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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.
For the first time in the 33 year history of the Rich River Trainee Classic a female Trainee, Steffanie Vogel, will lead into the final round of the tournament.
The Cobram-Barooga Golf Club Trainee made an emphatic statement on day three, shooting the best score of the day, a 5-under 67, to take a two-shot lead into the final round.
Vogel started the day at 1-under and two shots back but made her intentions known early with three birdies in the first five holes to lead at 6-under the card.
“I started really well today,” Vogel said.
“I got a run on early with a few birdies and I was just trying to keep the momentum going for as long as I could before I dropped one on 9.”
With a strong pack of contenders all trying to improve their position, the lead changed hands multiple times until Vogel delivered the knockout blow with an eagle on the par-5 11th hole.
“That was amazing. I couldn’t believe the putt went in,” Vogel said of the shot.
“The wind was behind us and I hit a great drive which left me about 150 metres out, so I took 7-iron and got it on, leaving myself about 10 feet for eagle.”
Not content with 4-under through 12, Vogel then made another birdie on 13 and held on to finish 5-under for the day.
Vogel wasn’t aware of the historic nature of her achievements, being the first female Trainee to lead the field after 54 holes.
“That’s incredible and pretty humbling,” she reflected.
“There are some very talented players here so I’m just stoked to be leading, but to be the first female to do it in 33 years is pretty special.”
Hot on her heels is round one leader and 2018 Rich River champion Brayden Petersen who shot a steady 2-under 70 to take him to 4-under for the tournament and two shots off the leader.
Also liking their chances will be round two co-leaders Mitch Gannon and Tom Biron as well as fellow NSW Trainee, Luke Humphries who all find themselves on 2-under coming into the final round.
A beautiful day of weather is forecast for Friday and a strong contingent of supporters will no doubt be out in force to support the final days play. Follow all the live scores on the PGA Tour of Australasia App or at pga.org.au.
First year PGA Trainee Danielle Vasquez has shot the best score of round two at the Rich River Trainee Classic to rocket into the top-five in trying conditions as Thomas Biron and Mitchell Gannon took the lead at Rich River Golf Club.
The PGA Trainee at Links Shell Cove, Vasquez recorded a round of 4-under 68 to sit one shot off the lead at 2-under for the tournament so far after the overnight leaders from round one came back to the pack.
CLICK HERE TO SEE LIVE SCORES FROM THE RICH RIVER TRAINEE CLASSIC.
Increasing winds early in the round challenged the field but it was Vasquez who showed poise and control with a blemish-free front nine of 2-under 34.
She then got on a hot streak, firing three birdies to start the back nine before finishing with 4-under for the round.
“I was really happy with how I played today,” reflected Vasquez.
“It was really tough out there with the gusty winds, but I managed to control the ball pretty well and gave myself some really good opportunities.”
Leading the field into moving day will be Port Macquarie Trainee Tom Biron and Kogarah Golf Club Trainee Mitch Gannon who both shot rounds of 3-over 75 to be 3-under for the tournament with two rounds remaining.
After a blistering round one, overnight leader Brayden Petersen dropped down the leaderboard with a second round of 5-over 77, but still very much remains a threat at 2-under the card and only one shot off the lead.
Despite the female cohort only representing 9% of the overall field, six of the seven have made the cut to show a promising future for female PGA Professionals.
Fellow first year Trainee Steffanie Vogel sits right alongside Vasquez after shooting an impressive even par to remain at 1-under par and sixth overall for the tournament.
“It’s great to see so many girls make the cut,” Vasquez added.
“We obviously don’t have a huge presence in the field, but hopefully we can have a presence in the result.”
The field’s resolve will be tested again in round three with more blustery conditions forecasted. Play resumes at 8:50am – follow all the live scores on the PGA Tour of Australasia App or at pga.org.au
Brayden Petersen has made his intentions known to the field at the 2020 Rich River Trainee Classic with an opening round of 7-under 65 to take a one shot lead at Rich River Golf Club.
FOR LIVE SCORES FROM THE RICH RIVER TRAINEE CLASSIC CLICK HERE
The PGA of Australia Trainee from Asquith Golf Club in NSW was flawless in his performance with a bogey-free round consisting of seven birdies.
Petersen has fond memories of the East Course layout at Rich River, having played it nine times for a combined score of 29-under. Petersen’s best 18-hole effort came in 2018 where a third round of 64 saw him win the event.
“I think I might buy a membership here,” Petersen quipped after his round.
“I’ve always enjoyed coming here. It suits my game and even though the course has undergone some renovations recently it’s still in terrific condition.
“The putts were dropping early and I strung a few birdies together which set me up for the round. I had a good look at a few more as well, so I definitely feel I can continue this form if I stick to my game plan.”
Petersen won’t have it all his own way, however, with two fellow New South Welshman nipping at his heels on 6-under.
Mitch Gannon from Kogarah Golf Club and Tom Biron from Port Macquarie were both equally as impressive as they put pressure on the leader with two terrific scores of 66.
Riversdale Golf Club Trainee Jack Bruerton and Latrobe Golf Club Trainee Callum McKenzie remain within reach of the lead after completing their first rounds with scores of 68 and 69 respectively.
Also impressing was first year Trainee and Murray region local Steffanie Vogel, who showed she can match it with the boys in her first professional four-round tournament after shooting a 1-under 73.
While all of the Trainees are playing for the prestigious title, some were also playing for a bit more.
Craigieburn Trainee Mitch Carter has organised a pledge between himself and others to donate $10 for every birdie and $20 for every eagle made this week to bush fire relief.
“It’s the least we can do. I witnessed firsthand how devastating and terrifying these fires are so I asked a couple of the other Trainees and they were also keen to help so we came up with this idea,” Carter said.
“Hopefully we can play well and do some good as well.”
Round two commences on Wednesday from 8am. Follow all the live scores on the PGA Tour of Australasia App or at pga.org.au.
The achievements of Victorian Trainees have been celebrated at the 2020 Victorian Trainee Graduation and Awards Dinner where 19 PGA Trainees graduated into Full Vocational Membership earlier this month.
The dinner celebrated the culmination of three years of hard work for the 19 graduates who now enter the workforce as PGA Professionals.
Hosted at Green Acres Golf Club on 14 January, the dinner was attended by PGA of Australia chief operating officer Stuart Hergt, as well as representatives from PGA Education partners Acushnet and On Course Golf.
The Titleist and FootJoy Excellence in Education Awards were awarded to the leading Victorian’s in each year level, with Callum McKenzie (Year 1 – Latrobe Golf Club), Emily Pell (Year 2 – Yarra Bend) and Ben Pisani (Year 3 – Royal Melbourne Golf Club) receiving the accolades.
The 2019 CPM Victorian Trainee Pro-Am of the Year was won by the Anytime Fitness Mornington Trainee Pro-Am. The award was accepted by Mornington Golf Club Trainee Brad Stephenson.
Dale Crothers (Year 1 – Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort) took out the 2019 Victorian Trainee Order of Merit title following a successful year that consisted of six wins and 11 top-ten finishes from 27 events while he only failed to score points in one match.
Crothers won the Vic/Tas/SA Trainee Championship back in May and also scored top-ten finishes at the QLD and NSW Trainee Championships.
The 2019 Victorian Trainee of the Year award was presented to Ben Pisani, a Year 3 Trainee at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club.
Pisani achieved the mark of High Distinction in Game Development and Distinction in Small Business, Coaching and Management. These results helped him finish second in the National Academic Rankings for Year 3 Trainees.
Pisani was also the winner of three trainee matches. He also finished in the top ten 18 times which saw him earn second place in the Victorian Order of Merit and 19th in the National Trainee Averages.
Victorian Committee Chairman Tim Moore welcomed the newest PGA Members to the Association and wished them well for a career he hoped would be as long and fulfilling as his.
Full List of Award Winners & Graduates
The future of Australian golf will be on show as the next wave of PGA of Australia Trainees compete at this week’s Rich River Trainee Classic.
Dozens of Trainees will compete at the Rich River Golf Club in Moama, New South Wales on 21-24 January.
It is 33rd year the event has been staged at Rich River, maintaining its title as the longest standing four-round tournament at one venue in PGA of Australia history.
The Rich River Trainee Classic, established in 1988, provides opportunities for Trainees to develop their tournament playing skills against their peers from all over Australia and provides an ideal platform for Trainees looking to pursue a career as a professional golfer on the worldwide golf tours.
The tournament has seen winners including Australian Masters Champion Rod Pampling, NSW PGA champion Tim Wood, Jacobs Creek Open champion Euan Walters, Queensland National Coach Tony Meyer and current ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia player Jack Wilson.
After last year’s nail-biting finish, won by Frazer Droop, this year promises to be another enthralling battle with the two runners-up returning to go one step further.
Travis Tatt, from Ballarat Golf Club, and Brayden Petersen, from Asquith Golf Club, will join 78 other PGA Trainees all vying to etch their names on the prestigious trophy.
The Rich River Trainee Classic is a unique event with women Trainees competing alongside the men for the same prize purse and title. A total of seven women will battle the men this year in an attempt to take out the Championship.
Once again the field sees 30 new first year Trainees out to prove their ability in their first four-round event as Trainee Professionals.
Along with their campaign to bring home the winner’s cheque at the end of the week, Trainees will be provided the opportunity to out-drive each other in the Doug Fraser Long Drive Competition on Monday evening, with the winner walking away with $500.
The longest drive competition is held in honour of the long-serving Rich River member and tournament volunteer, Doug Fraser, who before his untimely passing, was the driving force behind the running of the Rich River Trainee Classic.
Play commences on the new East Course layout today.
Follow the live scores on the PGA Tour of Australia App or at pga.org.au.
