Sexton-Finck extends #PGAProChamps lead in penultimate round

Vernon Sexton-Finck has moved to a four-shot lead in the penultimate round of the PGA Professionals Championship at Hamilton Island Golf Club.

The West Australian’s round two total of 70 has him 3-under the card, as Jamie Hook (1-over), Scott Laycock and Josh Lane (3-over) remain in contention.

After battling through the back-nine in yesterday’s opening round, Sexton-Finck had no quarrels negotiating the notorious final stretch this morning to make the turn in 3-under.

It was the front-nine that proved the biggest test with the 31-year-old faltering with two bogeys and a double bogey, as the blustery conditions took hold.

“It wasn’t quite as challenging as yesterday. We were lucky to tee off early in the first group so the wind didn’t really pick up until our 7th or 8th hole,” Sexton-Finck said.

“I took advantage early and just lost it a little towards the end so I’m disappointed I guess. The front-nine is a little bit easier than the back-nine I think and I was just losing shots again towards the end.

“At the end of the day if you said I was first and leading by four then I’d take that for sure so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Despite recording two strong rounds of 69 and 70 ahead of the final round, Sexton-Finck says the natural beauty of the golf course can be deceiving.

“It’s a nice little buffer but it’s very small around here. Things can turn pretty quickly and I’ve just got to stick to my game plan tomorrow, keep doing what I’m doing and if things work out then they work out but if they don’t, then so be it,” he said.

“Around here you’ve got to putt well, you’ve certainly got to hit your tee shots well. It’s just that course that you can’t come here with a weakness and expect to perform well.”

Consistency over 36 holes has earned Jamie Hook a place in the top two of the leaderboard.

Hook’s rounds of 72 and 71 for a 1-over total see him two shots ahead of Laycock and Lane in third place and well within reach of the Dan Cullen Cup.

“I played well yesterday and just tried to keep it in play. I stuck to what I wanted to do and managed to do that,” Hook said.

“I’m just going to do the same thing and hopefully some putts will keep going in. Four back around here is still four back but a couple of birdies and hopefully I can get up there.”

The PGA Professionals Championship is played for a total prize pool of $55,000. The winner and second place getter each receive a place in the 2019 Australian PGA Championship field.

The leading group of Vernon Sexton-Finck, Jamie Hook and Scott Laycock will tee off at 9:05am.

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

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

Vernon Sexton-Finck has discovered just how brutal Hamilton Island Golf Club’s back-nine can be in a polarising opening round at the 2019 PGA Professionals Championship.

The West Australian was on track to post a new course record through 13 holes at the Peter Thomson-designed course following five birdies and an impressive eagle at the par-5 5^th hole.

After encountering trouble and recording a bogey at the 15^th, a long tee shot at the scenic par-3 16^th resulted in the first of consecutive double-bogeys that took him back to 2-under for the lead of the tournament.

“The first 13 holes are really solid and then the back-nine here and the finish is just so tough,” Sexton-Finck said.

“I guess I was just trying to make as many birdies as I could at the start and get as many under par as I could because I knew that the stretch at the end was going to be challenging and sure enough it was.

“It’s just Hamilton Island I guess and that’s what happens.”

Finck will build on the confidence gained across the front-nine as he looks to increase a one-shot lead over the final two rounds.

“I know I dropped five shots in the last four holes but I can take a lot of confidence out of today,” he said.

“Just one bad shot per hole on those last few and you just get punished so badly out here.”

Sexton-Finck’s return to competition golf after a winter hiatus at the TX Civil & Logistics WA PGA Championship has paid dividends at the Hamilton Island event where a win could see him earn a place in the field at the season-ending Australian PGA Championship on the Gold Coast.

“I played the WA PGA leading up to this and played reasonable that week. I was pretty rusty but it was nice to play on the weekend as well there. I certainly haven’t been grinding or hitting a lot of balls,” he said.

“That’s pretty much why I entered; otherwise I wouldn’t have played a competition round since about June. I just wanted to try and at least play four rounds in a tournament event.”

Playing alongside Sexton-Finck was reigning champion Scott Laycock, who is within striking distance at the top of the leaderboard at 1-under the card.

The Royal Hobart Golf Club Assistant Golf Professional was pleased with his three birdies and two bogeys in an opening round he feels was reminiscent of last year’s performance.

“I played just as well today. I hit a couple of ordinary shots early but I had a few chances as well that I didn’t make. All in all I’m happy with the result,” Laycock said.

“We all played really nicely,” Laycock added of his playing group including Sexton-Finck, Sam Eaves and Josh Lane.

“We had our struggles here and there but all in all we dragged each other along. Vernon was playing fantastic golf and just a couple of bad breaks and it snowballs here.”

Increasing winds caught out more than one player across the first 18 holes but in particular provided an extra test at the tricky 16^th hole.

“It’s challenging. It just doesn’t let up. We both hit reasonable shots on the par-3 16^th and ended up long in the hazard,” he said.

“It’s difficult when you’re the first to hit how the wind’s going and that was more down wind. It went from the north-east to the north-west. There were a couple of tricky bits from 11 through 16.

“You need to be accurate, you need to know where the wind is and if it caught us like that and you get a gust and it helps your ball go into the hazard then it’s disappointing but it is what it is.”

Round two of the 2019 PGA Professionals Championship begins at 7:45am on Wednesday at Hamilton Island Golf Club.

To view opening round scores click here.

For round two tee times click here.

Scott Laycock has gone one better than his initial goal of just qualifying for the Australian PGA Championship and won the Dan Cullen Cup in just his first appearance at the PGA Professionals Championship on Hamilton Island.

Beginning the final round just one shot off leader and 2016 champion Chris Duke, Laycock rattled off four birdies and one bogey to lead by four at one stage.

A bogey on the 17^th saw him peg it up at the 18^th tee with a three shot lead, he would eventually double the final hole of the tournament and when asked if nerves were kicking in, the Pakenham Golf Club Professional he was just looking to play it safe with a healthy buffer for the win.

Laycock shot an even par round to finish at 1-under the card.

“I didn’t know what I was, I wasn’t looking at the scores I just knew I was in front,” said Laycock.

“I just chipped it up the fairway and it was disappointing up the last making a double but it was just a matter of taking the big number out.

“On this course with the way the wind is blowing, it can just reach up and grab you and when I got the ball on the fairway off the tee I wasn’t going to be stupid from there so I played it as a par-5. I thought I hit a great third shot but I was just on the fringe of the green and three putted.

“It was a bit of a sour taste but all in all I played awesome today, great ball control and a bunch of really good opportunities, I felt as if I could’ve raced away but I missed really good chances on the 11^th through to the 15^th so it could’ve been more but I’m really happy to win.”

The PGA Professionals Championship debutant was delighted with the way he played all three rounds on the tough Hamilton Island course, shifting wind directions making life difficult for the field of 50 pros.

“I hit it really well all week, I think I only missed probably nine greens total so I had really good ball control considering the wind,” added Laycock.

“I hit a lot of good putts that were rarely off the line that I chose; sometimes that was just the wrong line.”

Along with his win and first place cheque of $9,900, Laycock will now tee it up alongside Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith and Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston at RACV Royal Pines Resort for the Australian PGA Championship from 29 November – 2 December.

He’ll now happily re-schedule his plans with a little leeway hopefully provided from Pakenham Golf Club.

“I was actually meant to work this week so the boss will be headless, we’re short staffed as it is.

“Then I had a week of pro-ams planned then into the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Q-School but who knows, if I keep controlling my ball like I did here I could go well.”

Laycock is no stranger to the Australian PGA Championship having made a number of appearances in the tournament over the years and he’s under no assumptions how tough the competition will be next week.

“Royal Pines is a different beast, it’s a hell of a lot longer and I’m probably going to have to hit driver a lot more, so we’ll see.

“I’ve got no illusions that I’m going to win, I’d just like to have a nice week.”

Finishing runner-up and joining Laycock at the Australian PGA Championship is Chris Duke who finished at 1-over the card.

Anthony Choat finished third at 5-over with Jonathan Painter and Marco Zirov rounding out the top-5 at 7-over.

Lisa Jean’s T11 result was enough for the highest finishing female and as a result earns a place in the 2019 Vic Open, now an LPGA sanctioned event.

The Vicars Shield is awarded to the leading state and is calculated on the best two aggregate scores for the three rounds of competition.

Each state nominates two professionals who have qualified at their State PGA Professionals Championship to represent their side in the Vicar’s Shield, Scott Laycock and Lisa Jean were elected for Victoria and have retained the shield for the state for the second consecutive year.

The Vicar Shield was first presented to the PGA in 1930 by the late Sir William Vicars, a keen golfer and a prominent member of The Australian Golf Club, for competition between professional interstate teams.

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

Chris Duke, a champion in 2016 on Hamilton Island, has shot a round of 2-under 69 to capture the lead at the PGA Professionals Championship.

Starting from the first tee, Duke reeled off four birdies on what he feels is the place to attack on the tough Peter Thomson designed course.

“I still think the front-9 is the easier of the two, so knowing what’s to come later in the round you’ve got to make the most of it,” said Duke.

“I hit all the greens in regulation for nine chances at birdie and knocked a couple in.”

The field was presented with a northerly wind today which proved a challenge to many; Duke said his experience in this event played to his strengths.

“It was definitely challenging especially when you come in thinking you’ve got the right club and then you’ve got to change your whole strategy.

“I’m fortunate to have played here enough to know most of the winds you tend to get but it was definitely a change of scene today.”

Duke will enter the final round with a one shot lead and sees no reason why he can’t make a tilt at a second Dan Cullen Cup and Australian PGA Championship appearance.

“There’s no reason why I shouldn’t be confident I’m keeping the ball in play and striking it pretty cleanly so if I can keep getting a few red numbers on the card hopefully I’m in the mix.”

Right on Duke’s tail is the well traveled former tour professional Scott Laycock who shot 1-under 70 to sit just one shot off the lead.

The ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, Japan Tour and Asian Tour winner was on track for a great round before an errant drive stalled his momentum.

“I played really well today, just one bad tee shot. I had probably six other chances within 10 feet and didn’t make those and I was still 4-under standing on the 17^th tee,” said Laycock who is currently working as a Teaching Professional at Pakenham Golf Club.

“I hit one poor drive there and could only hack it out then three-putted for a double then I hit a good drive into the last and it just ran into another hazard so I had another bogey there.

“It leaves a bit of a sour taste but I’m happy where I’m at.”

In outright third position is Jamie Hook who shot 2-under 69 to sit at even par for the tournament. He too slipped up on the pen-ultimate hole at Hamilton Island before bouncing back with a birdie on the last.

“I got off to a slow start, I was 1-over through four holes but I was able to take advantage of those par-5’s down breeze today and after a disaster on seven yesterday I managed to sneak a birdie in there to head into the back-9 in a good position,” said Hook.

“I made a few pars through that tough stretch on the back-9 but had a bad drive on 17 and bad third shot for a triple but a made a nice birdie on the 18^th to finish.

“Only a couple back and looking forward to tomorrow.”

Hook said he’s made an effort this year to play tournament golf with a number of Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series events under his belt and four appearances on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia including a top-10 finish in the MMC Northern Territory PGA Championship. A great achievement given he doesn’t hold a playing category for the Tour.

“My game has been good, I’ve been putting in a fair bit of effort this year, over the last couple of years I haven’t put in as much as I would have liked to.

“So a bit more work and trying to play as much golf as I can and it’s been good, it definitely helps for this event.”

Chris Akers, Marco Zirov and Anthony Choat are tied for fourth position at 2-over, the next best placed professionals three shots further back at 5-over.

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

The leading group of Chris Duke, Scott Laycock and Jamie Hook will tee off at 9:05am.

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

The PGA Professionals Championship is played for a total prize pool of $55,000. The winner and leading male receives a spot in the 2018 Australian PGA Championship, the leading female receives a spot in the 2019 Vic Open.

Ben Ford, Chris Akers, Anthony Choat and Scott Laycock have a share of the lead in their first PGA Professionals Championship alongside 2016 winner Chris Duke after a tough opening round.

The five all shot even par 71 with the Hamilton Island course baring its teeth and keeping all 50 professionals no better than even par through the first 18 holes of the championship.

Chris Akers, Assistant Professional at Bankstown Golf Club was the first to record the score and was happy to have an even par round of 71 after hearing second-hand he’d definitely need a few extra sleeves of golf balls this week.

“The wind is causing a bit of havoc but if you hit some good shots you can leave yourself in the right spot and hole some putts, as long as they’re good ones obviously,” said Akers.

“I made a couple of mistakes out there but everyone in the field would say the same thing, if someone offered me 71 before I pegged it up I would’ve taken it.

“Most people I spoke to before this week emphasised the views, they didn’t mention how tough the course can be. They did tell me to pack some extra golf balls but I thankfully got through with the one today, that’ll give me a few up my sleeve for the next couple of days.”

Ford looked to be in control making the turn at Hamilton Island at 3-under and in the lead before battling through his final nine holes.

“It was a true test today, the front-9 was the easier of the two and we played that first with a little less wind and I was 3-under there but then we got to the back and it was just a matter of holding on,” said Ford.

“Some of the shots on the back nine you’ve really got to commit and if you don’t, you can make six, seven or eight on a hole. I had a double on the back so I’m pretty happy with square.

“If you can get round that back-9 one or two over I think you can be pretty confident of making some birdies on the front but that’s still a big test too.”

Fresh off playing four rounds at the Emirates Australian Open, Massey Park’s Anthony Choat took note of defending champion Matt Docking’s Q and A session following the pro-am when he mentioned every professional in the field is almost guaranteed to lose at least one ball around the tough layout.

“I think Matt’s speech last night when he said we’ll definitely have trouble really helped, I lost two balls on one hole and made a quad so I didn’t let that get to me which normally would,” said Choat.

Choat had a limited preparation after making a mad dash from The Lakes on Monday morning and arriving just in time for the pro-am. While he said the rushed preparation was less than ideal, it certainly could’ve been much worse.

“The two holes I messed up I felt like I didn’t prepare for properly, particularly the 10^th. But really it’s turned out well for me, playing the Australian Open was fantastic and to still be able to get here and play the pro-am was great, if I wasn’t able to play before today I would’ve had a nightmare out there today.”

Scott Laycock, a winner both on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour has made no secret about chasing one of the two spots in the Australian PGA Championship on offer this week and is off to a solid start following his first round.

“I’m happy with that, it’s a challenging course I had a bunch of chances I just couldn’t convert, the greens got me, I need a little more assistance on reading them, I was hitting good putts but they weren’t dropping,” said Laycock.

“There’s more challenging holes on the back for sure but the front is no snack either. I lost a ball on the first tee, I had a bit of a brain fart and made a bogey but we’ll see how we go on the back tomorrow.”

New dad and 2016 PGA Professionals champion Chris Duke was happy to have escaped the opening round with and even par score after battling the gusty winds around the island.

“I’m extremely happy with even, the wind here today feels like it’s blowing a million miles an hour and it’s very very challenging. We survived the back-9 then did what we could on the front and couldn’t be happier with par,” said Duke.

“I think I shot 8-under when I won in 2016, we can still get there but I wouldn’t be surprised if even or maybe one or two over ends up winning this week.”

Marco Zirov holds outright sixth position at 1-over par with Sam Eaves, Jamie Hook and Josh Lane rounding out the top-10 at 2-over.

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

Round two of the PGA Professionals Championship will tee off at 7:45am.

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

Royal Hobart Golf Club Head Professional and defending PGA Professionals Champion Matt Docking is eyeing off an unprecedented fourth Dan Cullen Cup at Hamilton Island Golf Club.

Since 1987 only Brad Burns and Docking have won the prestigious title three times but the defending champ is keen to become the first name on the Cup four times and book another appearance at the Australian PGA Championship.

“The only pressure is what I’m putting on myself really, the chance to become the first four-time winner is something I’d love to achieve,” said Docking.

“First things first though, I need to hit some good golf shots and we’ll see what happens from there.

“Some nice warm weather is a nice change from what we’ve had in Hobart recently, three days in a row will be beautiful.”

Docking has made the move from Gailes Golf Club in Queensland to become the Head Professional at Royal Hobart Golf Club earlier this year, a role he’s enjoying after receiving great support from his new members.

“It’s very relaxed, the membership has taken my wife Courtney and myself coming into the shop with some new ideas really well, they’ve been very supportive.

“The weather is a bit colder but it’s the second driest capital in Australia so we don’t have many rain days which is great.

“We’ve been really well accepted and it’s been an awesome start to the new business down there.”

Back in the familiar climate of Queensland, Docking said he’s looking forward to taking on the unforgiving Hamilton Island layout this week.

“I just see a lot of golf shots out here, you can’t get ahead of yourself out here which is probably a good thing for me, all you’ve got to worry about is where you hit your next golf shot,” added Docking.

“There’s not really any shot out there where you can relax and go ‘oh if I let this go I’ll be okay,’ there’s none of that around here.

“You’ve really got to stay in the moment and that’s very good for me, it helps me focus.”

The Peter Thomson designed course is certainly challenging but with breathtaking views coming to the fore on the back-9, the final run of holes in particular are some of Docking’s favourite on the course.

“The 15^th hole right through to the 18^th hole is probably the most spectacular and intimidating finish to a golf course I’ve seen.

“What he’s managed to achieve on this island with the topography, he’s outdone himself so it’s pretty special to be here on one of his last official course designs.”

The PGA Professionals Championship tees off at Hamilton Island from 7:45am Tuesday.

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

For live scores throughout the tournament visit pga.org.au.

PGA Professionals from across the country will converge on the picturesque Hamilton Island Golf Club next week for the PGA Professionals Championship.

The 2018 championship marks the seventh consecutive staging on the island course and will see 50 professionals compete over three rounds for the lion’s share of $55,000 in prize money.

Along with the prestigious moniker of PGA Professionals champion, the leading two male professionals will book a spot alongside Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith and Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston at the Australian PGA Championship.

Lisa Jean and Elissa-Jayne Orr also have a chance at securing a spot in the Women’s Vic Open in 2019, whoever leads out of the pair at the end of the championship will earn a start in the Ladies European Tour event with $1.5 million on offer.

“Our PGA Professionals are considered some of the best in the world at what they do and the PGA Professionals Championship is a fitting way to celebrate their playing achievements,” said Stuart Hergt, Chief Operating Officer at the PGA of Australia.

“These men and women are at the forefront of our game from grassroots and junior participation all the way through to the elite touring level. The week at Hamilton Island gives us a chance to acknowledge their contribution to the game as well as acknowledge the competitive streak they all possess as PGA professionals.

“We wish them all the best of luck and look forward to seeing the leading pros tee it up in the Australian PGA Championship and next year’s Vic Open.”

The field includes a number of debutants at Hamilton Island this week including Jacob Boyce (Maryborough Golf Club) and Marco Zirov (The Coast Golf Club) both are in just their first year as a fully qualified PGA Professionals after completing the PGA Traineeship program.

They are joined by former ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australaisa and Japan Golf Tour champion Scott Laycock (Pakenham Golf Club) while Anthony Choat (Massey Park Golf Club) will have the benefit of experience on the biggest stage after he flies in from The Lakes following his tilt at the Emirates Australian Open.

Laycock will also represent Victoria alongside Lisa Jean as they attempt to defend the Vicars Shield, a state based competition run in conjunction with the championship.

They will all need to overcome Matthew Docking from Royal Hobart Golf Club, the Tasmanian pro shooting for an unprecedented fourth Dan Cullen Cup.

For the full list of competitors in the 2018 PGA Professionals Championship, visit pga.org.au.

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

Further information on the Hamilton Island Amateur Golf Championship can be found via the Hamilton Island Golf Club.

You could be teeing it up in paradise at Hamilton Island Golf Club, via a round of golf at Sanctuary Cove thanks to the ‘Path to Paradise.’

Hamilton Island Golf Club is a bucket list destination for all keen golfers with the Peter Thomson designed layout said to be challenging yet breath taking.

Housed on its very own island, Dent Island, the course takes full advantage of Mother Nature’s work both in its challenges and spectacular views of the surrounding Whitsunday Islands and Coral Sea.

Home to the PGA Professionals Championship, the Hamilton Island Amateur Golf Championship is played concurrently from 18-20 November which truly offers a golfing paradise.

Included in the week of golf is…

Sunday 17 November: practice round at Hamilton Island GC
Monday 18 November: pro-am playing alongside a leading Vocational PGA Professional concluding with a Welcome Function
Tuesday 19 – Wednesday 20 November: Hamilton Island Amateur Golf Championship rounds and lunch
Thursday 21 November: Guest lunch whilst watching the pros battle it out in the final round of the PGA Professionals Championship and presentation dinner

To enter the ‘Path to Paradise’ please click here.

With a limited field of players accepted into the Hamilton Island Amateur Golf Championship, a playing position has become hot property over the past six years with a long waiting list now in effect.

The PGA of Australia is proud to make the very last positions in the 2019 Hamilton Island Amateur Championship available via the ‘Path to Paradise’.

Entries are currently open to compete in the ‘Path to Paradise’ which includes a round of golf with a cart and lunch at The Palms, Sanctuary Cove for an entry fee of $88pp.

The triumphant team will win entry an expenses paid trip for two to play in the Hamilton Island Amateur Golf Championship including return flights and five nights accommodation.

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