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A maiden win in a prestigious tournament means big changes for a professional golfer and for Lucas Herbert, it’s been no different.
His victory at the Dubai Desert Classic two weeks ago moved him to second on the European Tour’s Race to Dubai standings and a different category professionally, but the biggest shift may actually be personal.
Herbert has never been short on confidence. In fact, in the eyes of many, he has often come across as cocky.
But that cocky edge might just be disappearing as the genuine confidence gained from winning on a difficult golf course in an important tournament makes the attitude surplus to requirements.
At his press conference yesterday ahead of this week’s ISPS Handa Vic Open the 24-year-old was still clearly not lacking self-belief but there was less strut and more substance about it.
“It always felt like I was good but wasn’t good enough to win,” he said. “And it’s not until you actually do that that you actually prove to yourself that you are good enough to win. “Within myself, not to anyone else around me, but it’s more with myself like ‘Okay, yeah, I am good enough to win’, especially given that I was not handed that at all.
“I had to go and earn that win. It wasn’t like I won in a playoff where the other guy hit three in the water and it was shaking hands after two shots. So that’s a big thing, I think.”
Herbert has been on the radar at the top levels in Australia since finishing T11 at the 2014 Australian Masters as an amateur.
He grabbed the third-round headlines that year with a course record 65 at Metropolitan Golf Club before driving overnight to Monday qualify for the following week’s Australian Open.
After turning professional he proved his mettle in 2018 when he started the season with no status on any world tour and played his way to full European Tour membership.
Fast forward to 2020 and with the lessons learned along the way has come new-found maturity both on and off the course, the benefits in his play obvious from his results.
“It’s one of those things,” he said when asked the difference between the talented rookie professional and the now successful, more seasoned player.
“I’m 24 now, maybe a little bit more mature. I don’t know that that’s a really big problem with myself because it wasn’t hard to be more mature than 22-year-old Lucas.
“But a couple of extra years under my belt, a few more finishes, a bit longer out on the road of seeing what’s going on and learning about myself as well. I think that’s probably where I’m different. And hopefully we’re sitting here in two years’ time having the same conversation and going, yeah, I’m way better than that 24-year-old Lucas as well.”
In terms of his golf Herbert has every right to be confident ahead of the opening round tomorrow after blistering the Beach Course in ‘about 10-under’ in Wednesday’s pro-am. Playing in his home state and home Open will bring its own pressures this week but his best result of T6 in 2017 suggests he has the tools to contend.
“The Vic Open, I think it was the second tournament, second professional tournament I ever played,” he said.
“It’s obviously my state home open, so I mean, yeah, to win at home would be something different from winning overseas with everyone else around. It would be pretty cool to win this week, but it’s one of those things like it actually, it is quite difficult to come home and play, and I think a lot of players feel that when they go and play back at home.
“To go and play in their home country can be quite tough because there is obviously quite a lot more expectation, quite a lot more pressure on you to play well. You’re expected to play a lot better.”
He readily admitted he will be feeling that pressure but is adamant he is not here just to make up the numbers.
“The challenge for me this week is just going to be try and make sure to keep a level head and not get ahead of myself, not expect too much of myself,” he said.
“I don’t turn up to any tournament just there to kind of enjoy or celebrate at all. You want to win every event you tee it up in. I’m definitely not here this week for a bit of a party with my friends.”
Should he get across the line, expect that to change Sunday night.
Victorian Richard Green will use evergreen Aussie veteran Peter Fowler as inspiration as he eyes a place on the lucrative Champions Tour at the end of the year.
The 2015 champion, Green kicks off his 2020 campaign at this week’s Vic Open two weeks shy of his 49th birthday, the looming 50th milestone in February 2021 motivation to make sure his game remains competitive until he can join the senior set.
Green and Fowler are part of a stellar field that has assembled at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula, the pair rounding out 2019 by playing the final round of the Australian PGA Championship together at RACV Royal Pines Resort.
A seven-time winner on Europe’s Staysure Tour, Fowler claimed the MCB Tour Championship in December six months after his 60th birthday, his dedication to his craft a reminder to Green that there is still plenty of tournament golf ahead of him.
“He’s a master,” Green said.
“If I was a golfing fan he’d be the guy I’d go and watch. The way he works and the way he focuses on his golf is really worth learning a lot from.
“You can see he’s struggling a little bit at times with his body but he’s worked hard his whole life in golf. Really, really hard and he still does it.
“He loves it.”
Given his 20-year career on the European Tour, Green would be almost certainly guaranteed status on the Staysure Tour next year but has his eyes on joining the likes of Rod Pampling, Stephen Leaney and David McKenzie on the more lucrative Champions Tour circuit in the US in 2021.
Either way, Green is approaching the next phase of his career like an excited rookie.
“I don’t see myself working indoors. I’ve just been born to do this,” Green said of his plans post-50.
“Golf’s been my life. I’ve played it for over 30 years now and for a long time it’s been a part of me.
“I’m fortunate to be able to have a bit of a future with senior golf. It’s something to look forward to.”
Tied for 13th at the Australian Open at The Australian in December, Green’s playing opportunities in Europe have been restricted ever since he was bumped from the top-40 on the European Tour career moneylist by Swede Alex Noren at the end of 2016, thus denying him a one-off exemption for the following year.
Noren’s fourth win of the year at the Nedbank Golf Challenge took him past Green by some E16,000 and left the Aussie left-hander with a level of uncertainty he hadn’t experienced in two decades.
“The hard part has been getting through the last couple of years without a tour to play on,” conceded Green, who has played just 25 events in Europe over the past three years.
“It was unfortunate what happened to me in Europe. I got pipped at the post. I thought I had my card and lost it at the end and ended up with nothing.
“I’ve been battling to try and play whatever I can to keep my golf game going and that’s been difficult.
“This year is a bit the same. I’ve got to try and get through somehow so I can play some senior golf at the end of the year and try and get my card on the Champions Tour.
“I had the opportunity to go to Q School Final Stage last year but I’d been the previous two years and not done any good. It just didn’t agree with me at all so I wasn’t going to go and waste my money there again.
“I would rather set my sights on good quality practice through the year and maybe play a couple of local tournaments in Norway on the Nordic League and hang out with Marianne (Skarpnord, his fiancée). I’m happy with that.”
Green and Skarpnord did the unthinkable five years ago when the couple – who had only recently moved to Thirteenth Beach – won their respective Vic Open crowns.
In the past 12 months they have played in mixed gender events in Jordan and Ireland and Green has no doubt there is a growing appetite for more such tournaments around the world.
“People with a bit of imagination and a bit of innovation for golf are grabbing hold of that format because it seems to be popular,” said Green, who defeated fellow leftie Nick Cullen in a playoff in 2015.
“Everyone wants to see the girls play along the same lines as seeing the guys play. The more the merrier.”
Aussie legends Rod Pampling and Stephen Leaney look set to push for greater senior honours in 2020 after the pair both finished inside the top 10 at the inaugural Morocco Champions event on the Champions Tour.
With 10 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia wins between them, Pampling and Leaney have both joined the over-50s circuit in the past 12 months and will this year be vying to become the first Australian winner of a senior major since Stewart Ginn at the Senior Players Championship in 2002.
Runner-up five times in 408 PGA TOUR starts, Brett Quigley completed an emotional victory in just his second Champions Tour start, finishing six shots clear of Pampling in a tie for eighth with Leaney a further shot back in a tie for 10th.
Pampling began the final round four shots adrift of 36-hole leader Stephen Ames and after the third birdie in the space of four holes at the par-5 12th was within striking distance of the top of the leaderboard.
But as the tournament reached its climax Pampling faltered, dropping shots at 13, 15 and 18 to fall back to 9-under par and a tie for eighth.
Beginning the final round in a tie for 12th, Leaney’s three birdies and two bogeys saw him turn in 1-under, a lone birdie at 12 resulting in a move of two spots up the leaderboard.
With the enormity of his win in Dubai still sinking in Victorian Lucas Herbert showed terrific composure to be the leading Australian at the Saudi International in Saudi Arabia, a final round of 2-under 68 launching him 20 spots up the leaderboard and into a tie for 27th.
Hitting 83 per cent of greens in regulation in the fourth round, Herbert finished level at 2-under for the week along with Kiwi Ryan Fox. Fox opened the week with a 4-under 66 to be two shots off the lead before falling back into the pack with a 5-over 75 in the second round, his Sunday 68 helping to push him up into the top 30.
As Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell rounded out the 11th European Tour win of his career, perhaps the most impressive performance among the Aussies came from Maverick Antcliff, who made the cut and finished tied for 52nd after only finding out on Wednesday morning that he was in the field.
Antcliff was in America and ninth reserve on Saturday but made the decision to fly to Saudi Arabia on Sunday morning when he woke up as first alternate.
The Queenslander prepared without any guarantees of getting a game, finally getting word at 9.30 on Wednesday morning that he would be teeing it up alongside Martin Kaymer and Mike Lorenzo-Vera the next day.
Champions Tour
Morocco Champions
Samanah GC, Marrakech, Morocco
T8 Rod Pampling 68-68-71—207 $US60,000
T10 Stephen Leaney 70-68-70—208 $48,000
36 David McKenzie 71-73-70—214 $12,000
European Tour
Saudi International
Royal Greens G&CC, King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia
T27 Ryan Fox 66-75-69-68—278 €26,534
T27 Lucas Herbert 67-71-72-68—278 €26,534
T52 Maverick Antcliff 70-69-72-70—281 €12,068
MC Scott Hend 68-74—142
MC Min Woo Lee 74-68—142
MC David Micheluzzi 72-73—145
MC Wade Ormsby 76-73—149
Challenge Tour
Limpopo Championship
Euphoria GC, Modimolle, South Africa
MC Deyen Lawson 73-78—151
Lucas Herbert, fresh from his maiden European Tour victory in Dubai last week, has confirmed his entry to the New Zealand Open, presented by Sky Sport, to be played at Millbrook Resort and The Hills on February 27 to March 1.
Tournament Director Michael Glading expressed his delight at capturing another of the world’s current form players to compete in Queenstown.
“To have two recent tournament winners in Wade Ormsby (Hong Kong Open winner) and Lucas Herbert (Omega Dubai Desert Classic winner) is a real plus for our tournament,” said Glading.
“Both of these players have access to a European Tour event in Oman the same week, but have chosen to come and compete here, which says a lot for the rising stature of our event.
“I have been watching the progress Lucas has been making since he started on the European Tour, and his win last week, resulting in his rise to No. 79 in the world rankings, shows just how much he has improved in two short years.”
Herbert, in announcing his intention to return to play in New Zealand said: “I’m really looking forward to returning to Queenstown. My win in Dubai last week was very exciting and hopefully I can continue that form in the stunning backdrop of Queenstown.”
With just under a month to go, the field is taking shape, with more announcements expected over the next two weeks.
Glading remains confident that the tournament will host greater player depth than ever before, with the players from the Asian Tour and the Japan Tour all due to be finalised within the next few days.
If Lucas Herbert needed further convincing that his breakthrough European Tour win in Dubai last week had changed his status in world golf, a quick glance of the Round 1 tee times of the Saudi International should be proof enough.
Now ranked 79 in the world, the Dubai Desert Classic champion has been paired with world No.30 Abraham Ancer and world No.37 Matt Wallace for the opening two rounds at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.
In the group behind him is major champions Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson along with Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner Lee Westwood, the man from whom Herbert cheekily sought hangover advice in the wake of his emotional victory at Emirates Golf Club.
Westwood’s reply?
“Electrolytes, water, Nurofen, fry up. Not necessarily in that order! Congratulations,” the Race to Dubai leader wrote on Twitter.
Fellow Aussies in the field in Saudi Arabia are tournament invitees Min Woo Lee and David Micheluzzi, Hong Kong Open champion Wade Ormsby, Scott Hend and Kiwi Ryan Fox, world No.1 Brooks Koepka and major champions Johnson, Stenson, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Shane Lowry, Ernie Els and Martin Kaymer adding considerable star power to the tournament.
All told there are 19 Australasian players in action this week in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Panama, South Africa and Phoenix as the global golf calendar nears top gear.
Sony Open champion Cameron Smith leads the Australian contingent at the Waste Management Phoenix Open that also includes 2007 champion Aaron Baddeley, the Korn Ferry Tour returns to a Thursday start in Panama where Mathew Goggin is a two-time champion while the Champions Tour breaks new ground in Morocco where Rod Pampling, Stephen Leaney and David McKenzie will be hoping to extend the recent run of Aussie success.
Round 1 tee times (AEDT)
European Tour
Saudi International
Royal Greens G&CC, King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia
3.55pm* Lucas Herbert, Abraham Ancer, Matt Wallace
4.35pm David Micheluzzi, Faisal Salhab, Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez
8.15pm* Scott Hend, Jamie Elson, Steven Brown
8.35pm* Wade Ormsby, Ryan Fox, Richard McEvoy
Round 1 live TV coverage: 7pm Thursday Fox Sports 503
Defending champion: Dustin Johnson
Australian winners: Nil
Top Aussie prediction: Wade Ormsby
Challenge Tour
Limpopo Championship
Euphoria GC, Modimolle, South Africa
8.30pm* Deyen Lawson, Clinton Grobler, Juran Dreyer
Defending champion: JC Ritchie
Australian winners: Nil
PGA TOUR
Waste Management Phoenix Open
TPC Scottsdale, Scottsdale, Arizona
12.20am Matt Jones, Sean O’Hair, Tom Hoge
12.50am* Cameron Smith, Gary Woodland, Xander Schauffele
1.30am Greg Chalmers, J.B. Holmes, Luke Donald
4.35am* Aaron Baddeley, Danny Lee, Harry Higgs
Round 1 live TV coverage: 7am Friday Fox Sports 503
Defending champion: Rickie Fowler
Australian winners: Bruce Crampton (1973), David Graham (1981), Aaron Baddeley (2007)
Top Aussie prediction: Matt Jones
Korn Ferry Tour
Panama Championship
Club de Golf de Panama, Panama City, Panama
9.50pm Mathew Goggin, Dawie van der Walt, Mike Weir
10.00pm Steven Bowditch, Jason Millard, Grant Hirschman
10.40pm Brett Drewitt, Brian Richey, Shad Tuten
11.10pm Ryan Ruffels, Jordan Niebrugge, David Lipsky
4.00am Harrison Endycott, Tom Whitney, Taylor Pendrith
Defending champion: Michael Gligic
Australian winners: Mathew Goggin (2011, 2015)
Top Aussie prediction: Ryan Ruffels
Champions Tour
Morocco Champions
Samanah GC, Marrakech, Morocco
10.03pm* Stephen Leaney, Bart Bryant, Tommy Armour III
10.47pm* Rod Pampling, Dudley Hart, David Frost
11.09pm* David McKenzie, Larry Mize, Steve Pate
Round 1 live TV coverage: 1.30am Friday Fox Sports 503
Top Aussie prediction: Rod Pampling
* Starting from 10th tee
Marc Leishman has described it as the best putting day of his life after the Victorian overhauled a four-shot deficit to win the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, the fifth career title of his PGA TOUR career.
Teeing off just hours after fellow Victorian Lucas Herbert’s win on the European Tour, Leishman roared into contention with four birdies in his opening six holes and then made what Nick Faldo described in commentary as three “mega-pars” at 12, 14 and 15 to win by a single stroke from Jon Rahm.
Rahm had a putt for eagle on the 72nd hole to force the tournament into extra holes but unlike his win at the venue three years ago, the putt pulled up short and left of the cup, allowing Leishman to take a congratulatory phone call on the range.
In the ultimate vindication of the old adage that you “drive for show, putt for dough”, Leishman was dead last in the field for fairways hit in the final round with just three of 14 but picked up close to five shots on the field with his flatstick, his 7-under 65 matched by Charley Hoffman but two shots better than anyone else.
“Number five, that sounds pretty good, and on Australia Day,” Leishman said immediately after win No.5 was confirmed.
“Playing well helps but I didn’t actually hit it that well off the tee today.
“Putting, always. You’re not going to win Tour events if you’re not putting well and I putted as good as I’ve probably ever putted today.
“Made some good birdie putts early and then made some great par saves later. They’re probably even more important than the early ones.
“This feels pretty amazing. I wasn’t expecting this at the start of the day.”
Leishman joins Jason Day (2015, 2018) as the only Australian winners in the 68-year history of the Farmers Insurance Open, Day closing out his return from a back injury with a 3-under 69 to be tied for 16th.
PGA TOUR
Farmers Insurance Open
Torrey Pines (South Cse), La Jolla, California
1 Marc Leishman 68-72-68-65—273 $US1,350,000
T16 Jason Day 73-67-72-69—281 $114,375
T36 Cameron Percy 68-73-74-69—284 $32,667
T36 Cameron Davis 76-65-69-74—284 $32,667
T64 Aaron Baddeley 71-72-69-76—288 $16,050
T64 Cameron Smith 70-71-74-73—288 $16,050
70 Rhein Gibson 69-73-72-76—290 $15,375
T73 Matt Jones 75-68-73-76—292 $14,625
MC Tim Wilkinson 72-73—145
MC John Senden 76-76—152
WD Danny Lee 79
For the first time in the 33 year history of the Rich River Trainee Classic a female Trainee, Steffanie Vogel, will lead into the final round of the tournament.
The Cobram-Barooga Golf Club Trainee made an emphatic statement on day three, shooting the best score of the day, a 5-under 67, to take a two-shot lead into the final round.
Vogel started the day at 1-under and two shots back but made her intentions known early with three birdies in the first five holes to lead at 6-under the card.
“I started really well today,” Vogel said.
“I got a run on early with a few birdies and I was just trying to keep the momentum going for as long as I could before I dropped one on 9.”
With a strong pack of contenders all trying to improve their position, the lead changed hands multiple times until Vogel delivered the knockout blow with an eagle on the par-5 11th hole.
“That was amazing. I couldn’t believe the putt went in,” Vogel said of the shot.
“The wind was behind us and I hit a great drive which left me about 150 metres out, so I took 7-iron and got it on, leaving myself about 10 feet for eagle.”
Not content with 4-under through 12, Vogel then made another birdie on 13 and held on to finish 5-under for the day.
Vogel wasn’t aware of the historic nature of her achievements, being the first female Trainee to lead the field after 54 holes.
“That’s incredible and pretty humbling,” she reflected.
“There are some very talented players here so I’m just stoked to be leading, but to be the first female to do it in 33 years is pretty special.”
Hot on her heels is round one leader and 2018 Rich River champion Brayden Petersen who shot a steady 2-under 70 to take him to 4-under for the tournament and two shots off the leader.
Also liking their chances will be round two co-leaders Mitch Gannon and Tom Biron as well as fellow NSW Trainee, Luke Humphries who all find themselves on 2-under coming into the final round.
A beautiful day of weather is forecast for Friday and a strong contingent of supporters will no doubt be out in force to support the final days play. Follow all the live scores on the PGA Tour of Australasia App or at pga.org.au.
Tiger’s back, Jason’s back is good to go and the desert swing goes up a notch as the PGA TOUR and European Tour arrive at two events with great historical significance
There could be few more appropriate venues for Tiger Woods to commence his 2020 campaign than Torrey Pines in California, a course he grew up playing on and which has been nothing short of his personal playground in his professional career.
Seven wins in previous Farmers Insurance Open tournaments in addition to his extraordinary 2008 US Open triumph at Torrey ensures Woods starts this year with perhaps greater expectation of his own chances to win than he has in recent injury-plagued seasons.
Speaking of injuries and our own Jason Day returns after an eight-week layoff with a back injury that cruelled his chances of playing in both the Australian Open and Presidents Cup.
A two-time winner, Day has been paired with defending champion Justin Rose and Jordan Spieth in one of the marquee groups while Sony Open champion Cameron Smith will spend the first two rounds in the company of Rory McIlroy and Brandt Snedeker.
Only one Aussie has ever won the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in its 30-year history, Richard Green defeating countryman Greg Norman and Ian Woosnam in a playoff in 1997.
Hong Kong Open champion Wade Ormsby leads a small Aussie contingent at the Karl Litten-designed Emirates Golf Club with Scott Hend hoping to build on his top-25 finish from last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.
Round 1 tee times AEDT
European Tour
Omega Dubai Desert Classic
Emirates Golf Club, Dubai, UAE
2.10pm* Scott Hend, Ahmed Marjan, David Lipsky
2.50pm Wade Ormsby, Paul Lawrie, Mikko Korhonen
3.10pm Ryan Fox, Steven Brown, Shubhankar Sharma
3.40pm* Lucas Herbert, Søren Kjeldsen, George Coetzee
6.40pm* Daniel Gaunt, Raphaël Jacquelin, Grant Forrest
6.50pm* Jason Scrivener, David Drysdale, Zander Lombard
TV: Live on Fox Sports 503 from 3pm Thursday
Australian winners: Richard Green (1997)
Top Aussie prediction: Jason Scrivener (T6 in 2018, T7 in 2019)
Farmers Insurance Open
Torrey Pines Golf Course, San Diego, California
Torrey Pines South
3am Danny Lee, Fabián Gómez, Robert Streb
3.40am* Matt Jones, Luke List, Sam Burns
3.50am* Cameron Davis, Zack Sucher, Scott Harrington
4.10am Aaron Baddeley, Rory Sabbatini, Roger Sloan
4.10am* Cameron Percy, JJ Spaun, Trey Mullinax
4.20am* John Senden, Beau Hossler, Bronson Burgoon
4.30am Jason Day, Justin Rose, Jordan Spieth
Torrey Pines North
3.20am* Tim Wilkinson, Graham DeLaet, Jamie Lovemark
3.30am* Cameron Smith, Rory McIlroy, Brandt Snedeker
4.30am* Marc Leishman, Pat Perez, Jimmy Walker
4.50am* Rhein Gibson, Robby Shelton, Ryan Brehm
TV: Live on Fox Sports from 7am Friday
Australian winners: Jason Day (2015, 2018)
Top Aussie prediction: Cameron Smith (T9 in 2019, T20 in 2018)
Twelve former champions have signed up to have another tilt at the ISPS HANDA Vic Open at 13th Beach Golf Links on the Bellarine Peninsula next month.
Eight male winners are on the field list, including last year’s dramatic winner, Scotland’s David Law.
The women’s winner, Frenchwoman Celine Boutier, is back to defend the first title of her LPGA Tour career, as well as two-time winner Minjee Lee from Perth, the world No. 9.
The field is a resounding endorsement of a tournament that, with its mixed format and informal ‘no-ropes’ atmosphere in a regional location, has won plaudits around the world for innovation.
The men’s past winners teeing it up are: Law (2019), Simon Hawkes (2018), Dimi Papadatos (2017), Richard Green (2015), Matthew Griffin (2014), Jason Norris (2010), Ash Hall (2009) and Gareth Paddison (2004)
Four of the past five women’s winners – Boutier, Lee (2014 and 2018) England’s Mel Reid (2017), and Barwon Heads-based Norwegian Marianne Skarpnord (2015) – are playing at 13th Beach in the groundbreaking event.
On the men’s side, the 28-year-old Scotsman Law won his first European Tour title at 13th Beach last February with an eagle at the 72nd hole and it set him up for a consistent year on tour. Australian Hawkes, who won in 2018, also won with his own heroics on the final green.
Papadatos, the 2017 winner, has been playing nicely in Europe and Matthew Griffin, the 2014 winner, is becoming a prominent player on the Japanese tour.
The ISPS HANDA Vic Open is a unique concurrent men’s and women’s professional tournament. It is jointly sanctioned by the ALPG, LPGA, ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour and features equal prizemoney for men and women, totalling $3 million.
Entry is free to all Victorian golf club members and all CFA volunteers, emergency workers and their families, but other tickets are on sale through oTix and remain some of the best value in elite sport at $10 per day, $30 for a season pass. Children under 18 and those with a Seniors Card are free. See vicopengolf.com/ticketing for details.
The ISPS HANDA Vic Open is proudly supported by the Victorian Government. The tournament is sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and ALPG Tour (Women’s) & European Tour and ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia (Men’s).
The title of 2020 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Qualifying School champion has gone down to a playoff at the Moonah Links Open Course with Luke Toomey beating Peter Wilson for the crown.
Toomey, a PGA TOUR Series-China regular, began his Final Stage Q-School charge with twin rounds of 67 before challenging weather conditions resulted in scores of 71 and 70 on the final two days for a 275 total.
ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia veteran Peter Wilson’s final score was a result of rounds of 67, 66, 71 and 71, taking the pair to a playoff for the top spot and the highest category on offer for Q-School participants.
“It feels awesome to win. I got chewed up and spit out by this course two years ago and it forced me to reshape my thinking around my development,” Toomey said.
“It’s been quite the adventure since then but one I’m proud of. This week was a nice exclamation on that two year process.
“Pete and I had a great couple days playing together. He’s a fantastic guy who has a bank of experience that I can learn from.
“I’m sure he will feature at some stage this year and I hope we have the opportunity to battle down the stretch in another event this season.”
After almost two years away from the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia the 26-year-old Kiwi is excited to return in 2020 with full status.
With an eye on a chance at the European Tour, 2020 is set to be a big year for Toomey whose season will begin at the ISPS HANDA Vic Open in February – a tournament fittingly co-sanctioned by the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour.
“A lot of reasons have amounted to my decision to come back here but I love the reward and opportunity this tour provides at the higher end of the Order of Merit,” Toomey said.
“It’s in line with a pathway I’d like to take through the European Tour.”
Big-hitting New South Welshman Lincoln Tighe was pleased to start his year on a high, taking out third place at 7-under the card, followed by James Grierson and Derek Ackerman in fourth and fifth.
The top-40 players plus ties earn status for the 2020 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia season. Forty-six players secured status for the upcoming season after the number was set at 6-over the card.
For all final results please visit pga.org.au.
