Yarrawonga Trainee Professional Frazer Droop will be chasing a wire-to-wire victory in the NSW/ACT PGA Trainee Championships having held the lead at the close of the first three days.

Played on the Bungool Course at Riverside Oaks Golf Resort, Droop fired an even-par round of 72 to sit at 8-under par and six strokes clear of his nearest rival.

On a day when birdies were hard to come by, Droop remained composed, playing strategic golf and ensuring the gap between himself and Asquith Golf Club Trainee Brayden Petersen did not contract.

“It was a bit of a grind today, nothing was really happening out there but I’m pleased with the way I finished, no damage done and looking forward to tomorrow,” said Droop.

The low round of the day came from Camden Golf Club Trainee Professional Adriana Brent who recorded a 2-under par round of 70 to elevate her into third position and a place alongside Droop and Peterson in the final group of the tournament.

With a total of $40,000 in prize money on offer, Droop will have a long list of fellow Trainees looking to post a low number and put the pressure firmly back onto the leading group.

Play is now underway.

Yarrawonga Trainee Professional Frazer Droop has cemented his spot as the country’s leading Trainee after claiming the Nanshan NSW/ACT PGA Trainee Championship by six strokes.

Droop is now the current holder of the National Futures, NSW/ACT and VIC/TAS/SA Trainee Championships.

Staring the day with a six-shot buffer, Droop found birdies hard to come by in the final round, however, held his composure finishing with a final round of 73 to finish the 72 hole tournament at 7-under par.

“I got there in the end, I knew I had to stay focussed as Brayden (Petersen) and Adriana (Brent) weren’t going to give it to me,” explained Droop.

Along with the prestige of adding the tournament to his growing list of achievements, Droop will claim the lion’s share of the $40,000 prize money offered.

Brent retained her status as the leading female in the tournament and showed that she could match it against the men finishing in tied second with Petersen at 1-under par.

NSW/ACT PGA Senior State Manager David Barker praised the Bungool course.

“It is a true championship course. Players need to be decisive, there are some times to attack Bungool and others when you need to play the percentages. It’s real risk, reward golf and Frazer got it spot on,” said Barker.

The Trainees now make their way west for next week’s Western Australian PGA Trainee Championship held at Hartfield Country Club.

Yarawoonga Trainee Professional Frazer Droop holds a dominant lead at the NSW/ACT PGA Trainee Championships after firing a second round of 6-under 66 to hold a six shot lead from Brayden Petersen.

Droop, the reigning PGA National Futures Champion was on fire with the putter recording seven birdies including three in succession on holes seven through nine.

Playing alongside Droop in the first two rounds Asquith Golf Club Trainee Brayden Peterson was able to match him tee to green however it was Droop’s flat stick which proved the difference.

“I hit it well today, the greens were rolling really good and I got the speed right early,” explained Droop.

Adriana Brent retained her position as the leading female in the tournament currently sitting in tied fifth position, ten behind the leader.

With 36 holes remaining the tournament is far from over however form and experience would suggest the chasers will need to go low to catch the run-away Droop.

Three Trainees are tied at the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the NSW/ACT PGA Trainee Championships at Riverside Oaks Golf Resort.

Reigning PGA National Futures Champion Frazer Droop (Yarrawonga GC) shares the lead with the reigning Rich River Classic Champion Brayden Petersen (Asquith GC) and the leading female Trainee Adriana Brent (Camden GC Studley Park) who all recorded rounds of 2-under 70.

Brent is one of five female trainees competing against the men this week and will be looking to improve on her ninth-place finish from 2017.

The overnight lead came as a surprise to Brent who teed off in the morning and expected plenty of impressive scores in the afternoon still to come.

“I played well but I’d be surprised if it’s leading, someone will have four or five (under) out there,” explained Brent.

Defending Champion William Flitcroft (Manly GC) has posted a solid start to his tournament with a 1-over par round of 73 to sit in tied 11^th position.

It was a tough finish for Flitcroft who closed his round with consecutive bogeys on the tricky finishing holes.

Round two of the $40,000 NSW/ACT PGA Trainee Championship is underway

The newly designed Riverside Oaks Bungool course will play host next week to the $40,000 NSW/ACT PGA Trainee Championship with competitors from NSW, the ACT, Queensland and Victoria flocking to the region.

Defending champion William Flitcroft from the Manly Golf Club is Sydney will face stiff opposition with the number one ranked PGA Trainee nationally Fraser Droop looking to add the NSW trophy to his growing list of achievements.

Droop, the current reigning PGA National Futures Champion will be on a quick back-up having competed in the Vanuatu Golf Open which concludes only two days prior to round one of the Championships.

Also in the field is the leading NSW/ACT PGA Trainee Mitchell Gannon from Kogarah Golf Club who in his rookie year has already amassed five victories and eight top-five finishes.

PGA of Australia Senior State Manager David Barker explains the importance of these events

“These tournaments provide valuable playing experiences to prepare these athletes for hope to adapt on tour. Not all of our PGA Trainees will want to pursue a playing career however it exposes them to how an ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia event may be conducted," said Barker.

“Riverside Oaks is an ideal tournament venue, it has a championship course, practice facilities and accommodation on site. I’m sure all the Trainees will be looking forward to the week.”

Last year the Bungool course bared its teeth with 50 kilometre an hour winds causing havoc to players across all four days. This year, the course is expected to play much softer with favourable weather forecast along with less severe rough surrounding the fairways.

The 72 hole tournament will begin on Tuesday 28 August 2018 and conclude on Friday 31 August 2018.