Newly minted Professional Zach Murray has fired a 5-under 65 to take out his home pro-am in Albury.

This was Murray’s first appearance on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series since turning Professional only three weeks ago and only his third start as a Professional.

Morning scores were very solid with South Australian Simon Pope setting the pace with a 2-under 68. However it was Victoria Golf Club Teaching Professional Nick Drane who provided the highlight of the round, a 5-iron from 183 metres that found the bottom of the cup for his second ever hole-in-one.

“That’s my second ever hole-in-one and the first one in a pro-am, so I’m completely stoked” said Drane.

As the temperature hotted up so did the scores.  Defending Champion Andrew Martin set about defending his title and with 3 birdies in a row around the turn he took the lead at 3-under.  He managed only one further birdie and finished his round on 4-under.

Martin was soon joined by VIC/TAS/SA Order of Merit leader Michael Choi.  Choi’s round fluctuated throughout, trading six birdies with two bogeys until he reached the par 5 11^th hole, his last.  He could only manage a par leaving him on 4-under.

Shane Butler’s hot form from the Eastwood Pro-Am continued and he was the next to join Martin and Choi at 4-under.  His round began slowly with a bogey on the 7^th and then a double bogey on the 9^th before he managed four birdies and an eagle to get to 3-under.  Butler peeled off another birdie on the 1^st (his second last hole) to join the group at 4-under.

Taylor Cooper was the fourth player to sign for a 4-under 66 after a round that featured two opening birdies to move to 2-under.  Cooper’s round like many others was a roller coast ride with a total of seven birdies, a bogey and a double bogey leaving him stranded one behind Murray.

Murray who grew up playing at Commercial Club felt right at home in his first Ladbrokes Pro-Am.

“I felt really comfortable out there, I know all the lines and it was good to come out and support the event” said Murray

Murray praised the condition of the course that like many in Country Victoria has been suffering under the drought.

“I thought the course played really well and the greens just rolled purse all day” added Murray.

Murray will return to work at Kingston Heath later this week to resume bar duties as he prepares for Asian Tour School at the end of the month.  However he has full intentions of teeing it up across Australia next year on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

“I’ll be playing the Vic Open, I just love that event and then in Perth for the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth the next week” said Murray.

The Victorian swing of the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series moves to the Goulbourn Valley on Thursday and Friday for the annual Greater Shepparton Masters before wrapping at RACV Healesville over the weekend.

The 40^th edition of the Bartons/BMD Wynnum Pro-Am was played today boasting one of the best fields ever assembled for the event to celebrate a long history and partnership between the PGA of Australia, Bartons, BMD and the Wynnum Golf Club.

With AU$50,000 in prizemoney making it the richest one-day tournament on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series the filed included John Senden, Rod Pampling, Jason Norris, Ash Hall, Rhein Gibson, Matthew Millar and Damien Jordan.

Seven professionals tied at the top of the leaderboard on 6-under par 64 at the end of the round including Gavin Fairfax, Brad Burns, Max McCardle, Chris Wood, Dale Brandt-Richards, John Senden and Matthew Millar.

“I haven’t played Wynnum Golf Club for twenty six years and it’s great to see the tournament and club going so strong”, said Senden.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to give back to the Pro-Am circuit where it all started for me knowing that tournaments like this have always made a difference to a PGA professionals careers”.

Matthew Millar after finishing tied for 3^rd in the Australian PGA Championship, was the final player on course but couldn’t convert his birdie putt on the Par 4, 18^th hole to win outright, and joined the group on 6-under par 64.

“I played really well last week and it is great to finish here at Wynnum with another  good result”, said Millar.

“I gave myself a lot of chances out there today; I did miss a couple of putts inside 6 feet but overall I’m really happy with my game right now”.

With the support of Bartons/BMD and Wynnum Golf Club, the 40^th anniversary of this Pro-Am makes it one of the longest running events in the country.

Professionals will now enjoy a well-deserved Christmas break ahead of preparations for the 2019 Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series.

The PGA of Australia is pleased to launch the GC Celebrity Pro-Am to be played at Lakelands Golf Club from 4-5 April 2019.

The GC Celebrity Pro-Am hosted by PGA Life Member Wayne Grady will see professionals compete for prizemoney of AU$150,000.

The event will attract a strong field of professionals who will compete alongside amateurs, sporting personalities and celebrities including Kerri-Anne Kennerley, Matt Rogers, Robbie McEwen, Hayley Bateup and Chris Walker.

The event follows on from a successful staging of the Australia Celebrity Pro-Am in 2018 and in 2019, with the support of Australian golfing legend Wayne Grady, the pro-am has received a makeover most notably a $100,000 increase in prizemoney.

The 2019 GC Celebrity Pro-Am will have a strong charity focus with all funds raised in support of the Gold Coast charity foundation Ashton’s Place which supports local family’s through providing much-needed funds for early intervention services for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

"I am really excited about the GC Celebrity Pro-Am and its future on the Gold Coast,” said Grady.

“My ultimate goal is to build the 36 hole pro-am into a 72 hole tournament on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia. We are also excited the pro-am will have a large charity benefit for the Gold Coast community.”

PGA  State Manager (QLD/NT) Broc Greenhalgh said, “It is fitting that the richest Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series event in the country is hosted by one of our Life Members. His ongoing commitment to providing playing opportunities for the current generation of professional golfers is evident through this tournament.”

This exciting event presents an exceptional opportunity to capture the imagination of Gold Coast golfers with the chance to play alongside the finest professionals and high profile celebrities. Amateurs wishing to secure a place in the field please click here.

About Ashton’s Place
Ashton’s Place is a Gold Coast based foundation which provides funds and support to local families to allow them access to best resources and early intervention services for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

A week ago Chris Wood pulled into the car park of Wynnum Golf Club without a place in the Australian PGA Championship field and looking at a skinny schedule to start 2019.

He returns today for the $50,000 Bartons/BMD Wynnum Pro-Am with not only a higher profile but a greater level of confidence having finished tied for 16th at RACV Royal Pines Resort.

John Senden, Rod Pampling, Rodger Davis, David Bransdon and newly crowned ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winner Jake McLeod lead a star-studded field for the 40th Wynnum Pro-Am which just so happens to be Wood’s home club.

A 7-under par round of 63 at Wynnum last Monday secured Wood one of three spots into the PGA Championship field where he followed up an opening round of 71 with a 6-under 66 in the second to thrust his name into the spotlight.

After a 76 on Saturday he bounced back with a 1-under par round of 71 on championship Sunday to move from 67th on the Order of Merit with Tier 2 status to 42nd.

Where he missed out on qualifying for the Vic Open in February, the 27-year-old now looks certain to be exempt for the now European Tour co-sanctioned Vic Open and ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth along with the New Zealand Open.

Not only will he enter the new year knowing he can skip those dreaded Monday qualifiers, Wood will carry the confidence forward of knowing his game is good enough to contend in an elite field.

“Qualifiers are never fun,” Wood said after completing his round on Sunday.

“Even though I qualified this week to get in on Monday, three spots into a field, that’s tough.

“The category I was in was for the Tier 2 money list for this year, so with whatever I earn this week, hopefully that will sneak me in (to the top 50).

“The next four rounder I’ll play will be maybe Vic Open, so very similar field, European Tour field, so knowing that I can tee it up with a lot of good European guys gives me some confidence for sure.”

Playing in the third to last group on Saturday in front of the big galleries that converged on Royal Pines was a completely new experience for Wood who despite shooting 4-over came away with some valuable lessons.

“Obviously the round on Friday really set up the week for me,” said Wood, who while playing the pro-am circuit this year travelled out to the Queensland mining towns of Emerald, Moranbah and Middlemount.

“It came out of nowhere because I wasn’t really playing spectacular golf coming into this week or even the last couple months really.

“But with the round on Friday I was really looking forward to the round on Saturday and it was a good experience.

“I was nervous all day, all 76 shots, but it’s a learning curve.

“To come out and be 4-under through 12 or 13 holes today, it was good to bounce back from that round yesterday.

“Bit of a poor finish, but that’s still a good week.

“The big thing for me is I’ve never really been in that sort of position before, third last group in one of the biggest tournaments in Australia.

“That’s something to be proud of.

“Could always play better, but it’s a learning curve and I’ll come back better.”

And like he had over the weekend on the Gold Coast, Wood will have plenty of support on his return to Wynnum today.

“The members have always been very supportive of me back in Wynnum,” said Wood, who played with Englishman Ross McGowan on Sunday as he compiled a new course record 9-under 63.

“A few came down this week and had a look.

“I’m looking forward to getting back and seeing them all and playing well.”

Wood tees off at 10.36am off the 10th tee with McLeod off at 11.57am, Senden at 12.06pm and Pampling 12.15pm.

Queensland’s Tim Hart has claimed the $25,000 Campbelltown Golf Club Pro-Am in impressive fashion finishing at 6-under par and four shots clear of New South Welshman Alex Edge.

Blustery westerly winds caused havoc for professionals and amateurs alike over the two days however it seemed Hart was playing a different game, closing out his final nine holes in five under par.

“The course was great out there. You just had to get through the hard holes and then there were birdies down wind," the long hitting Hart recounted.

Edge’s runner-up finish was enough to elevate him into first position on the national Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series Order of Merit with under 10 events remaining in the 2018 season.

The inaugural tournament had a strong link to Charity with Campbelltown Head Professional Scott Martyn setting the lofty goal of raising $10,000 for charity.

“We should know the exact number early next week but the goal is $10,000. All the funds go to helping with medical and living costs for people suffering with Cystic Fibrosis,” explained Martyn.

In a show of support from his peers, the PGA through the NSW/ACT Members charity fund announced a $1,000 donation to support the charity and positive work Martyn is undertaking.