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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.
