Dale Crothers has lead wire-to-wire to win the 2019 Vic/Tas/SA PGA Trainee Championships by six shots at Tocumwal Golf and Bowls Club.

The Year 1 Trainee at the Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort lead by two overnight and shot a final round of 1-under 71 around the Captains course to record a comfortable victory.

The forecast for the final round was for cold, wet and windy conditions but players woke to a calm, cool and overcast day which was a welcome surprise while overnight rain softened conditions on the Captains course.

“It’s been a great week,” said Crothers. “I hit the ball great all week and it’s fantastic to win my first State Trainee title.”

Crothers was 1-under through 9 holes to lead by three shots before his closest challenger, Brayden Petersen, recorded back-to-back bogeys on the 11^th and 12^th holes compared to two birdies for Crothers to extend the lead to seven shots.

Crothers finished with a tournament record total of 17-under 271 with Petersen in outright second on 277.

Sharing third was defending champion Frazer Droop and last years runner-up Mitch Gannon on 279. In outright fifth was Cooper Eccleston on 280.

The leading woman was Rebecca West who completed the tournament in outright 37^th on 14-over 302.

With his win Crothers not only claimed the Vic/Tas/SA PGA Trainee title but also the Victorian Trainee Championship which was played concurrently during the tournament.

Jarryd Collis, Trainee at the Prospect Vale Golf Club, claimed the Tasmanian Trainee Championship.

The South Australian Trainee Championship was won by Jordan Bishop, from the Grange Golf Club, by four shots over Connor Chant.

A cool and cloudy day greeted players for the third round of the 2019 Vic/Tas/SA PGA Trainee Championships at the Tocumwal Golf and Bowls Club where Dale Crothers has maintained his lead after taking advantage of benign conditions on the Presidents course.

Leading after 54 holes, the 1st Year Trainee from Yarrawonga and Mulwala shot 6-under 66 in the third round for a total of 14-under 200.

Crothers was 4-under through just eight holes and has extended his overnight lead to four strokes.

“I drove the ball well and made some good putts,” said Crothers. “My game is good shape and ready for tomorrow.”

Sitting hot on his heels Brayden Petersen (Asquith Golf Club, NSW) shot 4-under on the back-9 to complete the low round of the day of 7-under 65 and close the gap to two strokes with 18 holes to play.

“Everything was good today,” said Petersen. “I gave myself lots of opportunities and fed off Dale’s good play too.”

In outright third place is Cooper Eccleston (Victoria Park, Qld) on 8-under 208 after firing 69. In fourth place is Mitch Gannon (Kogarah Golf Club, NSW) on 209 after a 71 today and rounding out the top-5 is defending champion Frazer Droop who also shot a 65 today but finds himself 10 shots from the lead.

“The greens are great and I sorted out a few issues with my driver after yesterday’s round which made the difference today,” said Droop.

Other players under after 54-holes include Ethan Andrews (Lakelands Golf Club, WA) on 3-under 213, Tom McLaine (Gardiners Run Golf Club, Vic) and Jayden Cripps (The Ridge, NSW) on 2-under 214. Pat Hatton (Wynnum) sits in outright 9^th after a 4-under 68 in round three.

Play moves back the Captain’s Course for the final round starting at 7.45 am with the final group scheduled to tee off at 8.57am.

A record number of PGA Trainee Professionals will travel to Queensland next month for the 2018 Tony Hollands Funerals QLD PGA Trainee Championship.

For the third consecutive year, more than 100 PGA Trainees will compete at the Indooroopilly Golf Club, with the tournament once again taking on the unique aspect of playing four separate layouts across the 72-hole event.

Leading the charge will no doubt be Frazer Droop, fresh of his victory earlier this month at the VIC/TAS/SA Trainee Championship at Tocomwul Golf Club.

Droop won’t have it all his own way though, with Royal Melbourne Golf Club PGA Trainee Ben Pisani returning home to Indooroopilly, after making the move south to Victoria at the start of the year.

“I am really looking forward to heading home. I have been a member of the Indooroopilly Golf Club for 16 years and the club has played a major role throughout my golf career,” said Pisani.

“The opportunity to return and play this year’s QLD Trainee Championship at my home club in front of the members that have watched me grow over the last 16 years wasn’t one that I was going to miss.

“I was disappointed with the way things finished at last year’s champs, but I am using that experience as motivation this year, and really looking forward to making the most of my return this year.”

Other notables in the field this year apart from Droop and Pisani, include Gavin Fairfax, Charles Wright and current QLD Order of Merit leader Dean Jamieson.

For all the scores and information on the 2018 Tony Hollands Funerals QLD PGA Trainee Championship please click here.

Frazer Droop, a second year PGA Trainee at the Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort, has recorded a 1-stroke victory in the Vic/Tas/SA PGA Trainee Championships played at the Tocumwal Golf and Bowls Club.

In the final round he shot 2-over par 74 around the Captains course on another a cold, wet & blustery day.

“When we finished I wasn’t sure if I had won or not. My closing holes weren’t very good and knew Mitch was close so I wasn’t sure. But I’m stoked to win my first State PGA Trainee title,” said Droop.

Droop led by six shots with nine holes to play and stood on the 17^th with a 3-shot lead over Mitch Gannon. However Gannon holed a miraculous chip on the par-3 17^th and then watched Droop 3-putt to cut the lead to one with the last to play.

Both players missed the 18^th green in regulation and neither got up & down which was good enough for Droop to secure the win and the $6880 winners cheque.

Droop finished on 9-under par 279 with Gannon in outright second on 280. James Betts finished in outright third following the best round of the day, 5-under 67 to finish on 281. Jason Perkin finished in outright fourth on 284 with Brayden Petersen & James Sampson tying for fifth on 285.

Leading the women was Melissa Taylor finishing in a tie for 13^th at 6-over par 294 after recording the only other under par round of the day.

With his win Droop not only claimed the Vic/Tas/SA PGA Trainee title but also the Victorian PGA Trainee Championship which was played concurrently during the tournament.

Jarryd Collis, PGA Trainee at the Prospect Vale Golf Club, claimed the Tasmanian PGA Trainee Championship.

The South Australian PGA Trainee Championship was won by Zak Fuller, from the Sandy Creek Golf Club, by one shot over Henry Clough, from the Blackwood Golf Club.

The threat of rain and strong winds didn’t eventuate during the third round of the 2018 Vic/Tas/SA PGA Trainee Championships which meant scoring was hot on the Tocumwal Golf and Bowls Club President’s course.

The leader after 54 holes is second year PGA Trainee from Yarrawonga and Mulwala Golf Club Frazer Droop, who shot the low round of the day, 5-under 67 for a total of 11-under 205.

Droop was 3-under through five holes before he recorded birdies on the 11^th, 12^th and 13^th holes to get to 6-under for the day.

A double bogey at the par-4 16^th could have ruined his early good work but a bounce-back birdie on the 17^th restored his three-shot lead.

Overnight leader Mitchell Gannon (Kogarah) will enter the final round in outright second at 8-under the card after a round of 1-under 71.

Gannon still held the lead after nine holes with an impressive front-9 of 3-under. However, he bogeyed the 10^th, 11^th and 13^th holes to see his lead slip away. A birdie on the par-4 15^th hole kept him in touch going into tomorrow.

First round leader Jason Perkin (Brighton Lakes) is outright third at 6-under the card following an even-par third round.

James Gordon (Howlong) is outright fourth at 4-under and rounding out the top-5 is James Sampson (Northbridge) and Brayden Petersen (Asquith) at 3-under the card.

Play moves back to the Captain’s Course for the final round starting at 7:45am with the final group scheduled to tee off at 8:49am.

Mitchell Gannon, a first year PGA Trainee at Kogarah Golf Club shot 3-under 69 on the Captain’s Course at Tocumwal Golf Club to take a one-shot lead in the VIC/TAS/SA PGA Trainee Championships at 7-under par 137 following the second round.

Gannon’s round was the low round of the day and including four birdies and one bogey, playing in gusty conditions in the afternoon.

He leads Frazer Droop (Yarrawonga & Mulwala) and overnight leader Jason Perkin (Brighton Lakes) who sit at 6-under 138. A further shot back is Brayden Petersen (Asquith) who fired 1-under 71 in the morning.

Rounding out the top-5 is third year PGA Trainee at Howlong Golf Club, James Gordon. The only other Trainee under par after 36 holes is Zak Fuller (Sandy Creek) who shot 4-over 76 to fall back to 1-under the card.

Lachlan Kenny (Settlers Run), Tom Corker (Kingston Heath), Henry Clough (Blackwood) and James Betts (Yarra Bend) are tied at even par through two rounds and find themselves seven shots behind with some work to do to catch Gannon.

The cut fell at 8-over par with 50 Trainees playing the third and fourth rounds. There were eight women in the field and three made the cut, Janette Borgolotto (5-over T26), Melissa Taylor (6-over T31) and Emily Pell (7-over T38th)  will all contest the final two rounds.

Play is now underway on the Presidents Course.

Beautiful weather greeted the field of 102 Trainees today at the Tocumwal Golf and Bowls Club for the first round of the 2018 Vic/Tas/SA Trainee Championships.

Clear skies and only a very slight breeze meant low scores were expected and the players did not disappoint around the President’s course.

Jason Perkin, a Year two Trainee based at the Brighton Lakes Golf Club in Sydney, shot a new course record 7-under 65 to lead by two strokes.

Starting from the 10^th tee, Perkins’ lone bogey came after a three putt on his first hole but he recovered quickly making birdie at the 11^th and 13^th.

He caught fire on his back nine by chipping in for eagle on the 3^rd hole, birdied the 4^th then closed with three straight birdies.

“I love coming to Tocumwal, the courses are great and the tournament here is really great to play,” said Perkin who had a top-10 finish here in 2017.

In second place is Zak Fuller, a Year three Trainee based at the Sandy Creek Golf Club in South Australia. His 5-under 67 included an eagle on the 5th hole, four birdies and one solitary bogey.

Four players sit third after opening with 4-under 68. This group includes 2018 Rich River Classic Champion Brayden Petersen (Asquith, NSW), 2017 National Futures Champion Frazer Droop (Yarrawonga and Mulwala, Vic), Mitchell Gannon (Kogarah, NSW) and Tom Corker (Kingston Heath, Vic).

Connor Chant (Mt Barker-Hahndorf) was another to break 70 with a 3-under par 69 on a perfect day for scoring with 20 players at par or better.

Earlier in the week, the PGA Trainees hosted a junior clinic for local primary schools. A total of 70 children from four primary schools enjoyed over 1.5 hours of tuition learning the basic skills of golf in fun and interactive games.

Also on Monday was the Championship Pro-Am which saw 150 players consisting of club and tournament sponsors join the Trainees for the ambrose event on another beautiful day.

Later that evening the golf club hosted the welcome dinner for all players in the tournament plus sponsors, members and guests.

The gathering was treated to a wonderful evening which culminated in the inspiring story of guest speaker Baron Grant.

Grant delivered an inspiring speech about how a serious illness to his wife, losing his house and business changed his perspective of the world and the amazing people who have helped his family along the way.

The second round will be played on the Captains course with play beginning from 7.45am.

The forecast is for the sun to keep shining but the wind is expected to get up overnight and into tomorrow.

PGA Trainees from around the country will converge on the Tocumwal Golf and Bowls Club for this week’s Vic/Tas/SA PGA Trainee Championship. This will be the Club’s 15^th straight year hosting the Championship and this year’s event is shaping up to be another great tournament.

Tocumwal Golf & Bowls Club CEO Craig Smith said, “We are very excited to have the PGA Trainees back here again. Both courses are in excellent condition so we can expect some great scoring this week.”

Berrigan Shire Council Mayor, Cr. Matthew Hannan said, “We are pleased to support the PGA Trainee Championship. Having a PGA tournament in our backyard is excellent exposure for our region and the great golf courses we have”

The week began today with a junior clinic conducted by the Trainees for primary school children from Tocumwal & Berrigan. The clinic provided the children a taste of golf though a variety of activities aimed to learn the basic skills of golf. This was followed by the Championship Pro-Am which provided local golfers and sponsors the opportunity to tee it up with the upcoming stars of professional golf.

The tournament proper begins on Tuesday with a total of 103 Trainees representing every state in Australia competing over four rounds for the $35,000 prizemoney available. It is a very open field with the defending champion Gavin Fairfax not attending.

Of those returning after top-10 results in 2017 include Frazer Droop (Yarrawonga-Mulwala), Ben Murphy (The National – Long Island) and Mitchell Anketell (Huntingdale). Droop captured both National Trainee Championships in 2017 but is yet to capture a State Trainee Championship.

Other players to watch include 2018 Rich River Classic Champion Brayden Peterson (Asquith) and runner-up Allan Haughie (New South Wales), 2017 National Trainee of the Year Ben Pisani (Royal Melbourne) and 2017 SA Trainee Champion Connor Chant (Mt Barker-Hahndorf).

The tournament concludes on Friday 11 May  with spectators welcome to come watch the action during the week.