Andrew Kelly recorded a win at Ron Crouch Transport Wagga Wagga Pro-Am after the final round was cancelled due to dangerous conditions.

In an unlikely event, following months of drought like conditions, the final round of the Wagga Wagga Pro-Am was cancelled, with only a few holes remaining, due to lightning and heavy rain.

Having opened the event with a course record 10-under 62, Kelly was named the 2019 champion with the completed round one scores determining the winner.

The par-5’s at Wagga Wagga Country Club were the secret to Kelly’s victory as he played them in 7-under the card.

Kelly who completed a PGA bridging course recently, now splits his time between coaching and competing on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series where he has already won four events this season.

“After completing my bridging course I did a bit of coaching but I still enjoy playing. What I would say about the teaching is I seem to be taking my own advice,” Kelly said with a grin.

Finishing runner-up was Jamie Hook who fired 8-under 64 in the first round with Jack Wilson finishing third after his opening round of 7-under 65 which was highlighted by a hole-in-one.

Rounding out the top-5 was Ben Clementson and Daniel Gale on 6-under 66.

The NSW / ACT swing of the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series now moves to Canberra.

Reigning champion Nathan Green will headline a star-studded field of professional golfers in New South Wales at the Ron Crouch Transport Wagga Wagga Country Club Pro-Am.

With a prize purse of $40,000 the tournament stands as the state’s largest on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series schedule and as one of the most highly regarded among competitors.

Playing top golf on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and returning to defend his title, former US PGA TOUR winner Nathan Green is one competitor the Wagga Wagga Country Club are particularly pleased to see return to the field in 2019.

“We take pride in getting our champions back to defend their title and it’s wonderful to see Nathan in the field,” said John Turner, General Manager of Wagga Wagga Country Club.

Green, winner of the 2009 RBC Canadian Open, will be just one of many players in the field to have tasted success on the world stage.

Andre Stolz, Craig Parry, Peter O’Malley and Michael Long also feature in the 2019 line-up, while a host of ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia winners including Matthew Millar make this year’s field one of the strongest ever.

2018 runner-up Dimi Papadatos is also back in action, hoping to finish one better in 2019. Following a breakout season on the European Challenge Tour in 2018 including a victory at the Open de Portugal, Papadatos’ run of success continued at the Emirates Australian Open with a runner-up finish at the Lakes Golf Club in Sydney.

Despite narrowly missing out on a 2019 European Tour card, Sydney-sider Papadatos is one to watch on home soil with the determination to finish atop the leaderboard in 2019.

With competition this tough, players will need to bring their A-game to Wagga Wagga Country Club while spectators should not miss the chance to see some of Australia’s best tee it up this season.

“The field for this year’s Ron Crouch Transport Wagga Wagga Country Club Pro-Am should excite local sports fans,” said Peter Welden, PGA NSW/ACT Tournament Coordinator.

“Some big names in Australian golf will be in action and with the course in great condition despite recent droughts it’ll be a great tournament to watch.”

The Ron Crouch Transport Wagga Wagga Country Club Pro-Am will be played from 28-29 March, 2019.

This event is sanctioned by the PGA of Australia on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series. Entry is free for this event.

Nathan Green has taken out the Ron Crouch Transport Wagga Wagga Country Club Ladbrokes Pro-Am with a flawless final round 5-under 64 which saw him hold off a fast finishing Dimitrios Papadatos by one shot.

The Ron Crouch Transport Wagga Wagga Country Club Ladbrokes Pro-Am is the biggest in NSW with $40,000 in prize money. For many years it has been one of the premier tournaments on the schedule and always attracts some of Australia’s best golfers.

The first day saw blustery conditions make the golf course very tricky. Former PGA TOUR winner Green fired an impressive 6-under 63 to lead into the final day. Hot on his heels was fellow Novacastrian Jake Higginbottom who sat one shot behind on 5-under. Papadatos put himself within striking distance with an opening round of 4-under 65.

With calmer conditions, the final round became a shootout. Papadatos made his mark early getting off to a blistering start of 5-under through six holes. He eventually caught leader Green and through the turn the pair had a three shot lead at 9-under the card.

But Green’s experience shone through as he returned a blemish free round of 5-under 64 to finish 11-under the card.

“I’m not in contention as much these days and it’s great to be able to play well down the stretch like I did today,” said Green.

“My game felt really good over the last two days but my putting was the key to this victory. I putted well yesterday and made some good putts when I needed to today especially on the back-9.

“This event is one of the best we play all year it has a real tournament feel and it was great to see the crowds out today.”

Papadatos wasn’t the only fast finisher with defending champion Jordan Zunic and Victorian Michael Choi shooting 7-under 62 in the final round to share third place with Jake Higginbottom at 8-under the card.

The Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series will resume in the ACT after Easter.

The Ron Crouch Transport Wagga Wagga Country Club Ladbrokes Pro-Am will again see some of Australia’s best golfers compete for $40,000 in prize money. A mix of previous champions, in-form players, Australian greats and young guns will all be trying to take home the winner’s cheque.

Over the years the Ron Crouch Transport Wagga Wagga Country Club Ladbrokes Pro-Am has boasted a very impressive honour role including last year’s champion Jordan Zunic.

Zunic is a two-time ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia winner and he finished his 2017 campaign with a runner-up finish in a playoff at the Australian PGA Championship at RACV Royal Pines Resort. He will be back to defend his pro-am title along with previous champions Dale Brandt-Richards (2016) and Mitchell A. Brown (2015).

“We take pride in getting our champions back to defend their title and it’s wonderful to see Jordan in the field.” said Ashley Briggs Pro-Am Chairman.

Heading to the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series after a strong start to their ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia seasons are James Nitties, who is currently second on the Order of Merit thanks to his runner up finish in the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth and Matthew Millar who won the REBEL Sport New Zealand Masters earlier this year.

“The Ron Crouch Transport Wagga Wagga Country Club Ladbrokes Pro-Am always attracts a great field. The thing I’m excited about this year is so many of our players have been in great form. I think we could be in for some record scoring over the two days,” said PGA NSW/ACT Tournament Coordinator Peter Welden

Making sure the young brigade doesn’t have it all their own way will be two of Australia’s greats Craig Parry and Peter O’Malley. Both have been great supporters of the event over the years and with a swag of worldwide victories between them they bring a whole lot of experience.