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City of Logan local Ray Harris has fired an opening round of 3-under 69 at Windaroo Lakes Golf Club to lead the Coca-Cola QLD PGA Trainee Championship by one stroke.
Four birdies and a sensational eagle on the par-5 13th hole highlighted a rollercoaster round for the PGA Trainee.
“I have not played here for a while and forgot how good it is with the tight fairways and big greens,” Harris said of the Windaroo Lakes layout.
“I just enjoyed myself and my score showed what can happen when you enjoy yourself.”
Just one shot adrift is Hills Golf Club PGA Trainee and 2019 QLD PGA Trainee Championship runner-up, Dean Jamieson, who sits tied for second place alongside Luke Parker from Maroochy River Golf Club at 2-under the card.
Parker flew out of the blocks after starting from the nine hole, completing the harder back-nine in 5-under par before adding five bogeys and two birdies to his scorecard on the front-nine.
Jamieson also had a look at the first round lead before a triple bogey at the par-4 16th hole, nicknamed ‘snake gully’, saw him move back down to second place.
Tanner Jackson from Mt Warren Park Golf Club and Elliot Beel from Mackay Golf Club complete the top five following opening round scores of even par.
The second round of the 2020 Coca-Cola QLD PGA Trainee Championship will begin at 11am AEST from Windaroo Lakes Golf Club.
For further information visit pga.org.au.
The field has assembled for the prestigious Coca-Cola QLD PGA Trainee Championship to begin on Monday 12 October at Windaroo Lakes Golf Club, located in the City of Logan.
This year will not include the national flavour as in previous years owing to travel restrictions in QLD, however, with a fresh crop of first-year PGA Trainees who have won the majority of events this year, it will be an extremely competitive event.
Current Order of Merit leader AJ McCoy of Caloundra Golf Club enters the event as one of the tournament favourites to lift the Carnegie Clark Cup come Thursday afternoon.
“To have the opportunity to have your name engraved on the trophy alongside the name of Greg Norman is motivation enough to put in your best effort this week,” said McCoy.
“It has been a very competitive year thus far amongst the PGA Trainees with a variety of winners which no doubt means this week will be no different.”
Other notables in the field include Jesse Egea from the Wolston Park Golf Club who has won four times this year already, last year’s runner up and City of Logan local Dean Jamieson from Hills Golf Club and the lone Victorian player, Lachlan Kenny from Kingston Heath Golf Club who played well here with a T3 finish in 2019.
“I am fortunate that my parents live in Queensland and without work currently in Melbourne, was able to travel up and self-isolate for 14 days before staying at my parent’s place,” said Kenny.
“I played well here last year and love the Windaroo layout so I am really looking forward to not only the event but to actually play some competitive golf which I have not been able to do for some time due to courses being closed in Melbourne.”
The Windaroo Lakes Golf Club is again in fantastic condition with the 16th hole, nicknamed ‘snake gully’. again to be a focal point down the stretch.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have our club host the PGA Trainees once again this week,” said Windaroo Lakes Golf Club Head Professional Jared Love.
“We have been preparing for the event for a while now and Course Superintendent Daniel Stack and his team have the course looking great albeit a little rainfall and no doubt the players will find it challenging once again.”
In addition to a prize purse of $32,500, the winner of the Queensland PGA Trainee Championship will also be awarded an invitation to the 2021 QLD PGA Championship on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.
A champion will be crowned on Thursday afternoon and for all the scores and information on the 2020 Coca-Cola QLD Trainee Championship please click here.
First-year PGA Trainee James Macklin has won the 2020 Coca-Cola Pampling Plate in a stunning comeback at Caboolture Golf Club.
Macklin, up against third-year PGA Trainee TJ King, was on the back foot from the start after King recorded wins on holes 1, 2 and 9 to be 3UP through nine.
It wasn’t until the 12th hole that Macklin won his first match but it did little to reduce King’s lead. The Mt Coolum Golf Club PGA Trainee went on to win three of the next four holes and take a commanding 6up lead through 16 holes.
Macklin dug deep, however, to win the next two holes and be 4 down after the first 18.
The pair traded wins but as the match progressed Macklin found his groove with some spectacular shot making and clutch putting.
A late rally from Macklin with wins on the final two holes squared the match after the regulation 36 holes, forcing a playoff.
The first hole of the playoff was squared after Macklin made a terrific up and down to save par before going on to claim the 2020 Pampling Plate on the second playoff hole.
“I thought I was done earlier today. TJ was playing great golf and to be honest I was happy to be only 4 down after the morning round,” said Macklin.
“I remember watching Cameron Smith come back to win from 7 down to win at the Queensland amateur and I thought I just need to keep giving myself a chance,” he added, drawing on his matchplay experience from a stellar amateur career to fight back to claim the win.
Macklin played 137 holes this week on his way to his maiden Pampling Plate title and will be looking forward to a well-earned rest.
In the playoff for third and fourth it was Sanctuary Cove PGA Trainee Ryan Gailey who took the honours defeating a spirited Jordan McDonald from Headland Golf Club.
To view the final 2020 Pampling Plate results visit pga.org.au.
Queensland PGA Trainees TJ King and James Macklin are in the box seat heading into the final day of the 2020 Coca-Cola Pampling Plate after taking convincing matchplay wins in the semi-finals.
Despite battling a foot injury Macklin shot out to an early lead in his semi-final match against QLD PGA Trainee Captain Ryan Gailey with wins on the 4th, 7th and 9th holes to take a 3up lead after the first nine holes.
Further wins on the 10th, 13th and 14th saw Macklin win the match 5&3.
“I hit the ball ok this afternoon but I made some good putts when I needed to,” said Macklin.
Semi-final match 2 saw TJ King go up against Sunshine Coast local Jordan McDonald in a tight contest at Caboolture Golf Club.
The match was all square after the first nine holes with both players trading shot for shot. After the turn King began a hot streak with wins on the 10th, 11th 12th and 13th holes to take a 4up lead with five holes to play.
King and McDonald halved the next two holes to give King a 4&3 win.
“I wasn’t hitting the ball that good around the front nine but then something clicked and I started hitting some great shots around the back nine,” said King.
Reigning champion Dean Jamieson struggled to find his form on day two of matchplay, bowing out in round three after a loss to Jordan McDonald.
Today’s 36-hole final will see Macklin and King battle it out for the 2020 Pampling Plate title.
View live scores from Caboolture Golf Club at pga.org.au.
Dean Jamieson and Harrison Wills lead the way at the 2020 Coca-Cola Pampling Plate following rounds one and two of matchplay at Caboolture Golf Club.
Round one saw 16 competitors, consisting of players ranked 9th to 24th from Monday’s qualifying rounds, go head to head in the first round of the matchplay format.
Harrison Wills was the best performer in Round 1 with a 6&4 win over QLD PGA Trainee Order of Merit leader, AJ McCoy.
Wills got off to a flying start going 5 UP after the first six holes and was never in trouble for the remainder of the match.
“I hit the ball well this morning and it helped getting off to the start I did,” said Wills.
Round two took place in the afternoon with the winners from round one taking on the well rested top eight qualifiers from Monday.
Reigning champion and number one qualifier Dean Jamieson made a good start to his title defence with a solid 5&4 win over Luke Parker.
“I hit the ball pretty good today but I still have room for improvement,” said Jamieson.
“I think Luke just got a little fatigued out there this afternoon having played Round 1 earlier this morning.”
Harrison Wills continued with his good form from round one, defeating Aden Morrison on the last hole in a tightly fought contest.
Other results in round two included TJ King defeated Zoe Maxwell at 2 UP, Mitchell Smith defeated Stephen Klease at 3&2, Jordan McDonald defeated Ayoung Yu at 4&2, James Macklin defeated Tyla Vinter at 4&2, Ryan Gailey defeated Jackson Jubelin at 1 UP and Connor Cruice defeated Charles Vos on the 19th hole.
Round three is currently underway with Dean Jamieson up against Jordan McDonald, TJ King against Mitchell Smith, Conner Cruice against Ryan Gailey and Harrison Wills against James Macklin.
To view live scores from the Coca-Cola Pampling Plate visit pga.org.au.
Defending champion Dean Jamieson has topped the Coca-Cola Pampling Plate qualifying leaderboard with rounds of 69 and 72 at Caboolture Golf Club.
The Hills Golf Club PGA Trainee completed the 36-hole qualifying event with a total score of 1-under par and a comfortable one stroke margin over fellow PGA Trainees Connor Cruice and Aden Morrison.
Along with the top eight qualifiers, Jamieson is exempt from the first round of matchplay and will progress straight to the second round to be played on Tuesday afternoon.
“This course really suits my eye and given I am hitting my short irons as good as I have all year, I hope I can give myself plenty of birdie opportunities during the matchplay,” said Jamieson.
“Winning last year meant a lot to me. Rod is a great model for all of us PGA Trainees so to have my name engraved on a trophy named after him was really special.”
The Pampling Plate is proudly sponsored by Australian PGA TOUR Professional Rod Pampling and played at his home course of Caboolture Golf Club.
Both the first and second round of matchplay will be played on Tuesday with rounds three and four to be staged on Wednesday before the 36-hole final on Thursday.
To view the final Pampling Plate qualifying scores visit pga.org.au.
To view the live matchplay leaderboard visit pga.org.au.
Caboolture Golf Club will play host to 50 QLD PGA Trainees from Monday 14 September for the 16th running of the Pampling Plate.
The field will play up to eight rounds of golf in just four days in the tournament which is both named after and sponsored by Australian PGA TOUR Professional Rod Pampling.
Having completed his PGA Traineeship at Caboolture Golf Club, Rod has personally contributed more than $160,000 into the event which has seen winners such as Paul Hayden (2011), Tim Hart (2013), Ali Orchard (2015) and more recently Jacob Boyce who won back to back titles in 2016 and 2017. This year Dean Jamieson (Hills Golf Club) will hope to equal that of Boyce who will be teeing it up once again after his success in 2019.
He will however have some stiff competition on his hands including first year Trainee and current Order of Merit leader AJ McCoy (Caloundra) and a host of other first year Trainees who have posted wins already in 2020.
Also in the mix will be 2020 PGA Pro-Am Series winner TJ Gooding (Mt Coolum) and Trainee Captain (QLD) Ryan Gailey (Sanctuary Cove), proving that the event is shaping as one of the most competitive in recent years.
“What Rod does for us Trainees year in year out is simply amazing,” said Gailey.
“Personally, I am looking to go slightly deeper into the match play than I did last year where I was knocked out in round two but I did learn from that experience.”
Defending champion Jamieson does not have high expectations coming into this year’s event having recorded some lean results in recent weeks.
“I have not been playing that well lately but I do like the match-play format and if I can get around the 36-hole qualifying unscathed I can lean on last years’ experience and who knows what can happen,” said Jamieson.
“I really like the course and it seems to suit my game.”
PGA Trainees will play a 36-hole qualifying event on Monday and the top 24 players will progress to the Matchplay as per a new addition last year, the top eight qualifiers will be exempt from the first round of matchplay being played on Tuesday morning.
The field will then be cut to just eight players after the second round of matchplay on Tuesday afternoon. The quarter and semi finals will be played on Wednesday with a 36-hole final to determine the 2020 Pampling Plate champion.
Live scoring for the Pampling Plate will be conducted via both www.pga.org.au and the PGA Tour of Australasia App.
Brad Stephenson may not even be aware but his PGA DNA stretches back to a 13-year-old caddie at Royal Melbourne Golf Club some 60 years ago.
Such is the PGA of Australia’s Membership Pathway Program that lessons learned are lessons shared and the collective wealth of knowledge expands with each intake of new PGA Professionals in the making.
Formerly referred to as the PGA Trainee Program, the PGA Membership Pathway Program is taking applications for those wishing to be part of the 2021 intake until 2 October. It’s an opportunity to join an elite club and play a part in advancing the health of the game of golf in Australia.
Brad Stephenson was a 14-year-old playing in a corporate day when he first met Michael Faraone, the current Head Professional at Mornington Golf Club in Victoria.
Faraone himself had completed his PGA traineeship under Bruce Green and Richard Hatt at Royal Melbourne Golf Club and after striking up a rapport during the corporate day they played together began coaching Stephenson and his younger brother.
A junior at Berwick Montuna Golf Club, Stephenson played golf sparingly as he entered the workforce and travelled the world but at 24 years of age was convinced by Faraone that the path to becoming a PGA Professional was one he should take.
“The PGA Trainee Program was something I never dreamt was possible until Michael convinced me I had what it took to tackle it,” reveals Stephenson, who is now a Full PGA Member and the Assistant Golf Professional under Faraone at Mornington.
“I had spent time studying a Diploma of Fitness and working in the fitness industry where I learned that I loved helping people become better versions of themselves, whilst also having that competitive drive in myself.
“The traineeship required me to dig deep and really commit. My game was nowhere near the level required and my competitive experience was well and truly dated.
“I played the Portsea Amateur a few weeks before in entered the Trainee Program and had scores of 86 and DNF, thinking, How am I going to do this?
“Michael set me up by learning from experience. He was never worried about something going wrong or a repair going bad because there was always a way to fix it and learn from it.
“Before long I was preparing competitions, ordering stock, performing repairs and running Junior Golf programs. It didn’t take long to feel part of a really great club and where I still love to work to this day.”
The lessons passed on by Faraone have in themselves a rich history.
As a Trainee Golf Professional under Green who boasted more than 50 years of experience at Australia’s most acclaimed golf club, Faraone was shown first-hand how the PGA Professional can impact the club environment and elevate the experience of the membership.
“Bruce certainly taught me how to be the Professional of the Club,” Faraone recalls.
“His rapport with the members and his passion for the club and golf is what stuck with me.
“Richard added to that in the running of a pro shop business. He worked hard and smart and was the benchmark for all his staff. He was a fantastic motivator and gets the best from his staff.”
Like Stephenson, Melissa Taylor stayed with Luke Bower at Eastwood Golf Club after completing the Trainee Program, with her golf journey beginning as a junior at Chirnside Park Country Club where Bower was completing his traineeship under Ed Rechters.
“Luke and I have always had a special relationship,” Taylor says. “He has always been more like family to me and I’ve known him for more than half my life.
“I decided in 2014 that my life was missing something and that I wanted to come back to golf and make a career out of it. I started working for my parents on flexible hours so I could practice and play as much golf as possible.
“It was midway through 2015 that a casual position at Eastwood became available and with the intention to be a Trainee Professional and ultimately a PGA Club Professional, in 2016 I took the opportunity.
“Luke had become the Director of Golf at Eastwood approximately two years earlier and he encouraged me to apply for the job.
“It was new territory for us to go from friends to colleagues but I’ve been there ever since and loved every minute of it.
“Luke has always been supportive and a wealth of knowledge. It made me feel comfortable knowing I was working with people I could turn to for help and guidance.
“Luke was always checking in about assignments and always willing to help if I had any questions. He wanted me to learn and showed me as much as he could about anything that he could. Before I even began the Trainee Program I was learning from him.”
This transfer of professional expertise provides a depth to the PGA that bonds all who are Members yet Faraone adds that sometimes it is the teachers who do the learning.
“The relationship between a Head Professional and their Trainee is more than just an employer/employee relationship,” Faraone says.
“The more the Head Professional can develop an enjoyable and team environment the better the Pro Shop and everything involved with the club will operate.
“A Trainee will look up to the Head Professional as a mentor but the Head Professional these days can also learn from the Trainee as they bring what they have learned through the ever-improving PGA Membership Pathway Program.
“Over the years my Trainees have made suggestions I have taken on board that may improve Pro Shop operations from their PGA training and education.
“As a proud PGA Member you want to be part of developing the future generation of members within your business, making for a stronger PGA.”
Not only a stronger PGA, but stronger golf clubs according to Luke Bower.
“When you hire a PGA Trainee, you’re hiring someone who is training for their career,” Bower says.
“The job requires commitment as it is an industry that requires weekend work, public holidays, early starts and late finishes. So to have someone in the shop that sees the golf industry providing long-term employment and is learning to develop their skills specific for the industry, it is exceptionally beneficial to the golf club.”
If you or someone you know is interested in pursuing a career as a PGA Professional, apply now to join the PGA Membership Pathway Program.
The PGA is pleased to announce that Windaroo Lakes Golf Club will once again play host to the 2020 QLD PGA Trainee Championship, albeit in a different time slot.
The marquee event on the Queensland PGA Trainee calendar will be contested from 12 – 15 October 2020 with a reduced field due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Yet the state championship will remain as competitive as ever for those looking to add their name to the Carnegie Clark Cup alongside previous winners such as Rod Pampling and former world number one Greg Norman.
Local PGA Trainee Professional Dean Jamieson from the Hills Golf Club, located in the Logan City catchment, will be looking to go one better this year after finishing second in 2019 to NSW PGA Trainee Brayden Petersen.
“I played consistently over the four rounds last year however came up just short,” said Jamieson.
“That experience in coming so close has given me the confidence that I can go one better this year and I can’t wait to tee it up at Windaroo Lakes which is a local course for me.”
In addition to a share of the $35,000 prize purse, the winner of the QLD PGA Trainee Championship will also be provided an invite to play the 2021 QLD PGA Championship on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.
PGA of Australia State Manager Broc Greenhalgh is looking forward to Australia’s up and coming talent being showcased at Windaroo Lakes Golf Club.
“The PGA Trainees have been challenged this year as have we all, however, we are proud to be able to give them an event to focus on knowing it will provide golf fans in the City of Logan with an opportunity to see them in full flight,” said Greenhalgh.
Windaroo Lakes Golf Club provided challenging conditions for all players in 2019 with strong winds drying the greens and causing slick surfaces. Preparation for this year’s event is going well with favourable winter weather providing top course conditions.
“We really enjoyed showcasing our facility at last year’s championship as well as other PGA sanctioned events,” said Windaroo Lakes Golf Club Head PGA Professional Jared Love.
“The members get right behind it both volunteering on course as well as in all of the off course activities which is what we pride our club on. There’s something for everyone.”
Logan City Council is thrilled to host the 2020 tournament which aims to use top level sporting events to encourage economic growth and profile the city.
Mayor Darren Power has thanked Windaroo Lakes Golf Club for hosting the Queensland PGA Trainee Championship in 2020 in the current climate.
For more information on the QLD PGA Trainee Championship visit pga.org.au.
Asquith Golf Club Trainee Brayden Petersen has added a second Rich River Classic title to his resume with a two-shot victory at Rich River Golf Club.
The 2018 and now 2020 Rich River Trainee Classic champion started the day two shots back but with a final round of 3-under 69 was able to leap-frog overnight leader Steffanie Vogel to take the title with a 7-under the card total.
Petersen put on a clinical display across his final 18 holes to record a bogey-free round which included three birdies on the front nine alone. Able to keep his nerves at bay down the final stretch, Petersen held onto his two-shot lead throughout the back nine to finish 3-under for the day.
The New South Welshman now joins the illustrious club of Trainees who have won this title twice, including recent graduate and last year’s champion Frazer Droop.
“It’s been an amazing week,” Petersen said.
“I obviously started well in the first round, but had to grind it out during the next two days in that wind.
“Everyone else was playing well but I knew I could shoot a good score on the final day and hopefully give myself a chance.”
After the cut, Petersen acquired the help of caddie, fellow Trainee and Murray local, Jamie Stapleton who he credits for his lift in performance in the last two rounds.
“I couldn’t have done it without him,” Petersen added.
“He knows this course so well and he really kept my head on straight when I was getting tense towards the end there. I can’t thank him enough.”
New South Wales featured at the top of the leaderboard with Kogarah Golf Club Trainee, Mitch Gannon and Port Macquarie Trainee, Tom Biron mirroring each other’s performances for the week, both carding a 3-under 69 and finishing at 5-under.
The final player to finish under par was Cobram-Barooga first year Trainee Steffanie Vogel who shot a final round of 3-over 75 to finish the tournament at 3-under after leading into the final day.
The Rich River Trainee Classic continues to be a cornerstone of the Trainee playing calendar, with the 33rd year providing another successful event.
To view the final leaderboard visit pga.org.au.
