Lakelands Country Club was presented in typically superb condition for the latest event in the WA swing of the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series but no one player could separate themselves from the field.

Simon Houston, Alex Edge, Max McCardle and Joseph Ha all posted rounds of three-under to finish one clear of Haydn Barron, Andrew Kelly, Andrew Crabb and Damian Chatterley.

Starting with an opening birdie at the par-3 13th, Ha added an eagle at the par-5 16th and picked up another birdie at the par-3 17th to surge to four-under through his first five holes.

Bogeys at 18, three and six brought him back to the field but two further birdies at five and seven once again elevated Ha to the top of the leaderboard.

Birdies were not an issue for Houston but a fourth bogey at his final hole – the par-4 first – prevented the West Australian from claiming an outright victory.

Like Ha, Houston made a fast start, bursting out of the blocks with four birdies in his first six holes, dropping a shot at the par-3 fourth.

Further bogeys at 10 and 13 were offset by birdies at 12, 15 and 18 before the closing bogey saw him finish at three-under.

McCardle’s lone bogey of his round came at his opening hole – the par-4 10th – with New South Welshman Alex Edge also posting just the one bogey to earn a share of the spoils.

The next event on the WA swing is the DJ Di Stasio Transport Kwinana Pro-Am at Kwinana Golf Club on Thursday.

Not even a course record eight-under 64 by Becker’s nearest challenger, Brady Watt, could stop the recently crowned WA Open champion from winning his first Cottesloe Open.

Starting with a one-shot overnight lead after a four-under 68 on Saturday, Becker went head-to-head with Watt in the idyllic conditions, with both players trading birdies throughout the afternoon.

The day started strongly for Watt, who overtook Becker on the front nine with a superb five-under 31 that included five birdies in a row from the third hole. When Watt added another birdie at the par-3 11th and Becker bogeyed the 11th and 12th, he had stretched his lead to three shots and was not putting a foot wrong. 

It was the 14th hole onwards where the fireworks started – both players making birdie before Becker edged within two with another birdie at the uphill 15th hole. Becker then hit his tee shot on the reachable par-4 16th to within two metres of the cup to set up a sensational eagle.

Not to be outdone, Watt responded with a birdie of his own to retain a one shot lead. When both players birdied the par-5 17th, it came down to some last hole heroics for Becker as his second shot from the fairway finished 10 metres from the pin. With Watt looking over a three-metre birdie putt, Becker drained his long range birdie to join Watt at 11-under. Watt’s putt for the title narrowly missed and the two combatants headed back to the 18th tee for a playoff.

With it all to play for, Becker was first to hit his approach into the 18th green and produced another quality shot to inside a metre. When Watt’s birdie attempt from a similar location to Becker’s in regulation burned the edge of the cup, it was Becker who calmly stepped up to make yet another birdie and clinch the 2022 Sanwell Cottesloe Open.

In the Cottesloe Senior Invitational running concurrently for the Lyndsay Stephen Memorial Trophy, New Zealander Michael Long took the crown, firing a second round five-under 67 to finish at four-under, three shots ahead of runner-up Peter Fowler.

In the amateur ranks, Royal Fremantle’s Connor Faulds claimed the Kelly Rogers Medal for leading amateur, with a four-under total.

The WA swing of the adidas PGA Pro-Am series continues at Lakelands on Tuesday with The Green Lakelands Pro-Am.

A regular winner of trainee matches during his three years completing the PGA’s Membership Pathway Program, the Bathurst golfer has had limited playing opportunities since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic but was a man on a mission at Forbes Golf Club on Friday.

Starting from the fourth hole, Thompson made birdie at three of his opening four holes and when he made eagle at the par-5 16th was six-under on his round and leaving the rest of the field in his wake.

There were bogeys at 16, 17 and one but given he was the only player to break par in the tricky conditions he had more than enough shots up his sleeve.

His round of three-under 69 earned Thompson a three-stroke win and a significant moment in his young career.

“I’m just really happy to get my first win out here,” said Thompson.

“I got off to a great start and played really solid all day, even though I dropped a few shots late in the round.”

Four players – Steven Jeffress, Steven Conran, Euan Walters and Alex Edge – all finished tied for second at even-par 72, Queensland’s Aden Morrison (73) and host Professional Adam Demidjuk (74) finishing sixth and seventh respectively.

It was a productive day for the Conran family with Steven’s son James shooting one-under 70 in the second round of the Tailor-made Building Services NT PGA Championship to be tied for 17th heading into the weekend.

The first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series event in Parkes in more than 20 years, a field of 26 professionals took to the Parkes Golf Club layout and it was some Legends Tour players who would lead the way.

Starting from the ninth tee, Elliott picked up his first birdie at the par-4 10th and then closed out the back nine with consecutive birdies at 17 and 18.

His fourth birdie wouldn’t come until his penultimate hole – the par-5 seventh – but it was more than enough to claim a comfortable win.

“I’ve driven through Parkes many times but never had the chance to play the course,” said Elliott, a three-time winner on the SParms PGA Legends Tour last year.

“I’m wishing I had of now. It’s a great layout and the course was in wonderful condition.”

Fellow Legends Tour player Bryan Wearne would also find the course to his liking, shooting the only other under par round of the day with a one-under 70.

A trio of players would share third on one-over 72, Euan Walters, Alex Edge and Adam Demidjuk.

Players are back in action on Friday at 12pm for the Forbes Pro-Am at Forbes Golf Club.

A regular Pro-Am stop for more than 25 years, Leeton served as the third event on the Riverina swing and there was a familiar name on top of the leaderboard after day one.

Defending champion Matt Millar opened with a round of five-under 67, a score that would only be matched by Gordon by day’s end.

Mitch McComas, Josh Ingram and former champion Martin Peterson were all one stroke back in a share of third yet Gordon would take command of the tournament early on day two.

An infrequent participant on the Pro-Am circuit, Gordon bolted out of the blocks with a birdie at the opening hole and when Millar dropped a shot at the fourth he took sole ownership of the lead.

It would be a lead that he never surrendered as he recorded the most significant win of his career.

Gordon’s form late last year included a round of 10-under 62 on his home course which earned an invitation to play the Blitz Golf Howlong event and has already indicated he will be back to defend next year.

“This is my first time to Leeton and I’ve really enjoyed the golf course,” said Gordon.

“I don’t get to play many Pro-Am events during the year but I’ll definitely be back to Leeton.”

Gordon had five birdies in his second round of three-under 69, good enough for a two-stroke victory from Millar (71) with McComas (71) and Steven Jeffress sharing third position at five-under par.

Although he had to settle for second at Leeton, Millar did receive a consolation prize, claiming the Riverina bonus with a cumulative score of 11-under par.

The home course of PGA TOUR star Lucas Herbert and 2021 TPS Sydney champion Andrew Martin, it was Martin who looked set to take advantage of local knowledge early on in the second adidas PGA Pro-Am Series event in the region in as many days.

Birdies at each of his first two holes set an ominous tone for the rest of the field and when he added a third at the ninth to reach three-under it looked like little could get in the way of a hometown win.

Martin (68) made his fourth birdie at the 11th but back-to-back bogeys at 15 and 16 would prove to be costly as he finished two shots shy of Baglin’s winning total of five-under 66.

Like Martin, Baglin (pictured, right) began his round with a birdie at the par-5 ninth but gave it back at the very next hole with a bogey at the par-3 10th.

He got that back and then some with an eagle three at the par-5 11th and would round out the back nine with birdies at 13, 17 and 18.

Further birdies at four and six opened up a three-shot buffer, a lead that would be trimmed by one with a bogey at his closing hole, adding to his victory at the Air Adventure King Island Pro-Am in January.

“It’s nice to come to Bendigo for a few days and play such great country courses as these two,” said Baglin, who was tied for third at the Axedale Pro-Am on Thursday.

“This place just keeps getting better and better.

“It wasn’t easy out there. Taylor (Gardiner, the Course Superintendent) had set some pretty tricky pins and you had to make sure you got on the right side of them to avoid three-putting.”

Martin’s 68 held up to take outright second with Cooper Gentle, Dale Crothers and Kris Mueck sharing third spot with rounds of two-under 69.

Prize money for the two tournaments around Bendigo were bolstered by financial contributions made by Herbert, a wonderful gesture by one of our leading lights to support his home region.

Click here for final leaderboard

Elevated to a two-day event for the first time in more than 10 years, the Griffith Golf Club layout again presented a stern test for the strong field that assembled.

A four-under 67 on day one was enough for Smith to establish a one-stroke lead from fellow New South Welshman Aaron Townsend (68) but the lead would change hands throughout Friday’s second round.

Five consecutive birdies from the fifth hole gave Townsend the lead but the back nine would not be so kind, four bogeys opening the door for the consistent Smith to retake the lead.

Smith’s round of two-under 69 consisted of birdies at one, five and 17 and a lone bogey at the 11th, enough for a three-stroke win from Townsend (71), Larry Austin (68), Mitchell McComas (68) and Steven Jeffress (70).

Hailing originally from Belmont Golf Club near Newcastle, Smith has only recently returned to the tour after a stint working in the mines in Queensland.

A two-time winner of the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic, Smith was tied for 14th at TPS Hunter Valley last month and took another step forward with his first victory since the 2016 Heidelberg Pro-Am.

“I’ve had some time away from golf,” Smith shared.

“I’m happy to be back playing well and it’s special to have my dad and mum here to see me win.”

Defending champion Matthew Millar would have a stop-start day and finished in sixth position at two-under par.

Players head down the road to Leeton Golf Club for the 36-hole Leeton SunRice Pro-Am to be played over the weekend.

The first of two adidas PGA Pro-Am Series events in Central Victoria, conditions were cool and overcast at Axedale Golf Club, the undulating parkland layout holding its own against a quality field of PGA Professionals.

It was only when a number of players withdrew the day prior that Kelly was added to the field and, one hole in, it didn’t appear he would be a factor.

Starting at the par-4 17th, Kelly made a double-bogey six and it wasn’t until he made back-to-back birdies at four and five that he got back to even par on his round.

A birdie at the par-4 ninth moved Kelly to red figures for the first time and after making birdie at the par-5 13th it would be the birdie at the 410-metre dogleg 15th that proved decisive, his total of three-under 66 enough for a one-stroke win.

“I’m really surprised that three-under held on for the win,” Kelly admitted after his round.

“I was lucky enough to get a late start after a few guys had to pull out yesterday.

“I have never played that well here and when I started with a double bogey I wasn’t expecting that much.

“I just tried to keep the ball on the fairway and I managed to roll in a few putts.”

Fellow Victorian Dylan Higgins (67) was the only other player to better par on Thursday, Higgins finishing two clear of Andrew Martin, Michael Choi and Roland Baglin.

The next event on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series circuit is the Neangar Park Pro-Am at Neangar Park Golf Club, Martin the favourite at the course where he learned the game.

The Riverina region of New South Wales welcomed 41 professionals for the first event of the 2022/2023 adidas PGA Pro-Am Series, the 12-hole layout at Yenda once again proving to be a happy hunting ground for Millar.

Second behind Queensland’s Tim Hart on the 2021/2022 Order of Merit, Millar launched a successful defence of his Yenda crown with a round of three-under 45 on the par-48 course.

A birdie at the par-5 first was the ideal start and he added further birdies at six and 11 to post three-under, a score only one player would match.

“It’s great to be back at Yenda Golf Club,” said Millar

“The golf course continues to improve each year and the hospitality is something that is really special.”

A two-time winner this year on the SParms PGA Legends Tour, Joyner had birdies at three, six, 10 and 11 in his round, his lone bogey coming at the 410-metre par-4 fourth.

Playing in the first group of the day, Queensland’s Simon Tooman set the early pace with a round of two-under 46. It would hold up throughout much of the afternoon and earn him a share of third alongside Aaron Townsend, 2019 champion Dale Williamson, Jayden Cripps and Andrew Campbell.

Players remain in the Riverina for the next event on the schedule, the 36-hole B&C Plumbing Griffith Charity Pro-Am starting Thursday, first groups teeing off at 7.30am.

Click here for final leaderboard.