Gale needing his first hole-in-one in competition since his very first as a 12-year-old over the closing stages and par at the last for a 12-under total and one-shot win over Matt Griffin.

“I mean, it’s pretty special. Obviously, it’s a fairly new event, I love the concept. Four different courses … four amazing courses, it’s different, it’s fun, exciting,” he said of becoming the third winner of Geoff Ogilvy’s brainchild event.

“It’s pretty special, it hasn’t fully sunk in yet. Today was pretty stressful.”

The stress started early for Gale, who was playing the lesser known East Course for the first time in his life.

Pressure of trying to win combined with unfamiliarity as he sailed his driver well right on the fifth and lost his ball, the resulting double bogey giving playing partner Lachlan Barker and the likes of Sandbelt specialist Griffin in the groups ahead plenty of motivation.

Griffin playing steadily and as the course allows, slowly moving his way into the frame as Gale’s struggles intensified as he reached the back paddock of the East, a place where few spectators ventured.

The almost silent atmosphere causing Gale to double check one of the early starters hadn’t gone past him with a low score.

“I was surprised. We had some crowds and then … that’s why I checked the leaderboard, because I thought someone else might be lighting it up,” he said of a period where he made three bogeys in a row starting at the 11^th.

“It felt just like a Saturday whack around in all honesty at that point.”

Although it was a shot dropped to par at 13, the final of his terrible treble was the turning point for the New South Welshman after missing the par-3 long left.

Sending his second shot across the green into a bunker, Tournament Director Mike Clayton suggested double bogey was the best possible result.

Not for Gale though, the 27-year-old almost holing out from the sand, his ball rattling the flag and jumping back next to cup for a tap-in.

“That got very lucky, obviously nearly dunked it there, I had no shot whatsoever, someone had obviously been there before, and I knew it was going to be firm,” he said.

“That’s where I thought, things weren’t really going my way, it obviously didn’t drop, but I got away with one there. That was sort of the point I sort of said, come just switch on.”

Switch on he did.

With Griffin finishing up with par on 18 and many thinking it was enough to clinch the title, word filtered forward of Gale’s heroics a few holes back.

Making par at 14 after an approach that finished well shy, Gale birdied the next before making the ace from 168 metres with an 8-iron. Word filtering through via Royal Melbourne club captain Tony Rule’s text message to Clayton.

“I was trying to fly it in there about 160, and I think it did. Landed, took a big bounce, trundled up … Then it finally disappeared, it took ages to disappear,” he said.

Celebrated by the small crowd around the green, and a couple of members playing after the tournament, Gale’s ace lifted him into a one shot advantage that he managed to maintain over the final two holes. His par at 18 coming via a nervy five footer under the watchful eyes of Ogilvy and Clayton, amongst a sizeable crowd.

Gale’s success coming during Ogilvy’s own moment of reflection about what he has helped build.

“Using what I believe are the best asset Australian golf has in the form of the Melbourne Sandbelt, is hugely important to me, but also the game in this country,” Ogilvy said.

“Unfortunately, my own game didn’t show up this week, but this event is about more than me and my performance. To see it grow in just three short years, makes me exceptionally proud and is exactly what my foundation was created to do.”

Part of that mission the assistance of young elite golfers, three of who joined Gale in the winners’ circle, with Robyn Choi claiming low women’s pro, Phoenix Campbell the low men’s amateur and Jazy Roberts the low female amateur.

The final day of both events were rating winners with both days significantly up on last year, headlined by a 187% increase on Free To Air Television for the Sunday of the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.

Lee’s Fortinet Australian PGA Championship victory at Royal Queensland and the drama of the men’s and women’s Australian Opens where Joaquin Niemann and Ashleigh Buhai prevailed at The Australian and The Lakes golf clubs proved a hit with crowds, with more than 110,000 spectators in attendance across the two championships. Both events were highlighted by the following statistics:

• At home, TV viewership experienced significant growth across both tournaments, headlined by the dramatic last day of the Australian Open which delivered an average audience of 438,000 across the Nine Network television audience which was more than 187% up on last year, and more than 100,000 viewers on Foxtel which was the number one rated STV program for the day.
• Fan experience was again at the forefront of both tournaments, with the Australian PGA Championship Southern Comfort Party Hole elevating itself again in 2023 and continuing to attract new fans resulting in 78% growth in hospitality & reserved seats sales
• The Australian Open total crowds were up 12% on last year, with Sunday’s blockbuster alone delivering a 27% increase on last year’s final day crowd.

PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said the figures were reflective of the groundswell of interest that golf is experiencing at every level and the thrilling nature of the golf being played at the highest level.

“The enormous galleries we saw fill the fairways at both events created an electric atmosphere that I have no doubt enhanced the viewing experience of those at home,” Mr Kirkman said.

“With our leading players such as Cameron Smith, Adam Scott, Min Woo Lee, Marc Leishman and Lucas Herbert bringing their best along with a wonderful mix of international visitors, the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia delivered compelling television.

“Both men’s fields were very strong and up year on year, something that Min Woo Lee has taken full advantage of after moving all the way up to number 35 in the world after his outstanding two weeks.

“The level of interest in the broadcast and following of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia in the lead-up to the major events helped us set a platform for these two outstanding weeks, and we can’t wait to capitilise on these results for the remainder of the 2023/24 season, particularly with five co-sanctioned events between the men’s and women’s Tours.

“I don’t think anyone will forget Min Woo’s chip-in on the last day at Royal Queensland and both men’s and women’s Australian Open championships came down to the very last putt on the 72nd hole.”

In the second year of a united format that crowns an Australian Open champion for men, women and All Abilities, Golf Australia CEO, James Sutherland, was ecstatic to see viewership surpass the numbers of 2022.

“We set a high benchmark at Victoria and Kingston Heath last year but the Sydney fans who flooded into The Australian and The Lakes over the past week were nothing short of exceptional,” Mr Sutherland said.

“Certainly, in conjunction with the PGA of Australia and the DP World Tour, the quality of the fields have improved, 40 per cent better based on world rankings. We’re very grateful to be working with the PGA of Australia via the men’s and women’s Tours, and the DP World Tour, who helped us deliver one of the strongest fields in recent memory.

“It’s a fantastic result to see just shy of 58,000 golf fans in attendance over the two courses over the four days and certainly the atmosphere on Sunday when more than 18,000 were in the house was absolutely superb.

“Golf is being enjoyed by more Australians than ever before and the appetite to watch world-class golf either live or on TV continues to grow. That’s shown in the numbers domestically which show unprecedented growth across the whole tournament in a time where TV ratings are declining.

“It’s quite remarkable to think there were more than 400,000 watching on the Nine Network and more than 100,000 on Foxtel, along with a massive global audience via the DP World Tour’s broadcast partnerships.”

Photo: Gregg Porteous/Golf Australia

By Jimmy Emanuel

The pair of marquee stars part of a “super group” when they go out as a three ball with fellow major champion Geoff Ogilvy on the second and final day. The 2006 U.S. Open champion on six-under alongside one of Australia’s brightest prospects Jeffrey Guan.

Scott compiled his 64 alongside Cathedral Lodge founder David Evans in the Member-Pro format, his round equalling the course record of Tournament Director Matt Jager who opened with a two-under 70.

“It was all pretty straight forward stuff, I think I rolled in a lot of nice putts in,” Scott said.

“If I was to brag on myself on anything, I rolled the putts really nice, not everything was from close range, so I am pretty happy with that.”

The only thing that slightly displeased the former World No.1 was double bogey at the par-3 9^th after “a trip to the bushes”, yet with the relaxed atmosphere Scott was full of smiles.

Scott’s enjoyment of the event and week increased by the involvement of the Adam Scott Foundation as a beneficiary of the tournament dinner on Monday night.

“It’s very special that he (Evans) has included my foundation in this, that has a lot of meaning for me,” Scott said.

“It’s great that the club has embraced that as well, it was fun last night at the auction, and I think we can do some fabulous stuff in this region.”

Following Scott from the 1^st tee in the shotgun start, Smith looked back to his old self after a relaxed start to the day where he spent time chatting with members and friends before bolting out of the blocks.

Regulation pars on the first two holes were followed by a birdie barrage from the 2022 Open Champion, Smith making four in a row starting at the 3^rd before he added two more to close the front nine in 29 before a far less eventful back nine of one-under.

“It was good, it was enjoyable. Course was in great nick, managed to see some putts go in, ended up pretty good,” Smith said.

“Probably could have had a couple less, bit scratchy there on the back nine for a bit. But happy with it.”

Smith also happy with the grouping for the final day that he joked would see him playing with “two old boys”, his sentiment echoed by Scott and Ogilvy, who will provide a thrilling experience for the crowds when the gates are opened Wednesday and the winner will walk away with $100,000.

“That’s good that I’m not the old bloke in the group, I like that,” Scott said with a wry smile.

Added Ogilvy: “It’ll be fun, I haven’t played with those two for a while … I will try and stitch them up, up the hill tonight and keep them up late.”

Perhaps benefitting, at least competitively, from missing the last group, Guan couldn’t have asked for a better start to his first ever Cathedral round. The Sydneysider getting his day underway from the 12^th and making an eagle two holes later after he “stuck a 5-wood to two feet”.

Leaning on his member partner for guidance during the round, Guan made one slip up with bogey at the par-3 17^th that Ogilvy mused is the hardest one-shotter on the course. Guan’s 66 setting up another ideal three ball for what Evans and Jager are trying to create.

Guan off at 12:19pm (AEDT) alongside Asia-Pacific Amateur Champion Jasper Stubbs and Gabi Ruffels.

The soon to be Masters debutant and LPGA rookie tied with Karis Davidson, Jarryd Felton, Ben Eccles, Daniel Gale, Darcy Brereton and Justin Warren on five-under. The next wave of Australian golfing talent hoping to upset the major winners, with Stubbs getting a yet another once in a lifetime experience Tuesday.

“It was pretty awesome. It’s a pretty grand setting, it’s probably the grandest setting we play. It’s pretty awesome and it was made even better by getting to play with Scotty today, he was awesome,” Stubbs said.

Scott hoping to be similarly awesome with his play tomorrow to cap off his year with a win. Any concerns of fatigue dispelled with another wry smile.

“I think I’ve got one more day in me,” he joked.

Photo credit: Stuart Kerr/Cathedral Invitational.

The 25-year-old defeated Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino in extra holes with Australia’s Min Woo Lee finishing third.

Moving his way up the leaderboard on the final day with five birdies in 16 holes, Niemann watched on as the later groups battled increasing winds to challenge his score.

Things took a dramatic turn as his primary challenger for the clubhouse lead, Adam Scott, made triple bogey at the seventh, his 16th hole of the day, after his drive was determined to be Out of Bounds.

Niemann dropped his first shot of the day shortly after at the 17th with his chances of a first DP World Tour win and spot in The Open Championship looking more precarious after a flared drive right on the last hole.

Finding the fan village that is typically a driving range, Niemann faced a second shot to the par-5 over the hospitality tents, Niemann showing his class with a flushed iron and wait to hear the reaction of the crowd.

He received an exceptionally positive response when his approach found the green, before two putts and a birdie took him to the solo lead on 14-under.

“I mean, I ended up being in a really good spot. It was a perfect lie,” Niemann said. “My swing, I didn’t have the trees in front of me, it was kind of like just a normal shot.

“The only thing I didn’t know where I was hitting.”

Niemann spent his time waiting on the driving range hitting balls, chatting with wife Christina and attempting to keep nerves at bay.

“Too much wait, it was like an hour wait. I didn’t know what to do,” he said.

The chasing pack was admirably doing their best to draw level, or in the case of Min Woo Lee and Hoshino potentially go past Niemann’s 14-under mark as Scott reflected on his day that had the atmosphere fully charged when he was the first player to reach the same mark.

“It’s too hard to know exactly what to make of it. Obviously it doesn’t look very good, but bad swing on one of the hardest holes and it’s cost me a chance,” Scott said.

“What did I have, about a 5% chance teeing off today? So it’s hard to be really upset at myself.

After Scott’s stumble, Lee again had almost the entire crowd cheering him on as he attempted to grab his own slice of history with an Australian Open title to add to his Australian PGA of last week.

The West Australian was unable to recover from two early bogeys on Sunday with Lee adding just one birdie to his tournament total in a final round 72 that left him on 12-under and two shots out of sudden death.

“Just putts didn’t go my way and I didn’t hit it good enough. But I thought I scrambled really well. I think the positives out of that, I made up and down from literally everywhere,” Lee said.

“It’s not good enough to win a tournament, but it’s been a really good year. I’m pretty proud of the way I’ve finished and celebrations begin today.”

Unlike Lee, Hoshino got the putter working on the back nine with birdies at 12 and 17 to level Niemann’s score. His closing holes were almost as adventurous as Niemann’s, with a long putt finding the cup at the penultimate hole before a drive right on 18 caused a lay-up.

Leaving more than 20 feet for birdie and the win, the six-time Japanese Tour winner couldn’t drop another long try and sent himself and Niemann back to the 18th tee.

Hoshino found the large fairway bunker left from the tee followed by the greenside sand as Niemann striped another iron that finished close before he and caddie Gary Matthews disagreed on the exact line.

“I was struggling with my right to left during the whole week, and I got there and I had a right to left putter. And I told Gary that ‘I like it just outside’, he say he’d like it a little less, I say ‘I like it a little more’.”

It was back to the tee for a third time on Sunday for the Australian Open hopefuls, with Hoshino playing the hole in almost a carbon copy of the first play-off hole. Niemann obliging the crowd with his own repeat performance, this time hitting his second shot even closer to take any doubt of an eagle three out of the equation.

Niemann this time found the bottom of the cup to emerge triumphant and join the honour roll on the Stonehaven Cup that includes the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Greg Norman and Scott. It’s a list the Chilean was admiring during his press conference as he sat alongside women’s champion Ashleigh Buhai.

“There are good names here. I saw Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Greg Norman, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player – a few good men,” he said looking at the trophy.

“It means a lot. I wanted to win so bad for a long time. The last one I have is in Riviera.”