A new event on the PGA Legends Tour schedule, the Busselton layout 2.5 hours south of Perth presented a stern test for some of the best senior golfers in the country.

Boulton – a four-time winner in his rookie season in 2023 – was the only player to break par for the two rounds, his 36-hole total of 1-under putting him four strokes clear of Stuart Beament (72) with West Australians Brendan Chant (74) and Scott Barr (77) sharing third.

Boulton’s opening round of 3-under 69 was one of only two sub-par rounds for the tournament and was set up by a blistering start.

Beginning his first round from the third tee, Boulton made birdies at four, six and eight in a bogey-free round that would ultimately prove the difference.

“I didn’t see this one coming,” admitted Boulton, whose last win was at Coffs Harbour Golf Club last September.

“Been close on a couple of events this year, but yesterday felt good, played good.”

HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED

Leading by two entering Round 2, Boulton’s game-plan centred around controlled aggression that would hopefully yield an improvement on his day one score.

A dropped shot at the par-4 seventh was an early step back but he responded with four straight pars.

A bogey at the par-3 12th was followed by a birdie at the par-5 13th and then a third bogey for the day at the par-4 14th.

A 2-over 74 was not how Boulton had hoped to close out the win but proved to be more than enough by day’s end.

WHAT THE WINNER SAID

“Today was a lot harder,” Boulton said the second round.

“Certainly a challenging course. Just a strong course right from the tee, those back blocks and right up to the green and on the greens.

“Very, very pleased that I could get the job done. Just hung in there, I guess.

“I slept pretty good last night. Sometimes you don’t, your mind wanders a little, but today I just came in trying to be not super aggressive, but try to find a better score today.

“But every round of golf one day to the next can be just a little different. And today was that.

“Wasn’t exactly I guess the finish result I wanted, but it was good enough.”

LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1          Mark Boulton               69-74—143
2          Stuart Beament            75-72—147
T3        Brendan Chant             74-74—148
T3        Scott Barr                     71-77—148
T3        Paul Powell                   72-76—148
T6        Stephen Herbert          72-77—149
T6        David Wilson               74-75—149

NEXT UP
There is now a one-week break on the PGA Legends Tour leading into the $50,000 Vuksich & Borich Fiji Legends Golf Classic at Denarau Golf & Racquet Club.