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In an incredibly close final day at Heritage Golf and Country Club, Samuel Eaves has broken through to capture his first PGA Professionals Championship National Final title.
With a 3-under 69 final round, and 9-under total, Eaves was the champion by three shots, this win a long time coming for the Queenslander, who has finished second and third at this championship in the past.
Courtesy of his win, Eaves takes home the winner’s share of the $65,000 prize purse, as well as a spot in next month’s BMW Australian PGA Championship, and a place on the Australian team heading to the Four Nations Cup next year.
Sharing second at 6-under was four time champion Matt Docking, and overnight leader Mitch Smith. With a closing birdie, Docking forced a playoff for the second place on offer in the BMW Australian PGA Championship and place on Australia’s Four Nations Cup team, which he subsequently won.
Finishing just outside the playoff at 5-under in fourth was West Australian Scott Barr, with Queenslander Brenton Fowler fifth at 4-under, and Sydneysider Alexander Simpson sixth at 3-under.
In the inaugural WPGA Professionals Championships , Katelyn Must was the winner with a 3-over total over the three days at Heritage.
With scores of 71-76-72, Must’s consistency proved the key to her win over runner-up Grace Lennon who finished at 10-over.
As the leading two women of the week, 2024 Australian team members Must and Lennon will be heading back to the Women’s PGA Cup in 2026.
Must finished in a tie for 16th overall, while Lennon finished in a tie for 34th.
After eight holes today, all four players in Eaves’ final grouping were tied at the top, the former Warwick Professional turned Real Estate Agent admitting he was battling with his game early in the round.
“I had no idea where we were all sitting, I never looked at the leaderboard once all day,” said Eaves. “I just played golf and there was a stretch there from five through to 11 where I didn’t hit it very well.
Climbing the steep hill to Heritage St. John’s 12th hole must have got the blood pumping that Eaves’ needed, as he proceeded to make three birdies in a row, before a perfect hybrid set up an eagle on the par-5 15th which really separated him from the pack.
“It just came out of the screws,” he said. “It actually turned over a little bit left on me and it was between the flag and the bunker and I’m like, ‘that’s not where I wanted it, I wanted it on the other side’, but yeah, it was just lovely.”
Three pars coming in was all Eaves needed to secure the win, before a few of his fellow PGA Members could run onto the 18th green and drown him in champagne.
Having qualified and played in every BMW Australian PGA Championship since it has been held at Royal Queensland, Eaves is extremely excited to head back to the event next month.
“I’m over the moon, can’t believe it, and I play really well around Royal Queensland,” he said.
“I’m a golf fan who gets to be inside the ropes with no pressure or expectations on me to do anything, and I get to go and have the most fun for a week.
“I’m not here to keep a tour card or go places in golf. I’m here to just enjoy golf as much as I can and that’s why I play so good, because I’ve got so much freedom.”
Having lost his father less than 12-months ago, Eaves says it was hard not to think of the man who had such an influence on his golf while playing today, and knows how proud he would be of him.
Mitchell Smith has held onto to his overnight lead after day two of the PGA Professionals Championship National Final, with the stage set for a thrilling final day at Heritage Golf and Country Club tomorrow.
Smith was able to back up his day one 67 with a 2-under 70 today to lead the championship by one at 7-under. Fellow Queenslander Samuel Eaves shot the round of the day, a 6-under 66, to catapult himself to second on the leaderboard.
A further shot back at 5-under is New South Welshman Alexander Simpson, with Queenslander Brenton Fowler and defending champion Matt Docking looming at 4-under, Docking bouncing back from a sluggish opening round with a 5-under 67 today.
In his first National Final, Smith is showing no signs of nerves, however he has two very well credentialled players in Eaves and Docking on his back as he looks to make it a debut to remember tomorrow.
Eaves is very happy to be in contention, the ex-pro from Warwick Golf Club now real estate agent says that he is enjoying his golf more than ever at the moment.
“It’s a nice change, and when I get out and have a game, I just love it more than I ever have and I’m sort of playing better than I ever have too,” he said.
“When I get out there it’s exciting, it’s like being a kid again really.”
Eaves managed five birdies in a row on the Heritage St. John back nine today, that flurry singlehandedly getting the Queenslander into contention.
“It was nice to hit them close where you just had to tap them in and not really think too much about the putt in front of you,” he said.
Having multiple top-25 finishes at the BMW Australian PGA Championship, and a second and third in this championship already, Eaves is hungry to finish the job and earn himself another start in Brisbane next month.
Also hunting down Smith tomorrow will be Docking, the four-time champion keen to etch his name into the trophy yet again and book another trip to Brisbane.
“I was just really anxious yesterday. It was one of those days where I just couldn’t shake it off,” said the defending champion. “But no, felt back to myself today.”
As the Head Professional at Murray Downs, this year’s host of the NSW Open, Docking has been extended an invitation to play that event, and says the prospect of booking himself another trip to Brisbane is made all the more exciting off the back of that.
“I would love to get back there, because playing here this week, then we’ve got New South Wales Open in three weeks and then into that, so I would actually have a bit of golf under my belt, so that’d be something special,” he said.
Queenslander Mitchell Smith has fired a 5-under 67 on day one of the PGA Professionals Championship National Final to lead by two at the Heritage Golf and Country Club.
With an increased $65,000 prize purse, two spots in the BMW Australian PGA Championship up for grabs, as well as Four Nations and Women’s PGA Cup spots on offer, the 66 vocational members from around the country have plenty to play for this week in Melbourne, and Smith’s campaign is off to a dream start.
Trailing him in second is New South Welshman Daniel Nesbitt at 3-under, with another Sydneysider ,Michael Smyth, tied third with West Australian Scott Barr at 2-under.
Barr will be a player to watch this week, coming off a T21 finish at the CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX Civil & Logistics.
Australia’s Women’s PGA Cup captain Katelyn Must (Qld) is a further shot back at 1-under, tied with Alexander Simpson (NSW) in fifth.
Coaching out of Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club on the Gold Coast as well as The Sim Range in Brisbane, Smith is happy to have made a positive start to his first PGA Professionals Championship National Final.
“I putted really well, that was pretty much just the thing there,” he said. “I holed a lot of putts. That saved me heaps.”
Starting his day on the 12th hole, Smith started with a birdie, however his round peaked later when he backed up a strong birdie on the eighth by eagling the par-five ninth.
“I hit a really good drive, which was actually rare today,” he laughed. “I had a really good group today with Rhys (Granger) who’s a local, so he gave some good lines to hit and yeah, I just managed to flush two in a row and then hold the putt again.”
Being a Queenslander now, Smith says today’s warm weather probably benefited him more than the rest of the field, while his years growing up in Tasmania helped on the putting surfaces.
“Anytime I come down south, I love playing on the bent grass and the soft greens, it’s sort of like coming home a little bit,” he said.
“You get a good roll on the ball, so I always feel like I’ve got a chance of rolling a few putts in and I generally give it a good go.”
Having gone to university straight out of school, 32-year-old Smith has only been a full PGA Member for two years, but says completing the Membership Pathway Program (MPP) was life changing for him.
“Went to Uni and then I was working as a greenkeeper and just podding along basically,” he said.
“The MPP sort of just popped up and I thought, well that’s something that I actually want to do with my life.”
Defending champion Matt Docking shot a 73 to be T11.
The leading 66 Vocational PGA Professionals from across the country will this week descend on The Heritage Golf and Country Club in the Yarra Valley for the 2024 PGA Professionals Championship National Final.
With an increased prize purse this year, players will be competing for $65,000, with the two leading PGA Professionals after three rounds also earning an exemption into the 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland from November 21-24.
Vying for an incredible fifth title in 15 years, defending champion Matt Docking will undoubtedly be the player to beat as he seeks to return and improve on his showing at RQ 12 months ago.
“Playing the BMW Australian PGA Championship is an amazing experience, especially to play in front of such huge crowds,” said Docking.
“Although I didn’t play as well as I had hoped last year, it certainly gives me strong motivation to get back there again this year.
“Heritage Golf and Country Club is a really strong layout and with softer conditions due to recent rain, I expect that to win this year you will have to have a good ball-striking week.”
The BMW Australian PGA Championship is not the only lure for competitors this week.
The leading two males from the 2024 PGA Professionals Championship will represent Australia in the 2025 Four Nations Cup and the leading two females from the event will represent Australia in the 2026 PGA Women’s Cup.
The National Final will be played over three days (Tuesday to Thursday) on Heritage’s St John course, which is also the home to the Heritage Classic on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
PRIZE MONEY: $65,000
LIVE SCORES: www.pga.org.au
THE COURSE
The St John course at Heritage was originally designed by Jack Nicklaus and opened in 2000. It plays as a par-72 and, measuring more than 6,500 metres, can prove a challenging layout.
Designed in an American parkland style, the St John course is also the home to the Heritage Classic on the PGA Tour of Australasia, where earlier this year winner Matt Griffin demonstrated that despite the challenge, there are certainly plenty of scoring opportunities.
HEADLINERS
Matt Docking: Four-time and defending champion, Docking is the Head Professional at Murray Downs Golf Club which is the host of this year’s NSW Open. Last year Docking came from behind with a final round 67 to triumph by one shot. His win also earned him an invitation to this year’s Heritage Classic on the PGA Tour of Australasia where he made the cut.
TJ King: Leading for 50 holes in last year’s championship before Docking overtook him, TJ King is a two-time runner-up at the National Final. The Assistant Professional at Mt Coolum Golf Club, King is a two-time Australian representative at the Four Nations Cup. Despite still receiving the exemption into the BMW Australian PGA Championship the past two years, King will be hungry to go one better this year and etch his name onto the trophy.
Lachlan Wood: Making waves on the All Abilities circuit in recent years, Hervey Bay Teaching Professional Lachlan Wood has taken his game around the world to the highest level of All Abilities golf. Winner of the 2023 Australian All Abilities Championship and the Tin Can Bay Pro-Am on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series last year, Wood knows how to close out a tournament and will be one to watch at The Heritage.
Grace Lennon: While Lennon can be found coaching at Melbourne Golf Park more than playing these days, her playing credentials make her a player to watch this week. Winner of the 2023 Athena against some of the top WPGA Tour of Australasia players, Lennon also travelled to the US this year to represent Australia in the Women’s PGA Cup, helping her country to a third-place finish.
Larry Austin: A regular on the touring circuits in Australia and Asia in the 2000s, Queanbeyan’s Austin will be hoping to turn the clock back this week at The Heritage. Having competed in multiple Australian Opens and indeed several national opens around the world, Austin has more experience playing in strong fields than a lot of his competitors this week.
Katelyn Must: Based on the Sunshine Coast, Must has built her own successful golf coaching business over a number a of years. As a player, Must still plays in a number of WPGA Tour of Australasia events, making the cut at Webex Player Series Hunter Valley earlier this year, and was the Australian Team captain at this year’s Women’s PGA Cup.
Scott Barr: Former Asian Tour player and multiple pro-am winner, Barr is a regular on the PGA Legends Tour. Based in WA, Barr also played in the last two events on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, recording a tie for 21st at the WA PGA Championship to demonstrate that his game is still in incredible shape.
Riverside Oaks Golf Club’s Cody Harper has topped a field of 63 PGA Professionals to book his place at the PGA Professional Championship National Final at The Heritage Golf and Country Club in October.
More than 80 NSW/ACT PGA Members attended the NSW/ACT Annual State Members Forum at Concord Golf Club where 50-Year Members Chris Gaffney, Brian Parkins, 60-Year Members Ted Stirling and Les O’Keefe and 70-Year Member Ian Alexander were in attendance.
With Life Members Geoff Scott and Kyle Francis also present, there was close to 400 years of PGA Membership in the room, CEO Gavin Kirkman and General Manager of Membership and Education, Geoff Stewart, sharing the vision for what the PGA hopes to achieve in the future.
Following the meeting, players took to a Concord Golf Club layout presented remarkably well given the course had been closed just 48 hours earlier due to rain.
Harper’s round of 4-under 67 was the best of the day, one clear of Bryce Hohnen (68) and Larry Austin (68).
It was an impressive performance given the Director of Golf at Riverside Oaks was operating on very little sleep following the birth of his second child just days earlier.
The top 15 qualifiers will all contest the National Final, Bree Arthur was the leading female qualifier and Leigh McKechnie booked a spot in the Australian PGA Senior Championship as the leading player over the age of 50.
PGA Professionals Championship National Final qualifiers
Ulverstone Golf Club Professional Darren Spencer has booked his spot for the PGA Professionals Championship National Final with a one-stroke win at the Tasmanian PGA Professionals Championship at Claremont Golf Club.
The top three finishers earned a place in the National Final at Heritage Golf and Country Club in October, Spencer’s 1-under 68 giving him the victory from Daniel Smith (69).
The third and final spot required a playoff, with Scott Priest, two-time Dan Cullen Cup winner Scott Laycock, David Tapping and Steve Frith all finishing at 1-over 70.
Consecutive pars at the first and second playoff holes would prove to be good enough for Priest to join Spencer and Smith at The Heritage.
The next qualifying tournament is the PGA Professionals Championship of North Queensland, to be played at Townsville Golf Club on Monday, April 22.
Qualifiers from the seven events staged across Australia will play for an increased prize purse when the PGA Professionals Championship National Final returns to Heritage Golf and Country Club in October.
Tasmania’s Claremont Golf Club will host the first 2024 PGA Professionals Championship qualifier on April 5 to be followed by the PGA Professionals Championship of North Queensland at Townsville Golf Club on April 22.
The PGA Professionals Championship of South-East Queensland on July 31 will finalise the National Final field where the total prize money has increased to $65,000.
There are also two places in the field at the Australian PGA Championship up for grabs and, for the first time in the event’s history, female PGA Professionals will have an opportunity to play for the Women’s PGA Professionals Championship trophy.
The Women’s PGA Professionals Championship will see at least one female from each state qualifying event advance to the National Final, where they too can showcase their exceptional abilities on the golf course.
“Our PGA Professionals are often feted for the way they help golfers to play better but they are just as passionate about their own games,” said PGA of Australia General Manager of Membership and Education, Geoff Stewart.
“To become a PGA Professional you must display a high level of playing proficiency.
“While that may not be their primary focus as they work within the industry, we are proud to provide our PGA Members with the platform to showcase their skills and play their way into our flagship event, the Australian PGA Championship.”
The $65,000 total prize money is a 30 per cent increase on the 2023 PGA Professionals Championship won for a fourth time by Matt Docking.
Now the Head PGA Professional at Murray Downs Golf and Country Club, as defending champion Docking is exempt from state qualifying and excited about the prospect of a return to Heritage Golf and Country Club.
“I am looking forward to defending my title,” said Docking.
“Although I have been fortunate enough to win the event on four occasions, I haven’t necessarily played as well as I would have liked at the Australian PGA Championship once I have qualified.
“I would love to change that in 2024 and therefore the first step is getting there.”
The PGA is proud to partner with championship partners Acushnet and Club Car.
Both partners have supported PGA Vocational Professionals for extended periods, be it at their golf facilities or their professional playing ambitions.
2024 PGA Professionals Championship schedule
Friday, April 5
PGA Professionals Championship of Tasmania (Claremont GC)
Monday, April 22
PGA Professionals Championship of North Qld (Townsville GC)
Friday, June 28
PGA Professionals Championship of South Australia (West Lakes GC)
Monday, July 8
PGA Professionals Championship of Western Australia (The Western Australian GC)
Thursday, July 11
PGA Professionals Championship of NSW/ACT (Concord GC)
Monday, July 22
PGA Professionals Championship of Victoria (Keysborough GC)
Wednesday, July 31
PGA Professionals Championship of South East Qld (Nudgee GC)
October 22-24
PGA Professionals Championship National Final (Heritage G&CC)
It was a case of Howe and by how many as Quinton Howe delivered a dominant performance at the PGA Professionals Championship of South-East Queensland at Parkwood Golf Club.
Despite having to borrow his fiancés 9-iron, Howe went 7-under through six holes around the turn in his round of 8-under 62 to finish five strokes clear. That not only secured Howe a spot at the National Final at The Heritage Golf and Country Club from October 17-19 but also the Queensland PGA Championship at Nudgee Golf Club.
New South Welshman Jayden Cripps (67) and Toowoomba Golf Club Golf Operations Manager Brenton Fowler (67) snared the final two spots to the Queensland PGA as a total of 14 players advanced to the National Final.
Seventy south-east Queensland PGA Professionals teed it up at Parkwood and Howe was something of a surprise winner, to no one more than himself.
“I haven’t played a lot over the last couple of years since starting my role at Golf Central and the birth of our first child so it was nice to play well, somewhat unexpectedly,” said Howe, pictured second from right with representatives from Acushnet and Club Car.
“I had to borrow my fiancés 9 iron which created some challenges given I had to hit it five times during the round. In saying that, I was lucky enough to hole some putts on those holes when I needed to.”
Originally hailing from Victoria, Howe is excited to return to The Heritage which will also host the Heritage Classic on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia early in the new year.
“Really looking forward to the National Final at The Heritage Golf and Country Club,” Howe added.
“Being from Victoria originally, it is going to be great to see one of the state’s best facilities back to its former glory.”
The leading player over the age of 50 years old also received an exemption into the Australian PGA Seniors Championship, Nudgee Golf Club General Manager Darren Richards leading the seniors home with a round of 2-under 68.
Prior to the PGA Professionals Championship of SEQ, the PGA honoured some of our long-standing PGA Professionals (pictured). Long-term Head Professional at Helensvale Golf Club, Brandon Coleman, successful touring professional Michael Ferguson, off-course retailer Peter Barton and former Head Professional at Nudgee Golf Club, John Downs were presented with 50-year commemorative certificates.
Two-time Queensland PGA Champion and former Indooroopilly Golf Club Head Professional, Robbie Gibson, was also on hand to be honoured for his 60 years of PGA Membership.
The 14 PGA Professionals who qualified for the PGA Professionals Championship National Final are: Quinton Howe, Jayden Cripps, Brenton Fowler, Alexander McCoy, Darren Richards, Yongyan Sui, Matthew Rogers, Chris Duke, Joshua Bevan, Charles Wright, Matthew Ballard, TJ King, Jared Love and Darren Rodgers (countback).
The most common question that anyone who works in the golf industry invariably receives is this: How often do you play?
The perception that a job within golf opens up time to play is far from the reality but Victoria Park Professional Murray Lott worries the balance has tipped too far in the other direction.
Lott is part of the four-man team that will represent the PGA of Australia at the Four Nations Cup in South Africa from September 2-4 at Kyalami Country Club.
Reigning PGA Professionals Championship winner Jamie Hook, Matthew Guyatt and TJ King make up the rest of the team who will face off against PGA Professionals from South Africa, New Zealand and Canada.
It is a rare opportunity for those who work at the coalface to reengage their competitive instincts and take pride in their performance, performance that Lott insists PGA Professionals throughout Australia should not feel guilty about pursuing.
A former player and caddie on tour, Lott now splits his time between coaching at Victoria Park in Brisbane and playing the SParms PGA Legends Tour and believes there are benefits in keeping his game sharp.
Shortly after turning 50 last year he won his first Legends Tour event at Mt Warren Park, the opportunity to compete with his contemporaries providing balance both on and off the golf course.
“I understand why PGA Pros may feel guilty for taking time to practice or play – I’ve experienced that myself – but in my view maintaining a certain playing standard is actually a really important aspect of the job,” Lott says.
“Playing golf is why we became passionate about joining the PGA in the first place so finding the time to play nine or 18 holes helps to keep that passion alive.
“In previous roles at other clubs, playing a midweek comp was a great way to stay engaged with the members and develops a personal connection that can translate to provide a higher level of service.
“I also believe that if members or your clientele see you playing well and shooting good scores that there is an enhanced sense of pride in the person representing their club.”
Being selected to represent Australia is an achievement that has also turned heads within the Lott household.
His three sons in particular have been impressed that their old man can still mix it with the young bucks to the point that he will represent Australia in an international competition.
It’s another reason that Lott is adamant that continuing to play has been beneficial throughout his career.
“When the kids were younger it was tougher to find the time and I am extremely grateful that I now have this opportunity to represent the PGA of Australia,” he adds.
“Playing has not only been of benefit to my status as a PGA Professional but it makes me a happier and healthier person.
“It is my stress relief and my joy.
“I’d encourage everyone to play in the PGA Professionals Championship and to do so guilt-free.
“You never know where it might take you.”
There is a change to the qualifying criteria for the PGA Professionals Championship in 2022.
State-based qualifying will only be required if there is an excess of entries for the PPC Final at Yarra Yarra Golf Club in Melbourne from October 10-11.
To enter the PGA Professionals Championship Final visit the Tournaments and Events section of the Member website.
Portsea Golf Club PGA Professional Brad Kivimets has secured a start at next week’s Victorian PGA Championship at nearby Moonah Links Resort courtesy of his victory at the PGA Professionals Championship of Victoria.
Kivimets and Warburton Golf Club’s Kevin Smith finished tied with rounds of one-under at Commonwealth Golf Club with Kivimets claiming the crown at the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
Not only does Kivimets ensure his place at the PGA Professionals Championship Final on the Gold Coast in early January but a return to Moonah Links for a PGA Tour of Australasia event worth $137,500.
Kivimets missed the cut at the Moonah Links PGA Classic in February but qualified for the weekends at both TPS Victoria at Rosebud and the Golf Challenge NSW Open at Concord.
Although he missed out in the playoff the consolation for Smith is that he and David Tapping (73) will join Kivimets at Moonah Links next week while the top 13 qualifiers from the PPC of Victoria all qualify for the 36-hole Championship Final at Links Hope Island from January 6-7.
Three players finished tied for 13th at five-over 78 with Leigh Deagan earning the spot in the final, Michael Bainbridge and James Hartley the first and second alternates respectively.
The leading two players from the Championship Final will be exempt into the $1 million Australian PGA Championship the following week at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
Rossdale Golf Club Director of Golf Michael Moore (above) was the winner of the Victorian Club Professional Championship also held at Commonwealth, fighting back after a rough start to post two-over 75.
