Daniel Nisbet has won the 2019 Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship presented by Toowoomba Regional Council in a dominant performance in his home state.

Starting the day with a two shot lead, Nisbet won the title by six shots from Deyen Lawson and Harrison Endycott with rounds of 66, 63, 63 and 64 for a tournament total 24-under 256.

“It’s a little bit surreal at the moment but today went pretty quick so it’s all starting to catch up now,” said Nisbet.

“I’ve been playing pretty well for the last few days so I was confident that I could shoot another good score today.”

Despite holding a comfortable lead overnight, Nisbet was conscious of fending off an in-form marquee group featuring European Tour member Lawson and New South Welshman Lincoln Tighe.

“I thought I’d have to shoot another good score to fend off the chasers,” added Nisbet who shot three early birdies and an eagle on the 10^th to further enhance his lead.

“I played with a couple of guys who hit the ball a mile so to keep up with them and stay on top of them as well was great.

“I putted well all week so it definitely helps when the putts roll in.”

A double bogey on the 12^th did little to shake the Queenslander’s nerve, going on to fire birdies on holes 13, 14 and 17 to secure a dominant win.

The victory at the QLD PGA Championship is Nisbet’s first title in his home state of Queensland and becomes his third win on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia in the past 12 months.

“It’s good to finally get one in my home state,” said Nisbet.

“I’ve been trying for a while so it is great. Finally my family got to see me win an event.

“It’s been a long time for them as my wins have been out of state or overseas so it’s good to have a win with all of them here,” said Nisbet who won the Northern Territory PGA Championship and New Zealand Open last year.

In the event’s 10^th staging at City Golf Club, Nisbet was not the only player to commend the club’s grounds staff for the impeccable greens on display across the tournament.

“The course was great,” continued Nisbet.

“This is the best I’ve seen the greens up here so it’s a privilege to play on greens this good especially in Queensland.

“We don’t always get blessed with greens this good up here so it’s been great.”

From Toowoomba Nisbet heads to Queenstown to defend his New Zealand Open title in the tournament’s 100^th staging.

“It’s a big confidence boost,” said Nisbet of the victory ahead of his title defence.

“I head to the New Zealand Open tomorrow and I’m defending there so I’ve got a big 10 days coming up.

“I’m hitting the ball well and I’m putting well so for me those are the two key aspects of my game.

“If they continue to roll in and if I find the fairway then it’s happy days.”

Nisbet becomes the third Daniel to win the QLD PGA Championship in as many years, following in the footsteps of 2017 winner Daniel Pearce and 2018 victor Daniel Fox.

Victorian Deyen Lawson takes a strong joint runner-up result overseas as he heads to the European Tour event in Oman next week.

He completed the QLD PGA Championship with rounds of 68, 63, 63 and 68 for an 18-under 262 tournament total.

Highlighting his round with an eagle on the 10^th, Lawson’s fourth round score was hard earned with a number of shots hit from the rough salvaged for par.

A late charge of four birdies in a row on holes 10 to 13 propelled young-gun Harrison Endycott into a tie for second place, while an additional birdie on 17 closed in on Nisbet’s lead.

While unable to get close enough, Endycott will take positives from Queensland and strong form to the New Zealand Open where he will look to challenge the front-runners at the Asian Tour co-sanctioned event.

The ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia moves to New Zealand from 28 February to 3 March 2019 for the 100^th New Zealand Open.

Daniel Nisbet has moved into the lead at the 2019 Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship presented by Toowoomba Regional Council after firing 7-under the card in round three.

Battling with overnight leader Lincoln Tighe through the early holes it was Nisbet who was able to take advantage on the back-9, closing out his round with a stellar birdie on the 18^th for a two shot lead.

“The shot into the 18^th was probably my favourite shot of the day,” said Nisbet.

“I wasn’t on a great lie so I was lucky to get away with landing it just before the bunker at the back of the green and bringing it back to a foot or two.

“I think it is borderline lucky but that one will stand out for a while.”

Consistency and keeping a level head has been key for the Queenslander who, on a total of 18-under the card, is happy to take the lead into the final day.

“As long as I keep the lead I don’t really mind,” said Nisbet, whose believes his comfort on the City Golf Club layout will be beneficial on the final day.

“I’ve come from behind a lot of times so I don’t mind being in that position but front-running is a new thing for me so I’ll just get out there and attack this course.”

With two recent wins on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia in 2018 at the New Zealand Open and Northern Territory PGA Championship, it was Nisbet who chased down the lead on both occasions.

“I didn’t do anything differently in those two events last year and I really attacked that course,” Nisbet added.

“I had to go pretty low to beat the guys in front of me and it’s the same thing around this course, it’s easy to go low and the guys who are chasing me are probably going to try and do the same thing.”

With his title defence at the New Zealand Open only a week away, Nisbet believes a win in Toowoomba would be the perfect positive to take to Queenstown.

“A win would give me a big confidence boost going into next week,” continued Nisbet.

“It’s a tough week trying to defend a title as well so I hopefully can draw some positive vibes from this week going into next.”

Flying under the radar early in the tournament, Deyen Lawson came to the forefront in round three to sit two shots behind the lead at 16-under par.

Recording a stellar four birdies in a row from holes 14 to 17, the back-9 stood out for the Victorian who is pleased with his consistency ahead of a big 2019.

“I played pretty solid today,” said Lawson, who will play fulltime on the European Tour in 2019.

“The first three days have been pretty consistent so I hope I can keep that going tomorrow.

“I birdied four of the last five and had a good chance on 18; I hit a good putt but it didn’t go in.

“Overall I played pretty solid for most of the day. I gave myself a lot of chances and converted a few of them; obviously you want them all to go in but all in all I’m pretty happy.”

While chasing down an in-form Nisbet will be no small feat, Lawson will turn his focus to his own form around the City Golf Club layout.

“If you’re playing well you like to think every course suits you but I’ve been driving it pretty straight and you’ve got to be pretty straight here,” said Lawson.

“If you get the putter rolling you can really give yourself lots of chances.

“You can’t really control what the other guys are doing and you just go out and try and post a good number and see how you go.”

It was a roller coaster round for overnight leader Lincoln Tighe featuring six birdies, four bogeys and a double at the final hole to post an even par round and be five shots of the lead.

West Australian Jarryd Felton also joined the front-runners in round three, tying for 4th alongside Harrison Endycott and Max McCardle at 12-under the card.

The final day of play at the Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship presented by Toowoomba Regional Council will begin at 7:00am AEST at City Golf Club.

To view round four tee times please click here.

To view round three results please click here.

Organisers of the New Zealand Open today announced that former US Open champion, Michael Campbell, will re-commence his career, following three years in retirement, at next year’s 100th NZ Open at Millbrook Resort and The Hills in February 2019.

“I’m very excited to start the next chapter of my golfing career at the 100th NZ Open in Queenstown. It’s been three years since I retired and I now plan to join the Senior Tour.  I can’t think of a better way to kick off the season than playing at home, in what is going to be a milestone event.”

“The New Zealand Open is one of my favourite golfing tournaments. We are lucky to have an event of this calibre here in NZ – it brings top international talent to NZ and has helped me and many others progress our careers.  I couldn’t miss being part of the 100^th celebration,” says Campbell.

Retired from competitive golf since 2015, his 50th birthday coincides with the week of celebratory events leading up to the 100^th New Zealand Open. Achieving that milestone means he now qualifies for the PGA and European Senior Tours. His participation in the 100^th New Zealand Open signals his first step back into the game he loves.

One of only three Kiwi Professionals to have won a golf major, Campbell shot to fame when he beat Tiger Woods to win the 2005 US Open Championship.

Campbell and the 100^th New Zealand Open team are also thrilled to announce Manuka Doctor (a sponsor of Campbell) will join the list of major sponsors for the event.

“To have a home-grown successful New Zealand company like Manuka Doctor come on board is a real vote of confidence in our event. We are absolutely delighted that they have elected to be a part of our 100^th tournament celebration,” says Tournament Committee Chairman, John Hart.

Manuka Doctor is a New Zealand company taking iconic Manuka honey to the international arena with genuine, authentic true-to-label Manuka honey and skincare products. Manuka honey has been dubbed a superfood so it seemed like a perfect pairing to help power the players at the New Zealand Open with natural energy of Manuka honey.

“We are thrilled Michael Campbell – one of New Zealand’s golfing elite – will be playing in the New Zealand Open. It’s great to be able to bring him home to play in such a premium golfing event being played out in picture perfect Queenstown. Together we are showcasing the very best of New Zealand to the world,” says Nicola MacFarlane, Manuka Doctor.

With less than 100 days until the 100^th New Zealand Open tees off in Queenstown, interest is running high as more and more international players and sponsors confirm their support.

”It is a thrill for us to have Michael Campbell return to play in New Zealand again and we are particularly grateful that, through our association with Manuka Doctor, we are able to add a former major winner of his calibre to our field,” says Hart.

“100 years of the NZ Open is something all Kiwis should feel proud of. This is an iconic sporting event and one that deserves celebrating.”

New Zealand golfing legend, Sir Bob Charles, recalls winning his first New Zealand Open as a fresh 18-year-old amateur at Heretaunga in 1954 – his first of four New Zealand Open Championship wins.

Charles is just one of the great Kiwi golfers who will be attending the 100th year of the New Zealand Open in 100 days’ time, on 28 February 2019, at Millbrook Resort and The Hills in Queenstown.

Organisers of The Open today announced the start of a one-hundred-day countdown leading up to this year’s tournament, one of New Zealand’s oldest sporting events. 100 times, the New Zealand Open has attracted elite, international golf professionals to New Zealand to compete in this world-class tournament. In doing so it has created a springboard for local talent to advance their careers in a sport where New Zealand consistently punches above its weight, producing many world-class players.

Charles remembers, “To win the New Zealand Open meant a lot to me.  It is where I got my start displaying my skills against the very best in the world." New Zealand Professionals competing include Ryan Fox, Steve Alker, Tim Wilkinson, Ben Campbell and Mark Brown, as well as former champions Mike Hendry (2017), David Smail (2001) and Michael Long (1996).

For the next 100 days these players, along with other golfing dignitaries, will celebrate this milestone and reflect on the great competition, careers, players and shots over the history of the tournament and the game since the first Open in 1907. They will share their stories, trivia and memories in the build-up to a programme of events alongside this year’s Open to mark the occasion.

Organisers are particularly thrilled to have Ryan Fox return to play in next year’s event. “Ryan is now a top 100 player in the world, and can pick and choose which events he will play. For him, the New Zealand Open has as high a priority as any of golf’s majors and we couldn’t be more grateful for his support,” says Tournament Director Michael Glading.

New Zealand Open organisers announced that this year’s international field will also include a large number of additional past champions, including last year’s winner Daniel Nisbet, Matt Griffin (2016), Jordan Zunic (2015), Dimi Papadatos (2014), Jake Higginbottom (2012), Brad Kennedy (2011), Peter O’Malley (1995) and Peter Fowler (1993). At least 20 professionals from the Japan Tour and 30 from the Asian Tour will be competing, guaranteeing plenty of world-class competition to entertain crowds.

While only seven professionals teed off in 1907 at the Waiohiki Napier Golf Club, 152 professional golfers will compete for the 2019 New Zealand Open Title and $1.3 million prize pool. Simultaneously, a pairing of one professional and one amateur will play a best-ball format for the New Zealand Pro-Am Championship. A Tier One event co-sanctioned by the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and the Asian Tour, and in partnership with the Japan Golf Tour, the New Zealand Open’s Pro-Am format makes the New Zealand Open unique in the Asia-Pacific region.

With just 100 days to go before the start of the 100^th New Zealand Open, interest is hotting up. According to Sir Bob Charles, “100 tournaments of the iconic New Zealand Open is something all kiwis should feel proud of. Golf is a part of our sporting heritage – reaching 100 years is a phenomenal achievement for New Zealand sport and something that deserves celebrating.”

‘Extend, don’t defend.’

That’s the motto Queensland’s Daniel Nisbet is carrying into this week’s Victorian PGA Championship at RACV Cape Schanck Resort on the Mornington Peninsula as he seeks to further add to his lead at the top of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.

A stellar field that includes Nisbet, James Nitties, Michael Sim, Nick Flanagan and former PGA Tour winner Andre Stolz will compete for a share of the $100,000 in prize money alongside amateur playing partners.

Heroes from other sports such as Billy Slater, Glenn Maxwell, Sam Groth, Jack Gunston and David Zaharakis will all play in the opening two rounds on Thursday and Friday as will Keith Schleiger fresh from overseeing construction on yet another massive season of ‘The Block’.

Almost $30,000 clear of second-placed Anthony Quayle on the Order of Merit courtesy of wins at the New Zealand Open and more recently the MMC Northern Territory PGA Championship, Nisbet arrives at Cape Schanck as the hunted but has no intention of letting the chasing pack close the gap.

“It’s a new position as a pro but I’m not trying to fend anyone off, I’m trying to extend it if I can,” Nisbet said after playing the front-9 at RACV Cape Schanck on Monday.

“That’s why I’m trying to commit to a full schedule in Australia. I don’t want to scrape it in, I want to blast it away.

“I’m trying to put myself in that position."

There are opportunities abound for the winner of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit including full status on the European Tour, a guaranteed spot in The Open Championship and Alfred Dunhill Links Championship as well as berths in two WGC events, the Mexico Championship and HSBC Champions.

“I’m in a position now where I’ll get some pretty good starts regardless into bigger and better events, whether through the European Tour, Dunhill Links or maybe even WGC events.

“Obviously winning is going to be a different kettle of fish again but it’s just exciting to be up there competing.”

In addition to his No.1 status on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, Nisbet sits 22nd on the Asian Tour’s Habitat for Humanity standings.

But rather than trying to divide his time between the two tours, Nisbet intends to focus on the six remaining events on his home Tour’s schedule.

“I’ve always tried to support the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia as much as I could,” said the 28-year-old.

“I’ve always been someone who has tried to show this Tour the respect that it deserves by playing everything that my status and health allows me to play.

“The PGA Tour of Australasia has been good to me the last five years so I’m going to try and do everything I can to play all the events for the rest of the year. It’s just a matter of whether I play the Hong Kong Open the week of the World Cup, that’s the only question mark at this stage.”

Given that he had to withdraw from the Asia-Pacific Open Golf Championship Diamond Cup in Japan after one round due to back spasms Nisbet is conscious of keeping his body healthy but is confident he can manage the workload.

“Because I’d taken a bit of time off I tried to squeeze a lot of practice in and might have overdone it,” he said.

“I don’t tend to over-practice normally but because I felt a little under-prepped I put in more time on the range and just tweaked my back a little bit.

“It made day-to-day life pretty uncomfortable and then trying to swing a golf club just made it worse and worse.

“I got some scans done just to be safe and there’s a little bit of inflammation in the disc but it’s nothing we can’t manage.

“I’ve got to be a little bit mindful of it but as long as I’m mindful of it we can manage it.”

Daniel Nisbet grew up in a house that backed on to a golf course, has been playing the game since he was eight years old and is one of those rarities who has broken the magical 60 mark.

Yet despite some outstanding recent victories and his current standing as No.1 on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, Nisbet concedes the upcoming Isuzu Queensland Open has been his bogey tournament.

“I regret to say that in the past the tournament has had my number,” said the 28-year-old who honed his skills on the fairways and greens at Caboolture, the home course of Rod Pampling.

“I have played the event at both The Brisbane Golf Club and Brookwater, and have no idea why I have never been able to have much success. My memories of the tournament are not great.”

But, hopefully, that is about to change when a more self-assured and injury-free Nisbet tees it up in the 94^th Isuzu Queensland Open at The Brisbane Golf Club from November 1-4.

Coming off two outstanding wins in what he says is ‘absolutely’ his best year since he turned professional in 2012, his confidence in his game is at an all-time high. And while varied, and at times demanding, his preparation gives him the best chance to conquer his nemeses this year.

“I have been playing in Asia most of the year and my schedule has been pretty heavy,” he said.

“I’ve played a dozen tournaments up there under varying conditions and the experience, while not always enjoyable, has been good for my golf. Now I’m home and really looking forward to playing the eight or nine events in Australia to finish the year.”

While Asia was his home for much of the year, it was on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia that the former Australian Schoolboys champion scored his two biggest wins – the New Zealand Open and the Northern Territory PGA Championship. And both were stunning victories.

The New Zealand Open back in March, which earned him his biggest-ever purse of $191,000, is his greatest triumph to date. Not only did he carve up the world-class Millbrook Resort course with a final-round 62 to finish at 27 under, but he broke the tournament-record score held by fellow Aussie Roger Davies since 1986.

And five months later, at the Palmerston Golf Course, he again stormed home with an eight-under 63 to win the Northern Territory PGA Championship, this time at 19 under.

“Most people consider Saturday as moving day in a four-round golf tournament, but for me it seems to be Sunday,” he said.

But as he shakes off a nagging shoulder injury and heads to Victoria and Western Australia to warm up for his Isuzu Queensland Open ‘comeback’, he doesn’t care which day he ‘moves’ at The Brisbane Golf Club.

“Obviously every tournament I play I want to do well, and win,” he said.

“But if I had a preference to turn the clock back to the form of my two big wins in New Zealand and NT, I would like that to be at the Isuzu Queensland Open. For very golfer there is something pretty special about winning our home state’s Open.”

And if he can prevail at Brisbane in November he will help shore up his position at the top of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, which carries with it some massive bonuses.

“The winner gets a European Tour Card and the top three gain an exemption into the final stage of the 2019 Web.com Q School,” he said.

“So, there is a lot to do, and a lot to play for. And I feel I’m really ready for the challenge.”

Queenslander Daniel Nisbet has won the 2018 Northern Territory PGA Championship.

With rounds of 64, 69, 69, 63 for a tournament total 19-under the card, Nisbet earned his victory.

This becomes Nisbet’s second win on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia in 2019 after he also won the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open.

He has extended his lead on the Order of Merit by almost $28,000 from Anthony Quayle.

More to come.

A dominant display of golf has seen Daniel Nisbet win the 2018 MMC Northern Territory PGA Championship at Palmerston Golf Course.

Starting the day three shots off the lead, Nisbet knew he needed a low round to win his second title on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia in 2018.

Firing 8-under 63 was enough to hand the Queenslander a two-shot win with a tournament total 19-under 265.

“I am pretty excited, it has been a long few days out in this heat, so its relief, exhaustion, excitement,” said Nisbet who claimed a share of the lead after the 10^th hole today.

“I got off to a good start today like I have all week, but the back-9 really helped me today. I hit a couple close in there and holed some putts which were the difference from the last few days.”

“I heard a few whispers about the scores so I knew what was happening throughout the day. I knew that I needed to keep playing well because if I didn’t go low someone else would.”

Having won the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open in March and earning full status on the Asian Tour, Nisbet travelled to the Top End looking to secure his lead on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.

He currently holds an almost AU$28,000 margin over Anthony Quayle with the pair eyeing the opportunities on offer from an Order of Merit victory.

“This definitely helps the Order of Merit. In my situation I need to get as much money up as I can to prevent being run down at the end of the year,” added Nisbet.

“Hopefully this gives me a good boost and I have a solid finish to the year so I can get some more international tour starts at the end of the year.”

The ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit offers the winner a Major Championship start at The Open, the leading two players invites into the World Golf Championship – HSBC Champions and World Golf Championship – Mexico Championship and the leading top-10 players a start in the European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

In addition to a number of exemptions into international qualifying schools for the top-ranked players, the highest finisher on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, not already exempt onto the European Tour, will receive a full card for the 2019 season.

“I think this is the best the Tour has ever been for the young guys coming out. If we get to the top of the money list we can go to Web.com and European Tour Qualifying School, earn starts in the Dunhill Links, World Golf Championship tournaments and The Open,” added Nisbet.

“There are just so many opportunities for the guys that finish at the top of the money list and that’s why I definitely want to win it.”

Finishing two shots behind the champion were 2018 Papua New Guinea Open champion Daniel Gale who fired 7-under 64 today and 2017 Victorian PGA champion Damien Jordan who fired 3-under 68 to finish with a tournament total 17-under 267.

New Zealander Mark Brown finished outright fourth on 15-under the card while Adam Burdett and Maverick Antcliff rounded out the top-5 finishing on 14-under the card.

The ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia will next be in action at RACV Cape Schanck for the Victorian PGA Championship from 11-14 October.

Queenslander Daniel Nisbet will retain a share of the lead, alongside Victorian Adam Burdett, heading into the weekend at the MMC Northern Territory PGA Championship.

Playing in the morning field Adam Burdett played steady golf to set the round two lead at 9-under the card.

Teeing off the 1^st hole, Burdett got his day off to a good start opening with a birdie and adding another to his card at the 9^th to recover from a bogey on the par-3 7^th.

On the back-9, Burdett birdied the par-5 13^th and added two more birdies to his card on the closing two holes.

“It has been a good couple of days; I have kept the ball in play and made some putts,” said Burdett, who recorded a 4-under 67 today.

“It was pretty solid and my short game was good today. I missed a few greens in bad spots but was able to get it up and down.

“I was holing putts so that is the main thing.”

Meanwhile, in the afternoon, a cold putter saw Nisbet leave birdies out on the course but his 2-under 69 was still enough for him to catch Burdett.

“It could have been anything today. I hit a couple tight in there and just didn’t nail the putts,” said Nisbet, who is contemplating a switch in flat sticks.

“I always travel with a second putter, whether I use it or not, it just gets my mind of a bad putting day.

“It takes my mind off the current putter and I will actually probably play with the same one tomorrow. But it’s nice to roll a few with a different putter to recalibrate how I am going about it.”

Sitting a shot further back on 8-under the card is Jake Higginbottom who enjoyed a good day on the greens.

“I feel like I have putted really well the last couple of days. The course is in great condition, so hopefully, I can keep holing a few,” said Higginbottom, whose round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 13^th.

“I hit a nice drive down 13 and then hit a 9 iron to about eight feet and made eagle from there so that got my round going. Then I played solid the rest of the day.”

Higginbottom shares third place on the leaderboard with Victorian Deyen Lawson who fired 6-under 65 in the second round.

Lawson will be one to watch over the weekend after he finished runner-up to Travis Smyth at the Palmerston Golf Course last year.

Also in a tie for third are Queenslanders Kade McBride and Damien Jordan who had second rounds of 69 and 68 respectively.

At 7-under the card after two days at the MMC Northern Territory PGA Championship is Jack Wilson (VIC) and Tim Stewart (NSW).

Rounding out the top-10 on 6-under the card is Ben Clementson (NSW), Maverick Antcliff (QLD), Michael Sim (WA), Campbell Rawson (NZL), Chris Wood (QLD), Cameron John (VIC) and Alex Edge (NSW).

The second round cut was made at even par with 50 professionals and one amateur making the weekend rounds.