Big-hitting left-hander Ryan Peake has completed a clean sweep of WA’s north-west swing of the addias PGA Pro-Am Series with a two-stroke win at the Broome Furnishings – Carpet, Paint and Tile Pro-Am.

The picture-perfect setting and 30-degree temperatures welcomed players to Broome Golf Club in Round 1, the small greens and challenging pin positions keeping scoring in check on day one.

A 3-under par round of 69 gave Rick Kulacz a one-stroke lead heading into the second round, Peake in position for a third straight victory just three shots off the lead.

On the back of wins at Karratha and Port Hedland, Peake wasted little time in reining in the leaders.

Starting from the seventh hole, Peake raced out to be 5-under through his first six holes, a bogey on 14 momentarily slowing his progress.

At that point he was tied for the lead with Kulacz and defending champion Scott Strange, Strange edging one clear when he made birdie to move to 5-under.

Two late bogeys quelled Strange’s quest for a successful title defence as Peake made birdie at the par-5 fourth to complete a round of 6-under 66 and finish two clear of Kulacz (71), Strange (70), Braden Becker (70) and Cooper Geddes (69).

Without a win on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series until his breakthrough at Karratha, Peake’s third victory elevated him to a comfortable lead in the WA Pro-Am Order of Merit standings and first on the National Pro-Am Order of Merit.

“The way I have been playing I know that I’ve got a score out there no matter what the course is so that gave me a lot of confidence going into today,” Peake said of his six-shot turnaround.

“I’m just very happy with where everything’s at at the moment and was very confident within myself that I could go out there and get it done.

“I’ve enjoyed this stint so much that I’m heading over to Queensland next week to join their pro-am swing.

“I’ve been lucky enough in my life, growing up through golf, where I’ve been given lots of opportunities so to go out there and showcase your ability to the normal working guy who just plays golf for fun, it’s great to be able to give back and give them that insight.”

Dating back to the Cottesloe Open in mid-May, players competed for $330,000 across the WA swing, PGA of Australia Membership Manager in WA Brendon Allanby hailing to the support of host clubs and sponsors.

“We have been thrilled with the support received from WA clubs and facilities this season,” Allanby said.

“A healthy increase in total prize money has resulted in very strong fields competing throughout the WA Swing.

“The golf on display has been world class and we are keen to increase playing opportunities for local and interstate professionals in 2024.”

Attention for the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series now turns to Queensland for the Manuplex Emu Park Pro-Am on Tuesday followed by the $60,000 Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am starting Friday.

Final scores and prize money

Hart’s magical shot came on the 525m par-five sixth hole where he holed out a four-iron from 207 metres on the way to a 10-under-par 60, one shot off the Emerald Golf Club course record.

His 14-under total of 126 was an Emerald Pro-Am record and gave Hart a five-shot victory over James Grierson (64-67).

In the Onsite Mining Towns Series contested over six events, Hart smashed the field with a 57-under-par total to win the title, and its $4500 bonus prize, for the fifth time, the last four coming in consecutive years.

After starting the final round tied for the series lead, Clermont Pro-Am winner Doug Klein ended up 13 shots behind in second place, earning a $1500 bonus, after closing with a 73 to Hart’s brilliant 60.

Hart had started Sunday two shots from the lead in the Emerald Pro-Am, shooting a 66 to trail overnight leaders James Grierson and Michael Wright.

Darcy Boyd provided the day one highlight with a hole-in-one on the 165m fifth hole.

HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED

As well as his albatross, Hart had nine birdies and two bogeys in his round of 60. Starting from the second tee, he was seven-under after nine and had another run of four birdies in five holes on the back nine.

WHAT THE CLUB HAD TO SAY

Emerald professional Matt Victorsen: “It’s wonderful to see the pros supporting our event. We usually get around 30 pros for our Pro-Am in previous years, and it’s great to see a field of 57 this year It makes all the hard work worthwhile.”

LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN

-14: Tim Hart (66-60)

-9: James Grierson (64-67)

-6: Michael Wright (64-70); Nathan Page (70-64)

NEXT UP

The next Queensland event in the adidas Pro-Am Series will be at Emu Park tomorrow followed by the $60,000 Rockhampton Pro-Am (June 30-July 2)

Photo: Tim Hart with Emerald professional Matt Victorsen

As well as being a golf professional, Smith has a second working life, not far from Blackwater at the Oaky Creek coal mine in Queensland’s Central Highlands.

The former Jack Newton Celebrity Classic winner matched Tim Hart’s course record at Blackwater Country Club with a second-round 62 propelling him to one-shot victory.

Smith started the day six shots behind overnight leader Steven Oh, who shot an eight-under-par 64 on the opening day.

But while Oh struggled in the windier conditions on day two, posting a one-under-par 71 to drop to fifth, Smith came through the pack with seven birdies and two eagles in his record-equalling 10-under-par round to seize the victory by a shot from Gavin Fairfax (65-68) and Michael Wright (67-66).

Despite only receiving 3mm of rain since March, the Blackwater layout was in excellent condition with 26 professionals breaking par on day one and 23 on day two.

HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED

There was only one five in Smith’s 62 – his only bogey of the day on the 399m par four 13^th hole. He was five-under-par in a four-hole stretch on the front nine, shooting 31 on both nines.

LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN

12 under: Brendan Smith (70-62)

11 under: Gavin Fairfax (65-68); Michael Wright (67-66)

10 under: Aaron Pike (68-66)

9 under: Steven Oh (64-71)

8 under: Tom Power Horan (65-71); William Bruyeres (68-68)

Final results and prizemoney: https://pga.org.au/report/?tourn=4108&report=tmresult~season=2023~result=PF~&class=qld

ONSITE GROUP MINING TOWN SERIES LEADERBOARD

-48: Douglas Klein

-43: Tim Hart

-39: Shae Wools-Cobb

NEXT UP

The Onsite Mining Town Series continues with Emerald Golf Club hosting the final event, the Lunar Mining Emerald Pro-am, over 36 holes this weekend.

When he left, he was the 2023 Clermont Pro-Am champion after shooting an impressive 10-under-par 61 to finish two shots ahead of Shae Wools-Cobb.

It was Klein’s second win in just a few days after sharing top spot in the Tieri Pro-Am with Tim Hart and Brett Rankin after rounds of 67-66.

The 61, which featured nine birdies and an eagle, also moved Klein into the lead in the Onsite Rental Mining Towns Series at 40-under-par, two shots ahead of Tim Hart with Shae Wools-Cobb third on 36-under. Four rounds remain to determine the series champion.

Clermont was a welcome returnee to the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series schedule, last hosting a Pro-Am in 1998.

Wools-Cobb went bogey-free in his round of 63.

HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED

Klein’s day got off to a slow start with a bogey on his first hole, the par-three third, but it was a birdie and eagle barrage from then on, including a run of five straight birdies from the 14^th to 18^th.

WHAT THE WINNER SAID

“I’d heard a lot of good things about the course and heard that the greens were nice which set the course up for some low scoring,” Klein said.

“I was in good company today with the Onsite guys who are major sponsors of the series.

“I had a good day and it’s going to be nice to be back here next year.”

TOP FINISHERS

61 (-10): Douglas Klein

63 (-8): Shae Wools-Cobb

64 (-7): Tim Hart, David Bransdon

Scores and prizemoney: bit.ly/3JnSgo9

NEXT UP

The Onsite Rental Mining Towns Series now moves on to the Blackwater Country Club for the 36-hole Blackwater Pro-Am on Wednesday-Thursday this week.

The only event on the WA swing played on sand greens, 29 players teed it up at the picturesque Port Hedland layout vying for their share of the $30,000 in prize money.

Confident after his breakthrough win at Karratha last start, Peake started Round 2 one stroke back of Hayden Hopewell but wasted no time in taking over top spot.

A three-time winner of the WA Sand Greens Championship, Peake (66) picked up birdies at four of his first six holes to move two clear of Hopewell (68).

He kept the foot to the floor and was 8-under on his round through 13 holes to lead by five but a change in mindset almost brought him undone.

Admitting to adopting a less aggressive approach, Peake’s bogey and Hopewell’s birdie saw a two-shot swing on 15, the lead cut to two when Hopewell also made birdie on 16.

The Spalding Park Open champion made a costly bogey on 17 to hand Peake a three-shot advantage with one hole to play yet more drama was to come.

A wayward tee shot forced Peake to take an unplayable lie and opened the door for Hopewell, who applied the pressure with a closing birdie.

It left Peake needing to make a putt from eight feet for bogey to clinch victory, the firmly-struck putt hitting the back of the cup, popping up in the air and momentarily sitting on the lip before dropping in for the win.

“It’s golf; you’re never home and hosed,” Peake said of the thrilling finish.

“A little bit disappointed with myself over those last four holes. Instead of continuing to chase I tried to play smart and just put the ball in play and ended up making some bogeys from getting some flyers from the rough.

“My game is to be aggressive and just keep attacking and I just kind of let that slip a little bit on those last four holes.”

On top of the winner’s cheque, his Port Hedland win should pave the way for Peake to play a larger schedule in Queensland at the completion of the WA swing.

With a strong support network behind him and a renewed love for the game, Peake is beginning to fulfil the potential that made the left-hander a state junior representative.

“It’s more perseverance. I’ve been playing a lot more golf, building more confidence,” Peake said of his back-to-back wins.

“For a long time I’ve never really loved golf but the last few months I actually genuinely love golf now.

“I’ve been in a good head-space, I’ve got some great guys that are backing me and taking all the stress away from golf off me.

“I shoot 74 and can’t wait to get out there the next day and play again.

“The enjoyment that I’m getting from it is putting me in a much better headspace.”

Hopewell’s birdie on 18 ensured he finished outright second at 10-under par, one clear of Brady Watt (68) with Scott Strange (68) and Braden Becker (65) sharing fourth spot.

Players now move seven hours north to Broome Golf Club for the final event of WA’s adidas PGA Pro-Am Series swing, the Broome Furnishings – Carpet, Paint and Tile Broome Pro-Am starting Friday.

Final scores and prize money

Aaron Pike and James Grierson began the second round with a one-stroke lead after matching 7-under 66s in Round 1 but it would take another low round to maintain pace on a hot day of scoring at Tieri Country Club.

Paired together in the final round, Doug Klein and Brett Rankin began the day one stroke off the lead and both shot 7-under 66 to reach 13-under.

Hart was four back at the start of play but produced a customary scorching second round to also reach 13-under.

Starting from the fourth hole, Hart took just two holes to put the hammer down, making four straight birdies from the sixth hole.

He suffered a slight stumble with a bogey at the par-4 10th but made five birdies on the back nine to reach 8-under on his round with three holes to play.

Aware that par on his final hole – the 188-metre par-3 third – would be a good score, Hart added further birdies at one and two to reach 10-under on his round heading to the final hole.

“I just knew that I was going to finish on the third which is probably the toughest hole on the golf course,” said Hart of starting on the fourth hole.

“You’ve got to hit a really good iron shot.

“Got off to a pretty hot start and just knew that I had to go really low today to be any sort of chance.

“Managed to keep making birdies and made a nice par on the last to give myself a chance.

“I thought one of them was going to eagle 18 but it didn’t happen so we were all tied up.”

Playing in the same group, Rankin and Klein went birdie-for-birdie throughout the second round.

Rankin began with a birdie on one but it was Klein who had to hot hand early, starting eagle-birdie and reaching 5-under on his round through six holes.

Despite two double bogeys on the back nine, Klein maintained his aggressive approach, making five birdies in his final seven holes to finish tied at the top.

“Birdies were king out there,” Klein reasoned.

“No one was going to lose it; we had to go out and win it.

“You’ve always got to keep pressing otherwise someone is going to shoot lower than you, it’s as simple as that. Just keep making birdies regardless of what the score was and hopefully win by a margin.

“That was the plan.”

Rankin’s round was a little less volatile than Klein, making eagle at the par-5 sixth and a lone bogey on nine in his round of 7-under 66.

Hart’s stunning second round gives him a one-stroke lead in the Onsite Rental Group Mining Towns Series, a combined 31-under through five rounds with Klein second (30-under) and Shae Wools-Cobb third (28-under).
The Mining Towns Series now moves on to Clermont Golf Club for the inaugural Clermont Golf Club Pro-Am.
Final scores and prize money

A project eight years in the making, Karratha Country Club last year completed a course redesign by Richard Chamberlain, the 29-strong field playing the 18 grass greens for the first time in the long history of the Karratha Pro-Am.

Major sponsor Bennco bolstered the prize money from $11,000 in 2022 to $20,000 and Peake took full advantage.

One of the form players of the WA Swing of the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series, Peake plundered seven birdies in his first nine holes in a round of 5-under 68 and a breakthrough win.

Bogeys at eight and nine brought Peake back to the field somewhat but he steadied with birdies at each of his final two holes, 12 and 13, to finish comfortably clear of Jarred McCosh (71) and Simon Houston (71).

Given the changes to the golf course make Peake’s 68 a new course record, a mark those who return in 2024 will have firmly in their sights.

Adding to the excitement at this year’s Karratha Pro-Am were novelties on every hole and a $10,000 hole-in-one prize that kept players keenly interested in every shot throughout the warm, sunny afternoon.

Players now head two hours north to Port Hedland for this weekend’s $30,000 Roy Hill Golf Classic Pro-Am on the distinctive red sand scrapes of Port Hedland Golf Club.

Final scores and prize money

The second event of the Onsite Rental Group Mining Towns Series featured one of the strongest fields ever seen at Middlemount, Wools-Cobb and first year PGA Associate Ryley Martin sharing the win with matching rounds of 7-under 65.

They finished one shot clear of Doug Klein (66) as Brett Rankin, James Macklin and Will Bruyeres shared fourth with rounds of 5-under 67.

Second at the North Queensland Series that concluded on Monday at Pioneer Valley, Wools-Cobb is now one back of Tim Hart in the Mining Towns Series and riding a building wave of confidence.

“This is probably the best mindset I’ve ever had in my golfing career so far,” said an excited Wools-Cobb.

“The change in mindset six months ago has really helped out with the way I’m playing at the moment.

“I think I’ve had five bogey-free rounds this whole trip so it feels like there are no errors in the game at the moment.”

Making just his sixth start on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series, a breakthrough win also provides a confidence boost for Martin.

Winner of the Norris Motor Group Royal Queensland PGA Associate Pro-Am in January, Martin credited his share of victory with some adjustments to his swing that he made earlier in the week.

“The game’s feeling really good and really looking forward to the next couple of events,” said Martin.

“Made a couple of swing changes at the start of the week and things are starting to really improve.”

A regular on the Mining Towns Series in recent years, Wools-Cobb praised the improving standard of the golf courses in small towns that rely so much on volunteer contributions.

“Courses are looking unreal. The greens have been so much better than the last few years; they’re getting better and better each year,” said Wools-Cobb.

“The surfaces are great; I really can’t fault the golf courses up here at the moment.”

The Onsite Rental Group Mining Towns Series now moves to Tieri for the $41,500 Tieri Pro-Am starting Saturday, voted the PGA Regional Tournament of the Year at the 2022 Queensland Golf Industry Awards.

Final scores and prize money

It was Hart’s fourth straight victory at Moranbah Golf Club and the Queenslander did it in style, shooting 10-under 62 in the second and final round for a 15-under total to finish three clear of Anthony Choat (65) with Doug Klein (67) solo third at 11-under.

A birdie straight out of the blocks at the par-5 second set the tone for the big-hitting Hart, who attacked the golf course at every opportunity.

Unaware of where he stood on the leaderboard until he had just two holes to play, Hart made four birdies on the trot from the fifth hole and was 6-under through nine holes after adding another birdie on 10.

He asked playing partner Brett Rankin for a leaderboard update with two holes to play, putting the result beyond doubt by picking up shots at both of his remaining two holes.

“My phone doesn’t work out here so I couldn’t look at the leaderboard all day,” Hart revealed.

“I asked ‘Bretto’ who I was playing with what the standings were with two to go so I knew I was a couple in front. I then managed to birdie the last two as well to put the nail in the coffin.”

The reigning adidas PGA Pro-Am Series champion, Hart has dominated the Mining Towns swing through Queensland the past few years and revelled in the comforts of Moranbah once again.

“It’s always good coming back here. I just seem to play well here,” he added.

“I think the course sets up well for me with a few drivers out there. If I can get that on a bit of a string I tend to get going early and then just keep going from there, knowing that you’ve got to stay aggressive.

“With the field that was out here this week you’ve just got to keep making birdies to try to keep them at bay and I managed to do that again.

“It was good to play well again and find my form a bit out here, which I tend to do each year.”

The Mining Towns Series moves on to Middlemount on Thursday for the Protech Middlemount Pro-Am where Hart is again the defending champion.

Final scores and prize money

Taking command of the tournament courtesy of a course record 10-under 62 on day one, Hopewell began the third and final round leading by two from Ryan Peake.

That lead was cut to one when Peake eagled the first to Hopewell’s birdie but that would be as close as anyone would get.

Hopewell’s birdie at three and Peake’s bogey saw the lead once again push out to three, Hopewell signing off on a tournament record total of 18-under par 198 and six-stroke win with a closing round of 7-under 65.

Two-under through nine holes of his final round, Hopewell showed his class to win going away, making birdies at 10, 11, 13, 15 and 16 to clinch his first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win and move to the top of both the WA and National Pro-Am order of merits.

“It’s an honour coming up here and winning this event,” said Hopewell, the WA Open champion in 2020.

“I’m stoked with how I played, stoked with how the week went overall.

“The greens staff here have done an amazing job. The course conditions were perfect from start to finish. They should be very happy with how the course was presented this week.”

Admitting that he found it difficult to follow up his spectacular Round 1 performance, Hopewell said that the way he finished his second round of 1-under 71 provided the blueprint for his Sunday heroics.

“Having such a good first round, it’s always tough to back up a round like that,” he added.

“I held myself in there all the way to the end in Round 2 and that highlighted some stuff to me that I needed to take into the final round.

“I was a bit more calm and collected today which was a big key for my finish.”

As Peake struggled, it was 2022 winner Scott Strange who was moving up the leaderboard.

A front nine of 4-under 32 moved Strange to 9-under through the turn, picking up three further birdies at 11, 15 and 16 to finish outright second at 12-under.

Peake (74) had to settle for third while Victorian Cameron Kelly (69) snared fourth, Queensland’s Steve Jones (66) borrowing his wife’s putter to earn a share of fifth with South West Open champion Jose De Sousa (69).

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Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the Spalding Park Open, and with major sponsor Mitchell & Brown confirming they are back on board, it promises to be an unmissable event.

The tour moves north to Karratha Golf Club on Thursday for the start of the NW Swing, the Bennco Group Karratha Pro-Am.

Final scores and prize money