Jordan Zunic has grinded out his third ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia title, clinging on to his round three lead by the slimmest of margins to win the Isuzu Queensland Open.

Standing on the first tee this morning with a five-shot lead, Zunic got off to a flying start with birdies on his opening two holes.

That was where the good start ended however with a run of four bogeys over the next seven holes. He finished his round at 2-over 73 for a tournament total of 11-under the card claiming a one-shot win over Rhein Gibson.

“What a tough day, I got off to a good start with those first two holes but then my putter went cold, I was missing some short ones and the wind picked up a lot as well,” said Zunic.

“That was the hardest day we’ve had all week, I wasn’t hitting fairways on certain holes and I had to scramble around this golf course which is very difficult.”

A birdie on the 17^th got the New South Welshman to 11-under while in front of him Gibson had just checked into the clubhouse at 10-under.

A wayward tee shot on the 18^th saw him in the trees to the right of the fairway forcing him to punch out for his second shot. He chipped onto the green with his third before standing over a 12 foot par putt for the championship.

He drained it and claimed his third professional title on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, Zunic won the New Zealand Open in 2015 and Northern Territory PGA Championship in 2016.

“This one was a little different for me, I lost my grandma a couple of weeks ago and I told my fiancé and caddie Olivia this week would be in memory of her, it really means a lot.

“Funnily enough it was like my own Happy Gilmore moment where he was saying grandma over the ball, I literally said to myself going into that par putt that this was for her.”

The hard work was done for Zunic in the third round, his 6-under 65 giving him a five-shot cushion that ultimately held up under pressure from the chasing pack.

“I just kept saying to Olivia I’ve just got to hang on, having that five shot buffer coming into today was obviously the difference, it allowed me to have a pretty poor day and it allowed me to stay in the tournament,” added Zunic.

“Not one point out there did I give up, I just kept telling myself to keep grinding, after the 16^th when I made that bogey, I just had to hang in there.

“Even though my putter wasn’t good today it certainly made up for itself on those last two holes.

“I’m over the moon, I’m glad I got the job done, I’m just exhausted.”

Zunic now has a full card on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia until the end of 2019 which takes a little pressure off his trip to Spain to attempt to qualify for the European Tour via the final stage of qualifying school.

“It’s such a bonus for me this week because my New Zealand Open winner’s exemption was going to run out at the end of this year so I had to keep my card this year.

“Missing the NSW Open and Australian Open would’ve been a huge hit for me on the money list so winning this week takes care of Australia next year.

“I can purely focus on Europe next week and hopefully come back with a card. I’ll play the Australian PGA Championship this year though, I’ve got some unfinished business there.”

Gibson held second place outright on 10-under with Steven Jeffress third on 9-under. In his first professional event, Doug Klein finished outright fourth on 7-under, Matthew Millar and Adam Blyth share fifth on 6-under.

Blake Windred was the highest finishing amateur on 5-under.

To view the full leaderboard, visit pga.org.au.

In a boost to the tournament, major sponsors Isuzu confirmed their continuing sponsorship of the Queensland Open until 2021.

The new three-year agreement will extend Isuzu Australia and Brisbane Isuzu’s position as naming rights sponsor of the Queensland Open to nine years.

To view the full release, visit pga.org.au.

For his win, Zunic collects the lion’s share of the $110,000 prize purse, $16,500 and moves to 20^th on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.

To view the full Order of Merit, visit pga.org.au.

The ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia now travels to Twin Creeks Golf and Country Club for the AV Jennings NSW Open.

To view the full schedule, visit pga.org.au.

Isuzu today extended its long-term sponsorship of the Queensland Open until the end of 2021.

The new three-year agreement will extend Isuzu Australia and Brisbane Isuzu’s position as naming rights sponsor of the Queensland Open to nine years.

Golf Australia and Isuzu announced the sponsorship extension today, the final day of the 2018 Isuzu Queensland Open at The Brisbane Golf Club.

Golf Australia Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Pitt said the new arrangement, from 2019 – 2021, would help foster continued development and growth of the Isuzu Queensland Open.

"The support from Isuzu over the past six years has ensured the continuation of the Queensland Open and has seen the Open go from strength to strength," Mr Pitt said.

"Isuzu is a highly successful organisation and has been a great partner for Golf Australia in our efforts to grow our game.

"The 2018 Isuzu Queensland Open has been the most successful on record with interest in the event and crowd numbers up and very importantly and excitingly, the first female in Becky Kay qualifying to play in the championship."

Isuzu Australia Dealer Sales Manager Queensland, Graham Miller said Isuzu Australia, along with Brisbane Isuzu, were very pleased to confirm ongoing support of the Isuzu Queensland Open golf tournament.

"This year is of course the 94th staging of the event which is unique in its format allowing both professionals and amateurs to compete against each other," said Mr Miller.

"We look forward to working with Golf Australia to ensure that the tournament remains a pre-eminent event in the Australian summer of golf."

Mr Miller is supported by Brisbane Isuzu Dealer Principal, Alan Newcombe. Mr Newcombe was a driving force behind the company’s role in resurrecting the 94-year old tournament at Brookwater Golf Club six years ago.

"I’m delighted to be involved in the Queensland Open for another three years. This partnership will help the continued growth of the tournament and help grow the game in Queensland," Mr Newcombe said.

Zach Murray, Adam Blyth and Jordan Zunic lead the Isuzu Queensland Open at The Brisbane Golf Club, and with a median height of approximately 6’3”, they tower above a chasing pack.

The lengthy leaders are tied at the top of the leaderboard at 7-under the card following the second round of the tournament.

Amateur Zach Murray once again finds himself in the lead of a professional event but is admittedly feeling the fatigue that comes with being a frontrunner.

“Up the top with Blythy and Jordan is obviously a good spot to be and my game is still good, I’ve just got to draw on the little bit of energy I’ve got left,” said Murray who has now held the lead in an incredible six straight professional tournament rounds.

“Physically I’m fine it’s just more mentally I feel a bit drained. A couple of times today I was on the wrong page of the yardage book, I wasn’t the full package today unfortunately.”

Murray shot 1-under 70 in tough conditions at The Brisbane Golf Club, a gusty wind playing havoc with a number of players in the field.

“Today was such a battle, I hit some strawberry jam shots and I hit some ordinary ones as well but I got away with a couple,” added Murray.

“I made some good up and downs and holed some good par putts. I had to knuckle down the last five or six holes and had a few birdie opportunities coming in but I just wasn’t able to convert them.”

Murray’s playing partner Adam Blyth put together a round of 2-under 69, the third player in their group Rhein Gibson matching that to be at 6-under the card.

All three have finished at the business end of the leaderboard in the opening two rounds.

“After two rounds the three of us played really nicely, we’re all playing well and it helps to push everyone along so it was really nice,” said Blyth.

“It’s been a real struggle this year, I’ve had some really good results and some really bad results, my career has kind of been steady but this year hasn’t.”

Blyth is expecting his first baby in 2019, a girl with wife Nicole, and while it’s certainly a welcome distraction, he said it’s been difficult to balance life on and off the course.

“I’ve had some things off the course occupying my mind which has all been great; it’s just about trying to balance it all that I’m trying to work on.

“I’ve been playing well the last few weeks with no result so this has been coming.”

Jordan Zunic rounds out the trio of leaders at 7-under the card following his round of 3-under 68. He endured a roller coaster ride through the turn of the golf course with a bogey, eagle, birdie, double bogey from the 8^th to the 12^th holes.

“I started off really well, I was a couple under through seven holes and then I made a bogey on the eighth which stalled me a bit,” said Zunic.

“But I chipped in for eagle on nine to get going again, birdie on 10 so I was 4-under then, but from there on it got really tricky.

“I hit plenty of greens, I had plenty of putts for birdie coming home except for the 11^th hole, every other hole in I hit every green in regulation.

“I was really happy to roll a nice 10-footer birdie in on the last, it just felt like a bit of justice for all the greens I was hitting.”

Web.com Tour player Rhein Gibson shares equal fourth position with Kevin Yuan. The Oklahoma based Australian said he’s still fine tuning his game this week ahead of the Australian summer.

“Today was a bit of a struggle, the cobwebs showed a little bit today so hopefully I’ll iron those out heading into the weekend but in a good spot so pretty happy,” said Gibson.

“I’m just fighting a few swing issues right now, a couple flaws I’m trying to work through, it’s just difficult in tournament time.

“I hit a few loose ones today but managed to get away with it, other than a three-putt I felt pretty good today.”

Tied for sixth position is Kieran Muir, Michael Wright, Antonio Murdaca, amateur Blake Windred and Mark Brown at 4-under the card.

The cut was made at 3-over the card with 53 professionals and 13 amateurs making the weekend rounds.

For the full leaderboard, visit pga.org.au.

The leading group of Zach Murray, Adam Blyth and Jordan Zunic will tee off at 11:00am.

To view full tee times, visit pga.org.au.

Jordan Zunic is the man to beat at the Isuzu Queensland Open after shooting a round of 6-under 65 to lead the tournament by an impressive five shots.

Starting the third round with a share of the lead on 7-under, Zunic streaked away from the pack, his course record equalling round of 65 catapulted him to 13-under the card.

“It was great out there for three quarters of the day but that north easterly started to blow the last four or five holes,” said Zunic.

“I was kind of glad it did because it was so hot when it was calm so it was nice when the breeze came but obviously shot making became a little bit trickier. Overall I’m really happy today, hopefully more tomorrow and I can get the job done.”

With such a big buffer, the blueprint for tomorrow’s final round at The Brisbane Golf Club won’t change for the two time ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia winner.

“My game plan has worked pretty well all week so I’ll stick with that, wind dependant obviously, if that changes it’ll change everything. I’m really happy with my shots and lines I’m taking off the tees so if I just keep rolling my putts in like I have been and give myself some looks at birdie I should be pretty good.”

Adam Blyth had a front row seat to Zunic’s round, his round of 1-under the card certainly not reflective of some brilliant golf the Queenslander produced under pressure with a number of impressive par saves.

“That was probably the highlight for me today, it’s one of those things when you’re a little off you’ve got to hang in somehow and I was able to do that,” said Blyth.

“I had some fantastic up and downs which saved me and allows me to have an outside chance tomorrow.

“Looking back I’m not hitting good shots and it’s putting me in those positions, I’ve got to fix that up tomorrow. It’s great to make those par saves but I want to be making birdies tomorrow.”

With five shots to make up, Blyth said he’ll need to be thinking his way around the golf course rather than blasting it off the tees if he’s a chance of snatching the title.

“I’m a little behind, Jordan was fantastic today, he made the putts and got the job done, I just made a couple of mistakes whereas he capitalised on all his chances.

“You’ve got to be sensible because it’s not  a course you can get too aggressive on or it’ll bite you so I’ve got to be ‘smart aggressive’ and I’ve just got to hole putts.”

Joining Blyth on 8-under the card is Queensland based New South Welshman Steven Jeffress, he shot 5-under 66.

“My day was good, I played pretty solid and putted really nicely, I feel like I left a couple out there,” said Jeffress.

“A couple of bogeys, one on the 13^th after I hit a corker of a shot into there, I just hit a hard part of the green and went over the back and didn’t get up and down.

“I didn’t hit too many poor shots, I was just solid all day.”

Jeffress said he will knuckle down and focus on his own game when he tees off in the final group alongside Blyth and runaway leader Zunic

“I’m not too worried about what happens at the top of the leaderboard to tell you the truth, I’m just going to come out and play that’s what I’ve been doing all week.

“But if Jordan goes out and plays well tomorrow from here, he’s going to be hard to catch.”

Tied on 7-under the card are the U.S. based pair of Web.com Tour players Jamie Arnold, who shot 6-under 65 and Rhein Gibson who shot 1-under 70 today.

Jake McLeod, a member of The Brisbane Golf Club, Troy Moses, Ryan Chisnall, Michael Wright and amateurs Joel Stahlhut and Zach Murray are tied at sixth place on 6-under the card.

For the full leaderboard, visit pga.org.au.

The leading group of Jordan Zunic, Adam Blyth and Steve Jeffress will tee off at 10:50am.

To view full tee times, visit pga.org.au.

The second round of the Isuzu Queensland Open saw New Zealanders Kieran Muir and Ryan Chisnall make inroads on the leaderboard while Daniel Fox caught fire to equal course record at The Brisbane Golf Club.

After a frustrating opening round, Muir finished today with a round 3-under 68 to share the clubhouse lead at 4-under the card.

“It was a little easier than yesterday afternoon, there wasn’t as much wind and I played a lot better today,” said Muir.

“I really struggled with my ball striking in the first round so I spent a bit of time at the range afterwards then felt a lot better out there today. I hit it nicely and that’s why I just had the one bogey, I never got into any trouble.”

Muir was joined by Michael Wright, Blake Windred, Antonio Murdaca and Charlie Dann at 4-under the card.

Chisnall was on track for a great round before a late bogey on the 17^th saw him finish with 4-under 67 to sit at 3-under the card.

“It was pretty solid, I’m really happy with that round, the wind picked up and I leaked a few shots but overall I’m pretty happy,” said Chisnall.

The first year professional was flawless through 12 holes reaching 6-under at one point before a couple of loose shots crept in.

“It was nice to see the ball rolling early and to get going on the front-9 after a slow start yesterday,” added Chisnall.

“It might be a bit tougher out there for the guys this afternoon so I think I’ll be there or thereabouts tomorrow.”

The round of the morning belonged to West Australian and the 2018 Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Champion Daniel Fox who admitted his form has been poor.

Today’s round of 6-under 65 was a surprise, but has instilled some confidence in the two-time ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia champion.

“I’m shocked more than anything, I had a horrible day yesterday I played bad and my attitude was worse. I did my best not to break anything yesterday that’s how frustrated I was and it’s been like this for months and months,” said Fox who’s course record equaling round thrust him safely inside the cut line at 2-under the card.

“So I didn’t do what I normally do, which is going to the pub and having a few beers to make myself feel better, I went out and practiced for a couple of hours afterwards on the range and more importantly some practice with the putting.

“I managed to find something at both ends and my putting was unbelievable today, I was rolling some in from off the greens and some putts that I’ve not even been close to making in the past.”

The highlight of the morning however, belonged to Victorian professional Ryan Woodward who hit his first tournament hole-in-one, the third since he began golfing, on the par-3 7^th from 128 metres with his 8-iron.

The afternoon field is now on course.

Victorian amateur Zach Murray has continued his white-hot form on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia to lead the Isuzu Queensland Open.

Murray equaled the par-71 course record at The Brisbane Golf Club with a round of 6-under 65 in the opening 18 holes of the championship.

It’s the fifth consecutive professional round the amateur has lead over the last two weeks.

“There was a bit of a sense of calm I had out there today knowing I had the win last week, it just takes a weight off my shoulders,” said Murray.

“I just played sensible golf again, I think I only hit two drivers out there and put the trust in my 2-iron like I did last week.

“I hit some close shots, I didn’t have to stress about anything which was really nice and I holed a couple of really nice par saves as well.

“I just sort of flowed on from last week not worrying about the score but it’s obviously nice to come out of the blocks fast again.”

Murray certainly wasn’t overawed playing with accomplished professionals in multiple ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia champion Adam Blyth and Web.com Tour player Rhein Gibson, the win last week re-affirming the belief he belongs on the professional circuit.

Blyth both shot 5-under 66 and Gibson 4-under 67 to sit just shy of Murray in the lead.

“I definitely feel more comfortable playing the professional events then I did last year. I had a couple of solid results last year but nothing near what I did last week,” added Murray.

“So it’s just that feeling of being comfortable. Adam and Rhein were really good today, they’re cracking guys and they both played super steady which just shows how good you have to be to compete out here.”

Queenslander Blyth is hot on the tail of Murray and will be looking forward to playing in his group again after they caught fire on their back-9.

The trio combined for 11 birdies and just the one bogey through holes one to nine, all three recording a birdie on the 9^th.

“It was nice to finish the way I did, I got off to a pretty slow start, I was 1-over through seven holes so I wasn’t really doing too much, just watching Zach make a ton of birdies,” said Blyth who returns to the Isuzu Queensland Open this year after missing 2017 due to international playing duties.

“So I knew they were out there and watching him, it was kind of spurring us on a little then on the back-9 I started to get into a rhythm and we all started to play really nicely.”

Gibson is tied for third at 4-under the card alongside Jordan Zunic and Kevin Yuan who makes his professional debut in Australia after spending the majority of 2018 playing on the PGA TOUR Series – China.

Aaron Pike, Charlie Dann, Daniel Nisbet, Josh Younger, Adam Stephens, Brad Moules, Blake Proverbs and Jarrad Santi are all tied at 3-under the card.

Antonio Murdaca and Alex Edge were best of the afternoon field shooting 3-under the card to join the logjam in 6th position.

Becky Kay made history in becoming the first woman to compete in the Isuzu Queensland Open, she shot 4-over to sit in a tie for 96th position.

The leading group of Zach Murray, Adam Blyth and Rhein Gibson will tee off the 1st tee at 11:45am.

For round two tee times, visit pga.org.au.

The Isuzu Queensland Open will be played at Brisbane Golf Club from 1 – 4 November. Entry is free for spectators all week.

In addition to the winner’s share of the $110,000 prize purse, the champion will receive Official World Golf Ranking Points and be fully exempt onto the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia until the end of the 2019 season.

Victorian Cameron John is building a solid start to his professional career; one he hopes will go to the next level starting at this week’s Isuzu Queensland Open at The Brisbane Golf Club

The 19-year-old turned professional at the beginning of 2018 and after a shaky start, hasn’t missed a cut in his last six events finishing in the top-10 five times and a tie for 33^rd at the tri-sanctioned Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways.

“My game is in pretty good shape, I played pretty well last week, I ended up coming 9^th, I had a bit of a rough finish but that’s okay. Then the two weeks leading into that I came 8^th at the Victorian PGA and 7^th at the Northern Territory PGA so it’s been pretty good the last three tournaments,” said John.

“Looking at the events I was going to get at the start of the year I didn’t expect to be in this position but I’ve had a pretty good season really. I missed the cut at the Vic Open and New Zealand PGA Championship which were my first two events so it probably had a bit to do with nerves.

“Since then I’ve had five top-10s and 33^rd in Fiji so it’s been pretty positive. I’m just waiting now for my first win really, the first few events I was just wanting to make a cut but I’ve been pretty competitive all year and now it’s just about getting that win.”

The Brisbane Golf Club, host of the this week’s Isuzu Queensland Open from 1-4 November presents a golden opportunity for John to breakthrough and capture his first professional title in just his first year as a pro.

He’s familiar with the Queensland track after playing a number of events as an amateur including last year’s Isuzu Queensland Open when he made the cut.

“It’s great, I love The Brisbane Golf Club course, I played last year, I’ve played Men’s Interstate here, I’ve played a lot around here,” added John.

“It’s probably one of the weeks I look forward to the most, I thought this is the week I feel the most comfortable, I’ve played the most golf around this course.

“I went out Monday and played nine holes and didn’t play that good but I got around in a few under par, it just feels familiar out there so I’m looking forward to it, and hopefully it’s a good week.”

Beyond the Queensland Open this week, John is eyeing off the international stage and is currently booked in to play the first stage of the Asian Tour Q-School, however a strong performance this week could see him climb the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit and move closer to securing exemption into the final stage.

“I’m in to the first stage of Asian Tour Q-School and I’m a chance of improving to the final stage if I can get higher up into the top-30 of the Order of Merit, I’m 39^th at the moment.

“I need a good finish to the year to get straight into final stage and maybe get my card over there. Then things can change pretty quickly in terms of where I can play in the next few years.”

Like many, John’s ultimate goal is to secure a spot on the world’s premier golf stage, the PGA TOUR. He says his home Tour presents some great opportunities to catapult a pro onto the international scene.

“The PGA TOUR is obviously the end goal like every guy out here, I think going through the Asian Tour and even the PGA Tour of Australasia now is a great way to get there,” added John.

“I’ll get four events if I finish top-30 here that are co-sanctioned with Europe and Asia so the big money events count towards more and more opportunities internationally and of course all roads lead to the PGA TOUR in some way.

“It can change quickly but I’m looking forward to it, I’m still in my first year as a professional so there’s no rush. I’m pretty happy with my year up to this point.”

Cameron John will begin round one from the 10^th tee at 11:35am with Darren Beck and Rick Kulacz.

Tee times are available at pga.org.au.

The Isuzu Queensland Open will be played at Brisbane Golf Club from 1 – 4 November. Entry is free for spectators all week.

In addition to the winner’s share of the $110,000 prize purse, the champion will receive Official World Golf Ranking Points and be fully exempt onto the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia until the end of the 2019 season.

Tour Insider strikes again at the WA Open! And for the second year in a row the winner was 40/1 at the start of the week, also for the second year in a row… TI did not invest in the event.

Personal financial disappointment aside, a big congratulations to Zach Murray who led from start to finish to collect his first professional win. I see he is in the field this week as an amateur but he no doubt has a big future in the game when he turns professional.

This week we are at the beautiful Brisbane Golf Club in sunny Queensland for what promises to be a great event, the Isuzu Queensland Open. The field is stacked full of talent and although some already believe TI is a genius if I can find a winner this week the legend will grow!

Regular readers would know that TI loves themes so this week we are looking for a first-time winner after the last two events were claimed by Aaron Pike and Zach Murray who recorded their maiden victories. TI warns this will be tough with the likes of Matt Millar, Jarryd Felton, Steve Jeffress and Dan Nisbet all fancied on the Yeerongpilly layout.

Jake McLeod – $17 @ Ladbrokes.com.au

The last time TI tipped Jake we discussed the lad getting a haircut if he won which must have scared him off as he missed the cut… I believe Jake owes TI and is tipping the young lad with very long hair to get off the mark this week with his first victory. Rumour has it he could use the winner’s cheque to pay the debts the underperforming Cowboys cost him this year #BringBackJT

David Micheluzzi – $34 @ Ladbrokes.com.au

Playing in the same group as McLeod, this young pocket rocket is a must watch for fans heading to Brisbane GC this week. Weighing about 50 kegs wringing wet, he regularly smashes the ball in excess of 300 metres and local members will be stunned to see some of the distances he hits the ball on their favourite holes. Finishing a close second to good mate Murray last week may just be enough to spur him over the line this week.

Matthew Guyatt – $67 @ Ladbrokes.com.au

The popular Queenslander who now spends a lot of his time coaching has been doing some sneaky practice and looked relaxed ahead of tomorrow’s first round. Lack of play may be an obstacle to overcome but the "veteran" has plenty of experience on his side and may just crack his first win at The Queensland Open this week.

(Editors note: It seems some dodgy intel has been provided by the TI, Matt won the 2011 NSW PGA Champs. That aside, still a solid selection from our tipping friend.)

Blake Proverbs – $41 @ Ladbrokes.com.au

A name many readers may not know but he has been quietly making his way in his rookie season recording his best finish last week in WA. Many would say it would be a surprise to see him salute but he will know the course well and TI expects his good form to continue.

Cameron John – $21 @ Ladbrokes.com.au

One of TI’s favourites, this lad has been a consistent performer basically all year in his rookie season. He is a past Australian Junior Champion so knows how to win big events and TI thinks if he can believe in himself down the stretch it won’t be long before he will be drinking some lolly water from the trophy.

TI expects amateurs Josh Armstrong, Blake Windred and Louis Dobbelaar all to play well and see no reason last week’s winner Murray couldn’t go back to back.

So it is on the record, TI expects history-making female amateur Becky Kay will make the cut! The local public would do well to follow her around as she plots the course using length that is more familiar to how they hit the ball on a Saturday.

Good luck to all!

Full market available at ladbrokes.com.au

Australian Web.com Tour professional Rhein Gibson has made the trip back Down Under a little earlier to tee it up at Brisbane Golf Club for the Isuzu Queensland Open 1-4 November.

Back in Australia for family commitments, Gibson is taking the opportunity to get back to competitive golf following his 2018 Web.com Tour season.

“One of my best friends got married on Saturday so this fits really well into my schedule to come here, my parents live a couple of hours south and my brother is on the Gold Coast so it’s a good fit,” said Gibson who makes his debut at the Brisbane Golf Club this week.

“I’ve never played here before, I’ve played a little bit in Brisbane but never this course, I’ll play the NSW Open at Twin Creeks, I played there last year and really enjoyed it. Then of course the Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship, it’s a good run of events.

“I’ve had the last month off so it’s good to be out here.”

It’s somewhat of a hit and run mission for Gibson over the Australian summer as he needs to play a minimum of four ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia events to gain a category through the Order of Merit, he played the New Zealand Open and Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways earlier this year.

With the four final Australian tournaments ahead of him, Gibson will be looking to fine-tune his game before he returns to the United States for another season on the Web.com Tour.

“It’s always a struggle to meet the four minimum requirements on this Tour while playing in the States at the same time. I knocked over two earlier this year so I don’t normally come home this early, but like I said I’ve had the last four weeks off.

“It’ll give me a really good chance to see where my game is at heading into the next three tournaments in Australia, then back to the Web.com Tour. I’m not quite sure where my game is after four weeks off and the weather is starting to turn bad back in the States so it’s good to get out of that and get down here for the Aussie summer.”

Gibson was able to lock up his card for the 2019 season on the Web.com Tour early on with two consecutive top-3 finishes, it set the foundation for a solid season, finishing 44^th on the money list to wrap up a card next year.

“I put myself in a great position for the second half of the year, I just didn’t get the results. I felt like I played okay and put it together then had some opportunities in the Web.com Finals but I just didn’t capitalise on them,” added Gibson.

“I know the courses really well, I guess I’m kind of a veteran on that Tour now so hopefully I can get back there and have another good start and see if I can lock up that card a little bit earlier.”

Gibson touched on the competitive nature of the Web.com Tour, with so many players vying for a PGA TOUR card and courses yielding low scores. Combined with a hectic schedule of tournaments, it can make for a pretty cutthroat season.

“Our full field events are 156 guys and the cut is a 65 each week, I think it’s the most competitive Tour going around. I’ve played a lot on other Tours but that first round on the Web if you don’t shoot 3, 4 or 5-under par you’re just chasing your tail a bit.

“It’s a difficult Tour in that regard and the scheduling makes it difficult as well, we play a really condensed season with back-to-back events, I think we finished with 14 straight events so you’ve really got to manage yourself well.

“Then if you get your PGA TOUR card you’re straight back into it in the Fall over there like Curtis Luck and Cam Davis are doing right now. The Web.com Tour is sort of at the mercy of the PGA TOUR in that regard, as soon as they finish, we’ve got to finish in a short period of time.”

But for now, Gibson is focused on the Australian summer and has one eye on the exemptions that the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia presents including a full European Tour exemption for the winner of the Order of Merit as well as status for the winner of the Australian PGA Championship.

“It’s always in the back of your mind, I mean my life is in the United States but if you gave me the opportunity for a full card on the Web or a full card in Europe, I’d take Europe every time, that’s the second biggest Tour in the world.

“Obviously I’d like to get back to the PGA TOUR but if you gave me the opportunity if I was to win the Australian PGA Championship, not saying I will, but absolutely the European Tour would be huge.”

The Isuzu Queensland Open will be played at Brisbane Golf Club from 1 – 4 November.

In addition to the winner’s share of the $110,000 prize purse, the champion will receive Official World Golf Ranking Points and be fully exempt onto the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia until the end of the 2019 season.

His bank balance hasn’t budged, but a wire-to-wire win at the Nexus Risk Services WA Open has changed amateur Zach Murray’s world – and the trajectory of his career.

The 21-year-old from Wodonga woke up on Monday morning in Perth with a phone full of messages and a big decision to make.

But first, a flight to Brisbane for the Isuzu Queensland Open.

“I woke up this morning and it’s just so hard to process,” Murray told Golf Australia.

“I want it to sink in because I want to feel good about it all, it’s just so tough with so much going on and so many things to think about.

“My phone’s about to explode, I’m about to explode, Dad’s about to explode.

“It’s a good problem to have.”

Four birdies in his last seven holes saw Murray became the third amateur to win the WA Open since 2012, following in the footsteps of locals Brady Watt in 2012 and Curtis Luck in 2016.

Now he’ll get the chance to replicate fellow Victorian Brett Coletta’s 2016 triumph at the Isuzu Queensland Open.

“It wasn’t like I went ‘superhuman Tiger Woods’ on everybody, I was just doing my thing,” said Murray.

“I made a few putts on the first day, then I hit some good shots at the right time which you need to do to win.

“I definitely had to try and stop myself thinking about ‘what could be’ if I was to win. My mind was wandering when I finished up the first round and it’s still wandering now.”

Despite the decisions of Queenslanders Shae Wools-Cobb and Dylan Perry to turn pro just in time for the Isuzu Queensland Open, there’ll be no shortage of amateur talent this week in Brisbane.

Murray’s close friend Dave Micheluzzi doubled as his sparring partner throughout Sunday’s final round in Perth, the in-form duo now the favourites for this week’s low amateur honours and clearly capable of taking it to the pros.

They’ll also have the Queensland state team to contend with for the low amateur crown, including young guns Louis Dobbelaar, Jed Morgan and Charlie Dann, as well as a formidable trio from New South Wales in Josh Armstrong, Blake Windred and Jordie Garner.

But if another amateur was to make a charge in Brisbane on Sunday afternoon, Murray would love for it to be World No. 17 Micheluzzi.

“It’s hard to describe, it was so hard playing against a good mate who I know really well,” said Murray.

“We spend so much time together so to have to try and beat him, knowing that it would be so good for him to win too, it was hard.

“There’s no malice in it, I just really wanted to win – but it would’ve been nice to see him succeed as well because I know how much he deserves it too.”

Craig Murray, one of his son’s biggest supporters, was also in the thick of things on Sunday as he doubled his own 2018 win tally as a looper.

Craig carried the bag all week for Zach at Mt Lawley and also during a recent win back home in Bright.

The elder Murray assumes more of a calming influence role than a master tactician when the pair teams up, but it’s no coincidence Zach produced his best golf when his old man was by his side.

“He’s two out of two this year, so he’s on a bit of a roll,” said Murray.

“He helped me read some putts, but he’s just pretty funny – he doesn’t have a filter. There’s no thought process behind the stuff he says, he just says it.

“Any time I crack my nut, he just settles me down and chills me out.”

Despite their recent 100 per cent strike rate, Craig has returned back to Wodonga (with the WA Open silverware in his luggage) and won’t carry the bag for the younger Murray this week – but there is sure to be more than a few chats between the pair this week.

The win grants Murray full status on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia until the end of next season, assuming he takes the pro plunge.

Three days ago, the plan was to see out the Aussie summer of golf as an amateur and pull the trigger by this time next year.

But with spots in million dollar fields in Sydney, Gold Coast, Barwon Heads and Perth now secured, Murray has a decision to make.

He’ll sit down with his long-time coach Marty Joyce in Brisbane on Tuesday to put a plan together for what the next 18 months might look like.

But Murray has already sought counsel from another well-credentialed source – his housemate Todd Sinnott.

“I was planning on turning pro definitely in the next twelve months but that might come sooner,” said Murray.

“I spoke to Toddy on the plane before, I had a great chat with him because he’s been through it all before. I’ve got some great people around me so I’m very fortunate.

"It does play on your mind, I really have no idea what I’ll do. It’s not a hard decision because it’s a good position to be in, I’ve got so many options.

“Whatever it is we’ll run with it and see how we go!”