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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.
The 2019 PGA National Futures Championship has been won in a nail biting finish with two players battling it out in a five-hole playoff.
PGA of Great Britain and Ireland Apprentice Michael Bullen was victorious over Queensland PGA Trainee Gavin Fairfax after they both tied at 8-under after 72 holes.
New Zealand’s Blair Riordan started strongly with consecutive birdies on the 2nd and 3rd holes to join Cooper Eccleston in the lead however it was the performances of Bullen and Fairfax that got the Ballarat galleries cheering.
Seemingly out of contention Bullen rallied with two birdies on 16 and 17 to tie for the lead. Fairfax followed suit with a birdie of his own on 17 causing a four-way tie going into the last.
While the rest of the field fell away it was Bullen and Farifax who handled the conditions best to both finish at 8-under, resulting in a two-way playoff.
Four times the duo went down the 18th hole, each with their own opportunities at different times but still the pair could not be separated.
The playoff then went to the par-5 10th hole where Fairfax, as he has done all tournament, played a controlled hole and elected to layup.
However fortune favoured the brave and Bullen, from 216 meters, hit a 3 iron within 20 feet of the hole. Fairfax made the green in regulation but missed his birdie opportunity leaving the door open for a two putt victory for Bullen.
The Englishman stepped up and sunk the eagle putt for the win and the PGA National Futures Championship trophy.
“I can’t believe it, that 3-iron I hit was probably the best shot I’ve hit all week and to do it in a playoff was just amazing,” Bullen said.
“After 24 holes I didn’t think I was any chance but I told myself just to stay in it and keep pushing and I managed to make some good birdies on 16 and 17 and force a playoff.”
Bullen thoroughly enjoyed his stay in Australia.
“Everyone here is so nice and everything has been amazing, I don’t want to go but I am looking forward to getting home.”
While Fairfax was disappointed, he was still proud of his week and his performance throughout the tournament.
“Obviously I’m a little bit disappointed not to get the win, but I was really happy with how I grinded out today and to make the play off was a bonus.”
Early tournament leader Cooper Eccleston was keen to claw back some ground after a disappointing third round performance of 6-over par saw him drop to be tied for fourth overnight.
Eccleston’s aggressive game plan in the final round was evident when he secured early birdies, but it came unstuck on the 14th with a triple bogey to see him finish the tournament at 7-under in third place.
As the highest placed Australian Trainee, Gavin gains entry into the Australian PGA Championship to be played at RACV Royal Pines Resort from 19 – 22 December 2019.
Ballarat showed off its blue skies but also its trademark wind that put the remaining field of 50 PGA Trainees to the test in the third round of the PGA National Futures Championship.
Moving day lived up to its name with overnight leader Cooper Eccleston finding trouble on the back-nine as the winds picked up, enabling chasers Ethan Andrews and Fraser Droop to take the lead.
Lakelands Country Club Trainee Ethan Andrews and Yarrawonga Mulwala Resort Trainee Fraser Droop, hold a one-stroke lead after both carding rounds of 1-under 71 in trying conditions.
Andrews enjoyed the challenge as the conditions became more testing.
“It was pretty tough today. Windy conditions made for a lot of tough shots, but it was good fun battling out there,” he said.
Droop also acknowledged the trying conditions.
“It was pretty tough and got really gusty towards the end, but it was good to grind it out and get in under par.”
International Trainees Blair Riordan (NZ) and Michael Bullen (UK) put their talent on show shooting the two best rounds of the day, a 5-under 67 and 4-under 68 respectively.
“It was a pretty good round,” Riordan reflected. ”I had plenty of birdies, a double and a few other bits and pieces so it was interesting golf.”
Experiencing the differences Australian courses have to offer has been an experience for Bullen who praised the condition of the Ballarat Golf Club layout.
“The course is in really good condition. It’s really different from home, particularly the grain on the greens which I’m finding hard to get used to, but I dealt with it well today,” Bullen said.
Plenty of players remain in contention with the top-10 all within six shots of the lead.
With more unpredictable, blustery conditions forecast for the final round, the PGA Futures Championship will likely go down to the wire.
Watch all the live scores on the PGA of Australia app or on pga.org.au. The final round commences at 7:30am.
Victoria Park Golf Complex PGA Trainee Cooper Eccleston has doubled down on his impressive start and extended his lead to four shots at the PGA National Futures Championship.
Eccleston built on an opening score of 6-under par by shooting a 5-under 67 to gain a comfortable margin over of the field.
The current PGA Trainee of the Year, which is awarded for academic and playing excellence, has added yet another achievement to his resume by recording the lowest 36-hole score in the history of the PGA Futures Championship with 11-under.
Eccleston’s round had a similar look to his first with a burst of birdies starting on his 7th hole.
“I started ok, but then got on a bit of a heater on the 16th and just kept it going for as long as I could,” Eccleston said.
“After that, my confidence was up and I was feeling good going into the back-nine.”
In ideal scoring conditions at Ballarat Golf Club with sunshine, light winds and receptive greens greeting the 96 Trainee strong field, Eccleston carded seven birdies and two bogies in his impressive round.
Also making the most of his first-round performance was Lakelands Country Club Trainee Ethan Andrews who fired a 4-under 68 to keep well within striking distance of the clubhouse leader.
Alongside Andrews at a 7-under two-round total is Yarrawonga Mulwala Resort Trainee and 2017 winner, Frazer Droop, who shot a solid 69 to stay within four shots of the lead.
Other trainees looking to make a move on day three will be two New South Welshman, Mitch Gannon from Kogarah Golf Club and Tyone Dowling from Northbridge GC, who both shot 4-under 68 to sit at 6-under and 5-under respectively.
A total of 52 players remain after the cut, with plenty of hot weather and even hotter scoring forecast.
Watch all the live scores on the PGA of Australia app or at pga.org.au. Round three commences at 7:30am.
Third-year PGA Trainee Cooper Eccleston has taken a one-shot lead after shooting a commanding 6-under 66 in the opening round of the PGA National Futures Championship.
Based at Victoria Park Golf Complex, Eccleston set a good foundation at even par after six holes but proceeded to put a sublime run together on the back-nine.
The Queenslander fired 5-under across the next four holes including an eagle on the par-5 10th which was shortly followed by another birdie on the par-5 14th.
Eccleston mastered Ballarat Golf Club’s four par-5s in 4-under, something he acknowledged was part of his game plan coming in.
“I love coming here, the course really suits my game. Some of the holes can be quite long, but you can take driver and really get reward particularly on the par fives,” Eccleston said.
“I probably took the driver a few more times then I should, but I’m not going to change anything tomorrow. I’ll just keep to my game plan and hopefully take advantage of these brilliant conditions.”
Trainees were treated to a superb Ballarat day for round one and they made the most of perfect scoring conditions early.
New Zealand Trainee Blair Riordan laid the gauntlet down early to his Australian counterparts, taking the lead in the morning with a round of 5-under 67 featuring an eagle on the par-5 7th hole on the Ballarat Golf Club layout.
Riordan says his relaxed attitude was a key to his performance.
“My strategy was to treat this week as a holiday, take the pressure off and just enjoy myself. It’s working well for me so far so hopefully it can continue,” Riordan said.
The morning field started in cool conditions, but as the mercury rose so did the performance of Frazer Droop (VIC) and Sasha Murton-Cooper (VIC), both carding impressive opening rounds of 4-under 68 to sit tied in third place.
A high-quality field of Trainees produced a bevy of impressive scores, with nearly a third of the field shooting even par or better and with more idyllic conditions forecasted the scoring is sure to impress once again.
Follow all the scores live through pga.org.au. Round two commences at 7:30am.
A talented field of the world’s best Trainee Professionals will tackle the Ballarat Golf Club layout from 22 October as they strive for the title of 2019 National Trainee Champion.
Australia’s top PGA Trainees will compete against the best Trainees from PGA Great Britain and Ireland, PGA of South Africa and PGA of New Zealand who, after flying in for the tournament, have their eyes set firmly on the title.
Known for the quality of fields it attracts, an impressive line-up of 96 Trainees will contest the Championship including 16 of the top 20 Trainees on Australia’s player rankings.
Victorian, Queensland and Western Australian State Trainee Champions Dale Crothers (Yarrawonga Mulwala Resort), Brayden Petersen (Asquith Golf Club) and John Boulton (Mt Lawley Golf Club) will be among the front-runners this week as they aim to take out the title.
Warm weather and hot scoring conditions are forecasted for Ballarat which has Ballarat Golf Club Head Professional, Dave Wallis, predicting some impressive scores to come in.
“Tuesday will be sunny, 24 degrees, but there’s no wind forecast which is rare to see for us, so I would expect some good scores to come in for Round 1,” Wallis said.
The tournament will take on a new look for the first two rounds with a Pro-Am format that will see amateurs playing alongside the Professionals during the tournament.
Ballarat Golf Club President, Wayne Hines, said the club was excited to be able to offer this opportunity.
“The Ballarat Golf Club is proud and privileged to host the National Futures Championship,” Hines said.
“To play alongside the professionals under tournament conditions is such a unique opportunity to offer our members and partners and it’s something we’re really looking forward to.”
The National Futures Championship is the world’s richest Trainee tournament and has been a world leader in gender equality, with the field consisting of male and female competitors playing for the same prize purse and title for over 25 years.
Three Victorians will represent the female cohort this year, with Joanna Flaherty from Commonwealth Golf Club, Emily Pell from Yarra Bend Golf Complex and Catherine Odgers from Woodlands Golf Club all looking to take it up to their male counterparts, and potentially becoming the first female winner in the event’s history.
An extra incentive is on offer for the winner of the National Futures Championship who also receives a place in the Australian PGA Championship field from 19-22 December.
The 2019 National Futures Championship will be played from 22-25 October at Ballarat Golf Club. Play commences Tuesday morning. Entry to the tournament is free for the public.
