Want to recieve exclusive news, videos, tournament highlights, golf important tips and more ?
Want to recieve exclusive news, videos, tournament highlights, golf important tips and more ?
In some ways it wasn’t a fair fight as Ballina boy Jay Mackenzie cruised to a two-stroke victory at the McGrath Estate Agents Ballina Pro-Am.
Playing the course where he first learned the game and where he practises to this day, Mackenzie piloted his way around the Ballina Golf Club like a player who knows every twist in the fairway and every break in the greens.
Because he does.
Mackenzie went bogey-free in his round of 8-under 64 to finish two clear of fellow Northern Rivers product Lucas Higgins (66) and West Australian Brady Watt (66).
“That was about as easy as golf can feel, I think. Playing the home course and knowing everything about the course,” said Mackenzie of the first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series event to be played at Ballina Golf Club since 2014.
And in a warning to his competitors for the upcoming tournaments throughout the Northern Rivers, Mackenzie said he is almost as familiar with those courses.
“Maybe not as confident as I was today but I’ve played all those courses a million times,” Mackenzie said of the tournaments coming up in the next week.
“Looking forward to it, I like the Northern Rivers run.”
Playing in the afternoon wave and in ideal winter conditions, Mackenzie made three straight birdies from the 11th hole but said it was a par save that helped to maintain momentum heading into the turn.
“I hit a pretty average second shot at the 15th right of the green and got that up-and-down to that tough pin which was very nice,” added Mackenzie, the 2021 WA PGA champion.
With his own home pro-am coming up next Thursday at Murwillumbah Golf Club, it was a strong showing from Higgins who had seven birdies and a lone bogey at Ballina.
Deyen Lawson (67) began his round with six birdies in his first eight holes but played his next 10 holes in 1-over to finish tied for fourth with Zach Maxwell (67) and Darcy Brereton (67).
In the lead up to the Pro-Am the golf club ran a raffle with proceeds going to the charity of choice of major sponsor McGrath Estate Agents.
Just over $2,000 was raised and was donated to the Northern Rivers Community Fund, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of those less fortunate either from economic circumstances, mental illness, disability, learning difficulties or drug/alcohol addictions.
Their grants touch on issues such as people’s right to health, employment, higher education, happiness and creative expression, and the challenges of living in a regional community.
The raffle was well supported by Ballina Golf Club members which will in turn help people within their community.
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series is at Grafton District Golf Club on Friday for the Dougherty Property Grafton Pro-Am.
It took five years to win his first but just five days to snare a second as Jake McLeod claimed the Belle Property Mount Coolum Pro-Am at Mount Coolum Golf Club.
On a day in which Toby Walker and Cooper Eccleston both recorded hole-in-ones, it was McLeod’s 6-under 66 that proved to be the day’s best, Eccleston (67) sharing second spot with Craig Goodall (67).
Joint victor with Brett Rankin, McLeod’s win at last week’s Howeston Pro-Am was his first on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series and his first win anywhere since the 2018 NSW Open.
With a taste for the winner’s circle, McLeod used a blistering start to pick up his second on a drizzly day at Mount Coolum.
Starting from the 10th tee, McLeod began his round with two straight birdies and after a bogey at the par-3 14th bounced back in style.
An eagle at the par-5 15th was followed by back-to-back birdies at 16 and 17 for an outward nine of 5-under 31 that was the cornerstone of his round.
“I teed off 10 and got off to a fast start,” McLeod revealed post round.
“I birdied the first couple and then had an eagle a few holes later and then a couple of birdies to back that up. I was maybe 5-under through eight holes which is a good start and then just hung on until the end really.
“I played nicely, just had a lot of pars coming in.”
Not a regular competitor on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series, McLeod paid tribute to the presentation of a golf course that he said set up well for him.
“The course was in good shape. I thought the greens were really nice,” he added.
“A lot of the tee shots out there suited my tee. It’s quite tight so I enjoyed it.”
Walker was the first to make an ace with a perfect 7-iron from 145 metres at the par-3 16th. Incredibly, his hole-in-one came directly after an eagle at the par-5 15th in his round of 3-under 69.
Eccleston’s hole-in-one came at the short par-3 12th with a pitching wedge from 120m and was book-ended by two birdies on either side for a 6-under stretch through five holes.
There was a three-way tie for fourth at 4-under, Nathan Barbieri and Gavin Fairfax both going bogey-free to finish level with home-course favourite TJ King.
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series now moves into the Northern Rivers of New South Wales for a new event, the McGrath Estate Agents Ballina Pro-Am at Ballina Golf Club on Thursday.
Three birdies in his final five holes have clinched Michael Sim a one-stroke victory at the $70,000 Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am at Redcliffe Golf Club.
The classy former PGA TOUR player was paired with Round 1 leader and defending champion Aaron Wilkin in the final round as a star-studded field jockeyed for top spot on the leaderboard at the richest adidas PGA Pro-Am Series tournament of the year to date.
Reigning WA Open champion Deyen Lawson rocketed into contention on the back of a 10-under 61 on day two that included a back-nine of 7-under 29 but he would ultimately finish two shots shy of Sim.
One shot back of Wilkin (63-69) at the start of Round 2, Sim (64-65) drew level when Wilkin dropped a shot at the par-3 second.
Birdies at three, six and eight gave Sim a one-stroke lead at the turn but he would need to produce the type of play that once made him a top-50 player in the world to maintain his advantage.
A birdie at the par-3 11th was followed by a bogey at 12 before birdies at 14, 16 and 18 sealed his first victory since the Joondalup Resort Classic more than a year ago.
“I was told the score only a couple times today but it was very interesting to know I was tied for the lead with a couple holes to go,” said Sim, pictured with Redcliffe Director of Golf Chris Adnams and Optilease Isuzu sponsors Alan Johnson (left) and Alan Newcombe (right).
“It was great to be paired with Aaron Wilkin in the final group. It gave me a push throughout the day and gave us that tournament-like feel.”
New South Welshman Nathan Barbieri (65-65) went bogey-free for the 36 holes to finish outright second, Lawson (70-61) snared third as Wilkin shared fourth with Aaron Pike (67-65), Charlie Dann (66-66) and Jack Munro (67-65).
As shown by the top of the leaderboard, the field was one of the strongest seen on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series in many years and vindicates the commitment to the event by sponsors and Redcliffe Golf Club.
“Redcliffe Golf Club is very proud to be associated with the PGA and the growth of the Redcliffe Pro-Am,” said club captain Chris Dewer.
“It’s our marquee event of the year and having the professionals here and supporting provides us utmost joy.
“It’s amazing to give our juniors the opportunities they get because of this event.”
The Redcliffe layout was in superb condition across the two days, Sim praising the standard of the putting surfaces in particular.
“What Redcliffe Golf Club have done is nothing short of amazing,” added Sim, whose next event will be the WA Open at Joondalup Resort in October.
“The course was presented beautifully. Absolute credit to Course Superintendent David Scott and his team. The greens were the best we have putted on recently.”
The next event on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series is the Belle Property Mt Coolum Pro-Am at Mt Coolum Golf Club on Monday.
Brisbane native Aaron Wilkin hopes to use a successful defence of his Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am title as a catalyst to take his game to the world later this year.
Twelve months ago, Wilkin expressed his desire to use his four-stroke win at Redcliffe Golf Club as momentum for a strong season on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.
He broke through for his maiden win on tour at the Queensland PGA Championship at Nudgee Golf Club in November but didn’t carry that form into the bigger events as he had hoped.
The now 30-year-old finished the season 11th on the Order of Merit to open the door to opportunities abroad, opportunities he intends to grasp on the back of another strong week at Redcliffe.
“Because it’s at a time of the year when there’s not much on, you usually get a really good field at Redcliffe,” Wilkin said of defending his title against a field boasting fellow Tour winners Marcus Fraser, Jake McLeod, Jake Higginbottom, Andrew Martin, Deyen Lawson, Aaron Pike and Jack Thompson.
“It’s only two days but you’re still getting a pretty strong field. You’ve got to beat pretty good players so it definitely gets you into tournament mode.
“I get Second Stage in Europe which is first week of November and I should get the Dunhill Links Championship as well in October.
“I went to Asian Q School in January and missed by a shot so I’ve got secondary tour status. There’s a couple of events in Indonesia next month and then potentially smaller Asian Tour events.
“I haven’t played that well since Nudgee to be honest so another confidence booster at Redcliffe would be very handy.”
Although he admits to have not been at his best in recent months, Wilkin gave a reminder at the Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am of the ability he possesses.
Eight shots back at the start of the final round, Wilkin opened with a par and then three straight bogeys. He followed that with a birdie blitz of eight holes straight in a round of 7-under 65 to earn a share of fourth.
“I had a chance for birdie on the ninth hole which was probably the easiest of the lot,” Wilkin reflected.
“Confidence can change very fast.
“One day you think you’re on top of it and then then next day you’re not.
“You’ve got to think that no one can beat you and that no one is better than you.
“That’s got to be your mentality. You might not be the best but you’ve got to try to believe it.”
One of the richest pro-ams on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series schedule, total prizemoney at Redcliffe has increased again this year from $65,000 to $70,000.
The shotgun start tees off at 10am on Thursday with Wilkin drawn to play with Jake McLeod for Round 1.
Photo: Travis Hayto/PGA of Australia
There were contrasting emotions as Jake McLeod and Brett Rankin split top spot at the Howeston Pro-Am in Brisbane’s Bayside.
A star-studded field converged on the par-71 Howeston Golf Course with Rankin and McLeod both posting rounds of 5-under 66 to finish out on top.
A former Order of Merit winner, Rankin has lost count of his adidas PGA Pro-Am Series victories but for McLeod it was a first, and his first win of any kind since the 2018 NSW Open on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.
“Five years. That’s too long I reckon,” said a relieved McLeod.
“I haven’t had too much fortune in my time in pro-ams so it’s nice to turn it around.”
The PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner in 2018, McLeod has spent time on the DP World Tour in recent years and played extensively on home soil.
Admitting that he has struggled to find the right mindset to taste success in pro-ams, McLeod relaxed and enjoyed the company of his playing group as he played the Howeston layout for the very first time.
“In my opinion it’s quite different but it’s nice to meet new people and go out there and have fun,” McLeod added.
“I’ve changed my attitude towards it. Really enjoyed my day with my playing partners, getting to know them and trying to show what we can do out there.
“I think it’s good sometimes, to be honest,” he said of not knowing the golf course.
“You don’t really know where the danger is. I just got up on each tee without any worries of left or right and played really nicely.”
A three-time winner already this season, Rankin was the defending champion at Howeston yet teed it up unsure of what to expect.
Battling a slipped vertebrae in his lower back, Rankin struggled on Monday at his home club, The Brisbane Golf Club, but was able to play relatively pain-free at Howeston.
“It’s always good to go back-to-back. I do remember winning here last year in pretty tough conditions so it was nice to play some good golf today,” Rankin said.
“I’ve had a bit of an issue with my back and it’s been a bit of a battle. Didn’t play real well at my home track on Monday so I wasn’t expecting too much today. It was nice to play some good golf and feel pretty good.
“I’ve always seemed to play well here. I don’t know why that is. I chipped it pretty well today and putted pretty good so maybe when I don’t have expectations of holing too many putts I putt well. Maybe that’s the key to my golf.”
The two Darcys, Boyd and Brereton, shared third spot with David Bransdon at 4-under, West Australian Ryan Peake continuing his outstanding season to finish in a six-way tie for sixth at 3-under with Deyen Lawson, Lincoln Tighe, Jake Higginbottom, Lucas Higgins and Matthew Rogers.
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series now moves to Redcliffe Golf Club for the $70,000 Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am starting Thursday.
It’s a simple formula that has yielded results twice this season already and Doug Klein used it to good effect again to win the Brisbane Pro-Am.
The first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series event at The Brisbane Golf Club in close to a decade attracted a quality field including 18 PGA Tour of Australasia winners, Course Superintendent David Mason and Director of Golf Joe Janison hosting a spectacular day.
No player enjoyed the conditions as much as Klein who bounced back from an opening bogey at the par-4 third to post 7-under 65 and win by two shots from Blake Proverbs (67).
Victorious at Tieri and Clermont during the Onsite Rental Group Mining Towns Series, Klein’s third win of the year was built upon the same game-plan he has employed so effectively throughout the year.
“Just leant on what I know; put it in the fairway, wedge it nicely and hole some putts,” said Klein.
“Been putting really nicely and wedging it pretty good the last six months or so.”
Days out from the $70,000 Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am at his home club, Klein paid special tribute to The Brisbane Golf Club and the way the course was presented by the greens staff.
“Absolutely postcard day,” Klein said.
“The greenkeeper David Mason had the course playing really nice, the greens were rolling really true. He set the course up really nicely and I had a good group so just enjoyed the day and made some birdies.”
Proverbs eagled the par-5 first as he secured outright second, Aaron Pike, Cooper Eccleston, Ben Ferguson and Dillon Hart sharing third spot with rounds of 4-under 68.
The next stop on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series is the Howeston Pro-Am on Wednesday followed by the 36-hole Redcliffe Pro-Am starting Thursday.
Former teenage prodigy Nathan Page has made an immediate impact on the professional game with a stunning three-stroke win at the Breakas Beach Resort Vanuatu Virginia Pro-Am at Virginia Golf Club.
A scratch golfer at The National Golf Club at just 13 years of age, Page won the Dunes Medal late last year and then secured his PGA Tour of Australasia card at Qualifying School at Moonah Links in April.
He chose to stay amateur and play the Australian Interstate Teams Matches in May before turning professional and joining the Queensland swing of the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series.
He was tied for third at the Pioneer Valley Pro-Am but put it all together in a round of 9-under 62 at Virginia to upstage some of the biggest names on the Australasian Tour.
Coached by Tim Wood, the 20-year-old finished three clear of Jake McLeod (65) and Andrew Campbell (65) followed by Will Bruyeres (66) in fourth and Michael Sim (67), Jack Munro (67), Ryan Peake (67), Chris Wood (67) and James Grierson (67) sharing fifth.
“I feel like my game has been there but I just haven’t gotten the results. All the putts dropped today and everything kind of went my way which was nice. I feel like I was due so it was nice,” said Page, who banked $4,939 for his victory.
Even par through his first five holes, it was an extraordinary run of birdies once Page got going.
Starting with a two at the par-3 12th, Page made six birdies in the space of eight holes before finishing with three straight to secure the win, crediting an early par save for the momentum he carried through the rest of his round.
“On my fourth hole, which was the 10th, I drained a 20-footer for par to stay even,” Page revealed.
“After that I got it going a little bit. That was the best save of the day and I had to drain a lot of putts to shoot 9-under so all of those ones kept the momentum going as well.
“There are still definitely some areas in my game I need to work on. I’ll get to that and hopefully get my game right. This 5k will definitely help me to get to those tournaments and be able to compete. Super grateful.”
Although he had to settle for a share of second, Andrew Campbell delivered one of the day’s highlights, holing his second shot for an albatross at the 444-metre par-5 13th.
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series remains in Brisbane for the inaugural Brisbane Pro-Am at The Brisbane Golf Club on Monday, leading up to the $70,000 Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am starting Thursday.
Hervey Bay Associate Lachlan Wood credits his exposure to the highest level of All Abilities golf for his history-making win at the Tin Can Bay Pro-Am at Tin Can Bay Country Club.
Little more than an hour from his home club in Hervey Bay, Wood had five birdies and an eagle in his round of 6-under 66 to win by a single stroke and become the first All Abilities-category player to win on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series.
The field boasted players of the calibre of Chris Wood (2020 Vic PGA champion) and Tim Hart (reigning Pro-Am Series Order of Merit winner) but none could match Wood’s 6-under total, Jose De Sousa, Toby Walker, James Conran and Nathan Page sharing second with rounds of 67.
A four-time winner in All Abilities events throughout Australia this year, Wood was tied for eighth at the inaugural G4D Open at Woburn Golf Club and a week ago finished seventh in his G4D Tour debut at the G4D Tour @ Betfred British Masters at The Belfry.
He returned home to Queensland only two days prior to teeing it up at Tin Can Bay and said his preparation for the British Masters carried through into his maiden pro-am win.
“I did a lot of preparation leading up to The Belfry British Masters. I didn’t play my best there so obviously this is a little big of lag-over,” Wood explained.
“The opportunity to play at such a high level in the All Abilities events has definitely helped relax me in these events and given me the comfort to come back to these and not build it up as much in my head.”
Despite being based less than 90 minutes north, Wood only played Tin Can Bay for the first time on a reconnaissance mission on Sunday and was blown away.
“I came out on Sunday for a look for the first time and I was so shocked that I’d never been out here,” Wood added.
“It’s such a great little track. I messaged James (Taylor, PGA Professional) straight away and said, ‘Mate, you’re sitting on a gold mine here. This place is amazing. How have I never heard of it?’
“Definitely hope that a lot more people discover it.”
Wood’s victory at Tin Can Bay adds to his previous wins at the Victorian Inclusive Championship, Queensland All Inclusive Championship, the New Zealand All Abilities Championship and TPS Hunter Valley All Abilities.
In his first year of the PGA’s Membership Pathway Program, Wood intends to use his winner’s prize money to again play against the world’s best.
“That will get me to a lot more events,” Wood said. “I’m hoping to play a few more international events this year and definitely next year.”
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series now moves to Brisbane for the Breakas Beach Resort Vanuatu Virginia Pro-Am at Virginia Golf Club on Friday.
A fortuitous bounce on the penultimate hole has helped to secure Matias Sanchez a two-stroke win at the Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am at Rockhampton Golf Club.
At $60,000 in prize money, the 54-hole Rockhampton Pro-Am is one of the richest on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series circuit, 2023 marking the 15th year of sponsorship by Ian Weigh Toyota.
Two strokes back of co-leaders Josh Armstrong and James Marchesani at the start of the third and final round, Sanchez arrived at the golf course expecting to need a low number to contend for the title.
Strong winds and fast greens gave him cause to reconsider, quickly deciding to make par his friend as he sought to advance up the leaderboard.
Three straight birdies was the perfect start but it would be birdies at his final two holes that would seal the deal, including a favourable bounce on 17 following a wayward tee shot.
“I got a lucky break on 17,” admitted Sanchez.
“I hit 3-wood into the trees and it spat back out on the fairway and gave me a good look and I ended up making birdie.
“I thought I had to shoot a pretty low number to start the day but as it turned out, when we got to the golf course it was pretty windy and the greens were a foot quicker than they were the first two days.
“The game-plan changed pretty quickly just to keep it in play and accumulate as many pars as possible.
“Thrilled to get my first victory and want to thank my coach Tim Wendel and my entire support crew for their help in getting me to this point.”
Sanchez shot 4-under 68 on the final day to finish at 10-under par, two clear of Armstrong (72) and Doug Klein (70).
Armstrong arrived at the final hole needing to birdie the par-5 18th to join Sanchez at 10-under but made bogey to drop to 8-under and level with Klein.
Aaron Wilkin produced the round of the week on Sunday to finish in a tie for fourth with Brett Rankin (71), Wilkin’s 7-under 65 starting with three straight bogeys followed by eight straight birdies.
In the Junior Pro-Am held in conjunction on Sunday, Zane Blackborough (pictured, centre) won the Gross title with a round of 72 while Lilly McGuinness (pictured, left) won the Nett event with 70.
The next event on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series is the Tin Can Bay Pro-Am on Tuesday followed by the Breakas Beach Resort Vanuatu Virginia Pro-Am at Virginia Golf Club on Friday.
An eagle at his penultimate hole has secured rookie Toby Walker a maiden adidas PGA Pro-Am Series victory at the Manuplex Emu Park Pro-Am near Rockhampton.
A field laden with PGA Tour of Australasia stars took to the undulating Emu Park Golf Club layout in preparation for the $60,000 Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am starting Friday.
While the likes of Lincoln Tighe (66), Doug Klein (67), David Bransdon (67) and Deyen Lawson (67) were all in contention late, it was Walker (7-under 65) who made a late surge to beat Tighe by one.
Beginning his round at Emu Park from the 10th tee, Walker opened with five straight pars before the making the first of two eagles at the par-5 15th.
A birdie at the par-3 17th saw him head to the front nine 3-under but again it took until later in the nine to advance further up the leaderboard.
A birdie at the short par-4 fourth was followed by another at the par-5 seventh yet it would be the eagle at the 283-metre par-4 eighth that would ultimately prove the difference.
Unaware of his position on the leaderboard until leaving the eighth green, Walker conceded that he had to overcome somewhat of a negative mindset as he stood on the ninth tee.
“Don’t snap hook it on the next,” was Walker’s first thought.
“It was nice to know that I looked like I had a two-shot buffer going up the last. Played it safe and got away with it and here we are.
“It feels great. Whenever you win an event, whether it’s big or small, it’s a good achievement. It’s awesome.”
Winner of the Tasmanian Open as an amateur in February, Walker joined the pro ranks little over a month ago and has transitioned seamlessly.
He has been tapping into the experience of prolific pro-am winners such as Brett Rankin and Tim Hart and is now feeling more at home heading to one of the biggest events of the season.
“It’s just another great opportunity to see where you’re at,” Walker said of the even stronger field expected to converge on Rockhampton Golf Club later this week.
“See if the golf is trending in the right direction and where you want it. I’m excited to tee it up there.
“I’ve been able to mix with a couple of the players that I haven’t been able to mix with, guys like Brett Rankin and Tim Hart. I’ve been able to talk to them and pick their brains a little bit so I feel a little bit more comfortable out here.”
Tighe had the one eagle at the par-5 seventh in his round of 6-under 66 that secured outright second, Klein, Bransdon and Lawson finishing in an eight-way tie for third with Ryley Martin, Konrad Ciupek, Brad Hallam, Zach Maxwell and Gavin Fairfax.
The next stop on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series schedule is the 54-hole Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am starting Friday.
