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Birdies on his final two holes saw Corey Lamb claim the Forster-Tuncurry Pro-Am in partnership with Ray White today, almost two years to the day since his last adidas PGA Pro-Am Series victory.
Hailing from two hours down the Pacific Highway at Branxton, Lamb shot a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 on the Tuncurry course to beat Andrew Evans (NSW) by a shot and claim the fourth pro-am title of his career.
Equal 17th in the PNG Open to start the new Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season, Lamb has been an infrequent starter in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series this year, but came into today’s event off the back of a share of fourth at Hawks Nest on Saturday.
HOW THE WINNER’S SCORE UNFOLDED
Starting his round from the seventh tee, Lamb birdied the eighth and 11th and was still sitting at 2-under-par when he began the remainder of the front nine.
That’s where he made his move, picking up shots on the first and third before catching Evans, who played in the morning field, at the 5-under mark with a birdie thanka to a lengthy putt on the 491m par-4 fifth. The outright victory was sealed by a three thanks to a fine approach on the 376m sixth hole.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
Lamb said: “I’ve been doing a lot of work off the course just mentally and trying to get my body right so I can move forward. It’s good to see all the work I’ve been putting on my golf game in my scores.
“Golf this year is about keeping my Tour card here in Australia for next year and then maybe get on a tour overseas.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
66: Corey Lamb (NSW)
67: Andrew Evans (NSW)
69: Cameron John (Vic), Mitchell Brown (NSW), Matthew Millar (ACT)
70: William Bruyeres (Qld)
71: Neven Basic (NSW), Nathan Barbieri (NSW)
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series heads to the Ocean Shores CUB Pro-Am on Wednesday and McGrath Estate Agents Ballina Pro-Am on Thursday.
Red-hot Josh Clarke continues to pick up victories in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series, the latest coming thanks to a 15-under-par total in the two-day Hawks Nest Beachside Apartments Pro-Am.
The winner at Port Macquarie three days earlier, Clarke (NSW) shot rounds of 64-65 to beat Victoria’s Kyle Michel (63-68) by two shots.
After going three years without a pro-am victory, the 31-year-old has now won four titles in just over four months – and thrown in a top-20 at the PNG Open on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
Reigning Webex Players Series South Australia champion Austin Bautista shot the lowest round of day two, an 8-under 64, to take third place, four back of Clarke.
HOW THE WINNER’S SCORE UNFOLDED
Clarke went bogey-free across the 36 holes at Hawks Nest.
His day one 64 featured two eagles and four birdies while the closing 65 included five birdies and a repeat eagle on the 450m par-5 second.
A run of three birdies in four holes early in his back nine took him clear of overnight leader Michel who, after shooting a front nine of 31, faltered with bogeys at 12 and 13.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I’ve been playing good for quite a while so it’s not a shock that I’m starting to post some good scores,” Clarke said.
“I was a little nervous out there today at a few points. Hit a couple of scratchy tee shots but got a bit lucky. Other than that I was really steady and hit a lot of greens, didn’t miss any short putts.
“I can’t thank (PGA Professional) Blake Dowd at Stonecutters enough. He’s been massive for me. He answers my calls and texts at any hour of the night if I’m panicking.
“We found something a little while ago that helped for my back and help to achieve the shots that we want. It just made every super simple and I love it.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
129: Josh Clarke (NSW) 64-65
131: Kyle Michel (Vic) 63-68
133: Austin Bautista (NSW) 69-64
134: Corey Lamb (NSW) 66-68; Blake Proverbs (Qld) 69-65
135: Jye Pickin (NSW) 65-70; Andrew Kelly (Vic) 68-67
136: Nathan Barbieri (NSW) 71-65
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series heads to the Forster-Tuncurry Pro-Am on Monday followed by the Ocean Shores CUB Pro-Am on Wednesday and McGrath Estate Agents Ballina Pro-Am on Thursday.
Josh Clarke secured his third win in six starts in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series in 2024 when he completed a dominant victory at the Better Homes Port Macquarie Pro-Am yesterday.
The Sydney professional shot rounds of 69-68 to finish at 7-under-par, four shots ahead of a group of four players, including Queenslander Cory Crawford who produced an amazing turnaround in 24 hours to follow an opening 79 with a course record 10-under-par 62.
“My iron game has really gone to another level,” Clarke said of his recent improvement which saw him also claim a career-first title at Cowra in May and then Tin Can Bay in July.
“It’s always kind of been the weakest point of my game.
“My coach Blake Dowd out at Stonecutters and I found something four or five months ago and it’s really just clicked.”
Crawford’s spectacular morning round, which saw him jump ahead of 47 players, began at the 10th tee and featured six birdies in his first eight holes on the way to a back nine of 30.
Four pars to start the front nine represented just a brief quiet period before the 31-year-old rattled off birdies at the fifth, seventh, eighth and ninth.
Further down the leaderboard, PNG Open runner-up James Conran (73-69) finished in a tie for fifth alongside 2009 Canadian Open champion Nathan Green (74-68), who is just nine months away from being eligible for the seniors ranks.
HOW THE WINNER’S SCORE UNFOLDED
Fresh off a tie for 17th at the PNG Open to start a new Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia campaign, Clarke shot a round of 69 with five birdies and two bogeys on Tuesday to share the lead with Josh Chamberlain (ACT).
But while Chamberlain fell away, eventually posting a 79 on day two, Clarke collected three birdies in his first six holes to seize the outright lead. Another three birdies across the first four holes of the back nine consolidated his advantage.
Although he had two bogeys late on, a birdie on the par-5 18th sealed the comprehensive victory.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I played pretty conservatively really. It was windy on day one and early on in day two. I’m hitting the ball nicely at the moment,” Clarke said.
“It was a lot firmer and faster than PNG was playing so it needed a bit of adjustment. Had to be quite defensive on the putts. It was tricky but I’ve always liked this course.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
137: Josh Clarke (NSW) 69-68
141: Cory Crawford (Qld) 79-62; Nathan Miller (NSW) 73-68; Lucas Higgins (NSW) 73-68; Nathan Page (Vic) 71-70
142: James Conran (NSW) 73-69; Nathan Green (NSW) 74-68; Kyle Michel (Vic) 72-70
143: Jayden Cripps (NSW) 75-68; Andrew Kelly (Vic) 74-69; Toby Walker (Vic) 74-69; Aaron Maxwell (ACT) 75-68
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series heads down the Pacific Highway to the Hawks Nest Beachside Apartments Pro-Am at Hawks Nest Golf Club on Friday-Sunday.
A birdie blitz on his back nine allowed NSW professional Aaron Townsend to overcome a rough start and some inner-doubts to grab a two-stroke win at the Gunnedah Golf Lion Co Pro-Am today.
After a double-bogey on his first hole, Townsend fought back to post a 4-under-par 66 at Gunnedah Golf Club in the north-west of New South Wales to head Jayden Cripps (68) and Darcy Boyd and Hayden Gulliver who shared third on 1-under.
The victory ended a run of six runner-up finishes in adidas PGA Pro-Am Series events since the 43-year-old’s last win in 2020.
However there had been signs in the recent NSW Open qualifier events that a win may not be far away, including finishing in a share of fourth in the South-West Rocks Open.
HOW THE WINNER’S SCORE UNFOLDED
Townsend made a mess of his opener, taking six shots at the 400-metre 10th, and turned in 2-over 36.
His second nine was full of fireworks, however, with birdies at 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 as he came home in just 30 strokes.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“It was a little bit of a setback, I’m not going to lie. I didn’t hit too many bad shots either. It was a strong hole to start on,” Townsend said of his early slip-up.
“The boys I played with were a bit shocked as well. I thought if I just hung in there a few birdies might come and it didn’t really happen on that nine.
“I caught fire a bit starting the second nine.
‘I played nicely in all those NSW Open qualifiers and found myself in positions where I was close to winning and didn’t finish it how I liked. I thought to myself ‘have I forgotten how to do this, how to close out events’. It’s nice to get it done. It’s been a few years since I’ve had a win.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
66: Aaron Townsend (NSW)
68: Jayden Cripps (NSW)
69: Darcy Boyd (NSW), Hayden Gulliver (NSW)
70: Danni Vasquez (NSW), Mitchell Brown (NSW), Belinda Diamond (NSW), Cameron Bell (Vic), Aaron Maxwell (ACT)
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series moves to the NSW North Coast for the Better Homes Port Macquarie Pro-Am on Tuesday-Wednesday next week followed by the Hawks Nest Beachside Apartments Pro-Am on Friday-Saturday.
Matt Millar has made it two wins in three starts and four regional titles, with a come-from-behind victory in the $50,000 NSW Open Golf Regional Qualifier at Teven Valley Golf Club.
Millar sizzled around the Teven Valley layout in an incredible 7-under par 51 to finish at 8-under-par from fast-finishing Queenslander Gavin Fairfax (-6). Jack McLeod (NSW) and William Bruyeres (QLD) finished in a tie for third at 5-under.
In a sign of how competitive play was at Teven, nine players tied for fourth at 4-under. The group included Blake Proverbs, Tim Hart, James Mee, Max Ford (a), Jayden Cripps, Nathan Barbieri, Austin Bautista, Andrew Evans and Jay Mackenzie.
Overnight leaders Daniel Gale and Aaron Townsend were in the mix for most of the day. However, both stumbled and never recovered, Townsend with a horror stretch of five holes where he dropped four shots midway through his round. After turning for home in the lead at 7-under, Gale couldn’t get going on the back nine, dropping four shots to finish at minus three.
Millar, though, was sublime. Starting on the fifth, he rolled in birdies on the seventh and 10th to get to 3-under. The fireworks started when the Canberran peeled off five straight birdies from the 14th to the 18th to grab a share of the lead for the first time.
It looked like Millar was set to steamroll the field from there. But, he almost saw it disappear with a near disaster at the par-four second (his 15th): a double-bogey out of nowhere.
It was his only mistake, and in a true sign of his professionalism, Millar immediately birdied his next two holes to erase the snafu just as quickly as he made it.
“It was a misjudgment from me. I hit that club the last two days and got nowhere near the water, but I can’t be too upset,” he said.
“I gave myself a bit of an uppercut on the next tee and made a birdie, then made another at the short par-4 (fourth)
“I think I shot 21 on the nine par-3s today; I played really well and was thrilled with the way I bounced back,” Miller said post-round.
The win was the record fourth NSW Regional Open/Regional Qualifying tournament since the series’ inception in 2021.
Miller admitted that he could not have imagined that he would walk away with two wins from three starts this week, especially following his recent back surgery.
“If I’m honest, no way.
“Did I think the courses suited me? Of course. But with the quality of the field and the amount of tournament golf I have played, I would’ve been over the moon if I had won one. But two? It feels amazing.”
Locking up the Regional Qualifying Positions were Gavin Fairfax, Jack McLeod and William Bruyeres.
It will be a first NSW Open after a well-credentialed amateur career in Sydney circles for McLeod.
LEADERBOARD
-8: Matt Millar (ACT) 57-51
-6: Gavin Fairfax (Qld) 57-53
-5: Jack McLeod (NSW) 56-55; William Bruyeres (QL) 56-55
NEXT UP
The next event on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series is The Powers Lager Kooralbyn Valley Pro-Am on Tuesday following the Queensland PGA Foursomes Championship at the same venue on Tuesday.
The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season gets underway with the PNG Open, starting on Thursday
A sublime eagle-par finish to force a playoff, followed by a clutch birdie on the first extra hole has sealed the 2024 North Coast Open crown for Brett Rankin.
On a thrilling final day at Coffs Harbour Golf Club, where the lead changed hands several times, the Queenslander held his nerve when he needed it at the end, rifling a 7-iron from 168 metres to about 14 feet on the par-5 17th before binning the eagle putt to draw level at 9-under-par with clubhouse leader Cameron John with a hole to play.
“It was pretty close coming down the stretch,” a delighted Rankin (65-66) said.
“Walking off the 16th (green) I knew nine-under was in the clubhouse, so I knew birdie-birdie finish, or potentially an eagle, and who knows what was going to happen.”
“Luckily, I hit two quality shots into 17 and made a good 14-footer for eagle.”
After Rankin parred the last, the duo headed back down the 18th to decide the champion. John had earlier birdied the finale as the last of five straight birdies to finish with a second round 64.
Rankin only needed one hole in the end, making birdie to seal the tournament and the lion’s share of the $50,000 purse.
“You never know what could happen in a playoff,” Rankin added.
After playing peerless golf all day, John made it difficult to win from the outset of the playoff. Missing the fairway left from the tee, he was forced to hit a creative bump and run to get onto the front edge of the green.
Rankin, meanwhile, had put himself into the perfect position to attack from the tee. Thankfully for Rankin, John’s predicament meant the more conservative path home was all that was required.
“I knew where (John) was. There was no guarantee of a two-putt, so I thought the smartest play was to hit a wedge and skipping it in.
“I played it perfectly, and as soon as I hit it, I was like, ‘if that’s not good, then I’m not good enough.'”
And good enough it was, nestling just short of the flag, leaving Rankin almost the same putt he had in regulation for the win.
After John lagged his long-range birdie effort to about a metre, Rankin made no mistake with his 7-footer to claim victory.
Along with the win, Rankin, who had to return to Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Qualifying School earlier this year, also sealed his place in the $800,000 NSW Open at Murray Downs Golf and Country Club from November 14-17.
A two-time winner on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series last week, Rankin said locking his spot up in the NSW Open this early in the Australian season would be a blessing, saying it would allow him to take some time off and rest up before the big events towards the end of the year.
“I can take a few weeks off now and rest up and get ready for the PNG Open,” he said.
“I plan to go to Asian Q School, so I’m looking forward to a big end of the year.
“My game’s in a good spot right now, so looking forward to it.”
Qualifying for the NSW Open alongside Rankin were Bathurst’s Dylan Thompson and Queenslander Sam Slater.
The NSW Regional Open Golf Qualifying Series is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
NEXT UP
The next event in the NSW Open Golf Regional Qualifying Series will begin at Teven Valley Golf Course on August 9, with three more spots up for grabs in this year’s championship.
LEADERBOARD
-9: Brett Rankin (Qld)*, Cameron John (Vic)
-8: Kyle Michel (Vic), Andrew Kelly (Vic)
-7: Austin Bautista (NSW), Matias Sanchez (Vic), Blake Proverbs (Qld)
-6: Sam Slater (Qld), Dylan Thompson (NSW)
-5: Daniel Gale (NSW), Christopher Wood (Qld), John Lyras (NSW), Gavin Fairfax (Qld)
Mercurial Matt Millar dispelled months of self-doubt today by winning the NSW Open Golf Regional Qualifying tournament at South West Rocks Country Club.
Millar carded rounds of 66 and 68 for a two-round total of 10-under-par to claim victory by three shots from Queenslander Will Florimo ( 71-66) and Victorian Kyle Michel (69-68).
Five players finished in a tie for fourth at -6 – Lachlan Aylen, Jay Mackenzie, Concord amateur Blake Phillips, William Bruyeres, and 2008 NSW Open champion Aaron Townsend.
Millar, who began the final round a shot back from the leader, the big-hitting Lincoln Tighe, made his move early in the final round, erasing the overnight deficit with a birdie on his first hole (the 10th).
He followed up with two more on the second and third (12th and 13th) to grab the outright lead and was never seriously threatened from there.
A couple of challengers made moves during the round. Phillips seemed the player most likely to make a serious move when he turned for home to get to within three shots, while Florimo matched the mark at -6 after 10 holes.
The day, however, belonged to the 47-year-old ACT product, who underwent spinal fusion surgery in January and was unable to pick up a club for over four months.
“I’m so thrilled to get this one,” a delighted Millar beamed. “I had a second place a couple of weeks ago in Queensland and a few fourth places.
“There have been some good signs, but saying that, I’m just happy to get back out here and be playing; I’ve missed it so much.”
“I like coaching back home at Federal, but I really love playing and competing.
“It’s great to get out here and have a reward like this and get a win; I’m really, really happy.”
With Millar already exempt from this year’s NSW Open, interest was high in who would take out the coveted three confirmed spots in the field for the $800,000 Championship, part of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
Several players looked likely to grab the spots but stumbled at the end. The lucky three to secure their starts at Murray Downs in November were Queensland’s Will Florimo, Victoria’s Lachlan Aylen, and Ballina Product Jay Mackenzie.
NEXT UP
Coffs Harbour will host the next NSW Open Qualifier, the North Coast Open, on Tuesday-Wednesday.
LEADERBOARD
-10: Matt Millar (ACT)
-7: Will Florimo (Qld), Kyle Michel (Vic)
-6: Lachlan Aylen (Vic), Jay Mackenzie (NSW), Blake Phillips (a, NSW), William Bruyeres (Qld), Aaron Townsend (NSW)
-5: Jye Pickin (NSW), Andrew Campbell (NSW), Josh Clarke (NSW), Jacob Boyce (Qld), Riley Taylor (NSW)
Queenslander Will Florimo, Victorian Lachlan Aylen and Ballina’s Jay Mackenzie scored the three spots in the 2024 NSW Open at Murray Downs in November
Lawry Flynn cashed in on just his fourth appearance for 2024 in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series, sharing a victory with fellow Queenslander Brett Rankin at the Southport Pro-Am.
The lefthander posted a 4-under-par 67 in the morning wave which Rankin matched late in the day to collect his second win of the week.
There was a three-way tie for lead at -4 with Rankin and fellow Queenslander Brad Kennedy still with three holes to play in their afternoon rounds, and Flynn waiting patiently in the clubhouse.
Kennedy, who made his PGA Legends Tour debut earlier this week, dropped a shot on his 16th hole, the par-4 ninth, to lose his share of top spot.
He ended in a share of third at 3-under with the joint winner at Bulimba on Thursday, Victorian Cameron John, and NSW’s Lucas Higgins.
Defending champion James Conran (NSW) made a late charge with three birdies in four holes on the back nine only to double-bogey the par-4 17th.
Rankin’s week, which included a solo win at Brisbane River on Monday, has lifted him to the No.1 spot on the national Order of Merit. He also heads the Queensland Order of Merit.
HOW THE WINNERS’ ROUNDS UNFOLDED
Enjoying a strong driving day, Flynn mixed in two birdies with a bogey in his first seven holes and was still at 1-under when he dropped a shot at the par-3 second. But he surged late, picking up three shots in his final four holes.
Starting his round on the 10th, Rankin made the turn at 2-under and then joined Flynn on -4 with back-to-back birdies to kick off his front nine. Seven straight pars closed out his day.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
Flynn: “I just seemed to hit it in all the right spots, didn’t really do too much amazing. There’s some big slopes on these greens which can lead to some tricky downhill putts where you’re defensive all day. Even though I made those couple of bogeys, I was pretty comfortable I’d come in with a decent score.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
67: Lawry Flynn (Qld), Brett Rankin (Qld)
68: Cameron John (Vic), Brad Kennedy (Qld), Lucas Higgins (NSW)
69: Ed Donoghue (Vic), Toby Walker (Vic), Will Florimo (Vic), Michael Sim (Qld), Nathan Barbieri (NSW)
NEXT UP
The first of six NSW Open Golf Regional Qualifying Events will be held over 36 holes at South West Rocks Country Club this weekend.
Playing partners Kyle Michel and Cameron John shared top spot in the Belle Property Bulimba Pro-Am in Brisbane today, mastering the par-3 layout with matching rounds of 5-under-par 49.
Always a great test of a player’s wedge game, Bulimba’s nine holes range in distance from 83m to 102m, providing a challenge with a difference in the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series.
The winner of The National Tournament on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia earlier this year, John now has three pro-am titles on his 2024 list of achievements.
Michel, who is heading for a stint on the Asian Development Tour, has two victories this year to go with six other top-three adidas PGA Pro-Am Series finishes.
Third placegetter Aiden Didone aced the 90m fifth in his round of -4.
HOW THE WINNERS’ ROUNDS UNFOLDED
Starting on the eighth hole, Michel grabbed the outright lead with three birdies in his first four holes. He then picked up shots both times he played the fifth.
The duo’s only bogey for the day came when John dropped a shot at their 92m opener, but he made six birdies from then on, including on their 17th hole of the day – the sixth – to draw level with his playing partner.
WHAT THE WINNERS SAID
Michel: “I got off to a hot start by hitting a few close and rolling in some putts. Missed a few greens coming but managed to keep it bogey-free. This event is a little bit different, a bit of fun and nice to get a round out of the way in less than three hours.”
John: “When Kyle made the good start, birdie-birdie, I thought “well he’s going to play well so I have to try and follow his lead. He kept going well and I just made a few at the end which was nice. This is one of the better pro-ams we get to play. It’s a quick format and it’s a lot of fun. You have to be really dialled in with the wedges.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
-5: Cameron John (Vic), Kyle Michel (Vic)
-4: Aiden Didone (Vic)
-3: Jack Munro (Qld), Jay Simpson (Qld), Nathan Barbieri (NSW), Gavin Fairfax (Qld)
-2: Dillon Hart (Qld), Jay Mackenzie (NSW), Brady Watt (WA),
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series returns to the Gold Coast for the Southport Pro-Am on Friday.
Two Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia regulars showed their class to share top spot at today’s Panasonic Air Conditioning Burleigh Pro-Am.
Sam Brazel and Jake McLeod negotiated the Gold Coast layout in 4-under-par 67 in gusty winds to finish one ahead of Cameron John on an adidas Pro-Am Series leaderboard laden with Tour talent.
For McLeod, it was his second joint title for July, joining his win with Jack Murdoch and Will Florimo at Windaroo Lakes.
The experienced Brazel’s last adidas PGA Pro-Am Series victory came last year in Mackay with Burleigh making it 12 overall for the former Hong Kong Open champion on the pro-am circuit.
It was nice confidence boost for the NSW pro ahead of some bigger events to come. He’s off to the US$2,000,000 International Series England event at Close House in Newcastle, starting August 17, before concentrating on Asian events.
HOW THE WINNERS’ ROUNDS UNFOLDED
McLeod started his round on the 11th hole and moved quickly to 2-under with birdies on the 14th and 15th. His only bogey for the day came on the par-4 16th. He then picked up shots on both par-5s on the front nine.
Brazel’s round was highlighted by a run of four birdies in five holes on the back nine before he almost undid his good work with a double-bogey on the par-4 16th. A birdie on his second last hole, the par-5 first, gave him a share of top spot.
WHAT THE WINNERS SAID
McLeod: “I hit it nicely again today which was good. I played the par-5s pretty well and holed a few putts today. It was all pretty stress-free really. You have to hit fairways around here because it’s super tight.”
Brazel: “It’s my first time in a long time around here. I tried to keep it on the short stuff which always helps. I had a great group so it was a fun day.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
67: Jake McLeod (Qld), Sam Brazel (NSW)
68: Cameron John (Vic)
69: Darcy Brereton (Vic), Aiden Didone (Vic), Deyen Lawson (WA), Michael Sim (Qld)
70: Ed Donoghue (Vic), Kade McBride (Qld), Brady Watt (WA), Matt Dowling (Qld), Tom Robinson (Eng), Bailey Arnott (Qld), Tim Hart (Qld), Lucas Higgins (NSW)
NEXT UP
The adidas PGA Pro-Am Series heads back to Brisbane for the Belle Property Bulimba Pro-Am on Thursday then it’s a return to the Gold Coast for the Southport Pro-Am on Friday.
