Twelve months ago Travis Smyth underwent a four-day transformation.

Entering the MMC Northern Territory PGA Championship at Palmerston Golf Course in Darwin’s eastern suburbs last September, Smyth was a highly-regarded amateur who had already made his presence felt in professional tournaments.

He left the NT not with the winner’s cheque for $22,500 but something infinitely more valuable; belief.

A wire-to-wire, six-shot victory propelled Smyth into the professional ranks riding a wave of momentum.

The year since has been one of discovery, both as a player and a person.

In his first three tournaments as a full member of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, Smyth accumulated close to $50,000 and carried that form into Asian Tour Qualifying where he finished tied for third to earn his card.

In his first full year as a professional Smyth has played tournaments in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Fiji and says the experience of playing professional events as an amateur instilled a sense of confidence that has served him well.

“I did feel a lot more comfortable and I’d felt good playing as an amateur even before that victory,” Smyth said of his 2017 Territory triumph.

“I was very fortunate to get a whole bunch of starts as an amateur because guys who turn pro with no professional starts are probably going to feel a bit lost out there because it is so new to them.”

An opening round of 63 set up a tie for 11th at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open in March before he embarked on life on tour, missing the cut in a Web.com Tour event and in his first five starts in Asia.

It was a steep learning curve but one the 23-year-old seems to have come out of with top-20 results at both the Royal Cup and Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways in his two most recent starts.

“I missed something like six cuts in a row which I’ve never done in my life so I feel like it’s taught me a lot,” said Smyth, who began his golf journey on the New South Wales South Coast before joining St Michael’s Golf Club in Sydney.

“It does feel a little bit different going out onto the Asian Tour because the players on average are a little bit better and it still feels like I need to perform and find my feet a bit more on that tour.

“So far I’ve been to at least 10 countries this year and every single course is different with different greens and different speeds so just getting accustomed to being able to adapt straight away because you don’t really have much time to prepare.

“That’s been the hardest part so far.

“It makes me feel a lot better when I do play well because I’ve felt the lows so badly, in my eyes anyway.

“I don’t take anything for granted anymore. I work my butt off and just keep playing well.”

Smyth’s title defence of the MMC Northern Territory PGA Championship headlines a star-studded field that also boasts New Zealand Open champion Daniel Nisbet, Victorian Open champion Simon Hawkes, former PGA Tour players Michael Sim and James Nitties and 2018 tournament winners Daniel Fox (Qld PGA), Michael Long (WA PGA) and Daniel Gale (PNG Open).

The Northern Territory PGA Championship is confirmed to be played on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia for the next two years.

The Northern Territory Government confirmed today that the professional golf tournament would be played for the next two years with the government committing to provide $150,000 per annum to cover the Northern Territory PGA Championship for 2018 and 2019.

First played in 2016, the 2018 edition of the Northern Territory PGA Championship will be played from 16-19 August at the Palmerston Golf Course.

The Northern Territory Government is thrilled to confirm one of the Top End’s most prestigious and high-profile sporting events for the next two years.

“Golf is one of Australia’s most popular sports and is enjoyed by people of all ages, status and social background, so it is exciting we are delivering this elite level of golf back to the Top End for Territorians to enjoy,” said Mr Ian Ford, Department of Tourism and Culture, Senior Director Sport and Active Recreation.

“The Northern Territory PGA forms part of the professional PGA Tour of Australasia and provides professional golfers with the opportunity to play elite level golf in the Territory.

“Developing the sport of golf in the NT remains high on our agenda, and our contribution of $150,000 per-annum in prize money for the championship is a testament to our commitment to the event, and to the sport of golf in the Territory.

The Northern Territory PGA Championship is not just an opportunity for Territorians to watch live professional golf but provides an important pathway for Australia’s professional golfers.

Forming part of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia schedule the Northern Territory PGA Championship will be played for a minimum prize purse of $150,000, Official World Golf Ranking Points and provides the champion full exemption on the Tour until the end of the 2019 season.

“The Northern Territory PGA Championship has flourished over the past two years on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and I am sure it will continue to evolve over the next two thanks to the continued support of the Northern Territory Government,” said Simon Butterly, General Manager of Tournaments for the PGA of Australia which owns the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

“Professional golfers are privileged to travel the world and the Territory is certainly a unique destination that they all enjoy visiting and we are confident that an excellent field of players will tee it up at the Northern Territory PGA Championship in August.

“It’s not just the location that attracts players to the tournament. The Northern Territory PGA Championship forms an integral part of our schedule and can help launch a young player’s career.

“In 2017 Travis Smyth won the Northern Territory PGA Championship as an amateur. It was this win that allowed him to launch his Professional career with playing opportunities at home before going on to also secure status on the Asian Tour this year.”

Palmerston Golf Course has proven a worthy host of the Northern Territory PGA Championship for the past two years and will again welcome ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia players as it becomes the focus of the Australian golf community.

“We can’t wait to have the spotlight once again on the Palmerston Golf Course for the Northern Territory PGA Championship and welcoming an international field of players as well as emerging players from the Territory, it’s going to be a fantastic four days of competition,” said Susan Heenan, Marketing Manager for Cazalys Palmerston and Palmerston Golf Course.

Butterly further acknowledges the efforts of the Palmerston Golf Course team, “I would also like to thank Palmerston Golf Course and Cazalys Palmerston for their continued vision and commitment to the Northern Territory PGA Championship. The course is continually improving and the club has already put new programmes in place to ensure it will be in peak condition for the Professionals come tournament week.”

City of Palmerston Mayor Athina Pascoe-Bell said the City of Palmerston is proud to again be sponsoring this wonderful event.

“Territorians have always had a passion for outdoor sports so we are thrilled to see the Tournament return to Palmerston for the third time. It’s a great opportunity to showcase our city, the influx of visitors will deliver fantastic economic benefits for our local businesses, as well as providing a unique experience for our community. We look forward to welcoming all involved in the 2018 Northern Territory PGA Championship to Palmerston,” said Ms Pascoe-Bell.

The Northern Territory PGA Championship will be played from 16-19 2018 at the Palmerston Golf Course.

A baker’s dozen of Australasians have added their names to the 2018 Asian Tour playing roster, with 11 Australians and two New Zealanders finishing among the top-35 at the 90 hole Q-School over the weekend.

Former Fiji International winner Steven Jeffress and reigning Northern Territory PGA champion Travis Smyth were the best of the qualifiers, the pair sharing third place at the Rayong Green Valley course in Thailand at 11-under for the five rounds.

Oliver Goss and Maverick Antcliff and New Zealand’s Gareth Paddison and Ben Campbell also finished in the top-10 while Jack Wilson and David Gleeson were among the last to earn playing rights at T34.

Josh Younger, Ash Hall, Matthew Stieger, Andrew Martin and James Marchesani were the other five to earn cards.

More than 240 golfers from around the world contested the Qualifying School with a cut to the top-140 and ties made after two rounds.

A second cut after 72 holes saw the leading 70 and ties continue with 19 Australasians earning their place in the final round.

Michael Choi, Kieran Pratt, Jake McLeod, Dale Williamson, Michael Wright and New Zealand’s Woonchul Na all played the final round but missed out on the top-35.

Callan O’Reilly, Darren Beck, Mitchell Brown, Jarryd Felton, Nathan Mann and Dale Brandt-Richards missed the 72-hole cut while Cory Crawford, Deyen Lawson, Peter Stojanovski, Jacob Boyce and Troy Moses missed the 36-hole cut.

It was an impressive performance from several of the Australasians including Travis Smyth who opened with a disappointing 75 to be T188 after 18 holes but played superb golf the rest of the week to finish just three shots behind the winner.

Steven Jeffress didn’t shoot more than 70 in any of the five rounds while former Western Australian Open champion Oliver Goss stormed home with a final round 67 to vault into the top 10.

Maverick Antcliff, who impressed with several solid performances on the China Tour in 2017, again showed he will be one to watch in 2018 after leading into the final round.

While his 71 to close the tournament was his worst score of the week his confidence will have been boosted by a top-10 finish as he prepares for a promising year ahead.

Veteran Ash Hall was a model of consistency in posting scores of 71-70-70-70-70 and after several years of struggle will be thankful for the opportunity to again play an international Tour full time.

Rising star James Marchesani will have two Tours to choose from in 2018 after a final round 65 saw him grab one of the last cards.

The 27-year-old also has privileges on the PGA TOUR China after winning the Clearwater Bay Classic in November.

Jack Wilson and David Gleeson will both be feeling relieved after late bogeys made for a long wait to see if they had qualified.

Wilson dropped a shot at the 17^th while Gleeson made bogey at 18 but with 2-under totals for the 90 holes both scraped in on the number.