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Fairways and greens are set to heat up across southern New South Wales next week when the NSW Open Golf Regional Qualifying Series returns.
Competition will be fierce with a substantial $50,000 purse on offer. Importantly, the top three players who are not already qualified will lock away a coveted spot in the NSW Open at the magnificent Murray Downs Golf & Country Club from November 14-17 and the chance to go head-to-head with 2022 Open Champion and LIV Golf’s Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith.
Supported by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, the six-event series brings Australia’s brightest up-and-coming golfers to compete at some of the state’s best regional courses.
The series continues at Wollongong Golf Club next Tuesday, September 17, with a capacity field set to tee off at the city course. The series moves to Catalina Club at Batemans Bay (September 20-22), then finally onto Queanbeyan Golf Club for the sixth and last event of the series on September 23-25.
Some of the biggest names in Australasian golf will be in action, including four-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner Dimi Papadatos, as well as Korn Ferry Tour (US) Member John Lyras. Canberra’s Matt Millar, a dominant force with two wins in the first three qualifiers, will also be out to claim a record fifth regional crown.
Four former NSW Open champions – Harrison Crowe (2022), Josh Younger (2019), Aaron Townsend (2008) and Rick Kulacz (2006) – are also in town for the tournament.
There will be plenty of hometown interest at Wollongong next week, with several local hopes in the 120-plus strong field.
Port Kembla-based touring professional Lincoln Tighe will be a player to watch. The big-hitting Tighe will be out to secure his spot in the NSW Open after a disappointing finish in the series’ first event at South West Rocks last month. Adding to the local flavour, three-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner Jordan Zunic will also be competing.
Local amateur hopes playing include Australian Junior Champion Sam Cascio, NSW and Australian Mid-Amateur champion Colin Mitchell, and the Wollongong trio Axel Thomsen (WGC club champion), Zac Oyston and Thomas Heaton.
Olivia Wilson, General Manager – Golf at Golf NSW, said the 2024 Regional Open Qualifying Series was an important vehicle for aspiring professionals and elite amateurs looking to kick-start their Australian Summer of Golf.
“The series offers a fantastic platform for future stars to elevate their careers, with substantial prize money and the chance to secure a spot in the NSW Open,” he said.
“We expect some fierce competition, not just at Wollongong but at all of the remaining Qualifiers.”
Graeme Phillipson, Chief Operating Officer at Golf NSW, emphasised the positive impact of these tournaments on local communities.
“The Regional Open Qualifying Series brings a welcome financial boost to the host clubs and their surrounding towns. The influx of players and spectators significantly benefits the local visitor economy,” Phillipson stated.
Entry is free for spectators giving those attending the rare opportunity to walk the fairways alongside the players and witness the drama up close as the sport’s future stars emerge.
The final round of each qualifying tournament will be broadcast via Golf NSW’s broadcast partner, the Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) on the NSW Open Tournament website, nswopen.com.
Qualifying Series Schedule
Wollongong Golf Club: September 17-18
Catalina Club Batemans Bay: September 21-22
Queanbeyan Golf Club: September 23-25
(Previous qualifying series tournaments in this series):
South West Rocks: August 3-4 (Won by Matt Millar – ACT)
Coffs Harbour: August 6-7 (Won by Brett Rankin – QLD)
Teven Valley: August 9 &10 (Won by Matt Millar – ACT)
The Men’s NSW Open Golf Regional Qualifying Series is proudly supported by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.
Photo: Dimi Papadatos
Queenslander Cory Crawford has his eyes on the summer of golf after earning his second adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win of the year at Yamba.
Returning from a long layoff due to a back injury with zero status on the national pro-am circuit, Crawford added to his win at Ballina with a commanding five-shot victory at the Ray White Yamba Pro-Am at Yamba Golf and Country Club.
With international experience playing in China, Asia and Canada, Crawford lost all associated status required to play regularly in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series.
Now 39th on the Order of Merit, that situation has now been rectified with Crawford eyeing off even bigger scalps during the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season.
“I had five months off and was planning on playing some pro-ams but I looked at my ranking and I had no status, which I had no idea,” said Crawford.
“I hadn’t played a pro-am for four years so my goal was to try and get into 10 events somehow.
“I was able to do that and then obviously make enough money to get some status for next year to give me the option to go play.
“Now that I’ve been able to tick that box I’m going to play the Tour starting in October and play all the way through until March.”
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
Tied with Order of Merit leader Brett Rankin after matching rounds of 6-under 66 on day one, Crawford patiently waited for scoring opportunities to present themselves on the tight Yamba layout.
Playing in the group behind, Rankin moved one clear with birdie at the short par-4 fourth but momentum would shift sharply at the par-5 eighth.
As Rankin made bogey to drop to even par on his round, Crawford made eagle to establish a two-stroke advantage.
That lead became three with birdie at the par-4 11th but Rankin fought back with birdies at 13 and 14.
Crawford took command again when Rankin dropped a shot at 15, his final winning margin ballooning from two to five when he birdied 18 and Rankin made double-bogey.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“Got off to a bit of a slow start yesterday but got it going after that,” said Crawford.
“Just drove it really well, which made it a little nicer to play the golf course and just played really steady.
“It’s pretty narrow. If you’re in the fairway a lot, you’re going to have plenty of good looks.
“I was able to do that, which I’ve been able to do the last month as well.
“Getting it in play was huge.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Cory Crawford 66-68—134
T2 Brett Rankin 66-73—139
T2 Andrew Campbell 69-70—139
T4 Jay Mackenzie 69-71—140
T4 Lucas Higgins 71-69—140
T4 Aaron Townsend 72-68—140
NEXT UP
Focus of the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series now turns to the southern end of New South Wales, starting with the PSC Insurance Brokers Wagga Wagga Pro-Am at Wagga Wagga Country Club starting Thursday.
Victorian Kyle Michel has put on a superb display of iron play to take out the 67th cluBarham Border Open at CluBarham Golf and Sports Club.
The longest running event on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series circuit, the two-day tournament attracted a field full of familiar faces but it was Michel who added his name to an impressive honour roll of past winners.
A one-stroke leader after Round 1, Michel wasted no time in asserting his ascendancy in Round 2 on Sunday.
His bogey-free round of 9-under 64 gave him a 13-under total and five-shot win from fellow Victorians Lachlan Armour (70) and Josh Younger (70).
Faced with windy conditions, Michel showed wonderful control of his ball flight which yielded birdies on three of the four par 3s.
“Your iron control had to be important on a windy day like today,” said Michel.
“I managed to get the distances right on pretty much all of them and roll in a few putts.”
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
Starting his round from the par-4 fourth hole for the second straight day, Michel opened with a par before embarking on a birdie blitz.
He picked up shots at five, six and seven and then made it four in the space of five holes with birdie at the par-3 ninth.
Birdies at the par-5 11th and par-3 12th got Michel to 6-under through nine holes, finishing up a faultless round with closing birdies at 18, two and three.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I got off to a really good start birdieing three of the first four holes,” said Michel.
“I made another birdie on my sixth hole, the par 3, and managed to get to 6-under through the first nine holes and kind of went on with it from there.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Kyle Michel 69-64—133
T2 Lachlan Armour 68-70—138
T2 Josh Younger 68-70—138
4 Andrew Kelly 66-73—139
5 Bradley Kivimets 67-73—140
T6 Konrad Ciupek 72-69—141
T6 James Gordon 67-74—141
T6 Michael Isherwood 71-70—141
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series moves further north into New South Wales on Thursday for the $50,000 PSC Insurance Brokers Wagga Wagga Pro-Am at Wagga Wagga Country Club.
A three-year adidas PGA Pro-Am Series drought ended for Steven Jeffress who revealed his PGA Tour Champions ambitions after he won the Ledonne Constructions Grafton Pro-Am today.
A 6-under-par 66, including birdies on his final two holes, gave the 48-year-old a one-shot margin over fellow Queenslander Dillon Hart and NSW Northern Rivers local Sam Brazel.
Although he doesn’t play competitively as much as he used to, and couldn’t quite remember his last pro-am victory, Jeffress had shown that a win might not be far off when he finished T4 at Kooralbyn Valley last month and then claimed a share of second at McLeod in Brisbane on Tuesday.
“I haven’t played a lot the last couple of years but the last month and a half I’ve actually started to do a bit of work on my game,” Jeffress said.
“I’ve been putting some hours in and it’s good to see it working.
“I want to keep playing because my overall goal is, at the end of next year, to go to Champions Tour Q-School in the States.
“Looking at how some of our Aussies like David Bransdon and Michael Wright have done it, you need to keep playing and competing before you hit 50.”
National Pro-Am Order of Merit leader Brett Rankin, who won at Grafton last year, finished in a share of fourth.
HOW THE WINNER’S SCORE UNFOLDED
Jeffress’s winning round featured seven birdies and the solitary bogey.
He started fast with a three on the par-4 third before dropping a shot two holes later.
Birdies then arrived with regularity at the sixth, ninth, 11th and 14th to move him to 4-under before the win was secured with back-to-back birdies on his final two holes.
An eight-metre putt secured a two on the 135m par-3 first and a two-putt after hitting the green with a 5-iron approach produced the winning birdie on the 462m par-5 second
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
Jeffress said: “The plan was that there was no plan apart from hitting good shots and the shots I wanted to hit.
“I figured 5-under wasn’t going to be enough. When you’ve been out here a while you get a sense of what’s needed.
“I thought I had to get to -6 to win outright. I wouldn’t get beat at six.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
66: Steven Jeffress (Qld)
67: Dillon Hart (Qld), Sam Brazel (NSW)
68: Brett Rankin (Qld), Jayden Cripps (NSW), Jack Pountney (NSW)
69: Sam Slater (Qld); Jack McLeod (NSW)
NEXT UP
There’s two 36-hole events coming up in New South Wales in the adidas Pro-Am Series. The Ray White Yamba Pro-Am will be held this weekend at Yamba Golf Club followed by the PSC Insurance Brokers Wagga Wagga Pro-Am at Wagga Wagga Country Club on Wednesday and Thursday next week.
Chris Wood played “smart” golf to tear up the back nine at Murwillumbah Golf Club and score a one-shot win in the Coca-Cola Murwillumbah Pro-Am.
With a run of six birdies in eight holes, the Queenslander played the second nine of the picturesque NSW Northern Rivers layout in 6-under-par 30 on the way to a 5-under 67 to snare his fourth adidas PGA Pro-Am Series victory of 2024.
National Pro-Am Order of Merit leader Brett Rankin, Cory Crawford and Bailey Arnott shared second place at 4-under.
HOW THE WINNER’S SCORE UNFOLDED
Playing in the afternoon field and starting on the sixth hole, Wood made five straight pars to begin his round. Once he made it to the back nine, the fireworks started with birdies at the 11th and 13th holes and then four in a row from hole 15.
The Queenslander’s only dropped shot of the day came with a three-putt on the par-4 first.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
Wood said: “The putting was a bit better today. I put a bit of work in the last couple of days to get that fixed up because that’s what had been costing me.
“Every time I’ve played here previously, I’ve tried to overpower the course. Today I tried to take what I guess you’d call a smarter approach to the game. Just keep it in play off the tee and give myself as many chances as possible.
“Was fortunate the putter got hot, especially around the back nine. That six to 10-foot range was pretty crucial.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
66: Chris Wood
67: Brett Rankin, Cory Crawford, Bailey Arnott
68: Daniel Stephenson, Andrew Campbell (NSW), Alex Simpson (NSW), Will Florimo, Brenton Parrish (NSW)
NEXT UP
There’s two 36-hole events coming up in New South Wales in the adidas Pro-Am Series. The Ray White Yamba Pro-Am will be held this weekend at Yamba Golf Club followed by the PSC Insurance Brokers Wagga Wagga Pro-Am at Wagga Wagga Country Club on Wednesday and Thursday next week.
Victorian Ben Henkel had shared two wins in this year’s adidas PGA Pro-Am Series but he made sure the next success was a solo victory at the Cohuna Stuart Appleby Pro-Am on Thursday.
A spectacular 7-under-par 65 on the country Victorian course gave Henkel a two-shot margin over two of Australia’s most experienced touring professionals, Matt Griffin and Marcus Fraser, as well as fellow Victorian Bradley Kivimets and NSW’s James Gordon.
A joint winner at Clermont and Maryborough in Queensland over winter, Henkel has been in solid form throughout 2024 with 12 top-10 pro-am finishes and he started the new Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season with a tie for ninth at last month’s PNG Open.
HOW THE WINNER’S SCORE UNFOLDED
After starting his round on Cohuna’s eighth hole, Henkel went on a run of three straight birdies on nine through 11. Although he dropped a shot at the long par-4 14th, he was -5 by the time he rolled in birdie number six for the day on the first.
Another birdie on the fourth and then an eagle on the 465m par-5 fifth sent the 23-year-old clear of the field, with a bogey on his second last hole only reducing the winning margin.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
Henkel said: “It feels great. Obviously most of these events don’t have playoffs and you really want to go out and win by yourself. Getting it done in an event solo, and shooting a good number to win by a couple, is a great feeling.
“Everything in my game has been really solid and I’m coming off some good results. Hitting the ball well off the tee was important here. It’s a pretty tight golf course. I also holed a couple of crucial par putts to keep the momentum going.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
65: Ben Henkel
67: James Gordon (NSW), Bradley Kivimets, Marcus Fraser, Matt Griffin
68: Ruben Lai, Harry Goakes, Andrew Kelly
69: Jake Fullerton, Steven Jones
(Vic players unless noted)
NEXT UP
The majority of the field that played at Cohuna will contest the 67th cluBarham Border Open at cluBarham Golf and Sports Club this weekend with 18 holes on both Saturday and Sunday.
Swing changes with coach Chris Gibson enabled Lucas Higgins to navigate strong winds and blow the rest of the field away to take out The Lion Richlands McLeod Pro-Am at McLeod Country Golf Club.
Eleven players finished within one stroke of each other in challenging conditions on Tuesday but no one got within three strokes of Higgins, who shot 6-under 65 to claim his first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series win of the year.
Boasting six top-six finishes since the start of August, Higgins was thrilled to finally get across the line.
“I was really struggling with my swing maybe a few months ago and we just really tried to make it simple,” said Higgins.
“Just trying to really enjoy my golf again and not put too much pressure on myself.
“Go back to hitting fades, hitting it a lot better and giving myself a lot more looks.”
Veteran Steven Jeffress joined Sam Slater, Brett Rankin and Jake McLeod in a share of second with rounds of 3-under 68, one clear of Scott Barr, Dillon Hart, Riley Taylor, Zach Maxwell, Peter Martin, James Mee and Alex Simpson.
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
With two birdies and two eagles in his first nine holes, Higgins wasted no time in climbing to the top of the leaderboard.
His first birdie came at the par-4 fourth and then Higgins converted an eagle opportunity at the par-5 seventh.
He added a birdie at the par-5 ninth and then made it two eagles in the space of four holes at the par-5 10th to reach 6-under par as others struggled to make inroads.
Higgins’ lone dropped shot came at the par-4 13th but got back to 6-under with birdie at the short par-3 18th.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I hadn’t played here in a while, so I was just trying to figure out where I was going,” said Higgins.
“I hit it really, really solid in the wind and just gave myself a lot of good looks.
“Took advantage of a couple of the par 5s downwind and holed a couple of nice putts which got me the win.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Lucas Higgins 65
T2 Steven Jeffress 68
T2 Samuel Slater 68
T2 Brett Rankin 68
T2 Jake McLeod 68
NEXT UP
Either end of the New South Wales border hosts adidas PGA Pro-Am Series events on Thursday with Marcus Fraser and Matthew Griffin headlining the Cohuna Golf Club Stuart Appleby Pro-Am as Higgins returns to his home course for the Coca-Cola Murwillumbah Pro-Am.
Michael Sim says he “feels some good vibes” every time he comes to the Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Golf Club and he added to them with a course record round today.
A 9-under-par 63 on the West Course gave the Gold Coast-based 39-year-old a two-shot win in the Love Golf Fitting & Coaching Studio Coolangatta and Tweed Heads Golf Club Pro-Am.
It was a repeat of his victory in 2021 when he shot a 7-under-par 65 and if you look deeper into Sim’s career wins you’ll find a Greg Norman Junior Classic triumph at the NSW/Queensland border club.
Sim plays competition golf infrequently these days, spending more time coaching at Lakelands Golf Club.
But he says a round like this one, with nine birdies and nine pars, which beat Brad McIntosh’s previous course record of 64 may encourage more regular outings.
Fellow Queenslander Cory Crawford, who won the Ballina Pro-Am on Thursday, continued his fine form in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series to finish second at Coolangatta and Tweed Heads.
His 65 was six shots better than the next best score in the morning groups. Crawford played the five par-5s in a combined 5-under-par, highlighted by an eagle at the 18th.
HOW THE WINNER’S SCORE UNFOLDED
Starting his round on the 11th hole, playing alongside host professional Jared Love, Sim quickly moved to -2 with birdies on the 12th and 14th and surged to -5 with three straight birdies around the turn.
He eventually caught Crawford with a three on the long par-4 fifth hole and moved clear with birdies on the seventh and ninth.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
Michael Sim: “I got it going early and was 4-under with four par-5s still to play. It ended up being a good day.
“I really enjoy coming here. A strength of mine is driving accuracy and iron play and it’s suited here. You don’t have to be too long on both Coolangatta-Tweed courses. There’s a lot of doglegs and the par-5s are all reachable.
“I’m still a bit undecided with what my future holds with tournament play but days like this maybe makes the decision a little easier.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
63: Michael Sim (Qld)
65: Cory Crawford (Qld)
67: Brett Rankin (Qld), Samuel Slater (Qld)
68: Lucas Higgins (NSW), Blaike Perkins (Qld)
69: Dillon Hart (Qld), Brendan Smith (NSW), Harrison Wills (Qld), Jayden Cripps (NSW)
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series returns to Brisbane for the Austbrokers Comsure Charity Day at The Brisbane Golf Club on Monday followed by the Lion Richlands McLeod Pro-Am at McLeod Country Golf Club on Wednesday.
The second restart after suffering a fractured back is right on track after Cory Crawford claimed a one-stroke win at the McGrath Estate Agents Ballina Pro-Am at Ballina Golf Club.
It took an eagle on his penultimate hole for Crawford to edge in front, his round of 6-under 66 enough to finish one clear of Sydney’s Jack McLeod (67) with Will Florimo (68), Damon Stephenson (68) and James Mee (68) all sharing third.
Winner of the PNG Open in 2017, Crawford has had stints playing in China, Canada and on the Asian Tour in recent years before a back injury curtailed his career.
Returning from a four-month break last year proved to be a false start but he hopes his Ballina win can be a portent of better things to come.
“It’s been very frustrating at times,” Crawford conceded.
“I’ve had a four-month break, then a restart, then a five-month break and now I’m getting back into it again.
“I’m three-and-a-half weeks into that restart and it honestly feels like I’m learning golf again.
“Hopefully I can play all the way through now, but it’s all pending my injury and how I hold up after playing a bunch of golf.”
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
Tied for 22nd at the PNG Open earlier this month on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, Crawford’s start on Thursday was less than auspicious.
A double-bogey at his opening hole – the par-4 eighth – was an early setback but three straight birdies from the 11th hole quickly got Crawford back into red figures.
Back-to-back birdies at 18 and one further advanced Crawford’s cause but it would take a birdie-eagle finish to stop McLeod from winning his first adidas PGA Pro-Am Series event.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I actually started with a double on the first hole and had to work really hard after that to try and figure it out and get my swing back to where I needed it to be,” said Crawford.
“It took a few holes and then I made a few birdies and after that I was sort of freeing up a little bit and was able to play some good golf the rest of the day.
“I’m at the stage with my restart that I’m just trying to go through the processes and not thinking about outcome at all.
“I just wanted to keep making good swings coming in. And I made a great swing on the second-last hole and made the putt.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Cory Crawford 66
2 Jack McLeod 67
T3 Will Florimo 69
T3 Damon Stephenson 69
T3 James Mee 69
T6 Zach Maxwell 70
T6 Dillon Hart 70
T6 Lucas Higgins 70
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series nudges towards the Queensland border on Friday with the Love Golf Fitting & Coaching Studio Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club Pro-Am at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Golf Club.
Part-time tournament player Ryan Gailey has repeated his victory of six years ago with a one-shot win at the Ocean Shores CUB Pro-Am at Ocean Shores Country Club.
Squeezing in occasional appearances on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series with his full-time role as the Golf Operations Manager at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club, Gailey spoke of his affinity with the Ocean Shores layout and his regular playing partners from EZGO Australia.
“The form has been down of late but I came back last week and when I walked in today I felt comfortable about my game again,” said Gailey.
“The last six weeks I’ve made a conscious decision to try and enjoy my golf again. Give myself something in life outside my family – two kids and my wife – just to work towards.
“I’ve been making some good swing changes with my coach Ji McBryde and I’m hopeful to play a few events at the end of the year.”
Although shy of the 6-under 66 he shot to share victory with Aaron Wilkin in 2018, Gailey’s 4-under 68 was enough to edge Murwillumbah local Lucas Higgins (69) and Dylan Gardner (69) and earn his first solo victory on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series.
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
Starting his round from the second tee, Gailey picked up a shot with a birdie at the par-5 fourth but consecutive three-putts at five and six saw him fall quickly to 1-over on his round.
He jumped back into red figures when he holed his pitch shot for eagle at the par-5 ninth and then moved to 3-under with back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14.
With two par 5s to finish, Gailey went against his own policy by checking where he stood on the leaderboard. He regretted that decision when he left a five-foot birdie putt short at 18 but closed with birdie at the par-5 first to post the winning number.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I had a couple of three-putts in the early stage of the round which cost me. I was a little bit down on myself and then on nine I was just short of the green for two, about 35 metres, and holed my pitch shot for eagle.
“That kick-started my round and it all went well from there.
“I play a handful of pro-ams each year and I always decide to never look at the leaderboard. I was feeling quite good and with two par 5s to go so I thought I would try and make a decision on what I was going to do on those par 5s. I took a look at the leaderboard and fair to say it was not a good thing to do as I left a five-foot putt for birdie short on the 18th.
“Luckily I birdied the first but I’d say that I won’t be looking at the leaderboard again.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Ryan Gailey 68
T2 Lucas Higgins 69
T2 Dylan Gardner 69
T4 Mitchell Smith 70
T4 Jack Pountney 70
T4 Jack McLeod 70
T4 Brendan Smith 70
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series remains in northern New South Wales on Thursday for the McGrath Estate Agents Ballina Pro-Am followed on Friday by the Love Golf Fitting & Coaching Studio Coolangatta & Tweed Heads Golf Club Pro-Am.
