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Coolangatta’s Jack Wright is hunting a second state championship after earning a share of the lead on day one of the Queensland PGA Associate Championship at Windaroo Lakes.
Returning to the City of Logan for the fifth time, only three of the 90 Associates from across the country broke par on day one, Wright and Murwillumbah Golf Club’s Riley Taylor both posting rounds of 2-under 71.
Maroochy River Golf Club’s Andrew Johnston defied the tricky conditions to turn in 5-under but stumbled on the back nine, the third player to go under par with a round of 1-under 72.
The NSW/ACT PGA Associate champion at Tura Beach, Wright is amassing one of the most impressive seasons by a first year Associate in the program’s history.
He boasts nine wins already this year and had three birdies and a lone bogey to start his quest for the Queensland title.
“I felt like I didn’t really have it early and grinded well, made a couple of good up-and-downs,” said Wright.
“I had a couple of soft bogeys but then I started to work things out and it was pretty good for the rest of the round.”
Although many of the field have prior knowledge of the twisting Windaroo Lakes layout, Wright found the right formula in his first start in the championship.
“You’ve just got to find fairways and hit greens in the right areas,” he added.
“You can’t just go blasting away at the green, you’ve got to find the right areas and leave yourself some good putts because the greens are pretty tricky and they’re fast as well.”
He has something of a surprise for company at the top of the leaderboard in Taylor.
Currently in the process of moving back to his home-town of Casino, Taylor has also had recent surgery, making practice something of a luxury.
“Since the Pampling Plate I haven’t really touched a club,” said Taylor, who had five birdies and three bogeys in his round on Monday.
“I’ve done the bare necessities in terms of practice but I’ve had a few things going on in my personal life.
“I haven’t really done much practice, just little drills here and there.
“Having played here last year I knew that I couldn’t go above the hole today so I played short of the hole and uphill putts for most of the day.”
Johnston had four birdies in succession from the sixth hole to burst clear of the pack, admitting that the putts didn’t fall like they did on the front.
“It just clicked. All the numbers were just the right numbers and all the putts just rolled in,” Johnston said of his front-nine charge.
“Turned front nine in 5-under and then the back nine tightened up a bit. Left a couple of putts short and didn’t have that luck that I had on the front nine.
Round 2 will begin at 7am Tuesday morning.
Recent good form and the memories of his thrilling win 12 months ago are driving Bailey Arnott ahead of the defence of his Queensland PGA Associate Championship starting Monday.
A field of 92 players drawn from across the country will compete for the Carnegie Clark Cup at Windaroo Lakes Golf Club, the fifth time the championship has been hosted by the City of Logan.
In the third year of the Membership Pathway Program under his dad, Tom, at Caloundra Golf Club on the Sunshine Coast, Arnott knows his defence won’t come easy.
A strong field of first year Associates led by nine-time winner Jack Wright (Coolangatta Tweed Heads Golf Club) and a host of interstate challengers will ensure compelling competition over the coming four days.
And Arnott knows he will need more than happy memories to hold them at bay.
“It was a thrilling finish last year, holing that long putt on the 72nd hole,” said Arnott, who won by two strokes from Sheradyn Johnson (The National Golf Club) in 2022.
“The memories of the Windaroo layout are positive so I am hoping for another great week.
“I have been building throughout the year and feel I am coming into some form at the right time.”
Among Wright’s 2023 wins was last month’s NSW/ACT PGA Associate Championship at Tura Beach Country Club while Dylan Gardner (Pelican Waters) is a perennial contender in the big events.
Leading the interstate charge is Joe Kim (Concord Golf Club), the New South Welshman currently fourth on the National Average rankings with -1.50 under par over 34 rounds.
Other players to watch include Baxter Droop (Yarrawonga Mulwala Resort), Liam Reaper (The National Golf Club) and recent Pampling Plate winner, Lachlan Wood (Hervey Bay Golf Club).
As the history of the Queensland Associate Championship at Windaroo Lakes continues to grow, Head Professional Tanner Jackson said the club is thrilled to once again be hosting Associates from across Australia.
“We absolutely love having the Queensland PGA Associate Championship here,” said Jackson.
“All the members get behind the event and we have a great group of club sponsors who support it.”
City of Logan Mayor Darren Power said the championship was a welcome part of the city’s event calendar.
“Logan is a sport-loving city and we look forward to welcoming the event once again,” Cr Power said.
“I’m sure we will witness another great year of competition and I wish all players the very best.”
Play begins at 7am AEST Monday morning at Windaroo Lakes Golf Club.
The nominee finalists have been confirmed for the NSW/ACT PGA Vocational Awards, with winners set to be announced at the NSW Golf Industry Awards Night at The Crown, Barangaroo on Monday, November 6.
The awards night is the perfect chance to celebrate the extensive contribution of PGA Professionals across the state whose tireless dedication helps to grow the game every day.
Winners will be named in four categories – Coach of the Year; High Performance Coach of the Year; Game Development Club Professional of the Year; and Management Professional of the Year.
A fifth category, PGA State Tournament of the Year, will also be awarded on the night.
The winners of each will also become eligible to win the national awards in their respective categories at the PGA Awards Night, held in conjunction with the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship in November.
The full list of nominee finalists is below:
PGA Coach of the Year – High Performance
Zach Churcher – Pioneer Golf Performance Centre
Ben Paterson – Avondale Golf Club
Khan Pullen – Golf NSW
John Serhan – St. Michael’s Golf Club
PGA Coach of the Year – Game Development
Bryce Alexis – Liverpool Golf Club
Jason Laws – Jason Laws Golf Academy
Jeremy Ward – Oatlands Golf Club
Grant Kenny – Thornleigh Golf Centre
Paige Stubbs – Castle Hill Country Club
PGA Club Professional of the Year
James Macdonald – North Turramurra Golf Course
David Northey – Concord Golf Club
Jeremy Ward – Oatlands Golf Club
Lee Hunt – Bankstown Golf Club
Luke Ryan – Gunnedah Golf Club
Rodney Booth – Club Catalina
PGA Management Professional of the Year
Stewart Hardiman – Hurstville Golf Course
Ben Russell – Long Reef Golf Club
Sam Howe – Oatlands Golf Club
James McDonald – North Turramurra Golf Course
Robert Hurley – Magenta Shores Country Club
Tristan Morey – Thornleigh Golf Centre
PGA NSW Tournament of the Year
PSC Insurance Brokers Wagga Wagga Pro-Am
B&C Plumbing Griffith Charity Pro-Am
Cowra Motors Pro-Am
Better Homes Port Macquarie Pro-Am
Hawks Nest Beachside Pro-Am
Tickets to the event can now be purchased via the NSW Golf Industry Awards Night webpage on Eventbrite (click here).
PGA Professional Craig Stickling knew that the 25 women who were coming to Forster-Tuncurry Golf Club for the six-week Get Into Golf program would have some preconceptions about walking into a golf club for the first time.
He knew they might be nervous. He suspected some apprehension. He expected them to be anxious about trying a sport for the first time.
So he played into it.
Stickling presented himself in the most professional way possible and took them straight to the practice bunker to show them how a PGA Professional played arguably the most feared shot among newcomers to the game.
And duffed it. Barely moved it six inches.
Deliberately, of course, but Stickling wanted to do two things: Release the tension and show that bad shots happen to every golfer at any level.
“Once I start to laugh, they all laugh and then I tell them that it doesn’t matter who you are, at times you’re going to hit a bad shot,” Stickling shared.
“All of a sudden that big sense of stress that you can feel is gone because everyone is laughing.
“I did that at the start of every lesson.”
With her two children at an age where time was more available, Natalie McQuillan signed up for the Get Into Golf program at Forster in June.
With no prior history in the game, McQuillan said the atmosphere created by Stickling and members at the club made her entry into golf one of fun and enjoyment.
“I was a little bit shy because I was unsure of the skill level of everyone else but the club was very welcoming and Craig made sure we were all relaxed and ready to have fun,” McQuillan said.
“He’s a really good teacher. He makes everyone feel really comfortable and explains things really well.
“By the end of the six-week course we all had the basic skills of the game and enough confidence to organise a social game on a Saturday.
“It also gave us some of the etiquette and a sense of feeling more comfortable at a golf course.”
A former board member of the PGA of South Africa, Stickling has recently joined New South Wales Golf Club as Director of Golf. He says programs such as Get Into Golf are crucial in establishing a pathway into the game.
He previously ran Get Into Golf and junior programs alongside Evan Droop at Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort and says such entry points help to dispel any myths that people may have.
“It’s about coming out and socialising, being in nature, getting some exercise and having fun,” adds Stickling, who sourced financial support from Wiseberry Real Estate in Forster to sponsor the first 25 women to sign up for the program.
“There are tremendous mental and physical health benefits that come from it and that was really the main reason I wanted to run those programs at Yarrawonga and Forster.
“Often new people who come to a golf club are overwhelmed. They don’t know where to go, they feel uncomfortable so you need to make sure that they can get that welcome and positive experience from start to finish.
“People come to the golf club to spend their recreational time so they want to have fun and enjoy it.
“You don’t need to reinvent the wheel, just make it more accessible and easier for people to access the game in different ways.
“The whole idea was to get these ladies involved in golf and hopefully they will love it so much that they want to come back.”
After spending more than a decade proving how golf can flourish in the desert, Simon Payne dived straight into the flood fightback effort of Moree Golf Club.
The contrast is striking for the PGA Member of more than 20 years and now General Manager of the popular golfing hub in northern New South Wales.
Water and golf, right? You can’t live with too much and you can’t live without it.
Payne, 51, has embraced his new opportunity after 17 years in the United Arab Emirates where he transitioned from Head Golf Professional to General Manager at the Tower Links Golf Club.
The Brisbane-bred GM’s enthusiastic style is already proving a good fit with a club built around strong community links and a loyal player base in Moree.
“The course and the pro shop were metres under water in the big floods last year. This is a recovery story that beggars belief and built on a strong volunteer group and staff who have done an amazing job,” said Payne.
The culmination of that volunteer labour was on full display when the club last week hosted the two-day $25,000 LDC Moree Legends Pro-Am won by Euan Walters and Tim Elliott.
It was the first time that Moree Golf Club had hosted a PGA Legends Tour event and Payne was justifiably proud of the way the club not only presented the course but the welcome the field of Legends received.
“The 17th is a wonderful par 3, just 140 metres or so over the Mehi River to a postcard green framed by gums,” Payne said of the course’s signature hole.
“The course was in top shape and we were so excited to be able to show it off.”
Payne has only been in the GM’s job since March and admitted the sudden change of scenery hit him.
“It still spins me out. I’m seeing this green-ness again, the maturity of the gums, the sounds of kookaburras and galahs,” he said.
Payne’s golf journey began as a junior at Pine Rivers Golf Club in Brisbane before embarking on his PGA training at the now-defunct Gold Coast Country Club at Helensvale.
He picked up pro-am wins at Horton Park and Pioneer Valley on Queensland’s old “Troppo Tour” as well as Torquay in Victoria and Adelaide Shores more than two decades ago.
Jumping out of his comfort zone was a big attraction of the UAE. His exit strategy had a very Aussie flavour.
“I flew out the day after the 2005 Melbourne Cup. I’d bought a $20 mystery trifecta at the Hamilton Hotel (near Eagle Farm Racecourse) on race day,” Payne still recalls with a smile. “It got up – Makybe Diva and the placegetters – so I picked up $3,500.”
He packed his game for his first stint as head pro at Dubai Country Club because he was sharp enough to earn the UAE PGA Order of Merit three times and represent the UAE PGA in a team competition in Spain.
But the golf culture that comes so naturally to Australians was not always so obvious in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah near the mouth of the Persian Gulf.
“It was a wonderful set-up at Tower Links (one hour up the highway from Dubai International Airport). It was basically the private course of the Sheikh and everything was very well maintained on the edge of a mangrove reserve,” Payne said.
“Some locals would drive their Landcruisers onto the 17th fairway and set out a picnic rug for lunch during a comp. They had no concept it was a golf course.
“They saw it as a big green oasis. Like the guys who’d turn up with their falcons to train them, nothing was done disrespectfully.”
When the time came to return to Australia, Payne was made aware of an opportunity through an old mate and former Head Professional at Moree, David Wright.
He’s quickly connected to the community feel of Moree Golf Club and new Head Professional Darren Burger.
Working side-by-side with Burger, Payne is hoping to initiate a five-hole loop of night golf from shortened tees to the greens around the clubhouse.
“We see it as a way to get more ladies interested in the game with a casual 45 minutes on course with two or three clubs,” Payne said.
The state’s leading coaches and administrators, metropolitan and regional clubs, volunteers and golf club staff members will all be honoured at the Queensland Golf Industry Awards Night at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on Thursday October 19.
Represented by the PGA of Australia, Golf Australia, Golf Course Superintendents Association of Queensland and Golf Management Australia, the Queensland Golf Industry Awards Night acknowledges the achievements the finalists have accomplished in a period where golf has continued to see significant growth in the state.
“We had a significant number of nominations for awards this year, each of which would be worthy winners,” said PGA State Manager Broc Greenhalgh.
“To be a finalist this year is a significant achievement and to have finalists from all over the state shows that the game is in wonderful hands both in regional and metropolitan areas, not to mention a great representation of females in the list of finalists.”
Golf Australia State Manager, Luke Bates, explained how the evening recognises and celebrates the hard work and success of individuals and facilities in Queensland, as well as the unsung heroes of our sport.
“The Queensland Golf Industry Awards Night allows us to recognise not only entire golf facilities, but also the individuals behind the scenes,” said Bates.
“Board members, administrative staff, course staff, volunteers and many others who each work tirelessly for the game of golf will all be recognised in what is Queensland golf’s night of nights.”
Given the momentum that the sport has, Golf Management Australia (QLD) President Gavin Lawrence explained, it’s an opportunity to recognise the efforts of those who have been excelling in a thriving environment.
“The past 12 months have been amazing for golf, and this is a way for us to celebrate the people who have made it all possible,” said Lawrence.
“There have been many that have excelled in their respective roles at golf facilities around the state and the list of finalists is a testament to the amazing experiences we are providing the golf public.”
Golf Course Superintendent Association (QLD) President Mark Hauff is proud to have the event showcase the collaboration in our sport.
“We are proud of being a part of an industry that can work together for the betterment of the game,” said Hauff.
“Success requires a team effort across the entire facility and by extension, the ability for all golf organisations to work together further cements our position as a leading sport.”
The finalists for their respective awards (in alphabetical order) are:
Golf Club of the Year Award presented by MiClub
Maleny Golf Club
McLeod Golf Club
Mt Coolum Golf Club
Nudgee Golf Club
Oxley Golf Club
Redcliffe Golf Club
Redland Bay Golf Club
Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club
Townsville Golf Club
Golf Club of the Year (Under 400 Members) presented by Inside Golf
Bulimba Golf Club
Gatton Jubilee Golf Club
Kingaroy Golf Club
Isis Golf Club
Pioneer Valley Golf Club
Volunteer of the Year
Jeff Arndt – Bay Islands Golf Club
Rob Bailo – Maleny Golf Club
Gurney Clamp – Golf Central Queensland Inc
Les Dower – Bay Islands Golf Club
Kristine Sanderson – Boyne Tannum Golf Club
Bruce Smith – McLeod Country Golf Club
Brian Smith – Proserpine Golf Club
Douglas Wooffindin – Mount Morgan Golf Club
Junior Golf Program of the Year Award
Atherton Golf Club
Burleigh Golf Club
Cairns Golf Club
City Golf Club
KDV Sport
Keperra Country Golf Club
Meadowbrook Golf Club
Redland Bay Golf Club
The Brisbane Golf Club
Townsville Golf Club
Virginia Golf Club
Windaroo Lakes Golf Club
PGA Queensland Coach of the Year – High Performance
Lee Eagleton – The Brisbane Golf Club
Grant Field – Pelican Waters Golf Club
Ji McBryde – Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club
Richard Woodhouse – KDV Sport
John Wright – Maroochy River Golf Club
PGA Queensland Coach of the Year – Game Development
Janine Barney – Windaroo Lakes Golf Club
Glenn Domigan – Victoria Park Golf Complex
Asha Hargreaves – The Brisbane Golf Club
Jake Newbery – KDV Sport
Darren Weatherall – Victoria Park Golf Complex
John Wright – Maroochy River Golf Club
PGA Queensland Club Professional of the Year presented by Coca-Cola
Chris Adnams – Redcliffe Golf Club
Jamie Corkill – Yamba Golf and Country Club
Chris Graham – Ocean Shores Country Club
Brett Maxwell – Virginia Golf Club
Angus Porter – Carbrook Golf Club
Channon Ryan – Oxley Golf Club
PGA Queensland Management Professional of the Year
Ben Fletcher – Pacific Golf Club
James King – Oxley Golf Club
Adrian Lawson – Golf 24
Jonathan O’Sullivan – Marsden Golf Driving Range
Darren Richards – Nudgee Golf Club
Scott Wagstaff – Carbrook Golf Club
Golf Club Staff Member of the Year Award presented by CPR Group
Graeme Andrews – Mt Tamborine Golf Club
Tracey Connors – McLeod Country Golf Club
Kylee Fowler – Sarina Golf Club
Ryan Gailey – Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country
Teegan Negreira – Redcliffe Golf Club
Charles Vos – Southport Golf Club
Sue Walker – Twin Waters Golf Club
Golf Club Board Member of the Year Award
Peter Evans – Burleigh Golf Club
Paul Rigby – Nudgee Golf Club
Max Whitten – Maleny Golf Club
Distinguished Manager Award presented by Asahi Schweppes
Adrian Lawson – Golf 24 Australia
Aaron Muirhead – Oxley Golf Club
Jonathan O’Sullivan – Marsden Golf Driving Range
Darren Richards – Nudgee Golf Club
Chris Richards – Tropics Golf Club
Amber Williams – Pacific Golf Club
Metropolitan PGA Tournament of the Year
The Brisbane Pro-Am
Belle Property Bulimba Pro-Am
Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am
Southport Pro-Am
Breakas Beach Resort Vanuatu Virginia Pro-Am
Bartons/BMD Wynnum Pro-Am
PGA Regional PGA Tournament of the Year
McGrath Estate Agents Ballina Pro-Am
Dougherty Property Grafton Pro-Am
Roy Powell Security Pioneer Valley Pro-Am
PIMS Group Mackay Pro-Am
Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am
Tieri Pro-Am
PGA Legends Tournament of the Year
Living Choice Legends Tour Championship (Headland GC)
PNG Senior Open (Lae Golf Club)
Queensland Senior PGA Championship (Maroochy River GC)
Sunshine Coast Masters (Twin Waters GC)
Town of 1770 Legends Pro-Am
Bartons/BMD Paul King Memorial Legends Pro-Am (Wynnum GC)
PGA Tournament of the Year presented by Oxygn
The Brisbane Pro-Am
Paul King Memorial Legends Pro-Am (Wynnum GC)
PNG Senior Open (Lae Golf Club)
Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am
Ian Weigh Toyota Rockhampton Pro-Am
Tieri Pro-Am
Bartons/BMD Wynnum Pro-Am
Golf Course Assistant Superintendents Recognition Award
Isabelle Hogarth – North Pine Golf Club
Angus Linnell – Palmer Gold Coast Golf Course
Scott McComas – Nudgee Golf Club
Jesse McGilvray – Palmer Colonial Golf Course
Superintendents Achievement Award presented by Living Turf
Graeme Andrews – Tamborine Mountain Golf Club
Glenn Beauclerc – Oxley Golf Club
Dion Cope – Redland Bay Golf Club
Peter Culross – Nudgee Golf Club
David Mason – Brisbane Golf Club
Todd McNamee – Mt Coolum Golf Club
Paul McLean – Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club
Superintendents Environment and Safety Excellence Award presented by Greenway Turf Solutions
Glenn Beauclerc – Oxley Golf Club
Peter Culross – Nudgee Golf Club
Ben Grylewicz – Indooroopilly Golf Club
Superintendents Industry Recognition Award presented by RDO Equipment
Paul Bevan – Greenway Turf Solutions
Darryl Edwards – Burleigh Golf Club
Dave Morrison – Racing Queensland
Golf Supplier of the Year Award
Acushnet Golf Australia
Asahi Schweppes
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
CPR Group
First Choice Services
MiClub
RDO Equipment (John Deere)
Red Tape Busters
Toro Australia
Trackman
Additional awards presented at the Queensland Golf Industry Awards Night that don’t attract finalists include:
Early bird tickets are available until September 29 and therefore to secure your place or for further details about the Queensland Golf Industry Awards Night, please visit www.qldgolfindustryawards.com.au or alternatively contact the PGA (QLD/NT) Office on 07 5657 6100 or via email on [email protected].
Brad McLellan counts himself lucky for his experience in the PGA of Australia’s Membership Pathway Program.
Completing the program in 2015 has led to representing his country at next week’s Four Nations Cup at Moonah Links on the Mornington Peninsula.
A tournament contested between Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and, this year, an Internationals squad, the Four Nations Cup is for vocational golf professionals without a Tour card. That’s a category the Melbourne-based club fitter fits in perfectly after early aspirations to play the game for a living.
Completing the program at Twin Waters Golf Club on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, McLellan’s boss was current PGA of Australia Board Director Stephen Hutchinson, which led to a diverse on the job education, while his location meant time with Cam Smith’s career-long coach, Grant Field.
“I was really lucky, Steve was a great boss,” McLellan said. “I got a well-rounded education from him.
“He was the General Manager at the golf club at the time.
“He’d played on the tour when he was younger as well. So I got to learn a big array of everything in the golf industry, from running the golf club, to running the pro shop, and we were pretty lucky we had Grant Field teaching there at the time.”
Twin Waters also offering unique opportunities to spend time with, and learn from, two of Australia’s finest exports and major champions.
“I got to spend a bit of time with Finchy (Ian Baker-Finch), and even Adam Scott from time to time and played a few rounds with him when he was back in Queensland over summer,” McLellan said.
Those experiences led to the now 32-year-old initially chasing a career like Scott and Baker-Finch once he finished his training.
However, when things didn’t progress as planned, McLellan had his vocational training to fall back on.
Utilising hose skills prompting a move to Melbourne that has still allowed him to indulge in his own golf regularly.
“I did pursue playing for a few years. It wasn’t working out particularly well and I got the opportunity to start with Cool Clubs, so I’ve been doing club fitting for the last four or five years, and really enjoy that,” he said.
“I think any job you’re doing whether you’re teaching or your club fitting, it is a similar environment in a lot of ways. I think it helps to be able to still be able play at a decent level and enjoy it.
“I am also pretty lucky to be able to play golf with our clients from time to time, get out with them and learn about their games and helping a little bit.”
Playing regular golf, and with the competitive fire still burning, McLellan is looking forward to representing his country for the first time alongside captain Scott Laycock, Jayden Cripps and TJ King at Moonah Links’ Open Course from September 19-21.
The Australian team decided at last year’s PGA Professionals Championship at Yarra Yarra Golf Club via the top-four place getters, a reward McLellan was blissfully unaware of but is hugely thankful for.
“I actually didn’t know that (Four Nations Cup) was a chance, and I didn’t play particularly well in the first round. I came from a fair way back in the second round, I was just trying to hang onto a good round towards the end of it.
“I actually wasn’t aware that this was the carrot at the end, but obviously a big bonus.”
Hervey Bay Associate Lachlan Wood has survived the marathon of 36-holes a day for four days to be crowned the 2023 Coca-Cola Pampling Plate champion.
Facing off against Indooroopilly first year Associate Dylan Knox in Thursday’s 36-hole final at Caboolture Golf Club, Wood stayed true to the game-plan that had served him well all week to triumph 3&2.
The lead changed hands on no less than six occasions throughout the final, Knox unable to get the putts he needed to drop to keep pace with Wood in the latter holes.
A winner of All Abilities tournaments in Australia and New Zealand and a two-time winner on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series this year, Wood was doubtful to play as late as last week.
Forced to endure more than 30 operations after his left leg was shattered in 44 places in a car in which he was a passenger at 16 years of age, Wood cannot sustain the physical toll of 36 holes a day without a cart.
Granted an exemption to use a cart this week, Wood revealed that he would not have teed it up at the start of the week without it.
“I can possibly walk 36 holes, but it would ruin me for days,” said Wood, who was top 10 at the inaugural G4D Open in London earlier this year.
“I would be in so much pain, unable to work, unable to just do day-to-day life things after it. It just wouldn’t be worth it.
“That’s why I put in the exemption to get the cart with my injuries. They’re not getting any better, they’re only getting worse and for me this is the most feared event on the calendar to have to play.
“I was probably not playing this a week ago and now to be standing here with the trophy is a really good feeling.”
A daily routine that began at 4.30am each day put Wood in a position to compete, his strategy on the golf course ideally suited to the vagaries of matchplay.
“Pretty much against everyone I played I was hitting 7-irons when they were hitting wedges,” he said.
“I was hitting 2-irons off tees when they were hitting drivers. Here at Caboolture, that’s just what you’ve got to do. You’ve got to control your ball.
“Didn’t try to play anyone else’s game, just played my own game all day. And if it’s good enough, it’s good enough and if it’s not, it’s not.
“It worked this week.”
Making the trip from his home in Ipswich each day, Knox stayed in the fight for as long as possible before a frustrating day with the flatstick ultimately proved his undoing.
One-down through nine holes, Knox had the match back square after 18 and was 1 up with seven holes to play.
Wood then unleashed a superb finish to take four of the next five holes to secure the title with two holes to play.
“I just couldn’t get the speed today. They felt a little bit slower in some areas so maybe the wind influenced that a little bit,” said Knox.
“Lachy’s a good player so it was a tough one.
“We were going back and forth with a couple of birdies and a couple of par saves but I had a couple of bad lies and the wind started to pick up a bit. A couple of time I thought I’d picked the perfect club but it wasn’t, so that got in my head a little bit.
“I think the mental strain I’ve experienced doing this for the first time was tough.”
Now in its 19th year, Marge Pampling was on hand to present Wood with the Pampling Plate, Wood grateful for everything that Rod and the Pampling family have done to create such a prestigious tournament among PGA Associates.
“Huge thank you to Rod for what he has done for us,” said Wood.
“It’s an experience like no other. You learn more about yourself in this than in any other event because you get more tired, you get more exhausted, it brings the worst out in every single person to a degree.
“Trying to keep your lid on when you’re absolutely, physically exhausted is a whole skill in itself.
“This event has been designed really well and the prizemoney we get to play for is really appreciated.”
In the playoff for third and fourth, defending champion Dylan Gardner (Pelican Waters) edged Haydn Garner (Headland) 3&1.
Lachlan Wood and Dylan Knox both staged impressive fightbacks to secure their spots in the 36-hole Coca-Cola Pampling Plate final at Caboolture Golf Club on Thursday.
An Associate based at Indooroopilly Golf Club in Brisbane, Knox had to hole a 20-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to get past in-form first year Associate Jack Wright in the quarter-finals to set up a clash with Haydn Garner in the afternoon semi-finals.
Know found himself staring at defeat when he trailed 3 down through 14 holes but won the 15th, 16th and 18th holes to take Garner to extra holes.
Perhaps shell-shocked by the switch in momentum, Garner three-putted the 19th hole to allow Knox to advance to the final.
“I played and putted very well this morning against Jack but this afternoon the putts didn’t drop,” said Knox.
“Haydn just kept hitting fairways and greens which made it hard to make any inroads.
“Can’t wait until tomorrow, even though the body is aching after three days of 36 holes.”
A dominant force in the All Abilities events in Australia this year, Wood also boasts two wins on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series this season.
The first year Associate at Hervey Bay Golf and Country Club, Wood has been permitted to use a motorised cart and says that it has made it possible for him to compete.
“Stoked to be playing in the final,” said Wood, who has competed in international All Abilities tournaments this year.
“I must admit, having being permitted to use a motorised cart for this event has allowed me to play. Without it I could not have played.”
A 5&4 winner over Jordan Hampson in the quarter-finals, Wood also had to fight back late to force extra holes against defending champion Dylan Gardner.
Two-down for much of the match after Gardner began with four birdies in his first seven holes, Wood drew level on the 18th hole before prevailing at the second extra hole.
“Dylan hits the ball so far so I was always playing first,” Wood said.
“I just stuck to my game-plan and in the end it paid off.”
Gardner advanced to the semi-finals with a 3&2 win over Riley Taylor in the quarter-finals, Ben School’s giant-killing run coming to an end at the hands of Garner 2&1.
Thursday’s 36-hole final begins at 7.20am with the 18-hole match between Garner and Gardner to determine third and fourth will begin at 11.30am.
Toowoomba Golf Club’s Ben Scholl played his way into the final eight as No.1 seed Jordan Rooke suffered a shock defeat on day one of the matchplay section of the 2023 Coca-Cola Pampling Plate.
With the top eight qualifiers exempt into Round 2, 16 players took to Caboolture Golf Club early on Tuesday where Sanctuary Cove Associate Jordan Hampson delivered a dominant 6&4 win over 2022 runner-up Ben Hollis (Bribie Island).
Runner-up in 2021 and the 2022 Queensland PGA Associate champion, Caloundara’s Bailey Arnott was the first to fall victim to Scholl’s giant-killing run, going down 2&1.
Other winners in Round 1 were Haydn Garner, Aaron Jakimczuk, James Bonner, Ryan Paul, Leon Trenerry and Robert Spence.
Qualifying 23rd out of 24, Scholl earned his place in the final eight with a 1 up win over No.7-seed Chris Park, crediting his putter and his matchplay mindset for advancing to the quarter-finals.
“I like matchplay as I see myself as player that doesn’t really let any situation fluster me and that has helped with two matches today,” said Scholl.
“I am putting well which has been the key to both my wins.”
The other major upset of the afternoon was Hampson’s 1 up defeat of Rooke, who topped qualifying by five strokes on Monday.
It wasn’t easy, though, Hampson making a brilliant up-and-down on the final hole.
“The win this morning gave me confidence to take on Jordan in the afternoon, which I knew was going to be tough as he is playing really well,” said Hampson.
“I’m carrying a back injury which has affected me all year but if I can control that I know I have the game to match it with these guys.”
Riley Taylor took 21 holes to defeat James Bonner, who missed a golden opportunity on the first extra hole by missing a two-foot putt to win the match.
Event favourite Jack Wright came from 4 down through 11 holes to storm home and win 2&1 over Aaron Jakimczuk while defending champion Dylan Gardner needed to two-putt from 20 feet on the final hole to win 1 up over Ryan Paul having been 4 up with five to play.
The other quarter-finalists are Dylan Knox, Haydn Garner, Josh Holbrook and Lachlan Wood.
Quarter-finals tee off from 6.40am on Wednesday morning to be followed by the semi-finals in the afternoon. All matches will feature live scoring.
Quarter-finals
6.40am Dylan Gardner v Riley Taylor
6.47am Jack Wright v Dylan Knox
6.54am Haydn Garner v Ben Scholl
7.01am Jordan Hampson v Lachlan Wood
