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In the fifth straight week of Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia events, the Gippsland Super 6 heads back to Warragul Country Club for the fourth time in the tournament’s six year history.
The last event on Tour for the year, players will be looking for a final Order of Merit boost before the Christmas break, and with a number of players taking up opportunities around the world this week, there is increased opportunity for serious movement.
None of this season’s Tour winners are in the field, paving the way for a maiden Tour winner come Sunday at Warragul. Last year’s champion Kerry Mountcastle is also not in the field this week, however two-time Gippsland Super 6 champion Tom Power Horan is back in region and will be hungry for a third title.
2023 CHAMPION: Kerry Mountcastle (NZ)
PRIZEMONEY: $200,000
LIVE SCORES: www.pga.org.au
TV COVERAGE: The Gippsland Super 6 is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
*All times AEDT.
Round 3: Saturday 3pm-6pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
Final Round: Sunday 1pm-6pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
FORMAT:
The Gippsland Super 6 starts out with 54 holes of stroke play event over three days before morphing into a final day of six-hole knockout matches culminating in a two-man finale.
A field of 120 competitors will play 18 holes on each of the first two days. After 36 holes, the leading 50 professionals and ties, plus any amateurs on the same score or better, will qualify to play the third round.
After 54 holes, the leading 24 players will qualify for the knockout section, which is contested via six-hole medal match play to determine a champion.
Medal match play means that all matches will go the distance with a winner determined on the sixth hole, or, the match will continue to the deciding knockout hole.
THE COURSE:
Designed by Syd Bennett in 1926, Warragul is one of the premier courses in the Gippsland region. Playing as a par-70 measuring 5,509 metres, Warragul’s standout feature is the serious elevation changes.
Bulit on a dramatic site, several holes play either down into steep gullies, or up and over interesting rises, with almost no flat holes on the entire property.
A unique feature at Warragul is the 176 metre par-3 finishing hole, which often provides a dramatic ending to the medal match play. In the event of a tie in the matches, a shorter tee measuring 100 metres is used as a knockout hole to determine the winner.
HEADLINERS:
Tom Power Horan – Two-time Gippsland Super 6 champion
Corey Lamb – Three top-10s this season and 7th on the OOM
Cameron John – 2024 winner of The National Tournament
Matias Sanchez – Three top-10s this season and 15th at the BMW Australian PGA Championship
Anthony Quayle – Third at both the BMW Australian PGA Championship and last week’s Victorian PGA
Jake McLeod – 2018 Order of Merit winner
The majors may be over for another summer but the 2024/2025 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season remains in full swing with the Victorian PGA Championship at Moonah Links Resort.
The pro-am format that brings the tour’s best players together with golf-obsessed celebrities from the worlds of sport and entertainment on the spectacular Mornington Peninsula has proven to be a popular change.
This year, those stepping out of their comfort zone to share the stage with pro golfers include acclaimed Hollywood actor Michael Pena, three-time Paralympic gold medallist Dylan Alcott, AFL legends Dermott Brereton and Brendon Fevola and Melbourne Storm NRL star, Ryan Papenhuyzen.
They aren’t the stars of this show, though, with the likes of defending champion David Micheluzzi (pictured), Jack Buchanan, Jasper Stubbs and Anthony Quayle all seeking to advance their position on the Order of Merit.
The final two rounds of the Victorian PGA Championship will be broadcast live on both Fox Sports and Kayo with coverage to run from 3pm-6pm Saturday and 1pm-6pm Sunday AEDT.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: David Micheluzzi (Victoria)
PRIZEMONEY: $250,000
LIVE SCORES: www.pga.org.au
TV COVERAGE: Victorian PGA Championship is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
*All times AEDT.
Round 3: Saturday 3pm-6pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
Final Round: Sunday 1pm-6pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
FORMAT
The tournament will be contested over 72 holes of stroke play for the professionals with a separate team competition called the Victorian Celebrity Amateur Challenge played in conjunction. The field of 120 professionals will be paired with an amateur partner and play one round on both the Open and Legends courses at Moonah Links. The leading 50 professionals and ties will qualify for the final two rounds while in the teams event, the top 24 teams advance to Round 3 which is then pared back to the top eight for the final round. The final two rounds will both be played on the Open Course.
HEADLINERS
David Micheluzzi – Fresh off qualifying for the DP World Tour Playoffs in his rookie season, Micheluzzi was fifth at the BMW Australian PGA Championship and made the cut at the ISPS HANDA Australian Open. Micheluzzi came from six strokes in the final round to beat Ben Eccles by a shot 12 months ago.
Jack Buchanan – Continued his breakout season with a top-25 finish at the Australian Open. Winner of both the WA PGA and Webex Players Series South Australia this season already, Buchanan is currently fourth on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
Jasper Stubbs – The 2023 Asia Pacific Amateur champion was in contention for Australian Open glory late on Sunday at Kingston Heath. In just his sixth start since turning professional, Stubbs’s tie for third saw him climb 766 spots in the Official World Golf Ranking.
Nathan Barbieri – The winner of Qualifying School at Moonah Links in April, Barbieri started the season with three top-20 finishes, the best of which was a tie for sixth at the WA Open at Mandurah.
Anthony Quayle – Tied for third at the BMW Australian PGA Championship, Quayle has returned home to play the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia as a way of relaunching his international career.
CELEBRITIES
Michael Pena – A passionate golfer, Pena’s Hollywood acting credits include Best Picture Academy Award winning films Million Dollar Baby and Crash along with highly acclaimed films End of Watch, The Martian and Ant-Man.
Dylan Alcott: Three-time Paralympic gold medallist and 2022 Australian of the Year
Dermott Brereton: AFL legend and five-time Hawthorn premiership winner
Brendon Fevola: Carlton great who is a two-time Coleman Medal winner and three-time All-Australian selection
Ryan Papenhuyzen: The Melbourne Storm NRL star was the Clive Churchill Medal winner in Melbourne’s 2020 grand final victory
Simon Marshall: Horse-racing identity who had 15 Group 1 wins as a jockey
RECENT CHAMPIONS
2023: David Micheluzzi
2022: Andrew Martin
2021: Blake Windred
2020: Chris Wood (Feb 2021)
2019: Campbell Rawson
2018: Aaron Pike
2017: Damien Jordan
2016: Ashley Hall
2015: Aaron Townsend
COURSE RECORD
Open Course: 62, Jim Herman (2010 Moonah Classic)
Legends Course: 62, Cameron John, Dimi Papadatos (2020 Vic PGA)
COURSE DESIGNER
Open Course: Peter Thomson, Mike Wolveridge and Ross Perrett
Legends Course: Ross Perrett
Ryggs Johnson, Curtis Luck and Marc Leishman are all going to Royal Portrush in 2025 to play the Open Championship after finishing top-three in the ISPS HANDA Australian Open at Kingston Heath.
Ryggs Johnson, Curtis Luck and Marc Leishman are all going to Royal Portrush in 2025 to play the Open Championship after finishing top-three in the ISPS HANDA Australian Open at Kingston Heath.
For today’s runner-up, Western Australian Luck, it is bonus after a difficult period battling a bulging disc in his neck and nerve issues that impacted his season in America.
“Obviously that (the Open) is a massive perk. The finish wasn’t ideal, but at the end of the day, I was not really hitting balls three months ago so I don’t think I can complain too much.”
Leishman has a good record in the Open Championship, including runner-up (beaten in a playoff) in 2015.
“It’d be nice not to have to do the qualifier, 36 holes in one day at my age is not a lot of fun,” he said.
“Very excited to get back to Portrush. I had a great time there last time, didn’t play great but I really like the course. I can’t wait to get back there and enjoy Northern Ireland.”
PHOTO: Marc Leishman celebrates another birdie during his final round at Kingston Heath. Image: Rob Prezioso
The co-hosts of the first ever joint format Australian Open in 2022, Kingston Heath and The Victoria golf clubs, are the hosts again to the ISPS HANDA Australian Open this week, but this time the roles are switched.
Play will be across both courses on Thursday and Friday, with Kingston Heath to decide the 2024 champions across the weekend.
Both 2023 titleholders in South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann are back, with Buhai vying for an incredible third Patricia Bridges Bowl in a row.
The Australian All Abilities Championship will again be held in conjunction with the men’s and women’s championships. Unfortunately 2023 champion Lachlan Wood has had to withdraw due to illness, meaning a new champion will be crowned this year.
Many of Australia’s stars who play much of their golf internationally have returned to vie for their national title, keen to battle it out on two gems of the Melbourne Sandbelt.
2023 CHAMPIONS:
PRIZEMONEY: $3,400,000 (M & W)
LIVE SCORES: https://www.golf.org.au/ausopen/
TV COVERAGE: All four rounds of the ISPS HANDA Australian Open is live on the 9Network and Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
*All times AEDT.
Round 1: Thursday, 12pm-5pm
Round 2: Friday, 12pm-5pm
Round 3: Saturday, 2pm-7pm
Final Round: Sunday, 1pm-6pm
THE COURSES
Having played joint hosts in 2022, the first playing of the joint format, Kingston Heath and The Victoria Golf Clubs are no strangers to hosting the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
Designed in 1925 by Dan Soutar, Kingston Heath also enlisted the help of Dr Alister MacKenzie to consult on its bunkering a year later in 1926, the Heath’s bunkering some of the best in world golf.
MacKenzie’s influence also led to the 15th becoming a world-renowned par-3 that will be sure to provide drama and intrigue as the week intensifies.
Kingston Heath has employed OCM (Ogilvy, Cocking, Mead) as consulting architects for a number of years, and the focus has been to make sure the course remains as close to the vision of Soutar and MacKenzie as possible.
Measuring out to 6638 metres for the men, and 5937 metres for the women this week, Kingston Heath is not significantly long in modern terms but is the longer course of the two.
Without serious length and sitting on a relatively flat piece of land, the bunkering provides the Heath’s primary defence, the course forcing golfers to plot their way around carefully.
Victoria was originally designed by Oscar Damman and Bill Meade in 1927, and like Kingston Heath, has been touched up by both MacKenzie and more recently Clayton.
With more elevation changes than The Heath, Victoria has some more dramatic holes, but the focus is often on the short holes, the same as its co-host.
The first is always a talking point. At 230-metres for the men, it is a par-4 that is reachable for everyone, but a chance of an opening birdie or even eagle can quickly turn into a double or worse with the amount of trouble around the green.
The same can be said for the 15th, another reachable four, where the risk can often outweigh the reward. Closing with a short par-5, an eagle on the last at Victoria can often shake-up the leaderboard at the final hour.
HEADLINERS
Men:
Joaquin Niemann: Defending champion, PGA TOUR and LIV Golf winner
Cameron Smith: 2022 Open Champion, Captain of Ripper GC
Cam Davis: Two-time PGA TOUR winner; 2017 Australian Open champion
Elvis Smylie: 2024 BMW Australian PGA champion and 2024 WA Open winner
Marc Leishman: Six-time PGA TOUR winner, T3 at 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship.
Lucas Herbert: 2024 NSW Open winner.
Women:
Ashleigh Buhai: Defending champion and multiple Australian Open winner
Hannah Green: 3-time LPGA Tour winner in 2024
Minjee Lee: 2-time major champion
Jiyai Shin: Former world No.1, 2-time major champion and former Australian Open winner
Steph Kyriacou: LPGA Tour player
Jenny Shin: LPGA Tour winner
Danielle Kang: Former world No.2
All Abilities:
Johan Kammerstad: Two-time AAAC winner
Kipp Popert: 2022 champion and world No.1
Simon Lee: US Adaptive Open winner
Ryanne Jackson: 2023 US Adaptive Open winner
Brendan Lawlor: 2023 G4D Open winner
Three of the biggest names in Australian golf will go head-to-head from day one in a mouth-watering match-up to kick off the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
Defending champion Min Woo Lee, three-time champion Cameron Smith and the returning Jason Day will tee off in the second group off the 10th tee at 6:10am (Qld time) on Thursday morning.
It’s a dream draw for Brisbane golf fans and a tantalising heavyweight showdown that could go a long way to identifying who will raise the Joe Kirkwood Cup come Sunday afternoon.
Tied for second at last week’s Ford NSW Open and third at the Queensland PGA a fortnight ago, Smith is seeking redemption at Royal Queensland after missing the cut 12 months ago.
The 31-year-old was almost brought to tears as he made an early exit on Friday a year ago, the 2022 champ as motivated as ever to perform in front of his adoring fans.
“It was completely disappointing to play how I did last year,” said Smith.
“It was terrible. It was a terrible feeling. I think being a Brisbane boy probably even hurt a little bit more and it’s not very often I get to play in front of a home crowd.
“We have a few events here in Australia but I like to think this is my home event.
“It was a terrible feeling so that was definitely part of the motivation to get up and get ready for this week.”
Lee’s 2024 international campaign came to a close on Sunday at the DP World Tour Championship, his year highlighted by two runner-up finishes on the PGA TOUR and an Olympic debut in Paris.
His victory at RQ 12 months ago marked the start of his ‘Let him cook’ phenomenon that spawned chefs hats and took the golf world by storm.
With the prospect of a million-dollar hole-in-one for fans on Saturday, the 26-year-old is excited to bring his infectious enthusiasm to Aussie golf fans once again.
“It’s a cool feeling to be back at the tournament where it first started, but I’m just trying to make the game cooler and fun,” said Lee, whose social media following has exploded in the past year.
“It can be boring at times but I’m trying to make it as fun as possible.
“There’s a lot of kids that look up to me and that’s one of the things that drives me to play good golf.
“The crowd here is amazing and I know there’s a lot of kids that come out, especially on the weekends.
“The best crowds all year round so just try to make it fun and cool and try to play good golf.”
While Smith and Day last played together in a practice round at The Masters in April, it will be an Olympic reunion of sorts for Day and Lee.
The pair forged a strong bond during their time together in Paris, Lee drawing on Day’s experience as a major champion and former world No.1 in order to elevate his own game.
“Jason’s been a very good friend and a good role model over the last few months since the Olympics and Presidents Cup,” said Lee, currently world No.48.
“I’ve learned a lot from him and I owe a lot. Just things that you would kind of learn down the road. He’s telling me what he’s done over the last, how many years he’s played and a lot of wisdom I guess.
“It’s great to have him in Australia. It’s been a while and hopefully we get to play together and show off.
“I really love and appreciate that he is down in Australia playing.”
Simth joked at the Queensland PGA that it had been “about 123 years” since Day last played in his home state but is also excited to have such a quality addition to the field.
“Jason and I are still relatively close. We talk a little bit,” said Smith.
“As a competitor, you want to compete against some of the best in the world. I feel like this week and next week we’ve got a really good field, so it is going to take a lot to win.
“Having those guys in the field that are known winners, when they’re there or thereabouts on Sunday definitely gives you something else to think about.
“It’s great. That’s really what you want.”
Other morning marquee groups announced on Tuesday are Australian Marc Leishman, American Harry Higgs and rising Danish star Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (6:20am) and Scotland’s Richie Ramsay and Aussie pair Anthony Quayle and Harrison Crowe (6:30am).
The afternoon groups are highlighted by French star Victor Perez and PGA TOUR winners Lucas Herbert and Cam Davis (11:10am), Kiwi duo Kazuma Kobori and Daniel Hillier with England’s Todd Clements (11am) and West Australians Jason Scrivener and Curtis Luck with Belgium’s Nicolas Colsaerts (11:30am).
For BMW Australian PGA Championship tickets, go to ticketek.com.au
The Australian PGA Championship is supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland’s Major Events Program and Brisbane City Council, through Brisbane Economic Development Agency.
Photos: Dan Peled/PGA of Australia (Smith, Leishman); Scott Davis/PGA of Australia (Lee)
Ghanaian-born Danny List will make his debut as a member of the DP World Tour at next week’s BMW Australian PGA Championship.
Rain had caused delays to the final two rounds of the six-round Qualifying School marathon in Spain but it may have been a blessing for List.
The 26-year-old bounced back from rounds of 71-72 in rounds four and five to shoot 8-under 63 in the final round, climbing 22 spots to clinch one of the final cards on offer for the 2025 DP World Tour season.
That season begins at Royal Queensland Golf Club and in a celebratory post to Instagram List revealed that he would be taking up the opportunity to play both the Australian PGA and the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
“I checked off a huge childhood dream today. Locking up my DP World Tour card for the 2025 season!” List posted.
“I’m thankful to the Lord, I felt his calming presence on every shot.
“Thanks to my beautiful mother who shared tears of joy with me when the last putt dropped, she knows just how much has gone into this.
“Thank you to everyone on my team and all that have supported me, it means the world.
“Get to go home to San Diego for a few days before we head down under for the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open!
“Let’s go!”
Born in Ghana to an Australian father who is the CEO of BCM Ghana, List developed his golf at Cottesloe Golf Club in Perth, coming close to selection in a number of Golf Australia national programs on a number of occasions.
List completed his schooling in Berkshire west of London and attended college at the University of Washington before settling in San Diego.
He earned status on the Latin America tour in 2018 and has played sporadically in Canada since 2020.
A win at the California Open in July gave a hint that he had returned to some of his best golf, coming through all three stages of Qualifying School among the most difficult examinations any golfer can pass.
He has established the Danny List Foundation that runs youth programs, encourages player development and does community outreach work in Ghana but remains equally proud of his Australian upbringing.
“Golf Australia has always been great to me and I wish I could have two flags on there,” List told DP World Tour Media.
“I love my heritage, love representing the Aussies.”
Fellow West Australian Haydn Barron shot 65 in the final round but was unable to retain his 2024 status, finishing in a tie for 30th.
DP World Tour Qualifying School – Final Stage
T18 Danny List 72-63-69-71-72-63—410
T30 Haydn Barron 77-61-71-69-69-65—412
WD Hayden Hopewell 68-74-68-69—279
MC Brett Coletta 66-74-66-74—280
MC Todd Sinnott 74-68-68-72—282
MC Matthew Griffin 72-77-69-66—284
MC Andrew Kelly 72-70-72-73—287
MC Tom Power Horan 70-73-69-77—289
MC Cameron John 71-71-74-79—295
Photo: Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images
After a six-event qualifying series around the state, all roads lead to Swan Hill, with one of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia’s biggest prize purses on offer this week as the Ford NSW Open heads to Murray Downs Golf & Country Club.
Last played in March 2023, after not featuring last season on Tour due to a change in scheduling, David Micheluzzi was the most recent winner of the Kel Nagle Cup, triumphing on his way to securing that season’s Order of Merit.
With an increased prize fund of $800,000, the return of the NSW Open has seen significant player interest, with star Aussies Cameron Smith and Lucas Herbert making the trip out to the Murray River region, as well as 2006 US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy.
Among the other headliners in the field are all four winners from Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia this year, Phoenix Campbell, Jack Buchanan, Elvis Smylie and Will Bruyeres.
Kicking off a huge three-week stretch, the NSW Open provides a sensational prelude for the BMW Australian PGA Championship and the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.
2023 CHAMPION: David Micheluzzi (Victoria)
PRIZEMONEY: $800,000
LIVE SCORES: www.pga.org.au
TV COVERAGE: The NSW Open will be broadcast live on 7plus and 7two.
*All times AEDT.
Round 2: Friday, 12pm (7plus)
Round 3: Saturday, 12pm (7plus)
Final Round: Sunday, 12pm (7plus and 7two)
THE COURSE
Consistently ranked inside the best 100 courses in the country, Murray Downs is a favourite among the abundance of layouts dotted along the famous Murray River that sits on the border of New South Wales and Victoria.
Once a sprawling sheep station, design duo Geoff and Ted Parslow took to transforming the former farmland in 1991 and produced a magnificent par-71 course stretching to 6,276 metres, which was updated by the brothers in 2009.
Featuring Wintergreen couch fairways, and large Penncross bentgrass greens, the immaculate conditioning at Murray Downs is often a talking point, along with the red sand that fills the large and significant bunkering.
Several forced carries are also synonymous with Murray Downs, none more so than the long par-3 fifth, which, off the tips, can be stretched out to over 200 metres.
Players are afforded plenty of width off the tee, and huge landing areas on the large greens, but with that openness also comes wind, and the abundance of water and sand come into play.
With hot weather predicted in Swan Hill this week, the Murray Downs greens will be rolling fast, just how the Parslow brothers intended the course to be played
HEADLINERS
Cameron Smith — 2022 Open Champion, captain of the 2024 season winning Ripper GC team on the LIV Golf League
Lucas Herbert — PGA TOUR and DP World Tour winner, member of the 2024 season winning Ripper GC team on the LIV Golf League
Geoff Ogilvy — 2006 US Open champion, 2008 BMW Australian PGA champion and 2010 ISPS HANDA Australian Open champion
Phoenix Campbell — 2023 and 2024 Qld PGA champion
Jack Buchanan — Winner of the 2024 CKB WA PGA presented by TX Civil & Logistics and Webex Players Series South Australia
Elvis Smylie — 2024 Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open champion
Jak Carter — Two-time runner-up this season and fourth on the Order of Merit
Curtis Luck — 2016 WA Open champion, and Korn Ferry Tour player
Moore Park Golf Collective, comprising Golf Australia, PGA of Australia, Golf NSW and Moore Park Golf Club, today announced an ambitious initiative to transform Moore Park South into a vibrant, world-class recreational and golf facility.
The alternative proposal, submitted to the NSW Government during its consultation process in April 2024, supports a growing Sydney and allows for the retention of the much-loved and always busy 18-hole golf course by maximising un-used and under-utilised open space for active and passive recreation and active transport.
The proposal, a testament to the Collective’s commitment to diversity, equality, inclusion and a vision for an innovative and sustainable future, will see several public spaces added to the area, including:
● An adventure playground
● A nature play space
● A dog park
● BBQ and picnic facilities, a fitness trail and terracing located in the best position with spectacular city views
● A football oval
● A skate park and seating
● Half courts and a futsal court
● A BMX pump track and riding zone
● An athletics precinct
● 3 kms of well-connected walking, running and cycling paths
● New environmental spaces for Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub regeneration
● A multi-level 500-space car park cleverly built into the landscape
● A reduced par-68 18-hole public golf course allowing local, state and national competitions to continue
● Mini golf course, a practice putting green and a practice chipping area
● A shortened high-tech driving range with more bays
The bold, city-shaping vision for world-class recreational and golf facilities for a growing Sydney is achieved by transforming undeveloped parkland, enhancing golf, and connecting people to destinations.
Jared Kendler, Leader of Save Moore Park Golf said: “We have been working to ensure the alternative proposal aligns with the Premier’s vision to establish Moore Park South as a vibrant recreational destination for all.”
“By enhancing existing infrastructure and revitalising un-used and under-utilised areas, the initiative aims to create a park that caters to diverse recreational interests in a financially sustainable way that solves the many challenges in the broader precinct.”
“This exciting master plan delivers a minimum of 15 hectares of quality and connected recreational space for play, exploration, relaxing, walking and sports activities for people of all ages and as such is a win/win/win for the Government, the people of Sydney and the visitor economy,” said Mr Kendler.
Damien de Bohun, General Manager of Clubs and Facilities Golf Australia, Stuart Fraser, CEO Golf NSW, and Jared Kendler, Leader of Save Moore Park Course, unveiled the proposal designed to accelerate the Premier’s vision for upgraded infrastructure and more recreational space while preserving the iconic and highly utilised Moore Park Golf Course.
Damien de Bohun, General Manager of Clubs and Facilities, Golf Australia said the proposal prioritises the preservation and enhancement of Moore Park Golf Course, positioning Moore Park South as a park for everyone and the home of public golf in NSW.
“Not only does the proposal incorporate innovative features such as protected recreational areas and well-connected walking, running and cycling tracks, it also offers a 500-space carpark to accommodate the growing influx of visitors and overflow parking for major events in the area,” Mr de Bohun said.
“With golf one of the most popular organised sports in Australia in 2024, this plan addresses the significant demand for golf facilities and ensures that Australia’s busiest 18-hole public golf course remains available and accessible to people from all walks of life, contributing to improved physical and mental health and wellbeing,” he said.
Creating significant employment opportunities in management, events, retail and hospitality, Moore Park Golf Course is also home to a thriving golf academy, where PGA of Australia professionals conduct more than 77 lessons per day, including group classes for children and new Mums and Bubs sessions.
Stuart Fraser, CEO of Golf NSW, said Moore Park Golf Club has been a key community asset for over 100 years.
“Golf NSW believes the alternate proposal provides a win-win solution for the NSW Government and a growing Sydney by offering a multitude of recreational activities, whilst continuing to service the massive demand for publicly accessible golf via an 18-hole course,” Mr Fraser said.
“The proposed recreational hub will truly be the heartbeat of the precinct, and golf industry stakeholders welcome the opportunity to maximise the recreational benefits of the site for the community,” he said.
The Collective is also working to build climate resilience and biodiversity by creating revegetation areas throughout the course for the critically endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS). Undertaken with IndigiGrow, a social enterprise from First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation, sustaining people, land and culture through the propagation and growing of native plants, the initiative will promote environmental sustainability and continue conservation efforts.
The Collective encourages residents of Zetland, Waterloo, Redfern, Surry Hills, Kensington, greater Sydney and beyond to support the initiative by signing the Save Moore Park Golf Course petition at www.savemooreparkgolfcourse.com.auto establish Moore Park South as a premier sports and recreation precinct, enriching the lives of Sydneysiders for generations to come.
Phoenix Campbell’s title defence has entered a new realm as Cameron Smith prepares to play the Queensland PGA Championship at Nudgee Golf Club for the first time in almost a decade.
The first of four events that Smith will play on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia this summer, Smith’s inclusion has elevated a tournament that dates back to 1926 to a level not seen since the 1980s when the likes of Greg Norman, Ian Baker-Finch, Peter Fowler and Peter Senior all won in a nine-year span.
Campbell made some history of his own 12 months ago when he became the first amateur to win the Queensland PGA Championship and returns two starts into his career as a professional.
He knows that with Smith in the field, going back-to-back is an even greater challenge.
“It is going to be awesome. I’m super excited,” said Campbell, who was tied second last week at Webex Players Series South Australia.
“I’m hoping to tee it up with him sometime this week, if not the next coming weeks.
“I think it’s great for the event. There’s going to be a lot more people out watching, which will surely lift the event and make it more fun to play in front of people.”
Cameron Smith continues to give back to junior golf, via @TonyWebeck.#QldPGA | @visitbrisbane | @NudgeeGolfClub1 https://t.co/lu43asRKog
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) October 28, 2024
Back in Brisbane for the first time in a month after playing the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in Japan, coming through stage one of Korn Ferry Tour School in Florida and finishing top-10 in his professional debut last week in South Australia, Queenslander Quinn Croker is also excited to tee it up in the same event as Smith this week.
Croker was part of the Royal Queensland Golf Club grounds crew at last year’s Australian PGA Championship but now gets to share the fairways with Smith at Nudgee.
“To see him come home, it almost feels like you can test your game against his,” said Croker.
“Obviously it depends on the type of week he has. If he has a very good week, it’s probably going to be better than your very good week. But you kind of hope that maybe Sunday your name’s right next to his and you get to play the final round with him.”
The final two rounds of the Queensland PGA Championship will be broadcast live on both Fox Sports and Kayo with coverage to run from 12:30pm-5:30pm AEDT Saturday and Sunday.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Phoenix Campbell (Victoria)
PRIZEMONEY: $250,000
LIVE SCORES: www.pga.org.au
TV COVERAGE: Queensland PGA Championship is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
*All times AEDT.
Round 3: Saturday 12:30pm-5:30pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
Final Round: Sunday 12:30pm-5:30pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
HEADLINERS
Cameron Smith – The 2022 Open champion and three-time winner of the BMW Australian PGA Championship. Smith captained the Ripper GC team to the team title for the 2024 LIV Golf season.
Jack Buchanan – 2024 WA PGA and Webex Players Series South Australia champion. Current leader of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit
Anthony Quayle – Winner of the 2021 Queensland PGA Championship and 2020 Queensland Open
Phoenix Campbell – Defending champion and tied for second in his second start as a professional last week at Webex Players Series South Australia
Elvis Smylie – 2024 WA Open champion and current Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit leader
Rhein Gibson – Two-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour
Daniel Gale – 2023 Webex Players Series Hunter Valley champion and 2021 Queensland PGA runner-up
A course-record round of 8-under 62 has earned South Australian Jack Buchanan a second victory of the season at the Webex Players Series South Australia hosted by Greg Blewett at Willunga Golf Course.
Ten strokes off the lead after 3-over 73 on day one and five back when he teed off on Sunday, Buchanan played his final 48 holes in 17-under par for a 14-under total.
After a wait of more than an hour, it would prove to be more than enough, finishing three clear of Victorian Phoenix Campbell (64), Hunter Valley’s Corey Lamb (68) and Kathryn Norris (69), who chipped in for birdie on the final hole to cap the best week of her young career.
Norris and overnight leader Brett Rankin (73) both made steady starts playing in the final group before faltering around the turn.
Norris made bogey at both nine and 10 as Rankin made double-bogey at 10 and bogey on 11.
Fast out of the blocks with consecutive birdies at one and two and an eagle from 15 feet at the par-5 fourth, Buchanan soon gained the ascendancy.
Playing six groups ahead of the final group, the 22-year-old kept the foot to the floor.
Despite a dropped shot at eight, he made the turn in 5-under and then added another birdie on 10.
Jack Buchanan claims victory at the 2024 @Webex Players Series @southaustralia after setting a new course record 🏆#WebexPlayersSeries pic.twitter.com/udvwvQB2zw
— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) October 27, 2024
He assumed the outright lead with a birdie on 13 to get to 13-under, only to fall back to 12-under with a three-putt bogey at the par-3 14th.
It would be just a slight stumble as Buchanan responded with birdies at 15 and 16 to reach 14-under, making two superb par saves on both 17 and 18 to set a mark that would remain unmatched.
It is Buchanan’s second win in three weeks on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, his win a fortnight ago at Kalgoorlie proving crucial down the stretch at Willunga.
“I think it made a huge difference,” Buchanan said of the confidence he gained from his win at Kalgoorlie.
“I said to my caddie, Patty, on 16 after I hit that iron shot, I said, ‘Kal’s made a big difference to me.’
“Just a little bit of self-belief and knowing that you can actually do it when you need to.”
Conceding that he was not in the best frame of mind when he bogeyed four of his final six holes on Thursday to be 10-strokes off the lead going into Round 2, Buchanan knew he needed a good start to the final round to be any hope.
“Five shots back, I didn’t really know,” added Buchanan, who now moves into top spot on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
“I said to my caddie, if we start off hot, you never know. That’s kind of what I did and just ran with it.
“I wasn’t overly happy (after Round 1) to be fair. Just a couple of three-putts. I feel like I lost my concentration a bit but hit it flawless since then.
“Just strived to play as good as I could every day.”
Two weeks after his historic G4D Tour win in Spain, Steve Alderson made it consecutive Webex All Abilities Players Series South Australia victories at Willunga, finishing three strokes clear of Wayne Perske with Tom Ryan one shot further back in third.
“I had a lot of local people wanting me to do well and just back up what I did in Spain,” said Alderson.
“I just didn’t want to crash and burn and just be like a one-hit wonder basically.
“It was quite tough coming down the stretch for me. My brain was in overload. I found it hard to hold back the tears on the last couple of holes, but had a big enough lead which helped to just to get the job done.”
In the Webex Junior Players Series South Australia event, Kooyonga Golf Club’s Malachy Marshall added to his SA Boys’ Order of Merit win with a seven-stroke victory over Billy White.
