit, but I’m still pretty humble about my golf. I understand it’s difficult to win against the calibre of the field that’s here,” he said.
“I’m just going to go about it each day at a time, and do what I’ve got to do to put myself in with another chance on Sunday.
“Those two results (second and third in 2024 majors) obviously have built some confidence over those big events, and hopefully I can get there again on Sunday.”
Australasian scores
T2 Richard Green -3
6 Scott Hend -2
T7 Steven Alker (NZ) -1
T19 Peter O’Malley E
T19 Greg Chalmers E
T28 Rod Pampling +1
T42 John Senden +2
T42 David McKenzie +2
T42 Jason Norris +2
T42 Michael Long (NZ) +2
T61 Peter Fowler +3
T61 Michael Campbell (NZ) +3
T78 Steve Allan +4
T91 Michael Wright +5
T108 Vijay Singh (FIJI) +6
T108 Mark Hensby +6
T146 Stuart Appleby +9
He is one of only three Australian men to reach the summit of the Official World Golf Rankings and Jason Day believes he has identified the next Aussie No.1.
Day returned home to Ohio on the back of his tie for 13th at The Open Championship at Royal Troon but we will be back in Europe next week to make his Olympic Games debut at Le Golf National.
He will be joined in the Australian team by reigning BMW Australian PGA champion Min Woo Lee, who will celebrate his 26th birthday the day after attending the Paris 2024 Opening Ceremony on Friday.
A three-time winner on the DP World Tour and one of world golf’s most magnetic personalities, Lee has the game that can take him to the very top of world golf, according to Day.
“He’s an amazing player,” said Day, the world No.1 for 51 weeks.
“I met him when he was a young junior player a while back, I think in 2016 or 2017, something like that.
“I’ve always kind of kept up with his career, especially when he played on the European Tour, now he plays on the PGA Tour.
“Hits it a long way, has a tremendous short game, and he’s a good putter.
“The good thing about him is he’s young. Once he starts to develop all the other parts of his game, he’s probably, I would say, our next best Australian player to try and get to No.1, just because of the talent.”
Sitting just five spots behind Day at No.36 in the world rankings, Lee is one win from assuming the mantle as Australia’s highest-ranked male golfer.
Given he was a teenager playing the Junior Interstate Series for Western Australia when Adam Scott and Jason Day were fighting it out at The Masters in 2013, it is rarefied air that Lee is just now becoming accustomed to breathing.
“To think that I can now call Adam Scott and Jason Day friends is amazing,” said Lee, who missed the cut at Royal Troon.
“They’ve been amazing. We always try to play practice rounds and stuff.
“It’d be amazing to be the top-ranked player in the world from Australia. That’d be very special.
“Still feel like I’m a kid, but our goal is to be the best player in the world.
“If that comes, to represent Australia and be the No.1 would be a very special and proud moment.”
Both Day and Lee will make their Olympic debuts in Paris, Lee to be joined by older sister Minjee in representing the green and gold.
Minjee is already a two-time Olympian, Min Woo thrilled that he will join such an illustrious group.
“Like anything we do as brother and sister, it’s very special,” he said.
“My sister has been in every event and every team event for Australia so she’s just been waiting on me.
“I guess time has come which is very exciting for the family.”
Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
It came with some unexpected nerves yet Will Florimo’s breakthrough adidas PGA Pro-Am Series victory at the Reside Communities Pacific Pro-Am could not have been more fitting.
Playing at Pacific Golf Club where he is a member and has played pennants in the past, Florimo shot 4-under 68 to edge another outstanding field by a single stroke, Edward Donoghue, Dylan Gardner and Brett Rankin sharing second with rounds of 3-under 69.
Florimo earned status for the upcoming Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season at Qualifying School in April and will start his campaign at PNG next month buoyed by a maiden win at his home club.
Despite the familiarity of the venue, Florimo admitted that he arrived at the course with a sense of expectation.
“I said to my wife this morning, I was actually a little bit nervous playing at home, which was weird,” he said.
“Obviously I’ve had a big year with Q School both here and Asia and obviously my first proper starts the last few weeks.
“This was probably the first one that I’ve actually had a little bit of jitters driving here this morning, so awesome to actually get it done.”
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
A birdie at the par-4 fourth was the ideal way for Florimo to start his round but he was back to level par one hole later after a dropped shot at five.
Five straight pars followed before Florimo unleashed a back-nine birdie barrage.
He made three straight birdies from the par-5 11th and closed out a back nine of 5-under 31 with two further birdies at 17 and 18.
Conscious of where he stood on the leaderboard playing his final hole – the par-3 third – Florimo hit his tee shot to the meaty part of the green, a three-putt bogey shaving his advantage to a single shot.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“It was playing different to probably what it normally does with how firm and ridiculously fast it is out there,” Florimo said.
“I felt like I knew where I needed to leave it to a lot of those trickier pins. Even 18, I played as a three-shotter par 5. I know that pin, that’s our pennant pin where it was, so I knew where I had to leave the wedge shot and left it 10 feet under the hole.
“Those sorts of ones was where I felt like I had a bit of an edge.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Will Florimo 68
T2 Edward Donoghue 69
T2 Dylan Gardner 69
T2 Brett Rankin 69
T5 Deyen Lawson 70
T5 Michael Sim 70
T5 Cameron John 70
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series stays in Brisbane on Wednesday for the Howeston Pro-Am at Howeston Golf Course before moving on to Windaroo Lakes on Thursday and Virginia on Friday.
