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Maiden victories rarely come easy and for newly crowned Isuzu Queensland Open champion Anthony Quayle the statement rings true.
Following a rollercoaster final round at Pelican Waters Golf Club the Queenslander has won his maiden Professional tournament in a playoff against amateur Jack Thompson.
The 25-year-old carded rounds of 67, 69, 67 and 70 for a 15-under 273 total but it was a regulation par at the first playoff hole that saw Quayle win his first ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia title.
“It feels incredible. I’ve given myself a few chances recently and haven’t been able to pull it off and the feeling of frustration or regret walking off the 18th green is definitely not present at the moment,” Quayle said.
“I felt for a while that my first win would be a pretty difficult one to get done and maybe it was difficult because I thought it into reality.
“I showed myself today what it takes to win and it doesn’t have to go perfect. You can make quite a few mistakes and still have a chance to win. I think it’s a pretty good lesson for me today.”
After starting the final round tied for the lead at 13-under alongside Thompson and James Anstiss, Quayle moved ahead of the pack early with birdies at the first, third, fifth and seventh holes.
The back-nine proved more of a challenge, however, when he fell victim to a bogey, double-bogey combo and the 11th and 12th holes.
Despite admittedly ‘giving myself a bit of a serving’, Quayle managed to turn his mindset around thanks to his coach and caddy for the week, Ken Berndt (KB).
“KB my coach helped me out a lot,” Quayle said while also thanking his parents and wife Sofia for their support.
“We got to a few ahead and then went bogey, double and Jack went par, birdie and all of a sudden he was one ahead and was playing really nicely.
“To catch him I was going to have to play really good golf. KB had a chat to me; got me to compose myself and I barely missed a shot coming in the last five holes.
“He was saying to me as we went to the first playoff hole I didn’t sign up for this extra work, but I wouldn’t be here without him. He’s coached me since I was 14, constantly helping, incredibly selfless, just always there to help you out.”
The Japan Golf Tour player’s record boasts a number of top-10 finishes worldwide including second place at the 2018 Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways but his first win, made in his home state, will stick in his memory forever.
The moment is one Low Amateur Honours winner Jack Thompson will remember for years to come but the disappointment of a narrowly missed win was front of mind after the final putt dropped.
“To be honest I’m pretty gutted. I probably should have grabbed it on the last there, I had about a 12-footer for birdie but at the end of the day I’m still pretty rapt to get Low Am but it would have been nice to come home with the trophy,” Thompson said.
“I really wanted it. I’ve had a few close calls in amateur events and carried on to here. I’m still proud of myself to even take it to a playoff.
“I was proud of myself for sticking in and it’s going to go a long way in terms of all of the other pro events I play, just backing myself on the back-nine even though I didn’t get the job done.”
Brad Kennedy fought back in the final round to finish tied for third alongside Jake Higginbottom at 13-under the card. Steven Jeffress, amateur Josh Armstrong, veteran Richard Green and Kiwi James Anstiss tied for fifth place at 12-under.
Quayle takes home the winner’s share of the $137,500 prize purse, $20,625, as well as Official World Golf Ranking Points and full exemption onto the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia until the end of the 2021 season.
Quayle will now travel to Queenstown for the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and Asian Tour co-sanctioned 101st New Zealand Open which will tee off at Millbrook Resort & The Hills from Thursday 27 February.
The leaders came back to the field and the lurkers came out of the pack on day three of the Isuzu Queensland Open, leaving a wide open finish to be played out tomorrow at Pelican Waters.
Three players – New Zealander James Anstiss, Queenslander Anthony Quayle and South Australian amateur Jack Thompson – hold the lead at 13-under through three rounds, all going sub-par on Saturday.
But the remarkable fact was that the last group in round three – David Bransdon, Brad Kennedy and Josh Armstrong – all gave up ground. Bransdon had a 73, Armstrong a 74 and Kennedy a 75, pushing them back into the pack.
Aside from the leading trio Western Australian Jarryd Felton and New South Welshman Jake Higginbottom at 12-under are just a shot from the lead and in with a strong chance tomorrow.
At 10-under par alongside Victorian Matias Sanchez, former champion Bransdon has some work to do in the final round, three shots back.
⛳️THREE-WAY TIE FOR THE LEAD! ⛳️@anthonyqgolf, Jack Thompson and James Anstiss are tied at 13-under to lead the #QldOpen with 18 holes to play at @pelicangolfclub ?️♂️
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) February 22, 2020
Jarryd Felton and Jake Higginbottom sit one shot back at 12-under.
Leaderboard ? https://t.co/VhIgEEn0l7 pic.twitter.com/LLRcSk3eat
Quayle, 25, will likely go in as the favourite with his good form on the Japanese tour and his tied-15th finish at the ISPS Handa Vic Open. He would love a win in his home state tomorrow.
“If I play how I did the last three days, I think it’s either going to be a winning score or pretty close to it,” he said. “I have to try and enjoy myself out there. I’ve been in the last group or the second-last group, this is the third tournament in a row. I’ve given myself a chance.”
Anstiss, 24, from Queenstown, is seeking his first win. His day began with a bad tee shot, and ended with a bogey, but in between he was brilliant.
“I didn’t think it was going to happen after my first tee shot, lost ball,’’ he said. “I was heading back in a cart to hit my third (shot) off the first, so 66 I’ll take. It was pretty good.”
Thompson, 21, originally from Port Lincoln, plays out of The Grange in Adelaide and is one of this country’s best amateurs. But he surprised himself with his 68 on Saturday.
“I’d like to say I thought I was going to do well and up there, but probably not,” he said. “Probably not to be 13-under and tied for the lead.’’
Thompson won the 2018 men’s Riversdale Cup and is rapt to be in contention.
“I’ve been playing well,” he said. “It’s nice to finally put it into a pro event. I’ve played a few now, a few good finishes. It’s nice to be up the top. I’m stoked.
“It’s my first final group in a pro event. I’m ready for the challenge and what it brings.”
The final round of the Isuzu Queensland Open will begin at 8:50am AEST while the leading group of Anstiss, Quayle and Thompson will take to the first tee at 10:430m.
Visit pga.org.au for the full #QldOpen leaderboard.
There’s been much talk of a changing of the guard on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, but David Bransdon and Brad Kennedy aren’t having a bar of it.
The pair, as well as fellow 40-something Richard Green, are all perfectly poised to halt the advance of the youth brigade at Pelican Waters this weekend, holding sway at the halfway point of the Isuzu Queensland Open.
While New South Welshman Jake Higginbottom matched Bransdon’s opening day course-record 63 today, it wasn’t enough to run down the Victorian’s edge.
Higginbottom roared through from +1 overnight all the way to -8 to sit alongside emerging pair Jarryd Felton and Anthony Quayle in a share of fifth with Green.
Talented amateur pair Josh Armstrong, of Canberra, and Jack Thompson, of Adelaide, sit third and fourth at 11 and 10 under, respectively, but they’re spotting a couple of Japan Golf Tour players a start for the weekend on the Sunshine Coast.
Kennedy, one of the hottest golfers on the planet in November and early December, has shown flashes of brilliance in the opening weeks of his 2020 campaign.
And the Queenslander did so again today with six birdies en route to a 68 that added to his opening 65 to leave him 11 under in total.
But it was a great approach that set up a tap-in birdie on the last that preserved Bransdon’s one-stroke lead with the Victorian, a former winner of the T.B. Hunter Cup at Brookwater, signing for a second-round 69 to sit 12 under.
David Bransdon has reclaimed the lead of the #QldOpen with a 3-under second round.
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) February 21, 2020
Terry Pilkadaris chats with Dave post round ?#PGATA pic.twitter.com/CMfoRl9b54
Bransdon immediately said he’d look forward to playing with Kennedy’s familiar face and more traditional tactics as the youngsters chased.
“I played with Brad last Saturday (in the Queensland PGA Championship) and we’ve played a lot in Japan since I’ve been up there,” Bransdon said.
“The young guys they’ll do what they do … hit it 400 (metres), go wedge it and have a few putts, and we’ll play a different game our way,” he said with a broad smile.
Bransdon said stiffer afternoon breezes made scoring more difficult than his early opening-day barrage.
“It got tricky on the back nine … it was crosswinds and hard to pick,” he said.
“I hit a couple of ordinary golf shots, but overall it was still nice.”
Incredibly, 12 amateurs made the cut which was made at +1 to find the top 50 professionals and ties.
A host of big names missed the weekend action including Deyen Lawson, Ash Hall, Scott Arnold, Aaron Townsend and defending champion Jordan Zunic.
Local amateur Sarah Wilson, just the second woman to play in the Queensland Open, made a run with two late birdies, but came up one short at +2 despite a fine second-round 72.
The first group will tee off at 9:05am AEST while the leading group of Bransdon, Kennedy and Armstrong will take to the first tee at 10:45am.
For the full #QldOpen leaderboard and tee times visit pga.org.au.
The best bits from Friday at the 2020 @IsuzuAustralia #QldOpen ??️♂️
— Golf Australia QLD (@GolfAustQLD) February 21, 2020
David Bransdon owns a one-shot halfway lead at @pelicangolfclub after another cracking day on the Sunny Coast! ☀️? pic.twitter.com/0RcHm1WWo9
Brad Kennedy is ready to take the fight for the Isuzu Queensland Open all the way to Sunday after taking the tournament lead at the halfway point of round two.
Despite a slow start to the morning in steamy Sunshine Coast conditions, Kennedy went on to card two bogeys and six birdies for a score of 4-under.
Together with an opening round of 65 the Queenslander eclipsed David Bransdon’s overnight lead to sit atop the leaderboard at 11-under the card.
“It was a bit of a flat start to be honest. I gave myself some opportunities, hit some fairways but didn’t quite get my wedges close enough which was a little bit frustrating,” Kennedy said.
“I made a soft bogey on 15 which probably was the bogey I had to have and that got me motivated. I then birdied five of the next six holes so something like that tends to spark you to get you into another gear.
“It was getting brutal out there heat wise. It was a big week last week and backed up from a late day yesterday so I was running on empty coming in but I managed to birdie the eighth hole and all in all I don’t think I’ll be ending by the end of the day but I’ll be somewhere there abouts.”
Novocastrian Jake Higginbottom proved scores were there for the taking at Pelican Waters Golf Club with an incredible comeback round of 63 to equal the course record set by Bransdon on Thursday.
After an opening round of 73 the 26-year-old holed an impressive eight birdies and an eagle at the par-3 16th to sit tied for third at 8-under the card.
A lone bogey on his last hole of the day, the ninth, was the only blemish.
“I played a lot better today. I actually played nice yesterday, I just putted very poorly so I got a few to go in today and had a nice chip in for eagle that got the round going,” said Higginbottom.
“It’s nice to be up there in contention. We’ll see how the guys go this afternoon and see how far behind I am and I guess just go out and do the same as I did today, tomorrow.”
Energy-sapping conditions continue to make play difficult for the 132-player field that will be cut to the top 50 players plus ties and amateurs at the end of today’s play.
Mindset will be key for all when the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia tournament enters the weekend stage but for Kennedy more than most.
“To be honest I know what I have to do, whether I do it or not that’s a different story. I’ve got a situation where I’ve been in it before and able to learn from it so let’s see if I can do it this time,” he said.
“Mindset wise I just had to try and keep doing what I was doing from yesterday. The course gives you some really good opportunities but to be where I am and to look back at what I did there’s certainly room for improvement but I’ve got to get better to stay where I am.”
Victorian Richard Green used his experience to his advantage around the water-lined layout to finish the morning tied for third alongside Higginbottom with five birdies and an 8-under total.
“It was pretty solid day really. I felt like I left a couple of putts out there so I could have been a couple of shots better even but all in all it was pretty good,” Green said.
“They’re conditions that I’m not really used to in the heat like this but I enjoy it. I’m really enjoying the course, the golf course is fantastic and is one of the best I’ve seen for a while layout wise and scoring and opportunity wise.”
Round one frontrunners David Bransdon, Josh Armstrong and Jack Thompson are on course now.
For the live Isuzu Queensland Open leaderboard visit pga.org.au.
Victorian David Bransdon has set the benchmark for the Isuzu Queensland Open with a record-setting round of 9-under 63 in round one at Pelican Waters Golf Club.
The 2015 Isuzu Queensland Open champion fired out of the tees with six birdies on the back-nine, including four straight from holes 13 to 16, followed by a further three on the front-nine to sit two shots clear of South Australian amateur Jack Thompson.
With the flat stick striking hot Bransdon made the most of calm morning conditions on the Sunshine Coast to set the new course record.
“I holed a couple of nice putts early and I hit a couple close and basically the putter was pretty good all day. Then I started hitting a few close ones and holed them as well,” Bransdon said.
“There aren’t a lot of drivers out here for me this week. I’m hitting a lot of hybrids and fairway woods just to keep it in play because it’s more strategic for me.
“They’re fairly wide the fairways but you need to be in the right part of the fairway to be able to attack the green. For my game, hybrids and 3-woods and then my iron play is normally very solid.”
Bransdon’s leading scorecard was not the only thing to highlight the round for Bransdon’s playing group of ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia veterans Jason Norris and Terry Pilkadaris.
Norris made an ace on the 159 meter par-3 6th hole with an 8-iron before closing out his round at even-par.
? Ace alert ?
— Golf Australia QLD (@GolfAustQLD) February 20, 2020
Jason Norris with a hole-in-one on the par-3 6th hole at Pelican Waters with an 8-iron ?
And an ultimate photobomb by Terry Pilkadaris ? pic.twitter.com/XOqJIanxuK
“I witnessed a hole-in-one with Norrey on the 6th so that was pretty cool. The scorer behind the green didn’t see it but we all thought it was funny,” he said.
“We were certainly relaxed. We’ve known each other for a long time so there was a bit of banter here and there.”
Superstitions arose for the 46-year-old prior to the tournament when posing for a photo with fellow Queensland Open winners Michael Sim, Jordan Zunic and Nick Cullen.
Bransdon citied bad luck for his reluctance to touch the T.B. Hunter Cup but it appears to have done little to slow him down.
“I don’t like normally doing that because I’m old and I think it is back luck touching it before you play for it but I’ve touched it before so it’s not a bad thing so maybe it’s a good sign this week,” he said.
“I didn’t expect this. I thought 9 to 13-under was going to win the tournament, I didn’t think 9 was out there in one day.”
Victorian David Bransdon has set the benchmark early in round one of the Isuzu Queensland Open with a record-setting round of 9-under 63 at Pelican Waters Golf Club.
The 2015 Isuzu Queensland Open champion fired out of the tees with six birdies on the back-nine, including four straight from holes 13 to 16, followed by a further three on the front-nine to sit two shots clear of South Australian amateur Jack Thompson.
With the flat stick striking hot Bransdon made the most of calm morning conditions on the Sunshine Coast.
“I holed a couple of nice putts early and I hit a couple close and basically the putter was pretty good all day. Then I started hitting a few close ones and holed them as well,” Bransdon said.
“There aren’t a lot of drivers out here for me this week. I’m hitting a lot of hybrids and fairway woods just to keep it in play because it’s more strategic for me.
“They’re fairly wide the fairways but you need to be in the right part of the fairway to be able to attack the green. For my game, hybrids and 3-woods and then my iron play is normally very solid.”
Bransdon’s leading scorecard was not the only thing to highlight the round for Bransdon’s playing group of ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia veterans Jason Norris and Terry Pilkadaris.
Norris made an ace on the 159 meter par-3 6th hole with an 8-iron before closing out his round at even-par.
“I witnessed a hole-in-one with Norrey on the 6th so that was pretty cool. The scorer behind the green didn’t see it but we all thought it was funny,” he said.
“We were certainly relaxed. We’ve known each other for a long time so there was a bit of banter here and there.”
Superstitions arose for the 46-year-old prior to the tournament when posing for a photo with fellow Queensland Open winners Michael Sim, Jordan Zunic and Nick Cullen.
Bransdon citied bad luck for his reluctance to touch the T.B. Hunter Cup but it appears to have done little to slow him down.
“I don’t like normally doing that because I’m old and I think it is back luck touching it before you play for it but I’ve touched it before so it’s not a bad thing so maybe it’s a good sign this week,” he said.
“I didn’t expect this. I thought 9 to 13-under was going to win the tournament, I didn’t think 9 was out there in one day.”
Amateur pair Thompson, of Adelaide, and Josh Armstrong, of Canberra, each had eight birdies and one bogey en route to opening rounds of 7-under 65.
“I think it’s always nice to get off to a good start. It’s nice to be in this event and play well in the first round,” Thompson said.
“I played pretty solid and a lot of the putts went in so my putting held it together and I chipped in on one of the holes so that always helps.
“I just wanted to back myself in. A bit before when I was just starting to play pro events I would probably get a bit nervous but now I think I’ve settled in and I just take it one hole at a time and have fun. When you’re having fun you’re generally playing pretty well.”
Low scores continued to roll in throughout the day with Brad Kennedy posting a round of 7-under 65, highlighted by a chip-in eagle at the par-five third hole, in the afternoon field.
Returning to the form that saw him lead through 54 holes at last week’s Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship, demons from the final round at Toowoomba were out of mind for the Queenslander who finished the day tied in second place alongside Thompson and Armstrong.
“It was one of those days today where I’m semi-motivated in terms of things that happened last week but at the same time didn’t put any pressure on myself and tried to go out there and do what I could,” Kennedy said.
“It was nice to get back and try and shoot a good score after last week and be in the hunt again.
“Hopefully we can get out tomorrow morning it’ll be a bit calmer and we can keep going deep because I’d imagine it’s going to take a fair good score to win this one.”
Form Queenslander Anthony Quayle and new pro Matias Sanchez carded opening 67s to share fourth before being joined by amateur Andre Lautee later in the day.
Round two of the Isuzu Queensland Open will begin at 6:30am on Friday at Pelican Waters Golf Club.
For the round one leaderboard and round two tee times visit pga.org.au.
World golf is quickly becoming accustomed to seeing the Australian flag at the top of a leaderboard in 2020.
In the space of six weeks, six Aussie men have won events in Hong Kong, Dubai, Hawaii, Victoria and two in California and when the game’s elite gather in Mexico this week the Australian flag will again be prominent.
PGA TOUR winners Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman and Adam Scott will all be there along with some new names that perhaps require some introduction for those beyond Down Under.
Globetrotter Scott Hend has played in 10 World Golf Championships previously but for Zach Murray and Lucas Herbert, the WGC-Mexico Championship represents another important step in their professional golf development.
Murray and Kiwi Ryan Fox earned their place in the field as the top two finishers on the 2019 PGA TOUR of Australasia Order of Merit while Herbert’s victory at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic propelled him to such a lofty position on the European Tour Race to Dubai rankings that he too will tee it up against 43 of the world’s top 50 golfers, including current and former world No.1s Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Justin Thomas, Lee Westwood and Genesis Invitational winner Adam Scott.
Twelve months ago Jake McLeod got a taste of playing against the big boys, Min Woo Lee’s Vic Open victory means he too will soon join golf’s top echelon while the likes of Anthony Quayle, Maverick Antcliff, Cameron Davis, Ryan Ruffels, Travis Smyth, Brett Coletta and Jarryd Felton continue to establish their credentials as young pros of promise.
Prior to departing for Mexico, Murray was reminded by his father Craig that he has been a professional for some 400-odd days and after picking the brains of McLeod and veteran Matt Millar is chomping at the bit to step up to the next level.
“I can’t wait. It’s been a really quick transition for me,” Murray explained, winner of the 2019 New Zealand Open and tied for 21st at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in January after receiving a late invitation to play.
“Dad messaged me last night reminding me that I’ve been a pro for 400-something days. It’s all still very new for me but I’ve settled in quite nicely.
“Going over to play a World Golf Championship hasn’t really sunk in. It just feels like I’m going to another golf tournament but I know it’s not just another golf tournament.
“It’s the pinnacle apart from the majors. Once I get there and see the enormity of the tournament, that will be when it sinks in.”
At 430th in the world, Murray is ranked ahead of only Korean Tae Hee Lee (510) of those playing at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City this week yet the laconic 22-year-old from Corowa is adamant that the names don’t faze him.
Whilst the travails of travel may weigh heavily at times, the golf course is Murray’s sanctuary, whether playing with mates at Metropolitan Golf Club prior to leaving Australia or alongside the best fields that golf can assemble.
Sharing a locker room with McIlroy in particular will remind Murray of just how far he has come in such a short space of time but he is confident such illustrious company will only help to elevate his game even further.
“Golf’s never the issue for me,” Murray said.
“Obviously I get the nerves about playing but that doesn’t worry me whereas the travel part for me does worry me.
“Getting onto the golf course for me is a bit of an escape from things sometimes which is good.
“I’m fortunate that I don’t get overawed by that stuff. There are other aspects of my life that take a fair bit of maintaining but that part of it excites me. I don’t get scared by it, which is good.
“I enjoy playing with the better players.”
In finishing second to Fox on the Order of Merit, Murray earned a 2020 European Tour card and after two events is already sitting 58th in the Race to Dubai.
He joins Herbert, Lee and McLeod as Aussies 25 and younger on the European Tour and believes they can all benefit by sticking together.
“We’re all very different individuals so it’s hard to talk to each other about what you’re doing but the best thing for us to do is to try and stick together when we can,” Murray said.
“It’s tough travelling on your own sometimes so when we can try and stay at the same hotels so we can have dinner.
“I think that’s the most important thing.
“Being so young and having success so early, it’s very difficult to appreciate what I’ve been able to achieve and what I’ve got coming up.
“It is quite a good achievement for a young person to be out on the European Tour so quickly and if you take a step back, it is super important to know that you can compete.
“I was leading (in Abu Dhabi) a couple of times. First round I was leading and I had the lead halfway through the second round and that’s instilled a lot of confidence in me.
“Even playing down at Thirteenth Beach I felt very comfortable and I was in and around the lead for most of the week.
“It’s just nice going to a golf tournament thinking about trying to win rather than trying to finish top 20 or make the cut.
“It’s just how the brain changes when it learns how it can compete at every golf tournament you go to basically.
“It’s a very nice feeling.”
Aussie Winners in 2020
Wade Ormsby – Hong Kong Open (Asian Tour), January 12
Cameron Smith – Sony Open (PGA TOUR), January 12
Lucas Herbert – Omega Dubai Desert Classic (European Tour), January 26
Marc Leishman – Farmers Insurance Open (PGA TOUR), January 26
Min Woo Lee – ISPS HANDA Vic Open (European Tour), February 9
Adam Scott – Genesis Invitational (PGA TOUR), February 16
Adam Scott has further entrenched his place in Australian golf folklore with a two-stroke victory at the PGA TOUR Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles.
Although it is the second time he has triumphed at LA’s iconic course, his 36-hole win in 2005 was not recognised as an official title, this latest victory taking his tally to 14 all-time on the PGA TOUR and equal third with Bruce Crampton, behind only Greg Norman (20) and Jim Ferrier (18) as the most by an Australian on the US Tour.
The 39-year-old’s win at the Australian PGA Championship in December marked the end of a winless streak stretching 1,386 days, his next coming in his very next tournament just 56 days later.
It is the third time Scott has won tournaments in consecutive starts (2013, 2016) and is projected to move him up to No.6 in the world heading into the first of the World Golf Championships in Mexico this week.
Following their victories earlier in the season, Scott joins Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman as Aussie winners on the PGA TOUR in 2020 and adds a new chapter to Scott’s affinity with Riviera stretching back more than 15 years.
“It’s amazing. I’ve loved this place from day one,” Scott said in his post-round interview on CBS.
“It was tough out there today but the crowd is incredible, I feel like they’re on my side believe it or not. I’m stoked with this.
“I hadn’t won for three years and this feels very, very special.”
Starting the final round tied at the top at 10-under with world No.1 Rory McIlroy and US Presidents Cup member Matt Kuchar, Scott remained steady as challengers mounted short-lived charges or fell by the wayside.
A two-putt from 50 feet at the par-5 first and a 26-footer for birdie at three moved Scott to 12-under but he stumbled momentarily with a bogey at four and double-bogey at five, where McIlroy also found trouble on his way to a triple bogey 7.
Scott righted the ship with a birdie from 18 feet at the par-3 sixth and held a one-shot lead through 10 holes as Riviera’s exacting design and firm greens put a squeeze on those near the top of the leaderboard.
A crucial par save at 12 was an important moment on the back nine and a birdie at 13 after two brilliant shots put Scott two shots clear of Max Homa.
There was a bogey blip at 15 but as Riviera remained miserly coming down the stretch, a superb up-and-down for birdie at 17 restored his two-shot cushion and made the walk up 18 all that more comfortable.
PGA TOUR
Genesis Invitational
Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, California
1 Adam Scott 72-64-67-70—273 $US1,674,000
T43 Marc Leishman 70-72-68-74—284
MC Jason Day 68-76—144
MC Aaron Baddeley 71-73—144
MC Danny Lee 72-73—145
MC Cameron Smith 74-72—146
MC Matt Jones 79-70—149
Brad Kennedy has stormed clear in round one of the Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship as wild weather disrupted play at Toowoomba.
Rain delayed play for more than two hours as a heavy deluge lashed City Golf Club just as the afternoon field took to the tees.
With the greens sodden, the players were pulled from the course at around 12:30pm and returned at 2:45pm.
Kennedy, who shot 9-under, got to the clubhouse moments before the weather took a turn.
Play suspended at the #QLDPGA as the heavens open!
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) February 13, 2020
Could be a lengthy delay with the heavy rainfall lashing City Golf Club in Toowoomba.
Live scores ?? https://t.co/usFfht4qR5 pic.twitter.com/otu5qCS8a4
The veteran fired a bogey-free 61 – an equal course record – which included three birdies to close his round.
“I hit off the tenth (hole) and had an ideal start with a two-putt birdie. I drove it really well today, which is the key around Toowoomba City Golf Club. You’ve got to hit the fairways, which gives you a lot of opportunity to hit the greens,” Kennedy said.
“I managed to hole a couple of nice putts. I made a massive 50-foot putt for birdie on the third hole after being in a tricky position in a bunker.
“It just continued some momentum I had from the back nine and finished with three birdies. It’s nice to finish that way when you are gaining momentum.”
With up to 45 players still to complete round 1, round 2 tee times have been pushed back approximately 45 minutes. to cater the increased tee traffic.
Three-time European Tour winner Marcus Fraser and 2017 ISPS HANDA Vic Open champion Dimi Papadatos (both 5-under) are tied for second, while six players, including Warwick PGA Professional Samuel Eaves, are deadlocked at 4-under.
Kennedy was pleased to reverse his fortunes following a disappointing showing at last week’s Vic Open.
“Last week was a bit of a disappointment mentally. I learnt a lot after missing the cut. It has sharpened me up for this week,” he said.
“I have been doing this now for 25 years and you just know what it takes and last week I couldn’t get myself in the mindset. Now I’m making sure I’m doing all the right things to ensure I’m getting myself right.”
Fraser, who last week tied for third at the 13th Beach event, continues to be consistent and is in the mix at the end of round 1 play.
“It was pretty good out there today. I drove really well and had plenty of chances. The greens were a little bit bumpy because of the rain,” Fraser said.
“I’ve been pretty tired the last couple of days. It was a long week last week and throw in a Pro-Am on Monday, I’m just trying to charge the batteries up.
“When you’re playing well you just want to keep going. It was nice to get back out there in tournament conditions. I felt really comfortable last week, so it’s good to get going again today.”
The winner of the 2020 QLD PGA Championship will receive the bulk of the $150,000 prize course, as well as Official World Golf Ranking Points and full exemption onto the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia for the 2021 season, including a place in the Australian PGA Championship field.
The final two rounds of the tournament will be broadcast on FOX SPORTS and Kayo. Visit pga.org.au for broadcast times.
The Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship and New Zealand Open will be broadcast on FOX SPORTS Australia, following a landmark agreement that strengthens the PGA of Australia’s pursuit to growing golf in the country.
As an Official Media Partner of the PGA and the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, FOX SPORTS holds the Australian rights to broadcast the two events, which will be broadcast on FOX SPORTS, on Foxtel, and also available to stream live and on demand on the dedicated sports platform Kayo.
Under the agreement FOX SPORTS and Kayo coverage will be provided by the PGA’s popular streaming platform, PGATV, which has previously showcased the country’s most talented golfers at the Queensland PGA, Western Australia PGA and Victorian PGA championships.
PGA of Australia Commercial Director Michael McDonald said the PGA was looking to transition more tournaments currently being streamed via PGATV onto broadcast television.
“This new agreement is a great result for our Tour, as it provides the opportunity for Australian fans unable to attend our tournaments with the option of enjoying them on television via FOX SPORTS and Kayo,” Mr McDonald said.
“The ISPS HANDA Tour of Australasia has such a rich history of Australians going on to compete on the world stage and these televised events provide our fans an opportunity to get to know and watch the many talented players on our tour both emerging and existing.”
The Queensland PGA Championship will be staged at City Golf Club for the 11th consecutive year.
The event, 13-16 February, is one of the feature events on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.
The Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship broadcast times:
Saturday 15 February
Live on Fox Sports 505 & Kayo
AEDST: 1:30pm–4:30pm
Sunday 16 February
Live on Fox Sports 507 & Kayo
AEDST: 12pm-5pm
The NZ Open broadcast times (subject to change):
Thursday 27 and Friday 28 February
Fox Sports – Channel 503
VIC/NSW – 1pm-5pm
QLD – 12pm-4pm
SA – 12:30pm-4:30pm
WA – 10am-2pm
Saturday 29 February
Fox Sports – 503
VIC/NSW – 12pm-3pm
QLD – 11am-2pm
SA – 11:30am-2:30pm
WA – 9am-12pm
Sunday 1 March
Fox Sports – 506 (Replay Coverage)
VIC/NSW – from 6pm
QLD – from 5pm
SA – from 5.30pm
WA – from 3pm
Min Woo Lee has won his maiden professional victory, winning the ISPS HANDA Vic Open at Barwon Heads’ 13th Beach.
Australia has a new golf superstar in 21-year-old Perth professional Lee, who closed out the ISPS Handa Vic Open at 13th Beach to join his sister, Minjee, as a winner of the tournament.
Lee, from Royal Fremantle, was greeted with a hug from his sister after he birdied the 72nd hole to win by two shots from New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, having started the day with a three-shot lead.
Minjee Lee, who is in the top 10 on the women’s world rankings, previously won the Vic Open in 2014 and 2018. She finished tied-sixth today, but at one point threatened to make it a dual Lee victory before fading late. Their mother Clara, and grandmother Angela, were in the crowd jumping between holes to watch the siblings.
Min Woo Lee played sensational golf for a fourth consecutive day, starting with three birdies in his first four holes and ultimately carding a four-under par 68.
“Yeah, my sister and I winning the same tournament, it’s pretty special,’’ he said. “I’ve got bragging rights now, so it’s even better.’’
Minjee Lee had completed her final round and was able to watch the finish with her family. “It’s pretty cool, being able to watch,” she said.
A former US junior champion, Min Woo has been on the radar for at least five years but today marks his arrival. He gets a two-year European Tour exemption as a result, and can pick and choose where and when he plays.
He won $266,660 and planned on buying his first car. “I use my sister’s car back home and that’s pretty good, but I might have a top off from that.’’
Fox made it tough for him, scorching around 13th Beach in an incredible 64 that he called the best round of his life, and eagling the last hole to get within a shot of Lee, who had bogeyed the 17th. But the Perth wunderkind gathered himself, hit a safe four iron off the 18th tee and then a brilliant nine iron to the fringe of the green at the 18th, and walked up to the green knowing that he had it in the bag.
He had an eagle putt to put the exclamation mark on it, but ultimately tapped in for birdie and his first professional win. “It’s been so special with the crowd right behind us. I want to see that picture after. It was pretty special.”
Lee was a potentially heartbreaking two positions off earning his full European Tour card last year on the basis of his results on invitation starts. Worse, he thought that he had done enough until the standings came out. But he has pushed on and now there is no doubt. “I think I can just move on from that and be happy with where I am now. I was fine with it afterwards, a little bit of a bummer, but this kind of makes everything so much better. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.’’
Fox’s round had to be seen to be believed, including two eagles and four birdies and not a single bogey, incredible golf in the howling winds. “It’s comfortably the best round I’ve had in a tournament,” he said.
Frenchman Robin Sciot-Siegrist, New South Welshman Travis Smyth and Marcus Fraser were tied third at 14-under.
Fraser started brilliantly in the final group going birdie-birdie, but ultimately could not land a blow on the Perth star.
“The thing that stands out is he doesn’t have a weakness,’’ said Fraser. “I think he’s got a great head on his shoulders, which is probably the most important thing. I think he’s got the mind of a 40-year-old out there, someone who’s been out there for a long time. He’ll be a top-10 player in the world at some point, it’s just a matter of when he gets there, I think.”
Queenslander Jed Morgan was the leading amateur, shooting a final-round 70 to finish tied-seventh.
