Want to recieve exclusive news, videos, tournament highlights, golf important tips and more ?
Want to recieve exclusive news, videos, tournament highlights, golf important tips and more ?
Damon Stephenson is the new Zigrete Queensland PGA Associates champion after a rollercoaster final day at Windaroo Lakes.
The leader after all three rounds, building on his gap to his nearest challengers each day, Stephenson surrendered a four-shot advantage early in the final round before rallying on the back nine to score a one-shot victory – his first in a four-round professional event.
A second year associate pro at nearby Gainsborough Greens Golf Club, Stephenson finished at 8-under-par for the tournament after his closing 3-over-par 76, holing a curling three-metre par putt on the final hole to see off ACT’s Lachlan Chamberlain (73) by a single shot.
Drew Herbert’s best of the day 6-under-par 67 moved him into outright third place, two back.
Stephenson’s hard-earned four-shot overnight lead disappeared within six holes today thanks to a double-bogey and two bogeys and a charge from former champion Jack Wright who went 4-under-par through the same stretch.
“I went out with a four-shot lead, not being complacent at all, but it disappeared really quickly and then it was a mental reset,” Stephenson said.
“It was like ‘okay, we’re tied for the lead. How do we approach this now’?”
While Wright, who had started the day seven behind, fell away on the back nine, Stephenson showed great resilience to birdie 10, 12 and 13 to regain his advantage.
Chamberlain moved back in touch thanks to an eagle on 16 and had a real chance to force a playoff when the leader bogeyed the 17th to see his margin cut to one and then missed the final green with his approach shot.
“I was reading the putt (to win) and I could feel myself getting emotional about it, thinking about making it,” Stephenson said.
“I had to snap back and realise you’ve just got to hit a good putt here. You’ve still got to make it, otherwise you’re going to a playoff.
“I got back in the present and just read it perfectly. It was lightning fast, broke about three cups and it went right in the heart. It was awesome.”
Next on his target list – a bottle of celebratory red wine with his father and maybe a late start at work at tomorrow.
With the support of Brisbane-based concreting company Zigcrete, this year’s championship boasted minimum total prize money of $47,500 and has become one of the most prestigious tournaments for those on the path to becoming a PGA Professional.
Leaderboard
1 Damon Stephenson 74-69-72-76 (284)
2 Lachlan Chamberlain 69-70-73-73 (285)
3 Drew Herbert 72-71-76-67 (286)
T4 Dylan Knox 73-70-69-76 (288)
T4 Justin Morley 71-74-73-70 (288)
6 Jack Wright 70-72-73-75 (290)
T7Jordan Rooke 79-69-71-73 (292)
T7 Campbell Jones 73-75-74-70 (292)
T9 Conor Whitelock 69-77-70-79 (295)
T9 Samuel Reece 74-74-73-75 (295)
Damon Stephenson is one round away from completing an all-the-way victory in the 2025 Zigcrete QLD PGA Associate Championship at Windaroo Lakes.
The leader by two shots following round one and three shots after round two, Stephenson will take a four-stroke lead into Thursday’s final round after shooting a 1-under-par 72 today.
His nearest challengers are fellow Queenslander Dylan Knox, whose 69 was the best score in round three, and ACT’s Lachlan Chamberlain who lost ground with his 73.
Chasing his biggest win as a professional, Stephenson’s steady third round included two birdies and the solitary bogey to move him to 11-under for the tournament.
“I’m in a good position,” the Gainsborough Greens associate professional said.
“I just need to execute my game plan, stick to my process and do what I’ve been doing and hopefully that’s good enough at the end of the week.
“Nothing’s going to change in terms of prep. Just go home, recover, rest up and a bit of a later tee time so a bit more sleep and get back out here tomorrow.”
Knox made his move with a back nine of 4-under 33. After being six shots behind Stephenson following round one, he has four to make up on the final day.
“I was just giving myself a lot of birdie looks and chances and that’s all I can really ask for out there, Knox, a third year associate from Indooroopilly Golf Club, said.
“I’ve really got to compliment my iron play. That’s something I’ve been working pretty hard on and I’m really happy with it.”
With the support of Brisbane-based concreting company Zigcrete, this year’s championship boasts minimum total prize money of $47,500 and has become one of the most prestigious tournaments for those on the path to becoming a PGA Professional.
Leaderboard
1 Damon Stephenson 74-69-72 (208)
T2 Dylan Knox 73-70-69 (212)
T2 Lachlan Chamberlain 69-70-73 (212)
T4 Jack Wright 70-72-73 (215)
T4 Beau Lavery 69-71-75 (215)
6 Conor Whitelock 69-77-70 (216)
7 Justin Morley 71-74-73 (218)
T8 Jordan Rooke 79-69-71 (219)
T8 Drew Herbert 72-71-76 (219)
For the second straight year, Damon Stephenson is the 36-hole leader at the Zigcrete QLD PGA Associate Championship at Windaroo Lakes.
The associate professional at nearby Gainsborough Greens followed up his opening round 67 with a 69 today to be 10-under-par for the tournament, three shots clear of ACT’s Lachlan Chamberlain (69-70).
In last year’s event, Stephenson led by four at the halfway mark before eventually finishing third.
“Everything’s in a good spot,” the 32-year-old said.
“Head feels good, swing feels good. Last year was last year, this year’s this year so it is just going to be about staying present, staying patient and just trying to execute my game plan.”
Stephenson has had 13 birdies throughout the first two rounds but noted the par-5s at Windaroo had not been as gettable as they were in this championship last October.
“A lot of the fives, which were probably iron into last year, are now either a 3-iron hybrid or a 3-wood,” he said.
“It’s more about leaving those approaches in the right spot around the greens to give yourself an easy up and down.”
Chamberlain, with top-10s on his record from both the NSW and Victoria Associate Championships, is on his first visit to Windaroo Lakes but has shown he will be a threat over the final two rounds.
“It’s my first time seeing the course and I’m enjoying it,” he said.
“Getting used to the grain has been a little bit tricky coming from Canberra so that’s been a bit of an adjustment.”
The big move in the second round came from Jordan Rooke who followed an opening 79 with a 4-under-par 69 to climb to a share of 13th place.
With the support of Brisbane-based concreting company Zigcrete, this year’s championship boasts minimum total prize money of $47,500 and has become one of the most prestigious tournaments for those on the path to becoming a PGA Professional.
Leaderboard
1 Damon Stephenson – 67-69 (136)
2 Lachlan Chamberlain – 69-70 (139)
3 Beau Lavery – 69-71 (140)
4 Jack Wright – 70-72 (142)
T5 Drew Herbert – 72-71 (143)
T5 Dylan Knox – 73-70 (143)
T7 Bronson White – 69-76 (145)
T7 Justin Morley – 71-74 (145)
T7 Minami Inoue – 75-70 (146)
Opting for a late change of mind with his putter proved to be a good decision for Damon Stephenson who leads the 2025 Zigcrete QLD PGA Associate Championship by two shots after day one at Windaroo Lakes Golf Course.
Stephenson shot a 6-under-par 67 to lead a group of five players following a round that featured eight birdies, the leader revealing post-round the thinking behind his equipment switch the night before the opening round.
“I’ve been tossing up between two putters this week. I had the Scotty Cameron and the L.A.B. which I’ve been using for about eight months,” Stephenson said.
“I played the practice round with the Scotty yesterday and then woke up this morning and said ‘nah, put the L.A.B. in’. It was a pretty last-minute thing, but I just went back to what was comfortable and putted pretty well for most of the day.”
Based at nearby Gainsborough Greens, Stephenson caught fire on the front nine, with birdies at the third, fourth, sixth, seventh and ninth to turn in just 31 shots.
His back nine started with a couple of bogeys but three birdies in a row from the 13th hole ensured the 32-year-old would be the overnight leader.
“It was relatively stress-free. Obviously pretty good scoring conditions today with no wind and pretty soft,” Stephenson said.
While the Queensland PGA Associates Championships has been dominated by players from the south-east corner of the state, Beau Lavery, from Rowes Bay Golf Club in Townsville, is flying the flag for the northerners.
He is part of the group of four players at 4-under-par following a round that was highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 12th.
Also firing 69s on day one were Bronson White (Noosa), Conor Whitelock (Brisbane), and Lachlan Chamberlain (Gold Creek).
With the support of Brisbane-based concreting company Zigcrete, this year’s championship boasts minimum total prize money of $47,500 and has become one of the most prestigious tournaments for those on the path to becoming a PGA Professional.
The second round gets underway at 7am Tuesday.
Leaderboard
67: Damon Stephenson
69: Bronson White, Conor Whitelock, Beau Lavery, Lachlan Chamberlain
70: Jack Wright, Caerwyn Ross, Kane Whitelock
71: Justin Morley
The Queensland PGA Associate Championship will take place at Windaroo Lakes Golf Course for the seventh straight year but in a new spot on the calendar and with a new title sponsor.
Moving from its traditional date in October, the 72-hole 2025 Zigcrete Queensland PGA Associate Championship starts Monday, June 2 and will draw Associates currently undertaking the PGA of Australia’s Membership Pathway Program from across Australia to the City of Logan.
With the support of Brisbane-based concreting company Zigcrete, this year’s championship boasts minimum total prize money of $47,500 and has become one of the most prestigious tournaments for those on the path to becoming a PGA Professional.
In his final year of the Membership Pathway Program (MPP) at Coolangatta-Tweed Heads Golf Club, Jack Wright will return to defend the title that he won in dramatic fashion last year but face stiff opposition from fellow Queenslanders and interstate players alike.
Damon Stephenson, Wade Edwards and Dylan Knox are other strong contenders from Queensland, Victoria’s hopes will be led by Lachlan Chamberlain and Ryan Isherwood while Thomas Heaton, Ho Tae Kim and Lachlan Tisma are expected to feature from New South Wales.
With close to 100 aspiring professionals set to tee it up for the richest purse in the tournament’s history, City of Logan Mayor Jon Raven is thrilled that the tournament will be held in the region for the seventh year in succession.
“The City of Logan is a great place to live, work and play which means it’s also an amazing location to host the Queensland PGA Associate Championship,” Mayor Raven said.
“We love having this event in Logan and want to keep it here for as long as we can.
“Windaroo Lakes Golf Course is a great course from the tee to the green which is why it’s able to attract this high-profile competition here.
“I’m sure the 2025 event will be action-packed, and I wish all the players success on the course.”
Given the flooding that the course sustained in the aftermath of Cyclone Alfred in March, PGA Membership Services Coordinator for Queensland and the Northern Territory, Mark Weir, paid tribute to the course staff at Windaroo Lakes to get the course ready for a June hosting.
“The event has been held in October in the past so it’s been an amazing effort from Course Superintendent Daniel Stack and his team to get the course to get the course back in such great condition after Cyclone Alfred,” said Weir.
“The Queensland PGA Associate Championship has made Windaroo Lakes and the City of Logan its home in recent years and, with the support of Zigcrete, we’re thrilled to increase total prize money on offer once again.”
When the tournament nears its conclusion on Thursday, June 5, all attention will turn to the final four holes at Windaroo Lakes.
The party hole at the par-3 15th will bring the energy while the par-5 16th – affectionately known as ‘Snake Gully’ for the water that winds its way down the left – will bring the drama.
PGA Associate Katie Buckley hopes to see golf clubs across Australia express their creative side after launching a recycling initiative with a difference at Townsville Golf Club.
In the first year of the PGA’s Membership Pathway Program, Buckley transferred from the New South Wales South Coast to North Queensland earlier this year, a phone call from none other than seven-time major winner Karrie Webb convincing to pack the car – and her cat Denzel – and head north.
Shortly after arriving, Buckley was made aware of broken tees from the golf course being washed into adjoining waterways and, ultimately, out onto the Great Barrier Reef.
Sensing an opportunity to make a positive contribution to the club’s environmental impact while also feeding her creative side, Buckley instigated a ‘teecycling’ program that will result in an artwork that will be displayed in the clubhouse.
“We asked everyone to pick up five tees when they went out and played and to put them in a vase that we have on the counter at the pro shop,” says Buckley.
“The members got really engaged with it and the vase filled up really fast. Then the juniors got really excited and made it a little game within themselves.
“I’d be out playing and they would run over from other fairways with bundles of tees that they had collected.”
But it is not just the members at Townsville Golf Club who are excited by Buckley’s ‘teecycling’ program.
Rosemary Veitch is not only a member and Women’s Golf Group Coordinator at Townsville Golf Club but also a Townsville Northern Suburbs Lions Club member.
She presented the idea to a meeting of Lions Clubs in North Queensland, word spreading as far as south-east Queensland as ‘teecycling’ took on a life of its own.
“Rosemary’s very passionate about recycling and the environment so she was really excited when I wanted to do it,” Buckley adds.
“As well as the wooden tees, there are lots of little plastic tees that get broken which go into the waterways which is washing into our ecosystems with the animals and then feeds out into the reef water.
“As Rosemary said, it’s a little thing that everyone can do and it’s so easy to do, but actually if you compile it, it makes such a big difference.
“It was such a little idea. We’ll pick up the tees because they’re a problem and I’ll make an art project. And then within a couple of months, it’s literally spreading across Queensland and got so much interest, which is really cool.”
It also reaffirmed to Webb why she was so eager to have someone such as Buckley complete her PGA training at Townsville Golf Club.
“You can see how enthusiastic and full of energy she is,” Webb says.
“I think she’s someone that brings people together and all golf clubs need people like her.
“I look forward to seeing what Katie’s organised when I’m home next.”
With the vase on the pro shop constantly filling up, Buckley hopes to unveil her artwork to the Townsville members in March next year.
She is keeping tight-lipped on what can possibly be created with thousands of broken tees but would love to see other creative types express their visions at golf clubs across Australia.
“I went and played an Associates match at Tropics Golf Club recently and they had my poster up and a vase on the counter with tees in it,” she adds.
“I didn’t even know they were doing that, so it was cool to walk into another golf club and see it happening.
“Hopefully we see some cool art projects popping up in random golf courses all over Australia and perhaps I could judge them.
“I would love that. That would be right up my alley.”
He was handed a golf club after being plucked from the surf on the New South Wales South Coast and now Wil Daibarra will join a line-up of some of the world’s best golfers at the BMW Australian PGA Championship.
Daibarra arrived at Royal Queensland Golf Club on Monday still in something of a daze, granted a place in the field courtesy of his come-from-behind victory at last week’s PGA Associate National Championship at Cobram Barooga Golf Club.
It’s not unlike his introduction to the sport, invited to give it a go by then Kiama Golf Club Professional Shaun O’Toole as he walked through the golf course surfboard tucked under his arm.
So taken was O’Toole by this surfer kid with a natural swing that he had him playing junior pennants in a matter of weeks.
That season, Daibarra went through undefeated.
“He was walking past the tee with the surfboard under his arm,” O’Toole recalled.
“Two of his mates were playing and I said, ‘You going to have a hit?’ He said, ‘I haven’t had a hit.’
“He had a go and I thought he had a good swing without even ever being shown.”
Under the guidance of first O’Toole and Elle Sandak and, most recently, Toby McGeachie at Links Shell Cove, Daibarra’s game flourished.
In a region that has produced the likes of Jordan Zunic and Travis Smyth in recent years, Daibarra was projected to follow a similar path.
Recruited to play pennants at Bonnie Doon Golf Club in Sydney, COVID stalled his playing opportunities, the now 22-year-old option to begin the PGA’s Membership Pathway Program.
He is now in his final year as an Associate and has a renewed belief that his game could be good enough to mix it with the best in the game.
“I felt like my first couple of years I wasn’t kind of maximising what I thought I was capable of,” said Daibarra, who was unable to opt into the Playing stream of the Membership Pathway Program at the start of the year but will play with Kiwi Sam Jones and fellow Aussie James Conran in rounds one and two.
“I kind of just always found myself feeling a bit bummed-out at the end of tournaments.
“Last week was really good, to finally play one that I felt like that’s how I should be playing.
“I’ve still got enough time to try practise and really try to push the playing stuff now. And then if it doesn’t work out, I’ve got coaching or something to fall back on.”
Having seen the raw talent and freedom with which he played as a junior, O’Toole’s only advice is for Daibarra to tap into the laidback attitude that made him such a prolific winner.
“I had kids in state teams and Australian teams and whatever – I worked a lot with good kids – and he just had something in the swing that looked good to me,” said O’Toole.
“It was like there was no pressure on him at all because he had no expectations.
“He just went out and played and he just kept winning. And he thought it was the easiest game in the world.
“He can hit every shot they can hit. If he can go in and play like he used to play, like a big kid with no pressure, that would be great to see.”
Kiama Golf Club’s Wil Daibarra has overcome a six-shot deficit to take out the PGA Associate National Championship at Cobram Barooga Golf Club.
Not proficient enough to join the Playing stream of the Membership Pathway Program at the start of his final year in the program, Daibarra matched the round of the week at Cobram Barooga’s West Course to finish three clear of South Australian Joe Hodgson (70) with 36-hole leader Ethan Chambers (70) third.
Overnight leader Zach Ion (Virginia Golf Club) fell out of contention with a round of 5-over 77 on Friday, paving the way for Daibarra to make his charge to the top of the leaderboard.
Only 2-under at the turn courtesy of birdies at four and five, Daibarra caught fire early in the back nine.
He made four birdies in the space of five holes and then added a seventh at the par-3 16th to reach 15-under-par.
A nervy eight-foot par putt on the last provided a final test, Daibarra passing in flying colours to complete a round of 7-under 65 and a three-stroke win.
Without a strong resume of tournament wins, Daibarra credited a more relaxed approach for his ability to claim the national crown in his final year in the program.
“Still can’t really believe it to be honest,” said Daibarra.
“Just a little bit of a different head space. Just relaxing a little bit more, don’t get so worked up on the good or bad shots and just kind of hit one shot at a time.
“That was mainly the difference
“I was pretty nervy but felt a lot better today than yesterday and I’m just really, really happy.
“Over the moon.”
Unsure whether his game was up to the standard to make it on tour, Daibarra began the Membership Pathway Program at Kiama in 2022.
When he fell short of the criteria needed to enter the Playing stream this year, Daibarra chose Game Development but showed his game stands up against the best Associates in the country.
Final leaderboard
1 Wil Daibarra 68-71-69-65—273
2 Joseph Hodgson 68-70-68-70—276
3 Ethan Chambers 68-65-74-70—277
4 Zach Ion 65-69-68-77—279
5 Daniel Gill 68-73-70-70—281
Virginia Golf Club Associate Zach Ion leads the PGA Associate National Championship yet remains stuck on the couch through three rounds at Cobram Barooga Golf Club.
Ion’s round of 4-under 68 on Thursday was the only bogey-free round of the day, his 14-under par total through 54 holes giving him a four-stroke buffer from Mount Osmond Golf Club’s Joe Hodgson (68).
What it hasn’t done, however, is improve his sleeping arrangements at the house he is sharing with fellow Queenslanders this week.
“I’ve actually still been on the couch all week, which is outrageous,” said Ion.
“I think a couple of them have left now so hopefully I can squeeze onto a double bed.”
Wherever he ends up, it could still be a restless night for Ion who is seeking to claim the biggest win of his three years in the Membership Pathway Program.
Co-leader after Round 1, Ion trailed by one after the second round and now very much finds himself as the hunted as the tournament nears its climax.
“It’s a new feeling to be up – and I didn’t know I was up four – but game-plan wise, I’ve probably got to stick with pretty much the same thing again,” said the tall left-hander.
“It’s working. I’m not really taking too many risks. Just keep focused, keep relaxed and enjoy tomorrow.”
A prodigious bomber off the tee, Ion had to lean on his short game to stay bogey-free in Round 3, particularly early in his round.
He conjured a couple of crucial par saves and then made birdie at the 161-metre par-3 fifth.
Five more pars followed before he built a handy advantage with birdies at 11, 14 and 18.
“It was actually a bit more scrambling than it’s been this week,” Ion conceded.
“Got off to a bit of a nervous start. I’ve normally been hunting guys down rather than being up there third and fourth round of state champs so it was a bit nervy around the start.
“I made a couple of good putts early, kind of pushed my momentum forward for the rest of the round and then started playing a bit more like myself for the rest of it.”
A double-bogey at the par-4 17th made Hodgson’s assignment that little bit tougher, 36-hole leader Ethan Chambers (The Lakes GC) one shot further back at 9-under after a round of 2-over 74 highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 11th.
Aggression off the tee and a simple strategy on the greens has seen Ethan Chambers take a one-stroke lead at the halfway mark of the PGA Associate National Championship at Cobram Barooga Golf Club.
A First Year Associate at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney, Chambers matched the low round of the tournament on day two, his 7-under 65 giving him a 36-hole total of 11-under and a one shot buffer from Round 1 co-leader Zach Ion (69).
Those in the morning wave were greeted by perfect conditions at Cobram Barooga’s West Course, conditions that changed markedly for the afternoon groups.
A thunderstorm rolled through mid afternoon that caused a delay of one hour, the wind whipping up and heavy rain leaving casual water in some of the bunkers.
Chambers and Ion were both safely tucked away in the clubhouse by the storm hit, Chambers playing the four par-5s in 4-under par to surge to the top of the leaderboard.
“I’d definitely say I’m more an aggressive player,” said Chambers.
“I’ve been trying to take driver where I can, but then I understand some holes I’ve got to take my medicine.
“Just been poking it around with 2-iron and 3-iron so I’ve got in the bag this week.
“A lot depends on the wind, where the wind’s at. But I’ll keep sticking to it.”
Four-under and bogey three through nine holes, Chambers dropped a shot at the par-4 10th but hit back with birdies at 11 and 12 and then an eagle at the par-5 14th.
With the West Course greens nudging 12 on the Stimpmeter, Chambers said controlling the trajectory of his approach shots was crucial.
“Really just going to keep doing what I’m doing, keeping it below the hole,” Chambers added.
“It’s a big part of my game-plan this week given the greens are so good.
“I’m just going to keep it the same and see how we go.”
Ion followed up his 65 on day one with a 3-under round on Wednesday, the tall left-hander from Virginia Golf Club in Brisbane coming home in 3-under 33 to sit just one off the lead.
“What I’m doing is working,” Ion said of his game-plan for the final two rounds.
“A couple of holes today the game-plan didn’t work as well, but that was just due to poor swings.
“It’ll just be keeping my head nice and calm, keep my breathing going and try and go low again tomorrow.”
First Year Associate at Gold Creek Country Club in the ACT, Lachlan Chamberlain, sits in third spot four strokes off the lead thanks to a round of 4-under 68 featuring five birdies and one bogey.
Round 1 co-leader Linus Yip (Avondale Golf Club) is in a share of fourth after a round of 1-over 73 in the afternoon, joined at 6-under by Joseph Hodgson (70) from Mount Osmond Golf Club in Adelaide.
