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Three members of the North Warrnambool Eagles are hoping to erase the painful memories of a grand final defeat with victory at this week’s Scramble Championship Final at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club.
The Warrnambool Golf Club team of Luke and Matthew Wines, Tom Batten, Ross Corbett and PGA Professional Ben Ford had a day out in Round 1 on Tuesday to lead by 1.1 shots.
Eynesbury-based Professional Ford picked up where he left off at the Regional Qualifying while Luke Wines proved deadly in his role as lead man on the greens, pouring in almost everything he looked at from inside 10 feet.
The Warrnambool team had six nett eagles in their round of 20.3-under par, putting them a little more than a stroke ahead of Kooindah Waters Golf Club (19.2-under) with Willunga Golf Club (18.2-under) a further shot back in third.
Just half a shot separates Ulverstone Golf Club (17.5-under), Moranbah Golf Club (17.1-under) and Bunbury Golf Club (17) but it is Warrnambool who leads the way.
Adamant they are here purely for the experience of playing in a Scramble Championship Final on the Gold Coast, there is motivation to win sitting just beneath the surface.
“We lost the grand final by a point. We don’t want to talk about that,” said Batten of their heartbreaking defeat to arch rivals South Warrnambool in September.
“It’s golf season at the moment.
“We’re enjoying the experience, to be honest, but I think everyone would be joking if they didn’t say they wanted to come up here and win.”
There is an AFL connection in the Kooindah Waters team also, Wyong Lakes teammates Jordan Deeble, Lee Moore, Dean Smith and Mitch McDonald proving to be a formidable combination on the golf course, too.
They recruited Toukley Golf Club Professional Mitchell Brown prior to their Regional Qualifier win at Pacific Dunes and now find themselves in the hunt for a national title.
Crediting Lee ‘Pixie’ Moore for some long bombs in their six eagles and seven birdies on day one, Mitch McDonald also expects the competitive juices to amp up over the final two rounds.
“We saw it as having won already, just getting up here and being so looked after, playing and staying here,” he said.
“It just already feels like a win so we didn’t feel that much pressure.
“A lot of us have played sport most of our lives so we’re going to get on the tee and want to win anyway.”
The Willunga team led by PGA Professional Cameron Bickley had four eagles and 11 birdies to sit in third place while Ulverstone played the front nine in 11-under on their way to a 17.5-under par total.
Moranbah Golf Club’s Kyle Cherry had the honour of hitting the opening tee shot of the tournament on Tuesday only to have nerves take hold and miss the ball entirely.
Despite the ignominy of that moment, Cherry more than made it for up when it mattered, hitting the approach shot and draining the putt for a nett eagle on Moranbah’s final hole as they climbed into fifth position.
Two PGA Professionals have played on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia this season while one team boasts a two-time international winner in 2024 as teams descend on Sanctuary Cove for the 2024 Scramble Championship Final.
Nineteen teams have qualified for an unforgettable week of golf on the Gold Coast with three rounds on The Palms Course at Sanctuary Cove, accommodation at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort and nightly functions.
It is the most coveted week for club golfers across the country, one team to return home as national champions.
It has already been a summer of celebrations for Willunga Golf Club in South Australia’s McLaren Vale region.
Host to the Webex Players Series South Australia tournament, Willunga has been in the grip of ‘Spud fever’ with the success of Steve Alderson on the G4D Tour in Europe.
Alderson’s story captured the hearts of golf fans across the globe after he became the first person with autism to win a G4D event.
His winning run continued upon his return home when he took out the Webex All Abilities Players Series event at Willunga and then jetted off to Dubai where he won the nett division of the G4D Tour Series Finale.
Fresh off playing the Australian All Abilities Championship at Kingston Heath, Alderson is joined in the Willunga team by Robert and Sarah Perrau, Di Meyer and PGA Professional Cameron Bickley, who took on the tour pros at Willunga in October.
Another tour pr who has rubbed shoulders with some of the best players in the game is Kiama Golf Club’s Wil Daibarra.
Currently completing the PGA’s Membership Pathway Program, Daibarra won the PGA Associate National Final at Cobram Barooga Golf Club, a win that earned him a start at the BMW Australian PGA Championship.
Round 1 of the Championship Final begins on Tuesday. You can follow scoring each day here.
Scramble Championship Final teams
Kooindah Waters Golf Club, NSW
Mitchell Brown (PGA Professional), Jordan Deeble, Dean Smith, Lee Moore, Mitchell McDonald.
The Links Shell Cove, NSW
David Sadd (PGA Professional), Cos Scazzariello, Bronwyn Sparks, Lorraine Southwell, Darren Sparks.
Nudgee Golf Club, Qld
Stuart Irving (PGA Professional), Hayden Munck, Luke Madden, Mitchell Siebenhausen, Scott Gleeson.
Kiama Golf Club, NSW
Wil Daibarra (PGA Associate), Steven Cupitt, Paul Atkins, Alan Piper, Neil Boles.
Lithgow Golf Club, NSW
Gavin MacPherson (PGA Professional), Harrison Bender, Brandan Horner, Nathan Mitchell, Glenn Piggot.
Pacific Dunes Golf Club, NSW
Brayden Petersen (PGA Professional), Troy Lucas, Anthony Lucas, Andrew Lucas, Anthony Lucas Snr.
Fairbairn Golf Club, ACT
Gary Dowling (PGA Professional), Ben Maroney, Warren Smith, Shawn Eriksen, Brett Halliday.
Toowoomba Golf Club, Qld
Brenton Fowler (PGA Professional), Douglas Gibson, Andrew Woolfe, Ian Watson, Carl Humphrey.
Beaudesert Golf Club, Qld
Lachlan Ritson (PGA Professional), Adrian Paterson, Robert Rochford, Michelle Rochford, Ross Arandale.
Moranbah Golf Club, Qld
Joshua Bevan (PGA Professional), Daniel McGovern, Bransan Giffin, Christopher Cherry, Kyle Cherry.
Proserpine Golf Club, Qld
Roger Vandenberg (PGA Professional), Ian Dunn, Christopher Dunn, Gregory James, Darren Symons.
Laidley Golf Club, Qld
Todd Iffland (PGA Professional), Chris Frangi, Russell Lamb, Lachlan Heshusius, Danillo Livotto.
Willunga Golf Club, SA
Cameron Bickley (PGA Professional), Robert Perrau, Sarah Perrau, Di Meyer, Stephen Alderson.
Ulverstone Golf Club, Tas
Darren Spencer (PGA Professional), Glen Richardson, Andrew Woodward, Justin Tomlin, Mitch Ferguson.
Warrnambool Golf Club, Vic
Ben Ford (PGA Professional), Ross Corbett, Thomas Batten, Matthew Wines, Luke Wines.
Shepparton Golf Club, Vic
Russell Kelly (PGA Professional), Natise Vandenbroek, Cameron Kearney, Marcia Waters, Leanne Bailey.
Maffra Golf Club, Vic
Matthew Portelli (PGA Professional), Luke Clohesy, Peter Alcock, Clinton Gartung, Craig Alcock.
Nedlands Golf Club, WA
Andrew Gott (PGA Professional), Andrew Ogilvie, Ben Unbehaun, Bradley Lyon, Todd Farrell.
Bunbury Golf Club
Jason Chellew (PGA Professional), Nathan Hearn, Bailey Alexander, David Faulkner, David Eckersley.
With his Australian Summer of Golf campaign over, Cam Smith has expressed his desire to repeat the visit back home again on the 2025/26 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
Smith’s run of four tournaments, which was hugely appreciated by everyone connected with Australian golf, started at the Queensland PGA at Nudgee, continued at the Ford NSW Open at Murray Downs and BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland and ended at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open at Kingston Heath.
Although a win proved to be elusive, with two runners-up finishes the best results, he did thrill the crowds with his golf, helping to build crowd figures, broadcast ratings and media coverage.
“I would love to,” Smith said today when asked if would repeat this year’s well received longer return to the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
“I think I’ve got to take that as it comes. As everyone knows now we’re expecting (a baby in March), so I think that’s going to have a big thing to do with it, which was really part of the reason why I wanted to do it this year.
“But we finish (LIV Golf) again in the middle of August, so there’s no reason that I can’t play at least one or two more again.
“I’ve loved doing it … so whether it’s the same two (Tour events) or a different two, I don’t really know, but yeah, I would love to do it again.”
Smith signed off with a birdie at the last of his 288 holes for the Australian summer, posting a round of 71 at Kingston Heath for an Open tally of -3 and a tie for 41st, well short of his goal to win the Stonehaven Cup for the first time.
After an opening round of 65 at Victoria Golf Club, he had moved to 11-under midway through his second round before a back nine of +5 put a severe dent in his chances.
“I guess that back nine on Friday really just kind of hurt and it was kind of hard to get over. I was frustrated and angry that whole night. Got a terrible sleep, up all night thinking about it,” he said.
“I feel like I did a lot right, particularly the three weeks before this, and yeah, when you have nine holes like that, when it kind of comes out the blue like it did, it’s just really frustrating, particularly the spot I was in.
“I didn’t really need to do too much more to be in the golf tournament, so it’s just really frustrating.”
Joaquin Niemann wasn’t in a good mood after he bogeyed his first hole of the third round of the 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
But his outlook had changed completely 17 holes later when he holed a lengthy par putt to sign off on an 8-under-par 64 at Kingston Heath that has kept his title defence well and truly alive.
After being eight back from overnight leader Lucas Herbert, the Chilean will start the final round just two shots adrift of joint leaders Herbert and Ryggs Johnston.
He says it would be “super nice” to put his name on the Stonehaven Cup for a second time to follow on from his playoff victory at The Australian last year.
“I knew I need to play well because I was way behind,” Niemann said.
“I think in the morning it was a little bit tougher so I took advantage of that. We’re back in it.”
The only bogey of Niemann’s round came at his opener, the par-4 10th. He then collected seven birdies to go with an eagle at the par-5 first.
“I got pretty pissed about that first bogey of the day. At the start of the day, you don’t really want to start with a bogey, especially if you want to move up on the leaderboard.
“Fortunately I made a great putt on 11 and that got me back into it.”
Among the other big movers were West Australian Curtis Luck who shot a 65 to claim to a share of eighth and Switzerland’s Joel Girrbach, who was out in the first group of the morning and carded a 65 of his own. They are both at 11-under, three back.
Lucas Herbert has kept his foot on the pedal to extend his lead at the halfway mark of the ISPS HANDA Australian Open at Kingston Heath but remains very wary of the challenge coming from his Ripper GC captain Cam Smith.
Thanks to a 6-under-par 66 which followed his first day 63 at Victoria Golf Club, Herbert sits at 14-under with a four-shot lead over American Ryggs Johnston (65-68)
A healthy group of six players are tied third at 9-under, headlined by last week’s BMW Australian PGA Champion Elvis Smylie, who produced one of the shots of the day from a fairway bunker to just a few feet to grab a final birdie on 18 to close out an 8-under round of 64.
Tied with Smylie are a string of internationals, with Americans Harry Higgs (68) and Jordan Gumberg (69) continuing their love of the Sandbelt, while DP World Tour players Oliver Lindell (69), Lukas Nemecz (66) and Matthew Southgate (68) are all well placed to try chase down Herbert.
Cam Smith is T16 at 6-under after a 72 today where he shot 5-under on the front nine before slipping up with three bogeys and a double-bogey on his back nine.
Playing in the afternoon sunshine at Kingston Heath today though, the attention was largely on three men – Herbert, Smith, and Smylie, as the wind whipped through Melbourne’s bayside region.
Not wanting to relinquish his overnight lead, Herbert got about scoring fast and early. Eagle, birdie, birdie had the NSW Open champion reach 12-under for the championship before some of the afternoon groups had even started to walk to the first tee.
The scoring slowed from the fourth though, and 12-under is where he would remain as he made the turn.
“I thought it was funny. I played pretty good yesterday, just didn’t really putt that well and then felt like I putted really well today, scrambled really well and the rest of the game was sort of off,” Herbert said.
“So it was kind of funny. It was like two days of polar opposites to have good scores.”
In the group ahead Herbert, two men were making a charge in Smith and Smylie.
Like Smith, Smylie turned in 5-under, but unlike the 2022 Open champion, he was able to keep the foot on the pedal to get himself back in the Open after a modest 1-under 70 at Victoria on day one.
“It felt like the whole group did a really good job at feeding off each other, momentum wise,” said Smylie.
“We holed a lot of putts on the front nine and the course was playing quite scoreable, so I felt like we did a really good job at capitalising on some of those.”
A Herbert bogey on 10, his first of the week, looked as if he may be heading down the Smith route, however the Bendigo boy shook it off quickly with a string of three birdies 13 through 15.
The pin on The Heath’s famous 15th was treacherously tucked in the front funnel, but as Herbert’s tee shot danced around the pin and he tapped in for birdie, it was clear he is a class above this week so far.
“Some tricky tee shots on that back nine and just to stay really positive with the swings I was making, I’m really proud of those last three or four holes there,” Herbert said.
“16 tee shot, not an easy one. The 18 tee shot not an easy one under the circumstances and I thought I handed them really, really well.”
Two weeks ago it was Herbert chasing Smith to claim the NSW Open at Murray Downs, and while he will start Saturday’s round 8-shots clear of the 2022 Open champion, Herbert is not counting him out. After all, he did it to Rory at St Andrews.
“I’m expecting him to make a run,” Herbert said. “I can’t shoot 72-72 this weekend and expect to win this golf tournament.
“There’s a lot of work still to be done, and I’m expecting these guys behind me to make a charge.”
With a first-round of 65 in the bank, and facing soft conditions on the Sandbelt, Cameron Smith has his sights on accumulating a 20-under-par total at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
The former Open champion has made no secret of his desire to win his national open and he made a strong start at The Victoria Golf Club today, ending two shots behind leader Lucas Herbert.
His second round will be at Kingston Heath on Friday afternoon where a huge crowd is expected to see how low Smith can go.
“I mean if it stays like this, it probably would be close to 20-under if there’s no wind, which is crazy,” Smith said when asked post-round what score might win this week.
“Usually around here if you get off to a nice start, anywhere in those kind of high singles to maybe 10 or 11 under is a really good score.
“Hopefully it firms up a little bit and it’s a bit of a tougher test.”
After a sluggish start, Smith was +1 through his first four holes but he rattled off six straight birdies either side of the turn to move up the leaderboard.
Back-to-back birdies on his last two holes, the eighth and ninth at Victoria, left the Ripper GC captain in a good mood.
“I didn’t do really much wrong today,” he said.
“It was a bit of a slow start, obviously being so early, getting up so early.
“I think just a bit draggy there at the start and then finally woke up, the coffee worked and I got on a good roll there through the turn.
“I didn’t do too much wrong from probably the second or third hole.”
Playing with Smith, new BMW Australian PGA champion Elvis Smylie slipped to +3 after seven holes before fighting back to post a 1-under 70.
Australian Golf is toasting a new partnership with Australian drinks specialist Liquorland ahead of the highly anticipated 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open in Melbourne.
As part of an expanded three-year partnership, Liquorland, which has more than 800 stores across Australia, will be a major partner of Golf Australia and its flagship tournament, the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
A standout feature of this partnership will be the Liquorland Lounge, a premium activation within The 19th fan experience zone at Kingston Heath Golf Club on Melbourne’s famed Sandbelt during this year’s ISPS HANDA Australian Open from November 28 to December 1.
Positioned overlooking the iconic 10th tee and fairway, the Liquorland Lounge in The 19th will set a new benchmark for fan experiences offering a vibrant fusion of golf, premium beverages and a buzzing social atmosphere. Guests can enjoy the official beverages of the tournament – from award-winning wines by James Busby to the renowned Canard-Duchêne from France’s idyllic Champagne region.
With daily highlights including a Canard-Duchêne sabrage ceremony by Chef de Cave Laurent Fédou, and freshly shucked rock oysters sourced from Flinders Oysters on Phillip Island, finished with a Canard-Duchêne Champagne mignonette, visitors will be able to treat themselves in style whilst enjoying all The Open has to offer.
Australia’s drinks specialist will also be a partner of the PGA of Australia, Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland and Australian WPGA Championship at Sanctuary Cove.
Michael McDonald, Chief Commercial Officer for PGA of Australia and Golf Australia said: “We are delighted to welcome Liquorland to Australian Golf’s family of partners as we continue to experience significant growth in both the professional and amateur sides of the game.
“We’re looking forward to collaborating with Liquorland to enhance our Summer of Golf, particularly with their upcoming Liquorland Lounge activation at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
“Their support will also assist with achieving our goals at both the PGA of Australia and Golf Australia where we are dedicated to enhancing the game.”
Coles Liquor Chief Executive Officer Michael Courtney said: “We’re proud to be a major partner of Australian Golf for the next three years. Golf is a sport that resonates with many for the social connection it brings to players and spectators alike. This partnership is a fantastic opportunity to marry our favourite drinks to an iconic celebration of sporting excellence as the temperature and tournament heat up.
“We look forward to welcoming visitors to our Liquorland Lounge at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open, where guests can raise a glass with the finest Champagne from Canard-Duchêne and the rich flavours of James Busby wines while enjoying the fine foods offered throughout the tournament.”
—
About Liquorland
Liquorland is a liquor retailer that launched in Australia in 1971. Its more than 800 national stores offer customers great value wine, beer and spirits for every occasion.
Driven to make shopping more convenient and accessible, Liquorland offers 30-minute Click & Collect and 90-minute Express Delivery via liquorland.com.au.
Customers can also earn Flybuys points for every dollar they spend in-store and online.
Liquorland supports the responsible consumption of alcohol and is a founding member of DrinkWise (get the facts DrinkWise.org.au). Liquorland is owned by Coles Liquor along with other national liquor retailers First Choice Liquor Market and Vintage Cellars.
A new national marketing campaign highlighting the expertise of PGA Professionals across all areas of the golf industry has gone live.
Launched during the final round of the BMW Australian PGA Championship on Sunday, ‘The Pro Will Know’ is designed highlight that PGA Professionals are there to assist all golfers with everything they need to enjoy the sport.
Whether it’s coaching, equipment, club-fitting, course management, or anything else to do with our sport, PGA Professionals and the ones every golfer should engage with.
“With their extensive knowledge, training, and passion for the sport, PGA Professionals are unquestionably the experts in golf,” said Geoff Stewart, General Manager – Education and Training for the PGA of Australia.
“At every level of the game, PGA Professionals are there to guide all types of golfers in their journey in the sport.
“From beginners just getting started through to the scratch marker looking for the putter that fits them perfectly, PGA Professionals are there to provide friendly, expert advice.
“We hope that this latest campaign emphasises that in a fun way that I’m sure every golfer can relate to.”
David Micheluzzi has seen enough of Aldrich Potgieter to know he’s a real threat in the final round of the BMW Australian PGA Championship on Sunday.
Playing together in the opening two rounds at Royal Queensland on Thursday and Saturday, the Victorian and Perth-raised South African shot matching scores of 67-67 to sit in a share of fourth place at 8-under-par, two shots from the lead in the event co-sanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour.
They will be paired together in the Sunday finale, both chasing the biggest professional titles of their career.
Playing as an invitee this week ahead of his debut on the PGA TOUR in 2025, Potgieter is looking to add to his Korn Ferry Tour win in The Bahamas in January.
Meanwhile, Micheluzzi, the 2022/23 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, is chasing his first DP World Tour title.
“He hits it so far. It’s just ridiculous,” Micheluzzi said of his playing partner.
“And you could see why he absolutely loves it in the States. He just sends it and not only that, it’s his control. His iron play, wedges, his short game, it’s complete.
“I’m more worried about him tomorrow. He can literally carry every bunker on the golf course and just hit short irons into the par-5s where I’m hitting 3-woods.
“His game is unbelievable and he’s a good kid too, which is more important.”
A junior member at Joondalup in Perth where he was coached by David Milne, Potgieter has loved being back home in Australia for this one-off appearance.
His time in WA included the state amateur title in 2021 before claiming the British Amateur at just 17 years of age.
“Milney and I are very close still to this day,” the 20-year-old said.
“He’s out here supporting me, so it’s nice he’s got a few players out here, but I still talk to him, still stay in contact with him.”
As for his length, Potgieter has no thoughts of backing off in the final round.
“There were a couple of tee shots today where it was pumping into the wind and I still could get over the (fairway bunkers),” he said.
“So it’s nice and wide enough where I’m free to just hit the ball. It definitely helps mentally as well just to know that I can hit it, don’t have to stress where it’s going.”
The BMW Australian PGA Championship will now be a 54-hole tournament, with play abandoned before the start of Round 2 at 11:30am local time on Friday.
Almost 250mm of rainfall has fallen in the area around Royal Queensland Golf Club since last Friday, continuing heavy rain on Friday morning making it impossible for course staff to prepare the course for play.
“Continued downpours throughout the morning have left a number of fairways at Royal Queensland Golf Club saturated and the course has been deemed unplayable today,” said Jose Maria Zamora, the DP World Tour Tournament Director for the BMW Australian PGA Championship.
“We plan to start the second round of the BMW Australian PGA Championship at 6am on Saturday, with the third and final round on Sunday.
“We want to ensure we are able to bring this incredible tournament to the planned conclusion on Sunday, mindful of the logistics of playing next week’s ISPS HANDA Australian Open over two courses.”
It is the first time in the 95-year history of the Australian PGA Championship that it will be played over 54 holes, a championship that was a matchplay tournament until 1964.
General Manager of Tournaments & Global Tour Relationships, Nick Dastey, said that the inability of players to take casual relief from water on the fairways made the course unplayable on Friday.
“You can obviously take relief from casual water, but if you haven’t got anywhere to go, you can’t get it,” said Dastey.
“You need to be able to take full relief when taking relief from that casual water.
“At the moment that’s not possible and it’s highly unlikely to be possible at any stage today.
“Hopefully by six o’clock tomorrow morning they’re good.”
"We can't thank you enough. To get it in shape is massive, massive credit to them" 🙌
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 21, 2024
The greenskeeper staff at Royal Queensland have done a fantastic job in keeping the course in great condition after having 133mm since Friday night ☔️#AusPGA | @DavidMicheluzzi pic.twitter.com/1Oxjuuc6fv
Elvis Smylie’s round of 6-under 65 was the best in Round 1, Frenchman Victor Perez, Chilean Christobal Del Solar and Victorian Matias Sanchez playing through the worst of the conditions on Thursday afternoon to join Switzerland’s Joel Girrbach at 5-under and one off the lead.
Aussie pair David MIcheluzzi and Ben Eccles are among eight players tied for sixth at 4-under and spoke glowingly of the condition of the golf course for Round 1 given the amount of rain that had fallen.
“The amount of rain we’ve had since Saturday is just an absolute joke,” said Micheluzzi, the 2022/2023 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner.
“Credit to all the ground staff. I was speaking to one of the boys on the ground staff and I’m just like, we can’t thank you enough.
“I saw one of them put a photo on his Instagram story of this bunker that was just fully flooded. To get it in this shape is just a massive, massive credit to them.”
“They’re still rolling amazing,” added Eccles on the state of the putting surfaces.
“I just can’t believe how good they are considering how much rain we’ve had.
“It’s a massive credit to the team.”
