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The title defence didn’t exactly go according to plan but PGA of Australia representatives have vowed to come back stronger at the next Four Nations Cup.
The final day of the 2025 event at The Pulpit Club in Canada saw the host PGA claim their second Four Nations Cup title with a 4-2 win over the Australians, going through undefeated to finish one match ahead of New Zealand with South Africa third.
Looking for their first match win of the week, the Australian team started the morning fourballs in positive fashion.
Sam Eaves and Mitchell Smith were all square with the Canadian pairing of Yohann Benson and Kevin Stinson at the turn but lost both the 10th and 11th holes, ultimately going down 3&1.
Up against Mitchell Fox and Craig Stefureak, captain Matt Docking and three-time Four Nations Cup representative TJ King were 2 up after winning the first and sixth holes. The Canadians got one back by winning the ninth hole but were never able to square the ledger, the Aussies ensuring the morning matches were split 1-1 with a 3&1 win.
Battling a neck injury all week, captain Matt Docking led the way in the afternoon singles with a gritty 1 up win over Mitchell Fox but there were defeats for each of his fellow countrymen as the PGA of Canada added to their inaugural win of 2023 in South Africa.
Although unable to win a match during the week, reigning PGA Professionals Championship winner Sam Eaves was grateful for an experience he hopes to enjoy again next year.
“It was a great week, great camaraderie between all the teams,” said Eaves.
“The format was awesome. Having the fourball matches in the morning and the singles matchplay in the afternoon, it’s not a format we get to play very often as Professionals.
“To be able to do this sort of format has been awesome.
“All the PGAs run a great event to be able to pull this all together. It’s fantastic to have this as something we can qualify for and definitely something I want to be part of again in future.”
In the second match of day three, New Zealand defeated South Africa 4-2.
Final standings
Canada 3 (13 points)
New Zealand 2 (10.50)
South Africa 1 (7.5)
Australia 0 (5)
The PGA of New Zealand have kept alive their hopes of a first Four Nation’s Cup win after getting the better of our PGA of Australia team on day two at The Pulpit Club in Canada.
Heavy rain in the morning forced the fourball matches to be reduced to nine-hole affairs with the Aussies and Kiwis splitting the matches one each.
The team of Matthew Docking and Sam Eaves never trailed in their fourball match against Sean Towndrow and Brett Allan but had to stave off a late Kiwi fightback to clinch the point.
Three-up through five holes, the Aussie pair lost three holes on the trot to be all square playing the ninth and final hole, Docking and Eaves both making threes to secure the point for their team.
TJ King and Mitch Smith went 1 up after the first hole in their match against Dongwoo Kang and Pieter Zwart, the Kiwis clawing their way back to all square at the very next hole.
The next five holes would all be halved until the Kiwis pinched the lead at the eighth hole and held on for a 1 up win.
King turned that result around in the afternoon singles with a commanding 4&3 win over Brett Allan but he would be the only Aussie victor.
Smith lost to Towndrow 4&3, Kang defeated Docking by the same margin and Eaves went down 5&4 to a red-hot Zwart.
The final round of matches will see the PGA of Australia face the host nation PGA of Canada and New Zealand to play South Africa.
The Kiwis can still win but would need their Aussie counterparts to conjure a final day upset and deny Canada a second Four Nation’s Cup win.
Standings
Canada 2 (9.5)
New Zealand 1 (6.5)
South Africa 1 (5.5)
Australia 0 (3)
A powerful team from the PGA of South Africa have put the PGA of Australia squad on the back foot after day one of the Four Nation’s Cup at The Pulpit Club in Canada.
Only an individual win by reigning PGA Professionals Championship winner Sam Eaves in the afternoon singles prevented the Aussies from suffering a clean sweep after South Africa took both morning fourball matches in tight contests.
Playing against Ivano Ficalbi and Jannie Botha, TJ King and Mitchell Smith went 8-under for their round yet still lost 1 down, Eaves and captain Matt Docking going down by the same narrow margin to Cornell Muller and Gavin Vorster.
One down after the second hole, King and Smith never got behind by more than two holes yet were unable to ever get back on level terms.
Smith narrowed the margin to just one hole with a birdie at the par-4 15th but, as Ficalbi held strong down the stretch, the Aussie pair could not claw back the hole they needed.
Docking and Eaves were engaged in a more see-sawing contest.
Also down one after the second hole, Docking and Eaves combined superbly to win the fourth, seventh and eighth holes to go 2 up.
The South African pair closed the gap to one by the turn and then drew level when they won the 11th hole.
Docking won the 13th hole to put the Aussies 1 up again before Muller won both the 15th and 17th holes to give the South Africans their second win of the morning.
Eaves exacted some revenge for the morning defeat with a commanding 4&3 win over Vorster in the afternoon singles, going 3 up through the first five holes and 5 up through nine to ensure an early finish.
Conversely, King was 3 down through five holes of his match against Ficalbi and was unable to claw it back, going down 6&4.
There was back and forth in the remaining two singles matches.
Smith was 1 up early against Muller and all square through 11 but lost both the 12th and 13th holes to fall 2 down. He pulled one back at the 15th but succumbed 2&1 when Muller won the 17th hole.
Two down through four, Docking won three holes in succession to be 1 up through seven, the match brought back to square when Botha won the 10th hole.
The South African won both the 13th and 15th holes and secured a 2&1 win with halved holes at both 16 and 17.
In the other matches, Canada and New Zealand split the morning fourballs with the home nation taking 2.5 of the four points on offer in the singles.
Day two sees Australia take on New Zealand and South Africa face Canada.
Standings
South Africa 5
Canada 3.5
New Zealand 2.5
Australia 1
The dream of representing his country is about to become a reality as Mitchell Smith prepares to join the PGA of Australia’s Four Nation’s Cup team in Canada.
Smith and reigning PGA Professionals Championship winner Samuel Eaves are the new faces in the PGA team that will be captained by four-time PPC champion Matt Docking and feature Mount Coolum Golf Club’s TJ King for a third time.
Canada is the host nation for the biennial matches between the respective PGAs of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, the Aussies out to defend the title they won at Moonah Links in 2023.
A graduate of the PGA’s Membership Pathway Program in 2023 and based at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club on the Gold Coast, Smith has been waiting for the chance to represent on the international stage since golf was readmitted to the Olympic Games.
“Not that I ever thought that I’d play the Olympics, but it’s one of those things where I was like, imagine how cool that would be to actually play golf for Australia,” said Smith.
“It’s not really something that you do too often. It’s always pretty individual in that you go on tour and you represent Australia, but realistically you’re representing yourself more than anything.
“This is the first time I actually tried to get in, so luckily I’ve gone through.
“It’s awesome from the PGA to be able to provide us with a pathway to still be competitive in that aspect because the reality is it’s not the be-all and end-all for us.
“It’s not our career. We’re not trying to make cuts to make money but still being able to go and scratch that competitive itch a little bit is really cool.”
While ready to embrace the opportunity to mix with PGA Professionals from Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, Smith’s focus is very much on a PGA of Australia win.
He has played a half dozen rounds of the course they will be playing at The Pulpit Club at a simulator centre in Cannon Hill in Brisbane and makes no secret of his willingness to come home a winner.
“To be honest, I’m a pretty competitive person by nature,” said Smith, who became a father for the first time a month ago.
“As much as the socialising stuff will be good and I’ll definitely be keen to do that more off the course, but in all honestly, on the course I want to beat everyone.
“I’ve still got that competitive burning in my belly, so first and foremost, want to win and then socialise afterwards.
“I am really looking forward to the team aspect with a good group of fellas going over, so looking forward to being a part of that aspect as well.”
King will be the familiar face for Smith, the pair having come through the Membership Pathway Program at a similar time and played events together on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series.
The one constant in the PGA of Australia team since the inception of the Four Nation’s Cup, King believes the contacts he has made has helped him back in his role at Mount Coolum.
“With the camaraderie amongst the players, you learn how different PGA associations run their businesses, their pro shops and coaching-wise, just get different ideas from all the other countries,” said King.
“At the end of the day, you want to win as well. During the 18 holes, there’s not much chat, but then afterwards the teams get together, have dinner together and chat.
“It’s awesome to find out how different people are doing the same job in different countries.”
The 2025 Four Nation’s Cup will be played at The Pulpit Club an hour outside Toronto from Tuesday.
He missed a chance to win in regulation but Bryce Pickin made it a moment to remember with a stunning playoff victory at the $50,000 NSW/ACT PGA Associate Championship at Tura Beach Country Club.
The New South Wales South Coast gem had provided a worthy challenge all week and it brought the best to the fore in Friday’s final round.
Gold Creek Country Club’s Lachlan Chamberlain surged with a flawless 6-under 67 but would ultimately fall one shot short of the playoff between Pickin and defending champion William Bayliss (Pymble Golf Club).
Undertaking the Membership Pathway Program at Newcastle Golf Club, Pickin took sole ownership of the lead with a birdie at the par-5 16th.
He made par on 17 and headed to the 72nd hole knowing another would clinch his first four-round win as a PGA Associate.
But golf is rarely that simple.
Pickin’s tee shot at the par-5 18th found the penalty area, the resulting bogey seeing both he and Bayliss end the championship at 1-under par and headed for extra holes.
Erring on the side of caution after his earlier mistake, Pickin took 3-wood off the tee as Bayliss hit an iron that found trouble in the trees to the left of the fairway.
Displaying the class that secured the 2024 title, Bayliss recovered brilliantly to position himself greenside on the right of the green and apply the pressure back onto Pickin.
The response was nothing short of spectacular.
Faced with a challenging second shot, Pickin struck a perfectly shaped 5-iron draw around the trees to just six feet from the pin, arguably the shot of the week.
Bayliss applied the pressure with a superb 20-foot birdie putt but Pickin again calmed the nerves to roll in his eagle putt and seal victory in style.
“Why couldn’t I do this earlier in regulation?” Pickin joked.
“I’m just happy I hit the shot I did, stayed composed and got the job done.
“I just stayed patient all week which is what you have to do around this place. Try to hit your shots in the right place and if you’re going to miss, miss on the high sides of the hole.”
Runner-up to Jack Wright in 2023, it was an exceptional title defence from Bayliss, who shot 5-under 68 in the final round to take Pickin to extra holes.
After a shaky start that included a double-bogey at the par-3 fifth, Bayliss peeled off four birdies on the back nine to once again stamp his championship credentials.
It was a fitting finale to a wonderful week that received tremendous support from Tura Beach Country Club staff and members.
The 2026 NSW/ACT PGA Associate Championship will return to Tura Beach Country Club in late August 2026 for another superb showcase of championship golf.
Twelve players will start the final round within five strokes of the lead after windy conditions kept scoring in check on day three of the 2025 NSW/ACT PGA Associate Championship at Tura Beach Country Club.
Thursday threw the toughest conditions of the week at the 50 players who made the cut, only five players breaking par which included a superb 4-under 69 from Canberra’s Jacob Davies.
Highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 5th, Davies made birdies at 14, 17, and 18 with just a single blemish on the sixth to make a major move on the leaderboard.
At the top of that leaderboard is Concord Golf Club’s Joe Kim, who started Round 3 with four straight birdies before also succumbing to the strong winds on the run home.
Kim’s 2-under 71 and 1-under total gives him a one-stroke lead from 36-hole co-leader Jordan Garner (75) and Pacific Golf Club’s Campbell Jones, who has shot even-par 73 all three days of the championship.
A total of 12 players will start Friday’s final round within five strokes of Kim and, with coastal winds again expected to buffet Tura Beach, the door is open for a thrilling race to the finish.
First groups teed off at 7am on Friday morning with the lead group of Kim, Garner and Campbell scheduled to head out at 9:24am AEST.
Central Coast product Jordie Garner handled windy afternoon conditions best to produce the round of the day and take a share of the lead at the halfway mark of the NSW/ACT PGA Associate Championship at Tura Beach Country Club.
While the sun was shining the wind blew strongly, keeping the majority of scores in check and with just two shots separating the top seven players on the leaderboard.
Following on from an even-par 73 on day one, Garner turned in 1-over on Wednesday but responded with four birdies and a lone bogey on the back nine, joining Ho-Tae Kim at 2-under through 36 holes.
In his first year of the Membership Pathway Program at Pennant Hills Golf Club in Sydney, Garner is excited to be once again contending in a major event.
“I wasn’t chuffed with my start,” said Garner, who had three bogeys in his first seven holes.
“I’ve been swinging it well so just keep hitting fairways and take advantage of the par 5s.
“Played smart and had a few more putts dropped today which was nice.
“I haven’t been in this position in a tournament since 2019 so I’m looking forward to the next two days.”
Kim, a PGA Associate based at Ryde-Parramatta Golf Club, backed up his 2-under round on Tuesday with an even par 73 in Round 2, also bouncing back after a rough start.
“Had a bit of a rough start with doubling the second hole but from there I battled through the front nine,” said Kim.
“Turned 1-over and then through the back nine, made a couple of pars here and there and then finished strong towards the end, making three birdies in a row on 16, 17, 18.”
Defending champion Will Bayliss (76) is the only other player under par with Round 1 leader Jordy McGarry (78), Campbell Jones (73), Angelo Bourandanis (73) and 2023 champ Jack Wright (74) all at even par.
The cut was set at 10-over-par, with exactly 50 players advancing to the final two days of play.
Round 3 tees off at 8am on Thursday morning with the feature group of Garner, Kim and Bayliss scheduled to tee off at 10:24am.
Defending champion Will Bayliss is well placed as First Year Associate Jordan McGarry takes a one-stroke lead into Round 2 of the $50,000 NSW/ACT PGA Associate Championship at Tura Beach Country Club.
The New South Wales South Coast served up idyllic conditions for Round 1 and the players responded, McGarry’s 5-under 68 the pick after Bayliss endured a hiccup mid-round.
In the first year of the Membership Pathway Program at Pacific Golf Club in Brisbane, McGarry turned in 1-under after starting the championship from the 10th tee. He would surge when he reached the Tura Beach front nine, an eagle at the par-5 second propelling him to an inward nine of 4-under and 5-under total.
“This is my first time to Tura Beach and all the boys were talking it up given the conditions of last year,” said McGarry.
“I heard the course was playing really hard so it is super nice to put it all together and have a great score.”
The champion 12 months ago and runner-up in 2023, Bayliss was 5-under through just seven holes of his opening round before stumbling mid-round.
The Pymble Associate dropped shots at eight, nine and 12 before rescuing his round with an eagle of his own at the par-5 16th to post 4-under 69.
The 2023 champion, Jack Wright, also positioned himself nicely on the leaderboard, posting a 1-under-par 72 to sit in a tie for fifth heading into day two.
Players were tested by slick greens running at 10.5 on the Stimpmeter, demanding precision on approach and with the putter.
Round 2 tees off from 7:30am on Wednesday morning with the forecast promising mostly sunny conditions, perfect for another day of championship golf.
Pymble Golf Club Associate William Bayliss will be seeking to repeat his dominant victory of 12 months ago when the NSW/ACT PGA Associate Championship tees off at Tura Beach Country Club on Tuesday.
The second year of a three-year commitment, a field of 108 Associates from across the country have gathered on the Sapphire Coast of New South Wales to compete for the $50,000 prize purse.
Currently in the third year of the PGA’s Membership Pathway Program and runner-up to Jack Wright in 2023, Bayliss trailed Luke Porritt by three strokes at the halfway mark of last year’s championship before shooting matching rounds of 71 in the final two rounds to win by seven.
Yarrambat Park Golf Course Associate Toby Walker shapes as one of the genuine challengers to Bayliss’s title while Lachlan Chamberlain (Gold Creek GC), South Australian Joseph Hodgson (Mt Osmond GC) and Kyle Novacek (Wodonga GC) are also expected to contend.
The Tura Beach Country Club members and the wider community embrace the tournament and the players for the week, all building towards crowning the 2025 champion on Thursday.
First round tees off at 7.30am AEST on Tuesday with the top 50 and ties to advance to the final two rounds Thursday and Friday.
He has since called it the best shot of his career to date.
Needing to birdie the final hole of the final event of the 2024-2025 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season, Anthony Quayle stood on the left side of the fairway at the par-4 18th with 2-iron in hand, 215 metres to the flag and a fierce wind in his face.
The shot to eight feet is potentially life-changing, the resulting birdie helping to secure one of three DP World Tour cards for the 2026 season.
Watching on from the edge of his lounge chair in Brisbane, Quayle’s long-time coach Ken Berndt paid close attention to Quayle’s demeanour prior to stepping into the shot. Here he explains why what he saw can be adopted by golfers at every level.
You’re looking for a confluence of focal intensity and a fluidity of movement, a softness in the body.
There’ll be a fluidity of motion to not just in the shot, but in the way they move up to the ball and prepare and execute the shot. That’ll all flow quite smoothly and efficiently.
Often, it’ll be a softness around the face and an intensity of focus in the eyes. That focus can then shift into a focal intensity whereby they are picturing the shot. Their eyes will almost glaze over and they can essentially look right through you.
That confluence of focal intensity and calmness is probably the key to the whole thing. From there, their instincts take over.
The same principles can be applied to amateur golfers.
Once you have established the types of shots they are predisposed to hit, the best thing any coach can do is to help their player hit the best shots possible within their means.
You can make major changes to their swing but that is a process that takes patience and a great deal of commitment on behalf of the player.
Rather than thinking about all the things that are not going to really work, direct their focus to the target and what they want the ball to do.
And then let their instincts take over.
Based out of the Hills Golf Academy, Ken Berndt has been a PGA Professional for 50 years and is the current coach of Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winners Anthony Quayle and Louis Dobbelaar.
