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Gavin Fairfax stuck to his plan and held off a charging Lincoln Tighe to win one of the biggest events on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series, the PIMS Mackay Festival of Golf Pro-Am.
Rounds of 63-67 gave the Queenslander a 36-hole total of 12-under-par and his first pro-am title for 2025.
Tighe (NSW) produced the lowest round of the event, a 9-under-par 62, in the final round, which included a front nine of 30, to end up one shot behind after starting Friday in a share of 14th.
Host club amateur Josh Reid finished in impressive tie for seventh after shooting a 65 in the second round.
The pro-am, contested by a host of regulars from the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, was one of the features of the celebrations for Mackay Golf Club’s 100th anniversary.
Turning point
A two-shot leader after day one, Fairfax immediately set about consolidating his advantage with birdies at the first and third holes on day two, while his nearest challenger, James Gibellini, fell away.
Fairfax completed his 36 holes without a bogey and had the luxury of only needing a par on the par-5 18th to secure the one-shot win, his first title since Keysborough last March.
Quick quotes
Fairfax said: “I think I was 3-under through nine. I got both the par fives and then hit a good approach into the third, so that kind of got the momentum going a little bit.
“On the back nine, I kind of knew where I sat so I played away from a few pins. And being honest, I probably should have played a little more aggressively on the back nine.
“I did enough just to not put any damage on the card and I think that’s the main objective when you’ve got a lead and you’re trying to get it done.”
Leading scores
1 Gavin Fairfax (Qld) 63-67 – 130
2 Lincoln Tighe (NSW) 69-62 – 131
3 Douglas Klein (Qld) 66-67 – 133
4 Lucas Higgins (NSW) 69-65 – 134
T5 Alex Edge (NSW) 69-66 – 135
T5 Sam Brazel (NSW) 67-68 – 135
T7 Jack Munro (Qld) 71-65 – 136
T7 Josh Reid (Qld, a) 71-65 – 136
T7 Lachlan Aylen (Vic) 71-65 – 136
T7 James Gibellini (Qld) 65-71 – 136
Next up
The North Queensland swing of the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series finishes with the Roy Powell Security Pioneer Valley Pro-Am on Sunday.
Andrew Campbell leads the standings in the North Queensland Series sponsored by Mackay Regional Council at 15-under-par, three ahead of Brendan Smith and four clear of Lachlan Aylen.
June 1
Campbell cashes in at Sarina
Coffs Harbour-based professional Andrew Campbell hopes to repeat his North Queensland Series win of two years ago after a three-shot win at the CMR Recycling Sarina Golf Club Pro-Am.
Victory at Sarina two years ago put Campbell on the path to claiming the North Queensland Series, a double he hopes to repeat in 2025.
Trailing Ben Henkel by three after Round 1, Campbell shot 6-under 64 in Round 2 for an 11-under total, three clear of Tropics Pro-Am winner Connor McDade (67), fellow Coffs product Jack Pountney (68), Will Bruyeres (65) and Brendan Smith (63).
“Fortunately, two years ago when I won this event, it set me up to win the Series prize,” said Campbell.
“That was my focus coming up here. I wanted to play good golf and put myself in a position to win that Series prize because that means, ultimately, I’m going to play five good rounds of golf.
“It’s almost like a tour event with an extra round. I just want to see where my game’s at and put myself in contention.
“There’s nothing like winning.”
Turning point
With ground to make up in Round 2, Campbell warmed into his work with two pars to start and then unleashed a birdie barrage.
He made four on the trot from the par-5 fifth and then made it six in seven holes with back-to-back birdies at 10 and 11.
A dropped shot at the par-4 12th was a slight stumble, one he regained with a birdie at the very next hole.
Quick quotes
“This win feels a little bit different to the rest,” said Campbell.
“It’s sort of been a little while since I’ve had a win and to come back here and get another win a couple of years since I won here… it feels a bit different.
“It’s really nice after having three months off and being stuck in Coffs where it’s been raining and really haven’t had much time to practise.
“Promising signs to start the season off.”
Leading scores
1 Andrew Campbell 65-64—129
T2 Jack Pountney 64-68—132
T2 Connor McDade 65-67—132
T2 William Bruyeres 67-65—132
T2 Brendan Smith 69-63—132
T6 Dillon Hart 70-63—133
T6 Ben Henkel 62-71—133
T6 Aaron Pike 64-69—133
T6 Tim Hart 67-66—133
Next up
After a couple of days’ rest, the North Queensland Series continues on Thursday for the two-day PIMS Mackay Festival of Golf at Mackay Golf Club.
May 28
McDade cruises home at Tropics
Melburnian Connor McDade has produced two superb days of golf to capture the Mercedes-Benz Tropics Golf Club Pro-Am by two shots, as the North Queensland Swing of the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series got underway.
It is McDade’s first win of the year, however it is only his second event, and the win pockets him a nice $4,490 for topping the $25,000 event moving him to seventh on the National Pro-Am Order of Merit.
With rounds of 66 and 65, the Royal Melbourne Golf Club member finished at 13-under, clear of Brendan Smith (11-under) in second, and the in-form Jay McKenzie (8-under) in third.
Turning point
With Smith and McKenzie matching McDade’s final day 65, it was really the Victorian’s opening round that proved the difference.
His 6-under 66 on day one was the best round by two-shots on a day where only six players in the field carded a sub-70 round.
Quick quotes
McDade said: “It’s a nice hot start to the Troppo Tour, which is what I was looking for, so I’m stoked to put two hot rounds together.
“Brendan (Smith), he’s obviously a great player and has been for a long time. I don’t think he ever got within one shot of me at any time, but I just felt the pressure from him all day long. He had no let up and he was really trying to win the event, so that made it a lot tougher down the stretch.
“He (Smith) nearly holed his pitch shot on the last. He was really aggressive off the tee and put himself about 40-metres out from the green and nearly holed it. So that would’ve made it a little bit more interesting. But yeah, I made a really solid par on the last, so got it done.”
Leading scores
1 Connor McDade 131
2 Brendan Smith 133
3 Jay McKenzie 136
4 William Bruyeres 137
5 Lachlan Aylen, Dean Jamieson, Ben Hollis 140
Next up
The North Queensland Series sponsored by Mackay Regional Council begins with the 36-hole CMR Recycling Sarina Golf Club Pro-Am starting Saturday.
A host of recent winners from the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia will headline the North Queensland Pro-Am Series starting at Sarina Golf Club on Saturday.
Starting May 31, Sarina Golf Club, Mackay Golf Club and Pioneer Valley Golf Club will each host a leg of the North Queensland Series that has become a popular feature on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series calendar.
This year’s North Queensland Series has drawn winners from the most recent Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season along with veterans including Marcus Fraser and Sam Brazel, both of whom have won internationally.
The Series is sponsored by Mackay Regional Council and events include the CMR Recycling Sarina Golf Club Pro-Am (May 31-June 1), the PIMS Mackay Festival of Golf and Roy Powell Security Pioneer Valley Pro-Am.
Highlighting the quality of players visiting North Queensland, Will Bruyeres (PNG Open), Ben Henkel (Gippsland Super 6) and Cory Crawford (Victorian PGA) will be in action on the back of wins last year along with defending champion at both Mackay and Pioneer Valley and 2024/2025 National PGA Pro-Am Series Order of Merit winner, Brett Rankin.
Mayor Greg Williamson said it was tremendous to have the Mackay region hosting three events in the National PGA Pro-Am Series.
“We are very excited to welcome hundreds of players, including about 60 professionals, from all over Australia, to compete in these events in Sarina, Mackay and the Pioneer Valley,” Mayor Williamson said.
“These events are also a vital stepping stone for our talented local golfers who aspire to break into the professional circuit, as they are a pathway to the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
“For the spectators, there is also a lot on offer – there are three current PGA Tour of Australasia tournament winners, three former European Tour winners and one Olympian competing.
“We can’t wait to see everyone teeing off in Mackay and look forward to a fantastic series.”
PGA of Australia National Tournament Coordinator, Peter Welden, said that the support of regional centres such as Mackay was at the heart of what makes the PGA Pro-Am Series such a success.
“Given the support these events from the local communities, it is no surprise that so many of our best players want to be part of the North Queensland Series,” said Welden.
“There is close to $100,000 in prize money to be won, including a bonus $4,500 for the player with the lowest aggregate total across the three events.
“The quality of the golf courses is outstanding and the North Queensland hospitality is exceptional. With the players we have in each field, I expect the quality of golf to be world class.”
Other former Tour winners to have entered include Dimi Papadatos, Deyen Lawson, Aaron Pike and Louis Dobbelaar.
Rookie professional Silvester Tan scored his first career win in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series thanks to a round of 6-under-par 66 at the Peet – Yanchep Golf Estate Sun City Pro-Am on Friday.
Playing in just his fifth pro-am after turning pro following the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Qualifying School – Final Stage in April, Tan beat Braden Becker by a single stroke, denying his fellow West Australian a third win of the WA swing in 2025.
It was the second victory in as many days for Tan, a former WA State Team member and graduate of Drake University in the US, who combined with veteran Brett Rumford to win the WA PGA Foursomes Championship at Nedlands on Thursday.
Sun City Country Club was also the site of Tan’s win in the WA Amateur Championship earlier in the year before he ventured to Q School.
Turning point
Tan was level with Becker on 5-under-par until he birdied his final hole at Sun City, the 455m par-5 fourth.
His winning round included seven birdies with a solitary bogey at the par-4 12th.
Quick quotes
Tan said: “It (winning) feels good. I’ve put a lot of work in so it’s nice to see a round like this come together.
“I’ve played plenty of golf here. I won the State Am here a couple of months ago so I saw the course plenty when I played then.
“I kind of started pretty slow. It was wet and windy but stayed in it and hit a few good shots, made a few putts coming in, and picked up a bit of momentum.”
Leading scores
1 Silvester Tan 66
2 Braden Becker 67
T3 Josh Greer 70
T3 Brody Martin 70
T5 Louis Dobbelaar 71
T5 Dale Howie 71
T5 Aaron Dobson 71
T8 Simon Houston 72
T8 Connor McKinney 72
T8 Joseph Owen 72
Next up
The North Queensland swing of the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series starts with the Mercedes-Benz Tropics Golf Club Pro-Am at Tropics Golf Club in Townsville on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.
May 18
Becker breaks duck at Spalding Park
More than a decade of trips north to Geraldton finally got their reward as Braden Becker stormed home to claim the $50,000 Spalding Park Open at Spalding Park Golf Club.
Trailing Andrew Crabb by four strokes heading into the third and final round, Becker and great mate Cameron John were the only players to break 70 on Sunday, both posting 5-under 67 as Becker finished at 12-under for a one-stroke win.
In a field laden with Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winners, Becker unleashed a stunning run of six birdies and an eagle across eight holes to edge Tim Hart (71) by one, Lachlan Aylen (70) and Daniel Fox (71) sharing third.
A visitor to Spalding Park since his days as a trainee, Becker was beyond thrilled to wear the Spalding Park Open champion’s jacket.
“I think that’s maybe 11 years I’ve been coming up to the Spalding Park Open but I’ve been up here to Geraldton maybe 13 or 14 times for different events,” said Becker.
“I just love it up here. The greens are fantastic; you just can’t fault them.”
Turning point
Becker was 1-over on his round, 6-under for the tournament and trailing Hart by four when he arrived at the par-5 ninth.
An eagle there would spark a run that included six birdies in his next seven holes and a four-stroke lead as he walked off the 16th green.
Hart’s birdie on 16 and a double-bogey by Becker on 17 quickly reduced the advantage to one, par at the par-4 finisher enough to hold on for victory.
Quick quotes
“I felt like the breeze was going to die at some point, so I thought if I hang in there, we’ll see how we go through the turn,” said Becker.
“There’s always a couple of birdies through that middle section on the par 5s into the 11th.
“Fortunately, I made eagle on nine and then birdie on 10, birdie on 11 where I holed a good putt.
“Thirteen is probably one of the harder tee shots, second shots, just very punishing, and I hit it to five foot and made birdie there.
“That really settled me and then I saw the leaderboard and I was still tied for the lead at that point, so I just thought, I’ve just got to keep going.
“Hit a great shot into the par 3 and holed a good 20-footer; super happy with that one.”
Leading scores
1 Braden Becker 69-68-67—204
2 Tim Hart 70-64-71—205
T3 Lachlan Aylen 68-69-70—207
T3 Daniel Fox 71-65-71—207
5 Cameron John 70-71-67—208
6 Deyen Lawson 68-71-70—209
Next up
Haydn Barron and Curtis Luck are among those entered for the WA PGA Foursomes Championship at Nedlands Golf Club on Thursday followed by the Peet – Yanchep Golf Estate Sun City Pro-Am at Sun City Country Club on Friday.
May 13
Bogey-free Brereton wins Wembley Pro-Am
Four birdies in his final six holes has propelled Darcy Brereton to a second win of the year at the GMW & Radlink Wembley Pro-Am.
Victorious on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series last month at Yenda, Brereton held off a field laden with Tour talent with a superb round of 8-under 64 at Wembley’s Old Course.
The 30-year-old finished two strokes clear of a seven-player logjam that included Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winners Andrew Martin, Cameron John and Daniel Fox along with DP World Tour winner Marcus Fraser, Andrew Kelly, Lachlan Aylen and Alex Edge.
Turning point
Starting from the par-4 ninth hole, Brereton was 1-under through his first six holes but headed to the front nine 3-under after birdies at 15 and 17.
He moved to 4-under with birdie at the par-5 first but it was his late charge of four birdies in five holes from the par-4 third that separated Brereton from the pack.
Leading scores
1 Darcy Brereton 64
T2 Andrew Martin 66
T2 Alex Edge 66
T2 Cameron John 66
T2 Andrew Kelly 66
T2 Daniel Fox 66
T2 Marcus Fraser 66
T2 Lachlan Aylen 66
Next up
There are tournaments across three states on Friday highlighted by Round 1 of the $50,000 Mitchell and Brown Spalding Park Open. The single-round pro-ams being played Friday are the Hahn Shelly Beach GC Pro-Am and the inaugural Pacific Harbour Pro-Am at Pacific Harbour Golf Course on Bribie Island.
May 12
Double success for in-form Sanchez
Riding an improved putting game, Matias Sanchez has become a back-to-back champion in the adidas PGA Pro-Am series after claiming the Toro Australia – TQUIP Pro Am at The Western Australian Golf Club.
The winner of the Sanwell Cottesloe Open at the weekend, Sanchez shot a round of 6-under-par 64 to earn a one-shot margin over Daniel Fox (WA) and Tim Hart (Qld).
The Victorian’s hot streak in WA has included breaking the Cottesloe Golf Club’s course record with a 63 on Saturday.
Turning point
After starting his round on the ninth hole, Sanchez set up his latest victory with a run of four birdies in five holes on the back nine. Back-to-back birdies on the sixth and seventh completed the job.
Quick quotes
Sanchez said: “I just came out here and just tried to play my best golf and fortunately enough it was good enough.
“I’m just trying to be as free as possible out there and not try to think too much out there about what can go wrong or what might happen. I guess all you can do is just hit the shot that’s required so that’s what I was really trying to do.
“I’ve always been thought my putting was the best part of my game and it’s probably let me down the last two or so months, three months. It’s nice to see that it’s sort of coming back because the first half of last season it was really, really strong.”
Leading scores
1 Matias Sanchez 64
T2 Daniel Fox 65
T2 Tim Hart 65
T4 Jordan Doull 66
T4 Connor McKinney 66
T4 Samuel Slater 66
T4 Cameron John 66
9 Cory Crawford 67
Next up
The WA swing continues with the GMW & Radlink Wembley Pro-Am on the Old Course at Wembley on Tuesday.
May 12
Sanchez’s 63 sets up Cottesloe success
Matias Sanchez produced the third course record of the week in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series on the way to winning the Sanwell Cottesloe Open at the weekend.
The Victorian professional’s record round on the Perth layout came on Saturday, a 9-under-par 63, highlighted by two eagles, which set up a three-stroke lead to take into the final day of the 36-hole event.
Sanchez lost the outright lead early on Sunday when Queenslander Louis Dobbelaar started with four straight birdies, but he managed to post a 3-under-69 to finish with a two-shot margin over Dobbelaar and Curtis Luck (WA), the duo shooting matching rounds of 67-67.
The 26-year-old’s course record was the third so far in the West Australian swing, following on from 63s by Hayden Hopewell at the South West Open at Bunbury and Braden Becker at the Kwinana Pro-Am.
Turning point
Searching for his first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series victory since 2023, Sanchez looked like he was losing his grip on the title on Sunday when he made a double-bogey on the par-5 14th and followed up with a bogey on the par-4 15th.
But he turned the event back in his favour by making a two at the short par-4 16th, his tee shot ending up just five feet from the hole.
Quick quotes
Sanchez said: “A three-shot lead can get mowed down pretty quickly so I just had to stay focussed on making birdies and hitting the best possible shots.
“It was pretty up and down most of the day. I didn’t hit the ball as good as yesterday but yesterday was pretty amazing. It’s hard to beat what happened yesterday.
“It’s nice to get a win. I haven’t really won in a while and it’s nice to see the game’s coming together.”
Leading scores
1 Matias Sanchez 63-69 – 132
T2 Louis Dobbelaar 67-67 – 134
T2 Curtis Luck 67-67 – 134
T4 Andrew Kelly 69-67 – 136
T4 Jason Scrivener 69-67 – 136
T4 Cory Crawford 68-68 – 136
T4 Cameron John 66-70 – 136
T8 Joseph Owen 69-68 – 137
T8 Jarryd Felton 69-68 – 137
Next up
The WA swing continues with the Toro Australia – TQUIP Pro Am at Western Australian Golf Club on Monday followed by the GMW & Radlink Wembley Pro-Am on the Old Course at Wembley on Tuesday.
May 9
Becker sets new course record at Kwinana
Braden Becker has played at Kwinana Golf Club a countless number of times but he’s never produced a competition round like he did at the Dunning’s Kwinana Pro-Am on Friday.
Capitalising on an “absolute hot start”, the West Australian set a new course record of 9-under-par 63 to capture the club’s adidas PGA Pro-Am Series title by three shots over Deyen Lawson.
How the record unfolded
Becker made a tap-in eagle on the 459m par-5 first before following up with a birdie from eight-feet at the second.
He then almost aced the par-3 third and picked up another birdie at the fourth to be 5-under-par through four and with thoughts of a sub-60 round in his mind. He turned in 30 after a birdie at the ninth and added in another three birdies on the back nine.
All up, Becker was -5 on the par-5s for the day.
Quick quotes
“I reckon I’ve played the pro-am here every year since 2013 and apart from that I’ve played here a bunch of times because I only live 20-25 minutes away,” Becker said.
“I enjoy playing with the members here. They’re a great group of members.
“After that hot start, I was thinking ‘the course record is definitely on and hopefully we can get to that magical break 60 number’.
“The greens were just so perfect out there. It’s always a pleasure to play here for that reason.”
Leading scores
1 Braden Becker 63
2 Deyen Lawson 66
T3 Lachlan Aylen 67
T3 Daniel Fox 67
5 Max Ford 68
T6 Jordan Doull 69
T6 Andrew Kelly 69
T6 Dale Howie 69
T6 Adam Hatch 69
T6 Louis Dobbelaar 69
T6 Sam Slater 69
T6 Cory Crawford 69
T6 Jason Norris 69
Next up
The Sanwell Cottesloe Open will be played over two rounds at Cottesloe Golf Club this weekend.
May 7
Zach’s max reward at Secret Harbour
Brisbane’s Zachary Maxwell is eyeing a fast start to the upcoming Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season after a one-stroke win at the TenGolf Group Pro-Am south of Perth.
Played over two days at The Cut Golf Course and Secret Harbour Golf Links, Maxwell compiled consecutive rounds of 3-under 69 to finish one shot clear of Sydney’s Nathan Barbieri (71-68) with Lachlan Aylen (70-70) and Deyen Lawson (71-69) sharing third.
Maxwell’s only previous adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win was a lucrative one last July, pocketing close to $15,000 after taking out the Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am.
The 25-year-old had two top-20 finishes during the 2024-2025 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season and will seek to build on that at the 2025 PNG Open in August.
“It’s really good just to top the funds up and go home and focus on training,” said Maxwell.
“Not work as much and just get ready for Papua New Guinea and start the Australian season off.”
Turning point
The only player to break 70 in Round 1 at The Cut on Tuesday, Maxwell began day two ahead by a single stroke from a group of five players.
That advantage soon disappeared with a bogey at his opening hole before Maxwell responded with birdies at 16 and 17.
One-under on his round when he reached the par-5 11th, Maxwell gave himself a look at eagle before tapping in for the first of two closing birdies.
“It was a very pivotal moment of the round,” said Maxwell.
“We checked the live scores and I had to really show up and hit a good golf shot.
“I hit a really, really good 3-wood in there tight for eagle. Unfortunately lipped out the putt, but it was a very comfortable birdie and helped me finish the round off.”
Quick quotes
“It was quite beautiful being able to play those two courses,” Maxwell said of playing The Cut and Secret Harbour in consecutive days.
“Being a Queenslander, but it’s very good to come over here to Perth and appreciate some of these beautiful courses.
“I’m very grateful to not only be able to play them, but get a win while doing so.
“This is going to be my last pro-am before the season starts.
“I’ll go home and play the close ones and Rockhampton but my main focus will be going to Papua New Guinea and being very ready for that one.”
Leading scores
1 Zachary Maxwell 69-69—138
2 Nathan Barbieri 71-68—139
T3 Lachlan Aylen 70-70—140
T3 Deyen Lawson 71-69—140
5 Tim Hart 70-71—141
T6 Scott Barr 71-71—142
T6 Caleb Bovalina 70-72—142
Next up
Dunning’s Kwinana Pro-Am at Kwinana Golf Club, Friday, May 9
May 4
Hopewell equals course record to triumph in Bunbury
Back home from competing on the European Challenge Tour, West Australian Hayden Hopewell tied the Bunbury Golf Club’s course record to win the South West Isuzu South West Open on Sunday.
A brilliant 9-under-par 63 in the final round, the best score of the day by four strokes, gave Hopewell a two-shot margin over NSW’s Nathan Barbieri to earn the second win of his career on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series.
Fresh off his victory at the Axedale Pro-Am in Victoria, Andrew Martin led at Bunbury Golf Club after an opening 65 on Saturday but the Victorian had to settle for third place after closing with a 71.
Hopewell is currently on a break from the Challenge Tour where he is ranked 47th on the Order of Merit as he strives for a DP World Tour card for 2025/26,
Turning point
Starting his round from the 10th tee, the former Bunbury junior made his run early, making five consecutive birdies from the 11th hole. An eagle at the par-5 second propelled him to 8-under for the day through 11 holes.
His only dropped shots for the day came with a double-bogey at the par-3 seventh, but he then birdied the eighth and ninth to see off Barbieri’s challenge.
Quick quotes
“Today was a special round,” the 23-year-old said.
“I hit it solid and the hole just felt like a bucket. I was seeing every putt and they were just dropping. It was quite uncanny at times.
“I was stoked to finish off the round by holing a nice putt on the last to tie the course record. It was on my mind. Being a junior here for a bit, it holds a special place in my heart.”
Leading scores
1 Hayden Hopewell 70-63
2 Nathan Barbieri 67-68
3 Andrew Martin 65-71
4 Jason Scrivener 69-68
T5 Braden Becker 69-69
T5 Cameron Kelly 67-71
T5 Daniel Fox 70-68
T5 John Boulton 69-69
9 Scott Strange 70-69
Next up
The TenGolf Group Pro-Am will be played The Cut Golf Club and Secret Harbour Golf Links on Tuesday and Wednesday (May 6-7)
May 1
Perkins, Dobbelaar share the title at Bunbury
Queenslanders Louis Dobbelaar and Blaike Perkins kicked off the Western Australia swing of the 2025 adidas PGA Pro-Am Series by sharing the title at the Urban Quarter Dunsborough Lakes Pro-Am on Thursday.
Rounds of 6-under-par 66 gave the duo a one-shot margin over PGA Legends Tour member Scott Barr (WA) in a field full of Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia talent.
For Perkins, it was his first pro-am series title, while the joint win continued a resurgence of form for Dobbelaar, who regained his Tour card at the recently completed Qualifying School at Moonah Links.
Turning point
Perkins rattled off five birdies in six holes on the back nine but was brought undone by going out of bounds which led to a double-bogey on the par-4 18th, his 12th hole of the day.
However a three on his final hole, the par-4 sixth, ensured he kept a share of top spot.
Meanwhile, Dobbelaar, who started on his round on the 14th, had seven birdies and a sole bogey in his round. He birdied the back-to-back par-fives on the back nine, 12 and 13, to get to 6-under.
Quick quotes
Perkins said: “I was flying at 6-under through 10 and then hole 18 hit me. I knew I had to get a few more birdies then to catch Louis and made a really nice short putt on the last there to tie him. It’s my first pro win so I’m pretty stoked about it.”
Dobbelaar said: “I got off to a good start and played the tough holes well. Hit the ball really nice and had a lot of opportunities during the day. It’s great to play a course in really nice conditions like here at Dunsborough Lakes. It was a bit of a treat.”
Leading scores
T1 Louis Dobbelaar 66
T1 Blaike Perkins 66
3 Scott Barr 67
4 Braden Becker 68
T5 Jordan Doull 69
T5 Cameron Kelly 69
T7 Cameron John 70
T7 Tim Hart 70
T7 Aaron Pike 70
Next up
The WA swing reaches Bunbury Golf Club for the South West Isuzu South West Open over 36 holes this weekend.
Jay Mackenzie continued his winning run through regional New South Wales in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series by claiming a share of the Highlands Pro-Am title with fellow NSW professional Lincoln Tighe on Friday.
A 5-under-par 65 on the Mittagong layout gave Mackenzie and Tighe a two-shot margin over Andrew Evans with Corey Lamb and Cameron Bell a further shot back in a share of fourth.
It’s a third win is as many weeks for Mackenzie who was also victorious at Griffith and Leeton in the Riverina, totalling a combined 25-under-par thanks to five rounds in the 60s.
For Tighe, it was his first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series title since 2023.
Turning point
There was a five-way tie for the lead at Highlands Golf Club until Mackenzie, who started his round on the par-5 14th hole, birdied the short par-4 10th and par-3 12th to move clear of the pack. He finished with seven birdies for the afternoon.
Meanwhile, Tighe, who is working on getting a more dependable swing, finished in a flourish with birdies on his final two holes, the par-3 fourth and par-5 fifth, to capture his share of top of the leaderboard. His round that featured eight birdies.
Quick quotes
Tighe said: “I haven’t been hitting it great but I was really keen to come out here today and have a bit. It’s a bit weird to be that keen to get out so early and play golf. You just miss it when you don’t play. I sort of surprised myself. It was good to have a good round.”
Leading scores
T1 Jay Mackenzie 65
T1 Lincoln Tighe 65
2 Andrew Evans 67
T4 Corey Lamb 68
T4 Cameron Bell 68
T6 Larry Austin 69
T6 Sung Park 69
T6 Neven Basic 69
T9 Arthur Barakat 70
T9 Will Daibarra 70
T9 Daniel Nesbitt 70
T9 Kieran Jones 70
April 24
Martin a cut above at Axedale
Fond memories and some last-minute fine-tuning paved the way for Andrew Martin to claim a one-stroke win at the Symes Motors Axedale Pro-Am at Axedale Golf Club.
Just 20 minutes from his home-town of Bendigo, Martin started brilliantly paired with great mate Marcus Fraser, holding on over the back nine to win with a round of 4-under 65.
Two late bogeys cruelled Alex Edge’s hopes of an adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win, finishing outright second with Bradley Kivimets at 3-under 66.
While he finished well down the leaderboard, Michael Bainbridge delivered one of the day’s highlights, making a hole-in-one at the par-3 11th, just his second hole of the day.
Turning point
Three-under through six holes, it was back-to-back birdies around the turn that ultimately proved the difference.
A birdie at the 335-metre par-4 ninth saw Martin turn in 4-under, pushing out to an even larger advantage with birdie at the 309m par-4 10th.
While that would be Martin’s last birdie of the day – there was a lone bogey at the par-3 14th – it would prove just enough to claim victory.
Quick quotes
“Not quite my home course, but it’s one of my home courses back here,” said Martin.
“It’s been a bit quiet and then to come out and practise for a couple of days and come here and shoot that, that was pretty good.
“I probably played better on my back nine and probably didn’t score as good.
“Knowing the course definitely helps on a few shots. Definitely the more you play here helps but even then, you still sort of can’t get your head around it.
“The course is probably the best I’ve ever seen it. It’s always a pleasure coming back here.”
Leading scores
1 Andrew Martin 65
T2 Alex Edge 66
T2 Bradley Kivimets 66
T4 Marcus Fraser 68
T4 Will Florimo 68
Next up: Belmont Golf and Bowls Club Pro-Am, April 27-28
April 10
Townsend, Mackenzie split Leeton win
A spectacular stretch around the turn has secured Aaron Townsend a share of victory at the two-day Leeton Golf Club SunRice Pro-Am.
On the back of his first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win of the year at Griffith on Friday, Jay Mackenzie held the Round 1 lead at Leeton courtesy of a 7-under 65 on Saturday.
He began a bogey-free second round of 4-under 68 with seven straight pars, opening the door just enough for Townsend to make a move.
Three bogeys against two birdies in his first seven holes stalled his charge but birdie at the par-5 eighth would prove to be the catalyst for a brilliant finish.
With a round of 5-under 67, Townsend was the first to post 11-under, Mackenzie needing to birdie the last to join him, the pair finishing two strokes clear of Toby Walker (67).
Turning point
As first Townsend and then Mackenzie came through the eighth hole, Mackenzie looked like following up his first win of the season at Griffith with a second at Leeton.
He held a two-stroke advantage after both made birdie at the 468-metre par 5 but it would prove to be a launch pad for Townsend.
It was the first of six birdies in seven holes for the Newcastle native that gave him a one-stroke advantage.
He would hold that until he waited for Mackenzie to finish, who birdied the par-4 18th to claim a share of victory.
Quick quotes
“I’m trying to work a little harder on some putting consistency,” said Townsend.
“It’s been very poor at times. My good is good but my poor is very poor so the last couple of days have been good.
“I still made too many mistakes. I made too many bogeys over the last two days but there was enough good stuff that I’ve enough to take out of that.”
Leading scores
T1 Aaron Townsend 66-67—133
T1 Jay Mackenzie 65-68—133
3 Toby Walker 68-67—135
4 Bryce Hohnen 67-69—136
5 Matthew Millar 66-71—137
April 11
Mackenzie claims first win for 2025
Jay Mackenzie became a winner on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series for the seventh consecutive year after scoring a four-stroke victory in the B&C Plumbing Griffith Charity Pro-Am.
With just one bogey across the 36 holes at Griffith Golf Club, the NSW professional shot rounds of 68-65 to finish at 9-under-par and secure his first title for 2025 after a mixed campaign on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
Two other Tour regulars, Tim Hart (66-71) and Jye Pickin (71-66), shared second place.
Back travelling in his grandad’s old troop carrier after it had some repairs, Mackenzie set up camp next to the driving range at the Riverina course, giving him easy access to work even more on his game which started to turn around towards the end of the Tour season.
Turning point
After starting the second round two shots from the overnight lead held jointly by Hart and James Gibellini, Mackenzie birdied two of his first five holes to keep him well in touch. However it was a run of three birdies in five holes on the back nine – 11, 13 and 15 – which saw the former WA PGA champion kick clear.
Meanwhile, Hart played the back nine in 2-over and Gibellini faltered with four bogeys on the way back to the clubhouse.
Quick quotes
Mackenzie said: “It’s nice to finally play some good golf. It’s been a while. I’ve been working at it.
“The greens are tricky. You have to chip and putt well around here. I just hit driver on every hole and tried to find the fairways. That was basically my gameplan. Pretty simple really.”
Leading scores
1 Jay Mackenzie 68-65 (-9)
T2 Tim Hart 66-72 (-5)
T2 Jye Pickin 71-66 (-5)
4 Marcus Fraser 68-70 (-4)
T5 Alexander Simpson 69-70 (-3)
T5 James Gibellini 66-73 (-3)
T5 Matt Millar 67-72 (-3)
April 9
Brereton, Walker on top at Yenda
Victorian duo Darcy Brereton and Toby Walker could not be separated on the quirky 12-hole layout, both finishing at 5-under at the Orora Yenda Pro-Am.
With the Tasmanian Open last week, Yenda marks the official start of a long adidas PGA Pro-Am Series, with Walker and Brereton getting off to the perfect start.
Both players did the bulk of their scoring early, taking advantage of the two par-5s on the opening six holes, Walker and Brereton both found themselves 4-under at “the turn”, and certainly the hot players on the course.
Queenslander Dillon Hart fired a bogey free 4-under round to secure solo third ahead of a trio of players tied fourth at 3-under.
Turning point
While Walker was able to keep bogeys off the card coming in, he was only able to make one further birdie at the eighth, the only par-5 on the closing six.
Brereton managed to get it to 5-under with a birdie at the par-3 seventh, but an untimely bogey at the same par-5 eighth Walker managed to birdie dropped the Royal Melbourne member back to 4-under.
With Walker already safely in the clubhouse, Brereton knew he needed to make up a shot coming in to tie, and managed to do just that at the short par-4 11th, the penultimate hole.
Quick quotes
“It was very different to what I’ve been playing recently, but it was a different kind of challenge, which I enjoyed,” said Brereton.
“I think I relished trying to play something a little different and yeah, it was a good test for myself.
“I hit it pretty good. I was in play pretty much off every tee really, apart from maybe the eighth.
“Made a little bit of a messy bogey there, but putted pretty solid.”
“I actually love playing 12 holes,” said Walker. “Being a big bloke, I don’t have to walk around 18-holes to spend five hours out here and it’s a lot more enjoyable. 12 holes is just nice. It was a really good day.
“I’ve just gotten a lot better mentally. I’ve been working with my coach of 14 years, Timmy Wood and it’s just doing the one percenters really well of late.
“Today I just hit driver as hard as I could and just prayed it got a good bounce near the green and I could chip it up and hole a couple of putts.”
Leaderboard scores
T1 Toby Walker 43
T1 Darcy Brereton 43
3 Dillon Hart 44
T4 Andrew Evans 45
T4 Jye Pickin 45
T4 Andrew Kelly 45
March 14
Gill earns first win at Heidelberg
Daniel Gill can look forward to a start in the final event of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season with confidence after taking out the De Bortoli Heidelberg Golf Club Pro-Am at Heidelberg Golf Club.
Playing through the morning fog, Gill posted 6-under 66 to claim his first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win in the final event of the 2024/2025 season.
He can now look forward to taking part in The National Tournament starting March 27 at The National Golf Club and then Qualifying School at Moonah Links in April.
“It feels great,” Gill said of his breakthrough result.
“It was a bit of a nervous wait, but got there in the end.
“I was refreshing the scores non-stop all afternoon but happy to do it.”
Gill finished one shot clear of a trio of regular Tour players, Brady Watt, Aiden Didone and Jayden Cripps all sharing second with rounds of 5-under 67.
Turning point
An opening birdie at the par-5 14th was the ideal start but it wasn’t until Gill got to the front nine that his round gathered momentum.
He birdied the par-3 second and then made three in succession from the par-5 fourth, his final birdie at his second-to-last hole the difference at day’s end.
Quick quotes
“With the fog this morning, it’s obviously harder to see, so I played a bit more cautious than probably what I would have which probably worked out in my favour,” said Gill.
“Laying up a bit more, hit more fairways, hit more greens, holed a couple of putts. Everything just sort of turned out in my favour.”
Leading scores
1 Daniel Gill 66
T2 Jayden Cripps 67
T2 Aiden Didone 67
T2 Brady Watt 67
5 Toby Walker 68
March 6
Choi still the king of Keysborough
He may not play often but when he does Michael Choi is invariably tough to beat at the Bendigo Bank Dingley Village Community – Keysborough Golf Club Pro-Am at Keysborough Golf Club.
With a young family, Choi is now an infrequent visitor to the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series but he continued his love affair with Keysborough with a superb 7-under 66 and two-stroke win.
It is Choi’s third win at Keysborough in the past decade as Jake Hughes (68) settled for second and Toby Walker shot 4-under 69 to snare third.
Turning point
Even par after starting birdie-bogey, Choi’s round gathered momentum around the turn.
He moved into red figures with birdie at the par-5 16th and then peeled off four on the trot from the par-4 18th, closing the deal with further birdies at seven and 10.
Quick quotes
“This course just fits my eye and I enjoy coming out here every year,” said Choi.
“Always just have good vibes when I’m out here so it was nice to get another win under the belt.
“I had a birdie on the first, bogey on the second, and then had a really good patch.
“I think it was like maybe four birdies in a row in the middle of the round and then a couple late.”
Leading scores
1 Michael Choi 66
2 Jake Hughes 68
3 Toby Walker 69
4 Nathan Page 70
T5 Ryan Haywood 71
T5 Daniel Gill 71
T5 Ben Ford 71
T5 Peter Vassiliadis 71
T5 Michael Isherwood 71
T5 Jack Harrison 71
T5 Matthew Griffin 71
Next up
De Bortoli Heidelberg Golf Club Pro-Am at Heidelberg Golf Club on Friday, March 14.
February 28
Page turns it on at Yarrambat
Victorian Nathan Page refused to let an early double bogey hold him back as he completed a commanding victory at the Ray White Doreen Pro-Am at Yarrambat Park Golf Course.
Drawing inspiration from Harrison Crowe’s 9-under 63 in Round 1 at the New Zealand Open that also included a double bogey, Page bounced back from his early stumble to shoot 8-under 64 and win by five strokes.
“I was just taking inspiration from Harry Crowe yesterday with a double and shoot nine (under),” said Page.
Toby Walker, Max Charles, Ed Donoghue and Wade Lowrie shared second at 3-under par but there was no catching Page at the top of the leaderboard.
Turning point: With birdies at his opening two holes, the double bogey at the par-3 fifth dropped Page back to even par. He was back at 2-under with birdies at seven and nine but it was the birdie on 10 and eagle at the par-5 11th that separated Page from the pack. That he backed that up with another eagle just four holes later made it a simple procession to the clubhouse over the closing holes.
Quick quotes
“I wanted to get going early and did, but then I copped a pretty gnarly double bogey down five.
“I was hitting it all right off the tee and managed to get that going and didn’t make any more mistakes, which was good.
“Had the two eagles (on the back nine). They were playing slightly downwind when I played those par 5s, which helped a little bit. Kind of cut the corner. I had 9-iron and sand wedge in and stuck it pretty close.
“Didn’t make too many errors after that fifth hole and was able to bring it home nicely.”
Final scores
1 Nathan Page 64
T2 Toby Walker 69
T2 Max Charles 69
T2 Wade Lowrie 69
T2 Edward Donoghue 69
Next up: Bendigo Bank Dingley Village Community – Keysborough Golf Club Pro-Am at Keysborough Golf Club, Thursday, March 6.
January 22
Gordon takes crown at King Island
A few days out of the shop paid off for Corowa Golf Club PGA Professional James Gordon who claimed the Hewison Private Wealth King Island Pro-Am.
Played across the spectacular Cape Wickham Golf Links and Ocean Dunes Golf Course over two days, the King Island Pro-Am sees Professionals bring a team of amateurs for an unforgettable experience hosted by the team at Air Adventure Golf Tours.
A winner on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series three years ago at the Leeton Pro-Am, Gordon returned Stableford scores of 39 and 43 points for an 82-point total and seven-point win over Lachlan Wood (75) with Charlie Robbins (74) third.
Turning point
Leading by one point after day one at Cape Wickham, Gordon had a less than auspicious start to Round 2 at Ocean Dunes. Admitting that he “nearly missed my first tee shot of the day”, Gordon dropped a shot on his opening hole but made birdie on 18 and then eagled the par-5 first to build a hefty advantage.
Quick quotes
“The view on every hole is postcard material,” said Gordon of Cape Wickham.
“Every hole is different and what a stunning finish! Wind direction certainly changes the way you play each hole!
“The first hole tee shot (at Ocean Dunes) is daunting when you can see the green 500 metres away sitting on the ocean but another superb golf course with ocean views on nearly every hole. “Very fair for the members and certainly a challenge for the professionals.”
Leading scores
1 James Gordon 39-43—82
2 Lachlan Wood 38-37—75
3 Charlie Robbins 34-40—74
4 Ashley Hall 31-42—73
5 Ryan Lynch 33-39—72
6 Ben Ford 34-36—70
Next up
Melville Glades BYOG Pro-Am at Melville Glades Golf Club, February 6
January 5: Mee’s record-breaking win at Lonsdale Links
Queenslander James Mee will take winning form into the second half of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season after claiming the Geelong BMW Lonsdale Links Pro-Am.
A course record round of 8-under-par 62, which included two eagles and six birdies, gave Mee a one-shot victory over Austin Bautista (NSW) and a pair of Victorians, Ashley Hall and Andre Lautee.
It was a nice confidence boost for Mee who will head to this week’s Webex Players Series Perth hosted by Minjee and Min Woo Lee keen to improve on his 93rd position on the 2024/25 Order of Merit.
His only top-20 so far in his rookie season came in his opening event, the PNG Open.
Turning point
With Lautee waiting in the clubhouse after a morning round of 63, Mee needed a fast finish to take the winner’s cheque at Lonsdale. It came across the 11th to 13th holes, where the Queenslander went eagle-birdie-birdie to move to -8 for the day.
A par on his final hole, the par-3 14th, sealed his third adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win.
Quick quotes
“I came down here on Thursday to play these three pro-ams (Settlers Run, Portsea and Lonsdale Links) before the Tour season starts up again. I didn’t finish off too well at the end of last year.
“I wanted to get some reps in after Christmas because I didn’t touch a club for a couple of weeks.
“It all really started for me on my second hole, the 16th, where I hit a driver on a hole I probably wouldn’t go for if I’d known the course. I hit on to about 15 feet and rolled in the putt for eagle. That kickstarted the round.”
Leading scores
1 James Mee 62
T2 Andre Lautee 63
T2 Austin Bautista 63
T2 Ashley Hall 63
T5 Michael Choi 65
T5 Steven Jones 65
7 Matt Dowling 66
Next up
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series takes a short break before the three-day Hewison Private Wealth King Island Pro-Am at Cape Wickham Links and Ocean Dunes Golf Course on January 19-21.
January 4: Wood wins by one at Portsea
Queenslander Chris Wood enjoyed more success on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula with a one-stroke win at the $40,000 Peninsula Sotheby’s Portsea Celebrity Pro-Am at Portsea Golf Club.
Winner of the 2020 Victorian PGA Championship at Moonah Links, Wood had six birdies and an eagle in his round of 7-under 64 to finish one clear of Victorian Andrew Kelly.
Eager to make a quick start to the new year on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, Wood’s win is the ideal preparation for next week’s Webex Players Series Perth tournament at Royal Fremantle Golf Club.
“I generally have a bit more of a break and come out of the blocks pretty slow in the new year,” said Wood.
“I wanted to get the clubs in hand and put a bit of work in and the last couple of days have been nice.”
Turning point
Level with the best of the morning wave with a birdie on 16 and eagle at the par-5 third, Wood made his move around the turn at Portsea Golf Club.
Starting with a birdie at the par-4 sixth, Wood added four more on the trot from the par-5 eighth to race out to 8-under before his lone bogey of the day at the short par-3 12th.
Quick quotes
“I got off to a bit of an adventurous start,” said Wood.
“Teeing off on 16, I hit my tee shot straight into a divot and then hit the next shot about 10 or 15 metres.
“I then chipped in for birdie so it was sort of the golfing gods paying me back there.”
Leading scores
1 Chris Wood 64
2 Andrew Kelly 65
T3 Todd Sinnott 67
T3 Brendan Smith 67
T3 Darcy Brereton 67
Next up
Geelong BMW Lonsdale Links Pro-Am at Lonsdale Links, Sunday, January 5.
January 3: Wright triumphs at Settlers Run
Heading into his second season on the Champions Tour in the US, Wright went bogey free in his round of 6-under 66, two clear of Victorian Jack Harrison (68) as nine players finished tied for third at 3-under par.
Starting with a birdie at his opening hole, the short par-4 17th, Wright methodically went about building his round, closing it out with a sixth and final birdie at the par-5 16th.
Turning point
Level with the best of the morning scores at 3-under through 10 holes, Wright made birdie at the 481-metre par-5 ninth and then picked up a further shot at the par-3 11th to build a handy buffer heading into the final few holes.
Quick quotes
“I started off by hitting it into about 12 feet on the 17th hole and rolled that in, so that was a nice start,” said Wright.
“Managed to put another five (birdies) on the card in patches throughout the round and kept the bogeys off the card. It’s always good to not have a bogey and then to finish with a birdie was nice, too.”
Leading scores
1 Michael Wright 66
2 Jack Harrison 68
T3 Cameron Kelly 69
T3 Tim Walker 69
T3 Michael Choi 69
T3 James Mee 69
T3 Ruben Lal 69
T3 Josh Younger 69
T3 David Micheluzzi 69
T3 Douglas Klein 69
T3 Chris Wood 69
Next up
Peninsula Sotheby’s Portsea Celebrity Pro-Am at Portsea Golf Club, Saturday, January 4.
Simon Hawkes has claimed his home Open for a second time after producing a near flawless final round in windy conditions to win the Men’s Tasmanian Open at Launceston Golf Club.
Co-leader with William Bruyeres and Aaron Pike at the start of Round 3, Hawkes held his nerve and holed a number of crucial par putts to shoot 3-under 69 and finish one stroke clear of Victorian Connor McDade (67) with Caleb Bovalina two strokes further back in third.
In adding to his 2016 win, Hawkes becomes the first two-time Tasmanian winner of the Tasmanian Open since the legendary Peter Toogood won his eighth way back in 1959.
As the gusty wind and pacey putting surfaces put plenty of players under pressure, Hawkes refused to falter until the very last hole of the tournament.
A closing bogey did little to diffuse his satisfaction as he added to his 2016 Tasmanian Open and WA Open and Vic Open wins.
“It’s always a bit of extra nerves,” Hawkes said.
“With the other two state opens, I don’t think I was as nervous as the two I’ve won here.
“It’s a lot bigger to win your home Open; it’s amazing.
“You always come to this event with the goal of winning and to be able to pull it off is amazing.”
It was a rare Tasmanian double on Sunday as Royal Hobart Golf Club’s Mackenzie Thomas (81) held on for a two-stroke win in the Women’s Tasmania Open and South Australian George Vassiliadis completed a convincing win in the Tasmania Inclusive Championship.
Turning point
It was as the lead group approached the turn that Hawkes was able to separate himself from both Pike and Bruyeres.
Two-under on his round through six holes, Hawkes had a one-stroke advantage from Pike and was two clear of Bruyeres.
Pars at the next three holes would put Hawkes on the path to victory as Bruyeres and Pike both lost ground.
Pike made bogeys at both seven and nine to go out in 1-over while Bruyeres followed a bogey on eight with a double-bogey at the par-4 ninth, dropping five shots back of Hawkes.
While Bruyeres would make a late charge with three birdies in his final four holes, Hawkes’ near faultless display gave him enough of a buffer to absorb a closing bogey and hold on for the win.
Quick quotes
“Looking at the forecast this morning, I knew it was going to be a day that you had to really dig deep and focus hard,” said Hawkes.
“That’s sort of the achievement I made today. It was a process goal that was achieved to have the outcome goal, which was winning the tournament.
“With the exception of the blemish up the last, I was bogey free, which at that point I was really proud of.
“My processes were really good today and that’s what helped me get over line the.”
Final scores
1 Simon Hawkes 66-72-69—207
2 Connor McDade 69-72-67—208
3 Caleb Bovalina 70-69-71—210
4 William Bruyeres 70-68-73—211
T5 Mark Panopoulos 73-70-69—212
T5 Aaron Pike 65-73-74—212
A day’s best 4-under 68 has propelled Queenslander Will Bruyeres to a share of the lead heading into the final round of the Tasmanian Open at Launceston Golf Club.
Trailing overnight leader Aaron Pike by five strokes after Round 1, Bruyeres unlocked something with his driver to collect six birdies and join Pike (73) and 2016 champion and Tassie favourite Simon Hawkes (72) at 6-under through 36 holes.
The trio are one shot clear of Lachlan Aylen (69) and Caleb Bovalina followed by Matias Sanchez (71) and Joseph Owen (69) in a share of sixth.
Alex Edge remains in the hunt to become the first back-to-back winner in almost 30 years, just three strokes off the lead and in a tie for eighth at 3-under par.
For Bruyeres, who won a maiden Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title at the PNG Open last year, finding something with the big dog allowed him to capitalise on the other strong parts of his game.
“I just hit the driver way better than I have for the last six months,” said Bruyeres.
“The rest of my game is pretty good. I’ve got the wedges going well, punting well, I just haven’t lately been able to give myself opportunities off the tee.
“For some reason today the driver was friendly to me. Hit some balls in play which just let the wedges and irons kind of flow and holed a couple of putts.”
Only nine players have won multiple Tasmanian Opens since its inception in 1913, Hawkes seeking to become the first Tasmanian to achieve the feat since Peter Toogood’s eighth and final win in 1959.
Understanding the local conditions better than most, Hawkes believes the forecasted winds of up to 50km/h will ensure the 2025 winner is a worthy champion.
“If the weather forecast comes off exactly as it is, it’s anybody’s game, even from a few back,” said Hawkes.
“The winner tomorrow’s going to keep their cool, they’re going to be very, very disciplined in their strategy because there’s probably going to be a few big numbers thrown around in the last group.
“They can just pop up from nowhere so it’s going to be some exciting golf.
“Tomorrow’s really going to prove we’ve got a great champion with those conditions.”
There is a local in the lead, too, in the Tasmanian Women’s Open.
Consecutive rounds of 3-over 76 have given Royal Hobart Golf Club’s Mackenzie Thomas a four-stroke lead from Victorian Grace Yang (83) with another Tasmanian, Hallie Meaburn (79) four strokes further back in third.
Saturday also saw Round 1 of the 2025 Tasmania Inclusive Championship, Western Australian George Vassiliadis to take a seven-stroke lead into the final round.
Photo: Solstice Digital
Leading scores
Men
T1 Simon Hawkes 66-72—138
T1 Aaron Pike 65-73—138
T1 William Bruyeres 70-68—138
T4 Lachlan Aylen 70-69—139
T4 Caleb Bovalina 70-69—139
Women
1 Mackenzie Thomas (a) 76-76—152
2 Grace Yang (a) 73-83—156
3 Hallie Meaburn (a) 81-79—160
4 Riko Danjo 81-81—162
5 Lorissa Dobson (a) 81-82—163
Inclusive
1 George Vassiliadis (a) 81
2 Corey Ackerly (a) 88
3 Leeza Walker (a) 89
Queensland’s Aaron Pike has a love for the Launceston Golf Club and the fondness grew even stronger with an opening round of 7-under-par 65 on day one of the 2025 Tasmanian Open.
Pike is a huge fan of the slopy greens at Kings Meadow which leads to precision more than power being the key factor to score low and he had nine birdies on the way to establishing a one-shot lead to take into the weekend.
His nearest challenger is Tasmanian Simon Hawkes, who won his state open nine years ago and produced two eagles in his 66 – a two at the 242m par-4 first and a three at the 508m par-5 10th.
Matias Sanchez and Connor McDade (69) share third while defending men’s champion Alex Edge is six back in a tie for eighth after an opening 71.
Meanwhile, Victorian Grace Yang leads the women’s Open by three shots after starting with an even-par 73 that featured six birdies.
Turning point
Beginning his round from the 10th tee in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series event, Noosa-based Pike was 1-under through his first five holes, including a double-bogey six after hitting a tee shot out of the bounds at the 11th, before he produced a charge with three consecutive birdies on holes 15-17.
Another trifecta came from the first to the third to move the burly Queenslander to 6-under through 12 holes.
Although he bogeyed the par-4 fifth, Pike quickly bounced back by picking up shots on his next two holes.
Quick quotes
Pike said: “The round was a little bit indifferent. I probably got a bit lucky with a couple of drives staying in-bounds but I managed to keep the ball under the hole and holed a lot of putts.
“It’s probably been 20 years since I’ve played here and I don’t remember much of the course. I’m loving it. I love these older style golf courses that we have in Australia and fast, slopy greens which make you think about your putting.
“I really love that you have to think about where you want to position your ball on the green. A 10-footer under the hole can be better than a four or five-footer above the hole.
“You have to play it smart.”
LEADING SCORES
Men
1 Aaron Pike 65
2 Simon Hawkes 66
T3 Connor McDade 69
T3 Matias Sanchez 69
T5 Will Bruyeres 70
T5 Caleb Bovalina 70
T5 Lachlan Aylen 70
Women
1 Grace Yang (a) 73
2 Mackenzie Thomas (a) 76
T3 Riko Danjo (a) 81
T3 Larissa Dobson (a) 81
NEXT UP
Round two of the Tasmanian Open will get underway at 8.30am on Saturday.
Australia’s best professional and elite amateur golfers will test their skills on some of the best regional courses in New South Wales, with dates and venues confirmed for six NSW Regional Open Qualifying tournaments in 2025.
With the Ford NSW Open Championship planned for mid-November, the six $50,000 lead-in events will attract competitors from across Australasia.
In addition to the lucrative purses at each event, three spots in the NSW Open are also up for grabs for the highest placegetters not already exempt into the November field.
With free entry to each venue and the chance to walk the fairways with the players, spectators can witness the action up close.
The venues and dates for the six Regional Open Qualifying Tournaments in 2025 are:
General Manager – Golf at Golf NSW Olivia Wilson said the Regional Open Qualifying Series events were perfect for an aspiring professionals or elite amateurs to kickstart their 2025/26 Australian Summer of Golf.
“The series, as it has done in recent years, can really help a future star of our sport get to the next level,” Ms Wilson said.
“With a guaranteed place in the $800,000 Ford NSW Open, players will be aiming to lock up their spot in the NSW Open quickly.”
Several players have put the qualifying spot to good use in past years by vaulting themselves into the sporting spotlight over the Australian summer.
None more so than Corey Lamb, who parlayed his qualification last year at Queanbeyan into a runner-up finish at the 2024 NSW Open behind eventual winner, Ripper GC star Lucas Herbert, and Ben Henkel, who won at Catalina Club and went on to claim the Gippsland Super 6 on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
Chief Operating Officer at Golf NSW Graeme Phillipson said the tournaments were a welcome financial injection into the communities surrounding the host venues.
“The Regional Open Qualifying Series boosts the host clubs and surrounding towns. The players need somewhere to stay and places to eat and drink, so the visitor economy at each location does benefit, Mr Phillipson said.
The 2025 Ford NSW Open and the NSW Open Regional Qualifying Series are proudly supported by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
Amateurs and All Abilities golfers can share the stage with current stars of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia at the Tasmanian Open at Launceston Golf Club from April 4-6.
Dating back to 1913 and with an honour roll that boasts Tasmanian legend Peter Toogood, Frank Phillips, David Graham, Stewart Ginn and Mike Clayton, the Tasmanian Open returned to a professional event in 2023 that incorporates the Women’s Tasmanian Open and the Tasmanian Inclusive Championship.
On the professional side, defending champion Alex Edge and former Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winners Jordan Zunic, Zach Murray, Will Bruyeres (pictured), Aaron Pike and Simon Hawkes are among those to have entered the event that marks the start of the 2025-2026 Pro-Am Series.
It shapes as the strongest field of professionals to contest the Tasmanian Open in more than 30 years, opening the door to local amateurs to pit their skills against some of the best in the country.
“The return of professionals to the Tasmanian Open two years ago has once again elevated the status of our state Open,” said Golf Tasmania Event and Operations Manager, Stuart Eaton.
“Not only is it a great opportunity for golf fans to watch some of the stars of the PGA Tour of Australasia up close, it is a rare opportunity for our top amateur players and promising juniors to play alongside such high-calibre players.
“The popularity of the Tasmanian Inclusive Championship continues to grow and we would love to see our largest ever field for the 2025 championship at Launceston Golf Club.”
Played as a purely amateur event between 1993 and 2022, Mathew Goggin (1994), Cameron Percy (1996, 1997), Geoff Ogilvy (1998) and Brendan Jones (1999) all won in Tassie before embarking on highly successful professional careers.
In more recent years, Zunic (2013), Jarryd Felton (2014) and Anthony Quayle (2015) won as amateurs, professionals welcomed back into the fold at the 2023 championship.
That year it was another amateur, Toby Walker, who came out on top, Edge becoming the first professional winner since Hawkes in 2016 when he edged Caleb Bovalina and Kyle Michel by a shot at Launceston 12 months ago.
Edge’s defence won’t be easy, however, as Launceston welcomes the strongest field of professionals since it was last played as a professional event in the early 1990s.
In addition to past champions Zunic and Hawkes, Murray and Pike both have multiple wins to their credit on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, Bruyeres won the season-opening PNG Open and Brady Watt, Kyle Michel, Tim Hart and Matias Sanchez have all contended deep into tournaments the past two years.
Entries for Men’s Tasmanian Open, Women’s Tasmanian Open and Tasmanian Inclusive Championship close on March 29.
The Men’s and Women’s Tasmanian Opens are supported by the Tasmanian Government through Events Tasmania and the City of Launceston.
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series wrapped up for 2024 with six players finishing tied at the top to head to the festive break with some extra spending money after the Stockland The Gables 2024 Pro-Am.
A field featuring multiple Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia players descended on Lynwood Country Club in Sydney’s west for the two day event where Dillon Hart, Christopher Wood, Josh Armstrong, Samuel Slater, Scott Arnold and James Conran emerged victorious.
Somewhat remarkably, none of the six eventual winners had shared the lead after Round 1, before finishing on a 36-hole total of 3-under 141, with Hart authoring the biggest second round swing by improving his score by five shots for a 68.
HOW THE WINNING ROUNDS UNFOLDED
In windy conditions with penalising rough punishing wayward driving and greens rolling 11-feet on the stimpmeter, it was about minimising mistakes, with all six winners still having their moments during the final round.
For Hart, he mixed five birdies with one bogey, his most important birdie coming at the par-3 17th having dropped a shot two holes earlier, while Wood got off to an up and down start with back-to-back birdies to start the round negated by a double bogey at the fifth. The Queenslander making three birdies on the back nine, including at the 18th to join the winning group.
Armstrong’s length off the tee would have felt like a weapon as he reached the closing stretches, with two par-5s in the last three holes, but the Concord Golf Club member could only manage pars having also bogeyed the 15th.
Queenslander Slater is another with prodigious length, and used it on his way five birdies in his first 10 holes, but the par-5 16th saw him go from 5-under with victory on his own in his sights back to 3-under.
Now spending 40 hours a week in a Pro Shop, Arnold saved his best for last to get a share of the spoils having matched every one of his three birdies with a bogey throughout the final day. Arnold birdieing the 18th for a second day in a row to join the large winners’ picture.
Conran also needed birdie at the last to reach 3-under and victory, with the New South Welshman coming home strongest of the winning six. Double bogey at the sixth was mixed with eight pars on the front nine before Conran made four birdies in seven holes to finish his competitive year.
WHAT THE WINNERS SAID
Scott Arnold: “I think the course in great nick, and it’s set up pretty well for sort of an event like this, so it is pretty scoreable. There was a bit of wind yesterday and a bit of wind today and the pins are a bit tricky so it sort of made scoring a bit tough but I’m really pleased with how I played considering I’m spending 40 hours a week in a shop now and not really doing any practise.”
Josh Armstrong: “Very ready for a break. I feel like I’ve been playing okay. It’s sort of been frustrating because I’ve been making a lot of silly decisions, but definitely a little bit of that yesterday. But I did that up a little today and played pretty solidly all day. I’ve got good memories here. I spend a lot of time out here. I always enjoyed coming back.”
James Conran: “I mean, Lynwood is always enjoyable to play. It’s always in pretty good condition. The greens are pretty true. It’s just been a bit of a bother with the wind the last two days and the heat, but the course presented itself pretty good.”
Dillon Hart: “Just found some form in my swing. Made an adjustment with the coach and yeah, started to find ball striking, which sort of led into some putting stuff that’s come off as well and starting to build a conference with it.”
Samuel Slater: “The big goal for me is actually getting a Tour category for next year. That’s the main thing I’ve been focusing on. So playing these Pro-Ams and playing well in Tour events as well. So hopefully we can get a couple more decent results on the board.”
Christopher Wood: “Definitely nice to have a win in the last event of the year. To be honest, the year’s been a bit slow, but it was nice to sort of play well the last couple of weeks and finish it off here with a win.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
T1 Dillon Hart 141
T1 Christopher Wood 141
T1 Samuel Slater 141
T1 Josh Armstrong 141
T1 Scott Arnold 141
T1 James Conran 141
T7 Joseph Owen 142
T7 Nathan Barbieri 142
T7 Andrew Richards 142
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series is now in its Christmas and New Year break and returns to action on January 3 at Harcourts Langwarrin Pro-Am @ Settlers Run.
