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Peninsula Kingswood Golf and Country Club second year Associate Tim Walker will start Round 2 with a one-stroke lead following a bogey-free four-under 68 in the opening round of the Victorian PGA Associate Championship.
Held at Tocumwal Golf and Bowls Club for the 19th straight year, the $50,000 tournament has attracted 143 Associates from around the country yet only 10 were able to break par on day one.
Named the Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year for the NJCAA in 2014, Walker picked up a birdie at his opening hole on Tuesday and added three more at six, 10 and 11 to edge one clear of Baxter Droop (69) and Jack Wright (69).
Tied with Sheradyn Johnson (70) and Hayden Gulliver (70) after Round 1, Brodie Whitbread birdied the par-5 third early in his second round to move to three-under and just one back of Walker.
Players were treated to an absolutely pristine golf course for day one, Tocumwal and the Berrigan Shire extending its commitment to the Victorian PGA Associate Championship for a further five years, taking it through until at least 2027.
Cobram Barooga Golf Club has further strengthened its commitment to professional golf in Australia by signing on as the host venue of the PGA Associates National Championship for the next three years.
The premier event on the Membership Pathway Program playing schedule, the PGA Associates National Championship was last played at Rich River Golf Club in 2021 and will remain on the Murray River until at least 2025.
Host to TPS Murray River that has featured on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia the past two years and which has witnessed history with victories by Hannah Green and Sarah Jane Smith, Cobram Barooga will welcome not only the PGA of Australia’s best Associates from October 30-November 3 but also Apprentice and Trainee champions from Great Britain and Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa.
“The playing component remains an integral aspect within the broad educational offering of the Membership Pathway Program and the PGA Associates National Championship represents the pinnacle of our playing schedule,” said Geoff Stewart, General Manager of Membership and Education.
“We are thrilled that the National Championship is locked in at Cobram Barooga Golf Club for at least the next three years.
“It has proven itself to not only be a wonderful host venue but a championship course that identifies the best player in the field.
“We have no doubt that will again be the case when the PGA Associates National Championship takes place at Cobram Barooga later this year.”
A four-time winner already this season, Linus Yip (Avondale Golf Club) currently leads the NSW Order of Merit while Daniel Gill (Peninsula Kingswood Country Golf Club) also has four wins to establish himself as one of the favourites for Cobram.
The PGA Associates National Championship will see male and female Associates play against each other from respective championship tees with the winner to earn direct entry into the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club.
“The PGA is built upon the contribution of Members who emerge through the Membership Pathway Program,” explained Stewart.
“To see the winner of the National Championship tee it up against some of the world’s best at the Australian PGA Championship provides a great thrill to everyone within the MPP.”
The Murray River courses have a long history of hosting Associate championships with the $50,000 Victorian PGA Associate Championship to take place at Tocumwal Golf Club from May 2-5.
A monster putt on the 72nd hole has earned Caloundra Golf Club’s Bailey Arnott the prestigious Carnegie Clark Cup as winner of the 2022 Queensland PGA Associate Championship at Windaroo Lakes Golf Club in the City of Logan.
Trailing by five at the start of the final round, Arnott was still two shots behind playing the infamous par-4 16th hole dubbed ‘Snake Gully’.
But as Arnott steered clear of any trouble on his way to making birdie, Sheradyn Johnson’s double bogey resulted in a three-shot swing and gave Arnott the edge with two holes left to play.
The 20-year-old made par at 17 and then drained a birdie putt from just outside 20 feet at the par-4 18th to complete a round of four-under 68 and clinch a two-stroke victory.
Arnott was thrust into the international spotlight two years ago when he partnered Adam Scott for nine holes on his home course. He is in his second year of the Membership Pathway Program under his father Tom at Caloundra and was thrilled to see his hard work pay off under pressure.
“I just love this course,” said Arnott.
“It is been a relatively quiet year for me but I have been doing some significant work behind the scenes on my mental game and it definitely worked, particularly around this type of layout.
“This is such a great event with the City of Logan and Windaroo Lakes Golf Club being so supportive. They really look after us PGA Associates both on and off the course.”
Like Arnott, Johnson’s father is also a PGA Professional, making her decision to apply for the Membership Pathway Program a simple one.
Johnson was seeking to become the first woman to win the Carnegie Clark Cup and with three holes to go looked set to make history only to get bitten by Snake Gully.
“I can tell you, I will be definitely back next year as I want to conquer that Snake Gully 16th hole,” said Johnson, who shot 75 in the final round and is in her first year at The National Golf Club in Victoria.
“I will be having nightmares about that hole for a long time.
“My dad is PGA Professional so it was an easy decision to apply for the Membership Pathway Program.
“I was brought up with golf and just love it.”
Finishing in third and two shots back from Johnson was 2021 champion James Macklin.
Macklin began the day tied with Johnson but had five-over 77 on Thursday to finish one ahead of Sanctuary Cove’s Mitchell Smith (73).
For all scores and information please click here.
Sheradyn Johnson is poised to make history after earning a share of the lead on day three of the Queensland PGA Associate Championship at Windaroo Lakes Golf Club in the City of Logan.
A first year Associate at The National Golf Club on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, Johnson fired a round of two-under 70 on Wednesday to join defending champion James Macklin at the top of the leaderboard at five-under 211.
On a day in which the rain arrived late in south-east Queensland, Macklin’s one-under 71 kept alive his hopes of going back-to-back and the chance to deny Johnson a slice of history.
Runner-up to Jeneath Wong in last year’s Riversdale Cup, Johnson will start level with Macklin and five strokes clear of third, chasing a win that would see her become the first woman to win the Carnegie Clark Cup.
“I holed a couple of long putts today which kept me in touch with James and Bailey (Arnott) throughout the day,” said Johnson.
“After James holed his long birdie putt on hole 18 to go one ahead I thought, This is great opportunity to test myself under pressure with the big crowd on the balcony watching.
“When my putt went in it was a great feeling.”
A PGA Associate at Jindalee Golf Club, Macklin had six birdies on Wednesday as he continued his love affair with the Windaroo Lakes layout.
“Again, I feel really good around this course,” said Macklin.
“It is really good being able to draw on positive memories both from last year and the early rounds this year.”
In a tie for third place is the duo of Bailey Arnott (Caloundra Golf Club) and the ever-consistent Mitchell Smith (Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club).
Arnott led for much of Round 3 however faulted on the final few holes, dropping five shots in the space of six holes.
He and Smith both remain in the hunt given that the past few years has seen big leads wither away around the challenging Windaroo Lakes layout.
The final round of the Queensland PGA Associate Championship will begin Thursday morning at 10.40am with the leading group teeing off at 12pm.
For all scores and information click here.
Birdies at each of his closing two holes has propelled defending champion James Macklin to top spot at the halfway mark of the 2022 Queensland PGA Associate Championship.
Being played at Windaroo Lakes Golf Club in the City of Logan south of Brisbane, the field of 95 were again treated to calm conditions and it was Macklin who took greatest advantage.
His birdies at 17 and 18 were the last in a round that featured five of them, the lack of any bogeys in a round of five-under 67 enough to nudge the Jindalee Golf Club Associate one shot clear.
After taking the title in 2021 in a four-way playoff, Macklin still feels he has unfinished business given this year he has players from around the country contending for the title.
“Although I have my name on the trophy, I would love to win it with the top players from around the country playing,” said Macklin.
“Today I putted well. Not so much holing a lot of putts but lagged the ball down and not being over aggressive and that worked well.
“There is no doubt the course does suit my game.”
Sitting in a share of second place and only one-shot back is the duo of Sheradyn Johnson (The National Golf Club) and Bailey Arnott (Caloundra Golf Club) after both shot rounds of one-under 71 for a 36-hole total of 141.
“The course suits my eye very well,” said Johnson.
“I drove the ball well and putted well which is good combination to score well.”
Rounding out the top five is Reid Brown (Pymble Golf Club) on one-under and Mitchell Smith (Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club) a further shot back at even par 144.
Round 3 will begin on Wednesday morning at 10.30am with the top four to tee off at 12.40pm.
For all scores and information please click here.
The driver was working and the flatstick behaving as Cooper Gentle took a one-stroke lead on day one of the 2022 Queensland PGA Associate Championship at Windaroo Lakes Golf Club in the City of Logan.
Calm conditions greeted the 95 players to the twisting, exacting Windaroo Lakes layout with Gentle’s five-under 67 one clear of Pymble Golf Club’s Reid Brown (68).
Currently in his second year of the Membership Pathway Program at Rich River Golf Club, Gentle was playing Windaroo Lakes for the first time but took no time to adjust, peeling off four birdies and an eagle at the par-4 sixth to edge one ahead.
“I have never played or seen the course before so to be leading after Round 1 is a surprise however very happy to be,” said Gentle.
“I hit my driver well, had no three-putts and also eagled a par 4 so it was a satisfying round.”
Brown also had not seen the course before Monday’s opening round, taking a conversative approach from the tee to plot his way around the course.
“Not knowing where I was going, I decided to use my 3-iron off most tees,” Brown added.
“I only hit my driver three times which helped me navigate safely around the course.
“I had an eagle on hole three but my highlight was having a birdie on hole 16 which is up there with one of the toughest par 4s I have ever played.”
Rounding out the top five and a further two shots back are the trio of Nicholas Barney (Qld), Bailey Arnott (Qld) and Sheradyn Johnson (VIC) after firing rounds of two-under 70.
Round 2 of the 2022 Queensland PGA Associate Championship will begin Tuesday morning at 7am at the Windaroo Golf Club in the City of Logan.
For all scores and information please click here.
After a two-year absence owing to the COVID pandemic, players from around the country will head to the City of Logan to compete for the 2022 Queensland PGA Associate Championship.
Beginning Monday at the Windaroo Lakes Golf Club, which will host the event for a fourth consecutive year, the field will include two previous winners in Luke Parker (2020) and James Macklin (2021).
They will be joined by a host of quality interstate players including 2022 VIC/TAS PGA Associate Championship winner Dale Crothers (VIC) and 2022 NSW and SA PGA Associate Championship winner Jak Carter (SA).
However, the favourite to hold up the Carnegie Cup at the completion of 72 holes on Thursday afternoon will be Dylan Gardner (Pelican Waters) who lost in a playoff last year but has had a remarkable 2022.
Gardner is currently leading the Queensland Order of Merit which he won in 2021 and has won six Queensland PGA Associate events this year including the recent prestigious Pampling Plate over a gruelling seven rounds.
“It hurt quite a bit last year losing the playoff and I feel I had a few chances to win prior to it going to a playoff,” said Gardner.
“I have had a really pleasing year and will be doing all I can to add my home state championship to the Pampling Plate.”
Reigning champion James Macklin has had a quiet year to date by his standards however is confident going into the event. Concentrating more on the academic side of the Membership Pathway Program in his final year, he still feels he is a major contender.
“I have not played as much this year so my record is a little misleading,” said Macklin.
“I really like the course as it makes you not just blast away; you really need to think about each shot and that suits me the way I play.”
Again, the Windaroo Lakes Golf Club is in fantastic condition with its famous tough finishing stretch, including the par 4-15th hole which will act as a ‘party hole’ with spectator seating and entertainment. With the addition of some new bunker works and course improvements, the course will again provide a challenge for all players.
“It is the biggest week of the year for us and we make sure all the players will have a great experience mainly on the course, but also what we have to offer inside the club,” said Windaroo Lakes Golf Club Head Professional, Daniel Bird.
City of Logan Mayor Darren Power said Council was honoured to host the championship event for a fourth year.
“We cannot wait to welcome some of the country’s greatest golfers back to our sport-loving City,” Cr Power said.
“I have no doubt we will witness another fantastic and exciting competition at the picturesque Windaroo Lakes Golf Club.
“I wish all the competitors the very best for this year’s event.”
In addition to a prize purse of $35,000, the winner of the Queensland PGA Associate Championship will be awarded an invitation to the 2022 Queensland PGA Championship on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.
The winner will be crowned on Thursday afternoon. For all the scores and information on the 2022 Queensland PGA Associate Championship please click here.
Dylan Gardner has completed the Pampling family double after defeating Ben Hollis 2&1 in the 36-hole final of the Coca-Cola Pampling Plate on Thursday.
A former junior member at Caboolture Golf Club where he won the Rod Pampling Junior Masters, Gardner had to hold off a late charge from Hollis to clinch victory.
A PGA Associate based at Pelican Waters Golf Club on the Sunshine Coast, Gardner failed to qualify for the matchplay section of the tournament 12 months ago.
But after navigating his way through to the top 24 in the 36-holes of strokeplay on Monday proved unstoppable in each of his matches, setting up his win over Hollis with a dominant start to the final.
Gardner was hot early and established a 5 up lead through 18 holes thanks in large part to five birdies.
However in a remarkable turnaround, Hollis (Bribie Island Golf Club) won four of the first nine holes in the afternoon to be just 1 down with nine holes left to play.
Hollis had numerous opportunities to level the match over the next seven holes however his putting let him down at crucial times, Gardner ultimately closing things out on the 35th hole.
“I putted really well this week, especially under pressure this afternoon which ultimately won me the match,” said Gardner, pictured with Marge Pampling.
“I was really disappointed last year not even making the matchplay.
“I was a member here at Caboolture as a junior and won the Rod Pampling Junior Masters so to add the Pampling Plate to that is special.
“The whole week was so good with Caboolture Golf Club putting on a great event, particularly the course which was fantastic.
“I cannot put in words the gratitude to the Pampling family for what they do for us. From Rod and family to Rod’s mother Marge who was literally here every second of every day feeding us and supporting us.”
For Hollis it will be a day he will look back on with a sense of an opportunity missed.
“I played well enough to win but just couldn’t get ahead,” he said.
“A lot of that was owing to not putting well and putting the pressure on Dylan.
“Matchplay is all about pressuring your opponent but I couldn’t capitalise and do that today.
“In saying that, I had a great week with great people and am grateful that Caboolture Golf Club and especially the Pamplings put this on for us.”
In the consolation final, Leon Trenerry (Brookwater Golf & Country Club) was victorious in taking third place with a tight 1 up win over Robert Spence (McLeod Country Golf Club).
Sunshine Coast pair Dylan Gardner and Ben Hollis will face off in the final of the 2022 Coca-Cola Pampling Plate after a day of upsets at Caboolture Golf Club.
Defending champion Mitch Smith (Sanctuary Cove) was a hot favourite in the morning quarter-final matches but came up against some stiff opposition in the form of Robert Spence.
The McLeod Country Golf Club Associate took the challenge up to Smith, his tee shot to one foot at the par-3 18th clinching a 2 up victory to turn the tournament on its head.
In contrast, Leon Trenerry took 24 holes to defeat AJ McCoy in their quarter-final clash.
Both players had ample opportunity to take victory both in normal play and early in the playoff holes yet neither could take an advantage, Trenerry ultimately doing enough to advance to the semi-finals.
Hollis (Bribie Island) defeated last year’s finalist Bailey Arnott 5&4 in his quarter-final, coming in on the back of victories in Associate events at Jindalee and Virginia.
Gardner (Pelican Waters) accounted for Cody Davis (Surfers Paradise) 4&3 to book his spot in the semi-finals where he would line up against giant killer Spence for a place in the final.
As expected, the pair engaged in a tight battle throughout the afternoon before Gardner sealed the win on the 17th hole 3&1.
“After Rob beat Mitch this morning I knew I had a battle on my hands as I did hear their match was one of high quality,” said Gardner.
“I missed the matchplay last year which hurt and really want to make amends this year and so far, so good.”
Hollis was taken all the way to the 18th hole before defeating Trenerry by the barest of margins, 1 up, to set up a 36-hole showdown with Gardner on Thursday.
“To be honest, after Leon’s marathon morning match I thought I may have had an easy afternoon,” said Hollis. “But he just kept coming at me and it was actually me who started to falter.
“It has been a wild month or so but I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
It is mouth-watering final as Hollis has been in superb form of late while Gardner has won more events than anyone this year and is the current leader of the Queensland Associates Order of Merit.
The 36-hole final will begin at 7.20am with the 18-hole consolation match between Trenerry and Spence beginning at 11.30am.
For all details including live scores click here.
Defending champion Mitch Smith has made light work of his Round 2 match to safely navigate his way into the quarter-finals of the 2022 Coca-Cola Pampling Plate at Caboolture Golf Club.
The top 24 Associate qualifiers from Monday’s two rounds of strokeplay advanced to the matchplay section of the tournament on Tuesday where two rounds saw the contenders cut to just eight heading into the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
As one of the top eight qualifiers to receive a bye in Round 1, Smith (Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club) lined up against KDV Sport’s Nicholas Barney in Round 2.
Barney went to the 18th hole before getting the better of Peter Lyon (Southport Golf Club) in Round 1 but went down 4&3 to Smith in the afternoon matches.
“I am playing well and calculate I am 13-under par over the past two days which is very pleasing,” said Smith, who topped qualifying with a 36-hole total of nine-under par.
The news wasn’t so good for 2020 champion James Macklin from Jindalee Golf Club, beaten by Cody Davis (Surfers Paradise) 1 up in Round 2.
Davis took until the 17th hole to close out Ryan Paul (Bundaberg Golf Club) in the morning matches and was thrilled to move into the quarter-finals with victory over Macklin.
“It was a long day and two very tough matches,” said Davis.
“To make birdie on 18 against a past winner to win was a fantastic feeling.”
The remaining quarter-finalists are AJ McCoy, Leon Trenerry, Bailey Arnott, Robert Spence, Dylan Gardner and Ben Hollis, who needed three extra holes before defeating Jack Day.
The Queensland Associates Captain, McCoy was faced with a match-up against good friend and Leadership Group counterpart Jesse Egea (Wolston Park) in Round 1.
McCoy held a narrow advantage for much of the match before Egea squared the contest with a birdie at the 17th hole.
McCoy responded in kind, however, with a birdie of his own on the final hole for a 1 up victory.
“It is always hard playing against a good friend and they are always close matches so was nice to get up,” said McCoy.
The big upset in Round 1 was Rian Duncan (Surfers Paradise) defeating Ray Harris (Redcliffe) 1 up.
“I was stoked to get in the top 24 so to win my Round 1 match was an extra bonus,” said Duncan, who would fall to Dylan Gardner 4&3 in Round 2.
The other morning matches saw Robert Spence (McLeod) defeat Yuan Felipe Munoz (Carbrook) 4&3, Jack Day (Woodford) defeat Ben Scholl (Toowoomba) 5&4, Chris Park (Sanctuary Cove) defeat Jake Newberry (Keperra) 2&1 and Heiko Jeandupeux (KDV) defeat Luke Parker (Wynnum).
Wednesday’s quarter-final matches are:
Cody Davis v Dylan Gardner
Ben Hollis v Bailey Arnott
Alexander McCoy v Leon Trenerry
Mitch Smith v Robert Spence
Play will begin at 6.40am on Wednesday with semi-finals following in the afternoon.
Click here to follow all the live scoring.
