Brett Rankin has dominated the field playing exceptional golf at the Lae Golf Club to be crowned the 2019 NKW Group Morobe Open champion.

Firing 3-under 69 in the final round for a tournament total of 20-under 264, Rankin claimed victory by four shots from his nearest competitor Brady Watt who completed the tournament alone in second place on 16-under 268.

On a perfect afternoon for scoring, the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series spectators were out in force in Papua New Guinea as they were treated to a final round master class of exceptional shot making from the leading groups.

Rankin made the turn at 2-under 35 but while a bogey on the 14^th hole threatened to derail the round, birdies on the 15^th and 16^th holes secured the win.

A trio of players including Jay Mackenzie, Watt and Martin Dive mounted a charge for the lead midway through the round however Rankin held his nerve throughout the day.

“I felt I was in control of the tournament throughout the day,” said Rankin.

“I knew I just needed to shoot in the 60’s today and that would be good enough to win the event.”

This result is the four-round tournament win breakthrough for Rankin who was thrilled to take the title.

“It is a great feeling winning the NKW Group Morobe Open in Lae here today. I have been fortunate to win many one and two-day pro-ams on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series but this is the first four round tournament,” Rankin added.

“I still played great today but I didn’t hole as many putts which was the difference in the score.”

Competitive amongst the front-runners for the duration of the tournament, New South Welshman Martin Dive rounded out the top three, finishing with a tournament total of 14-under 270.

Daniel Fox and Jay Mackenzie completed the top five sitting equal in fourth place at 12-under 272.

The week has been much more than just golf for Rankin and all of the professionals who have enjoyed both the golf course and the hospitality which is synonymous with the Lae Golf Club.

“This is my seventh trip up here for the Morobe Open and I must say the course is getting better with each year,” said Rankin.

“The conditions were heavy in the first couple of rounds following all the rain but yesterday and today the course was fantastic, full credit must go to all involved.”

“It’s been a fantastic event not only on the course but also off the course, the members of the Lae Golf Club are just so welcoming and the hospitality we are shown whilst here is nothing short of incredible, I always look forward to returning each year.”

As the leaders were battling it out Jacob Boyce made the highlight of the fourth round with an eagle on the 10^th hole driving the greenside bunker on the 305m, par-4 hole before proceeding to hold his bunker shot for an eagle 2.

Professional golf remains in Papua New Guinea next week with the SP Brewery PNG Open being staged at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club as part of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

Brett Rankin has continued his outstanding Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series form at the NKW Group Morobe Open to take a dominant seven shot lead over the field in Papua New Guinea.

Recording the equal lowest score in round three of 6-under 65, Rankin extended his 1-shot lead from the previous day to sit on an 18-under 195 tournament total with one round to play.

“I got off to a slow start early in the round and I was 2-over through the first five holes,” said Rankin.

“Then something clicked and I finished with eight birdies over my final twelve holes, which was a great result.

“I’m driving the ball so well this week which has allowed me to be really aggressive with my shots into the greens.

“I’ve hit a lot of wedges and pitch shots over the last three days so this has certainly contributed to my good rounds.”

Perfect scoring conditions greeted professionals at Lae Golf Club where the competition remains tight among those sitting just off the lead.

With totals of 11-under for the tournament so far Brady Watt, Jay Mackenzie and Martin Dive sit tied for second place, one shot ahead of Cooper Geddes who rounds out the top five at 10-under the card.

“The course was good out there today,” said Mackenzie.

“I knew the greens were holding well which gave me confidence with my ball striking and I putted well which keep me in it.”

“I’m thrilled to be playing in the final group tomorrow and looking forward to the experience.”

Brett Rankin has moved into the lead of the Morobe Open at Lae Golf Club in Papua New Guinea after overtaking rookie Professional Jay Mackenzie in round two to sit one shot ahead of the field.

Heavy rain overnight delayed the start of play by four hours on Friday as players waited for the water to subside; when play finally got underway it was under clear skies with a light breeze blowing out of the west.

Rankin took the lead after firing 5-under 66 in round two of one of the richest events on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series, which along with his opening round of 7-under 64 made for a tournament total of 12-under 130 with two rounds to play.

The Brisbane based professional made eight birdies for the day and just the one bogey on the par-4 3^rd hole to make the turn at 1-under 35, finishing with a solid back-9 recording a score of 4-under 31.

“After the rain we had last night I knew the course was going to play a lot differently today than it did for round one,” said Rankin.

“I was happy with where my game was at before coming over here, and I’m pleased to be in the lead at the mid-way mark.

“Having played the course a number of times now I know there are a lot of birdies to be had but it’s really important to keep the ball in play, which is what my focus has been so far.”

Just one shot of the pace in second position is New South Welshman Martin Dive after shooting 5-under 66 along with his opening round of 6-under 65 for a tournament total of 11-under 131.

“I’ve played solid golf the last couple of days,” said Dive.

“I feel really comfortable on the course and I am looking forward to what the weekend brings.

“I think the back-9 is where you need to make your score on this course, there are a couple of reachable par-5’s which you need to take advantage of.”

The next best-placed professionals are overnight leader Jay Mackenzie and Victorian Anthony Marchesani who both sit on 8-under 134 for the tournament.

Round three gets underway on Saturday morning with the lead group including Rankin, Dive and Mackenzie teeing off at 12.50pm.

The Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series visited two of Australia’s top golf courses for this week’s Air Adventure King Island Pro-Am where competition took place across Cape Wickham Links and Ocean Dunes Golf Club.

A strong field of 21 professionals and 63 amateurs teed it up with professionals playing a modified Stableford format and the amateurs playing Stableford, while a team’s event also took place over the two days.

Victorian Scott Laycock was the winner of the Air Adventure King Island Pro-Am with 20 points from first round leader Connor Chant on 16 points. Frazer Droop rounded out the top three with 11 points.

Located in the middle of Bass Straight between Victoria and Tasmania, professionals from around the country brought three amateurs to play and experience two of the most stunning golf courses you can experience anywhere in the world.

The Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series ventures to Papua New Guinea this week for the 2019 Morobe Open where 40 Professionals will compete for $80,000 in prize money at Lae Golf Club.

Teeing off on Thursday 2 May, professionals and amateurs from across Australia, Korea, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea will play for the Morobe Open title in what is one of the richest events on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series schedule.

Winner of the 2008 Morobe Open, Steven Jeffress makes his return to the Morobe province in 2019 as one of the most experienced players in the field.

A performer on the international stage, Jeffress will be one to watch across the weekend where his skill and knowledge will prove beneficial at the Lae Golf Club layout.

“It’s great to be back up here in PNG competing again,” said Jeffress. “It’s a great course and the competition is always of the highest level.”

“The Morobe Open is such a great event and the people are so welcoming which is why I come back.”

Winner of the Morobe Open in 2012, Victorian Josh Younger will be looking to add another Morobe Open title to his list of tournament victories at a course he believes will favour smart play.

“I enjoy the golf course here in Lae,” said Younger. “The fairways are narrow; you really have to pick your lines off the tee.”

“There are plenty of birdie opportunities on this course; you just need to keep yourself in play.”

Coming off a stellar year on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series in 2018 that included five wins and 12 top-10 finishes, Queensland’s Brett Rankin has also returned to the Morobe province looking to secure his second win on the pro-am circuit for 2019.

“I played really well last year which resulted in some great finishes,” said Rankin. “It was an honour and I was thrilled to win the Queensland swing Order of Merit.”

“It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to play a four-round tournament here in Lae. The course is once again in great condition and I am looking forward to what will be a memorable week.”

Alongside Jeffress, Younger and Rankin, the Morobe Open field is one of the strongest seen in recent years. Featuring ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia tournament winners Daniel Fox, Brad Moules and Matthew Stieger, Lae Golf Club will also host some of 2019’s best Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series competitors in Tim Hart, Braden Becker, Brady Watt and Rory Bourke.

The Morobe Open gives local Papuans the opportunity to experience an international professional golf tournament, offering great promotion of the game of golf with hopes to inspire the next generation of golfing superstars in PNG.

The opening round of the Morobe Open tees off at Lae Golf Club at 7:45am on Thursday 2 May, 2019.

Daniel Gale has overcome a two-shot deficit in the final round, to be crowned the 2018 Trukai Morobe Open champion.

Gale finished regulation play tied at the top of the leaderboard alongside overnight leader Damien Jordan. The pair, finishing with a 72 hole total of 22-under 262, headed to a play off with Gale holding his nerve to claim victory on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series.

On a perfect afternoon for scoring, spectators were treated to a final round shootout between Gale and Jordan, as both players went shot for shot over the final nine holes.

Jordan birdied the 10^th and 11^th to open up a four shot lead but Gale hit back with birdies on the next three holes to reduce the gap back to one.

With two holes to play Jordan held a one shot lead but saw that eliminated when Gale made a birdie at the 17^th and the pair went to the final hole tied.

With the pressure on, both players made their four foot birdie putts on the final hole to force a playoff.

In search of the largest win of his young career, Gale made the first move with a birdie at the opening hole of a three-hole aggregate playoff to Jordan’s par.

After both players made par on the second playoff hole, Gale stood on the 18^th tee with a one shot lead.

Jordan decided to lay up on the third playoff hole, while Gale went for the par-5 in two.

Unfortunately his second found the water left of the green, opening the door for Jordan to extend the playoff.

Jordan played an almost perfect pitch to one metre while Gale took his penalty drop and pitched it to within one foot of the hole.

The pressure was all on Jordan, but his birdie putt grazed the left edge of the hole leaving Gale with his putt for the win which he made no mistake with.

“It is a great feeling winning the Morobe Open in Lae. It was awesome to win the Sydney Invitational a few weeks earlier but my win this week certainly tops that,” said Gale.

“Damien played really well today. There were some clutch shots made by both of us over the final few holes and the appreciation from the spectators really seemed to push both of us along.

“I have never been involved in an aggregate playoff before, and when my second shot found the water on the final hole I thought I had opened the door for Damien. Unfortunately, he was unable to convert his birdie putt, giving me the opportunity to close it out, which thankfully I managed to do.”

The week has been much more than just golf for Gale, who has also enjoyed the hospitality on offer.

“I didn’t really know what to expect at the start of the week, I asked a few mates who had been before, but I was still unsure of what it would be like. Well, I can say it has been awesome, not only on the course but off. The people are just so welcoming and I really look forward to returning next year.”

As the leaders were battling it out, 18-year-old Cameron John enjoyed the round of his life. After making the turn in 29, John made a further five birdies on the back-9 to sign for a new unofficial course record round of 11-under 60 to finish 6^th overall.

Professional golf remains in Papua New Guinea this week with the SP Brewery PNG Open being staged at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club as part of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

Damien Jordan will be looking for a wire-to-wire win as he attempts to claim his second Trukai Morobe Open title.

Jordan sits at 17- under the card, two shots ahead of Daniel Gale at 15-under the card.

The Lae Golf Club course played very differently in the third round, with a gusty breeze slowing down the pace of the players out in front.

Following opening rounds of 6-under 65 and 9-under 62, Jordan had a frustrating day on the greens and finished 2-under 69 for the third round.

“I really have played well over the first three days, and although conditions made scoring more difficult today, I am really happy with the position I find myself in heading into the final round,” said Jordan.

“I hit the ball well and gave myself plenty of opportunities but unfortunately the putts just wouldn’t drop.”

The low round of the day came from New South Welshman Daniel Gale who stormed his way into contention after firing a score of 7-under par 64.

“My round was great today, I found momentum with the putter and it felt like I couldn’t miss a putt inside 10 feet,” said Gale.

The final round of the Trukai Morobe Open is underway with the final group of Ben Clementson, Daniel Gale and Damien Jordan on course at 11.30am.

Following heavy rain overnight, the Lae Golf Club presented a new challenge for round two of the Trukai Morobe Open with Damien Jordan capitalising to claim the outright lead.

A former Morobe Open champion in 2016, Jordan leads the way at the halfway mark following his 9-under 62, an unofficial course record due to preferred lies being enforced.

Jordan, who is 15-under the card for the tournament, credited his conservative game plan and consistent wedge play for his good rounds.

“I played it really safe today off the tee, and in particular on the tighter driving holes the 10^th, 11^th and 12^th," said Jordan.

“My wedge play has been really solid the last couple of days and I am pleased with the way I have played the par-3’s as they can be a little tricky out here."

West Australian Braden Becker is outright second at 14-under the card. Becker continued his good form around the Lae Golf Club layout firing an equal career best 8-under 63 which included seven birdies, two bogeys and an eagle.

“I got off to a fantastic start with an eagle on the 2^nd hole," said Becker.

“I hit my fairway shot onto the green to eight feet and holed the putt for eagle which really set the tone for one of my best putting rounds ever.”

Equal over night leader Taylor MacDonald is a further one shot back on 13-under par for the two rounds and Josh Munn backed up his opening round of 6-under par with a fine score of 5-under par giving him a tournament total of 11-under the card.

Round three of the Trukai Morobe Open is now underway.

Birdies were flowing in Papua New Guinea today for the opening round of the Trukai Morobe Open, as four players head into the second round tied for the lead.

Damien Jordan, Taylor MacDonald, Braden Becker and Josh Munn all fired 6-under 65 around the Lae Golf Club to sit at the top of the leaderboard.

For MacDonald and Munn this is the first time they have ventured north to Papua New Guinea.

“My goal today was just to try and keep the ball in play on these tight fairways,” said Munn.

“Things really started well for me today from the very first hole and even with a bogey at the 17^th, I am really pleased with the way that I played and the position I am in following today’s opening round.”

Damien Jordan will be looking to become a two time champion this week after claiming the title in 2016, while Western Australia’s Braden Becker will be determined as he attempts to win his most significant tournament to date.

Round two of the Trukai Morobe Open is currently underway, for scores visit pga.org.au.

Papua New Guinea and the Lae Golf Club will this week host 43 Professionals competing for $110,000 in prize money at the Morobe Open.

The tournament will tee off tomorrow with Professionals and amateurs from all over Australia, Korea, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, vying for the coveted Morobe Open title.

Defending Champion Chris Wood claimed one of the richest tournaments on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series when he won the Morobe Open last year.

Although Wood had mixed results through the back end of 2017 he will be looking to defend his title and record back-to-back victories in Lae, something which has only been achieved twice before in Morobe Open history.

“The win here last year really put me in a good position and gave me a lot of confidence at the time,” said Wood.

“Unfortunately I didn’t capitalise on the opportunity as much as I would have liked, but I am feeling really good about this week and what 2018 will bring.”

2017 Queensland Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series Order of Merit Winner and 2016 Morobe Open Champion Damien Jordan has returned to the Morobe province looking to secure another win on the pro-am circuit for 2018.

The Tweed Coast Professional is coming off a stellar year in 2017 on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series where he won seven times.

“I played really good golf last year which resulted in some great finishes,” said Jordan.

“It was an honour and I was thrilled to win the Queensland Order of Merit for the second year in a row.

“It’s fantastic to have the opportunity to play a four round tournament here in Lae. The course is once again in great condition and I am looking forward to what will be a memorable week.”

Former Fiji International presented by Fiji Airways winner Steven Jefress will make his return to the Morobe province following a five year absence. Jeffress has the experience when it comes to big events and as a past winner here in 2008 he will likely be in contention come the final round on Sunday.

“It’s my first trip to PNG in five years,” said Jeffress.

“It’s great to be back up here in PNG competing again, I hope to play well this week and the next to play myself into some form.”

Queenslander Michael Wright won the Morobe Open back in 2009 and finished a credible second place last year, he will be looking to go one better in 2018.

Western Australian Daniel Fox who recently won the 2018 Coca Cola QLD PGA Championship will be looking to continue his good form here at the Morobe Open.

The next generation of players cannot be discounted as they are waiting for their opportunity to take the title including Dale Brandt-Richards, Brett Rankin, Tim Hart, Matthew Stieger and Anthony Marchesani.

The Morobe Open offers the local Papuans an opportunity to experience professional golf of an international flavour, the tournament is a great promotion for the game of golf and hopes to inspire the next generation of golfing superstars in PNG.

The opening round of the 2018 Morobe Open will tee off tomorrow morning at the Lae Golf Club at 7:45am.