Jed Morgan wins Order of Merit but still a lot at stake at NTPGA

Jed Morgan his immediate future assured – photo Bruce Young

Queenslander Jed Morgan, the current Australian PGA Championship winner, will play in his first majors, this year’s US Open and Open Championship, after securing the Norman Von Nida Medal as the Order of Merit champion on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

The talented Queenslander, just 22, was confirmed as the winner today by the PGA Australia Chair Rodger Davis, with an unassailable lead ahead of the Tailor-Made Building Services NT PGA Championship, the final event of the tour.

The rising star of Australian golf earned just over $190,000 for the season, with the PGA of Australia ensuring the Norman Von Nida Medalist would have automatic entry to the US Open at Brookline Country Club next month, and the Open Championship at St Andrews in July.

For the first time ever, Morgan will form one of three players on the PGA Tour of Australasia to gain a DP World Tour playing card, with the top three placed on the Order of Merit gaining exemption.

The 2022-23 DP World Tour season will begin at Morgan’s hometown Brisbane in November at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland, the same event that he won in stunning fashion earlier this year.

The Major Championships and DP World Tour opportunities are substantial for a player who has only been a professional for less than a year, capping off a stellar rise to prominence for the Golf Australia rookie squad member and the 2020 Australian Amateur champion.

The Norman Von Nida Medal, struck in honour of one of Australia’s greatest professional players, is awarded each year to the Order of Merit champion on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

The final Order of Merit placings offer a significant carrot for those in contention, with everything to play for at the NT PGA Championship at Palmerston this weekend.

Blake Windred (NSW) currently sits in second with a $14,055 buffer to third placed Andrew Dodt (Queensland), with the likes of Dimi Papadatos (NSW), Louis Dobbelaar (Queensland) and seventh-placed Aaron Pike (NT) all a chance of leaping into the top three in Darwin to claim European status.

The top five on the Order of Merit list are also given exemptions into the final stage of Korn Ferry Tour qualifying school in the United States this year, so there is plenty on the line this weekend at the NT PGA.

Morgan’s form after his breakthrough win in January dropped off as perhaps the realisation of his achievement and the repercussions for him sunk in but in m,ore recent events he is finding form again and although he will not be involved this week, the initiative by the PGA of Australia to provide these exemptions through their stronger alliance with the DP World and PGA Tour’s could well set him up for a lengthy and successful professional career.

“This is something that I’m going to treasure forever,” Morgan said today.

“Obviously as a young player I’m heading away to follow my dreams and I’m focused on what is ahead of me, but to win an Order Of Merit is something special, I know, and the opportunities that it provides for me are priceless.

“I’m thankful to the PGA for this and I hope that I can justify it by playing well. I’ll certainly by trying hard and I can’t wait to get to America and then to Scotland to play in those majors. Clearly it’s been a massive change in my career and in my life and I’ll always be grateful for getting this kickstart.”

PGA of Australia Chair Rodger Davis said Morgan’s situation epitomised what the PGA Tour of Australasia was trying to achieve when it reached agreement with the DP World Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour about the benefits of Order Of Merit placings.

“We’re trying to create the pathways for these great young players to walk through and chase the world. We have sensational talent in Australia, Jed’s a perfect example of that.

“What he did at Royal Queensland winning by 11 shots is exceptional. So what he needs is to be given opportunities, and as a Tour, we’re working hard to create those opportunities, not just for Jed, but for all our players.

“We bat above in terms of population to high quality golfers, and it’s critical for us to form these alliances with the DP World Tour so that we can keep producing some of the best players in world golf,” he said.

ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit (through WA Open)

1. Jediah Morgan            $190,408.77
2. Blake Windred            $125,285.83
3. Andrew Dodt*             $111,230.70
4. Dimitrios Papadatos* $110,261
5. Anthony Quayle          $97,217.33
6. Louis Dobbelaar*       $96,691.10
7. Aaron Pike*                 $93,480.83
8. Brad Kennedy              $85,985
9. Jarryd Felton                $78,775
10. Daniel Gale*              $77,901.88

Asterisk highlights players playing in this week’s event in Darwin.

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Lydia Ko’s candid comment adds to her fan base

Lydia Ko in action yesterday – photo Harry How Getty / LPGA

A beautifully candid comment by New Zealander Lydia Ko after finishing in a share of third in last week’s LPGA Palos Verdes Championship in Los Angeles has added many more admirers to the army of golfing fans she already enjoys.

When asked by on course commentator Jerry Foltz at the completion of her final round as to whether the need to have physical therapy during her round on what appeared to be a back issue she had been suffering was a concern, Ko responded.

“I hope not. It’s that time of the month,” said Ko referring to the fact that the issue had been period pain. “I know the ladies watching are probably like, yeah, I got you. So, when that happens my back gets really tight and I’m all twisted. It’s not the first time that Chris has seen me twisted. I felt a lot better after he came.

“Yeah, there you go. I know you’re lost for words, Jerry. Honesty it is.”

During her now many years in the media spotlight and Ko’s responses to the thousands of questions she has faced in media conferences during that time, it has often been hard to isolate comments that are all that quotable, but she certainly changed that yesterday and one could not help but be delighted by her open and candid response involving the issues facing many sportswomen.

It opens the door for issues such as period pain, unique to women in any sporting arena, becoming more regularly discussed and not the taboo subject where no man or even woman has dared to tread.

Congratulations Lydia Ko for creating an environment where the raising of such issues can be more regular and more comfortable than has been the case in the past.

I now have even more respect for the world number three than previously the case and that it was a woman of her standing that was prepared to be so candid, further allows for the normalising of such discussion and creates an awareness of such issues that might not have been the case previously.

 

 

 

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Harrison Endycott’s maiden win both emotional and timely

A very happy Harrison Endycott – photo Getty Images. Article PGA Tour.

Sydney’s Harrison Endycott was not ever sure he would win in the United States, or ever win again for that matter. The 25-year-old Australian last won in 2016, when he was still an amateur, and Endycott described much of his roughly five-year professional career as “frustrating” multiple times this week.

All those frustrations were put to rest Sunday at The Ledges, as Endycott closed out a five-stroke victory at the Huntsville Championship with an even-par 70, capping the final round by draining an 11-footer for birdie on the 72nd hole to finish at 16-under par.

Endycott carried a five-stroke lead into the final round, the largest 54-hole advantage on the Korn Ferry Tour since April 2019, and he turned it into the largest margin of victory in a Korn Ferry Tour event since PGA TOUR rookie Cameron Young’s five-stroke win at the 2021 NV5 Invitational presented by Old National Bank.

“I mean, it’s just a long journey to get here, and we dealt with a lot of real hardships, our family,” said the 25 year old. “Sadly I lost my mum to cancer in 2012, and sadly last week I just lost my grandmother, too.

“The timing of this win is just really special, and, yeah, what a great place to do it as well. I love coming here. I
remember first time I was here was last year and I loved it. Yeah, it’s just super special to be able to do that. Hits
home a little bit because not being able to do it in front of my friends and family, but, yeah, no, I’m very blessed to be able to get it done this week.”

“Yeah, she’s always, and same as my grandmother,” responded Endycott when asked if his mother had been in his thoughts during the final round. Sadly, life just is cruel. You know, you just got to embrace like great moments.

“I’ve had a lot of disappointments in my life and this is definitely not a disappointment.I’m just kind of just a bit shellshocked right now. I’m just trying to figure out kind of how to eat humble pie a little bit right now.

“We’ve still got a golf tournament to get ready for next week, and I’m really looking forward playing in Nashville next week, and Knoxville. So two Tennessees are great. So, yeah, like I said, it’s just a really, really emotional win for me.”

Endycott concluded a decorated amateur career with five individual victories in the 2016 calendar year, highlighted by a win at the prestigious Porter Cup, and a team win for Australia alongside future PGA TOUR winner Cam Davis and future Korn Ferry Tour winner Curtis Luck at the 2016 World Amateur Team Championship. Shortly after a top-10 at the 2017 Asia-Pacific Amateur, Endycott turned professional and debuted at the New South Wales Open Championship in November 2017.

Endycott’s next two seasons (2018 and 2019) were spent on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, where he ended both without much in the way of improved status, but gained incredible perspective on life as a professional golfer.

“It’s challenging off the golf course and toughens you up as a player. “I learned how to manage myself away from the golf course… learning how to get away from the money. This time (in 2017), I was always looking at how much I could make, whereas (Latinoamérica) Tour taught me how to get into contention more.”

Endycott eventually moved to Scottsdale, Arizona and earned Korn Ferry Tour membership via Final Stage of the 2019 Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament. As a rookie last season, Endycott logged three top-10s, including a season-high T4 at the 2021 Visit Knoxville Open, and six top-25s across 35 starts. After the high point of Knoxville, Endycott bottomed out with nine missed cuts and a withdrawal in his final 10 starts of the season, leaving him 81st on the 2020-21 Regular Season Points List, six spots outside the top 75 for fully exempt status in 2022.

The Sydney, Australia native tried to improve his status at Final Stage of the 2021 Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament, but finished T80 and failed to do so.

Prior to Sunday’s win, the closest Endycott came to a professional victory was a runner-up finish at the 2018 Victorian Open, an Australian state open championship sanctioned by PGA Tour of Australasia. Endycott watched as Simon Hawkes birdied the 72nd hole and forced a playoff, which he lost. Endycott posted a T2 on PGA Tour of Australasia in 2019, but finished six strokes behind the champion.

Endycott’s win launched him from 103rd to 12th on the 2022 Regular Season Points List. With 573 points, Endycott is primed for a legitimate run at his first PGA TOUR card, but the regular season is only through 10 of 23 events and he knows more first-time winners await their own moment atop the mountain.

The 2022 Korn Ferry Tour season continues Thursday with the first round of the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation, hosted by The Grove in College Grove, Tennessee.

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Braden Becker holds off Hopewell to win first title

Braden Beacker (centre) holds his precious trophy – photo PGA Tour of Australasia

29-year-old Braden Becker has won his first PGA Tour of Australasia title with a one-shot victory over outstanding amateur and defending champion, Hayden Hopewell, at the West Australian Open at the Freemantle Golf Club south of Perth.

Born in Pietermaritzburg in South Africa before moving to Perth at the age of 8, the now Mandurah based professional has become a consistent performer on the pro-am circuit in the west but until this week his best performance in a PGA Tour of Australasia event has been when runner-up at the SP PNG Open and 4th at the WAPGA in 2020.

Today Becker took a four shot lead into the final round but eventually held on to win narrowly over Hopewell who began the final day five off the pace, with NSW’s Nathan Barbieri another shot back in third place.

In a rather bizarre finish, Becker bounced his wedged fourth shot at the closing par-5 off the golf ball of playing partner Nathan Barbieri, sitting in the fringe behind the green, and back to a foot from the flag.

It left him with a tap-in par when it could have been so much worse, and moments later a stunned Hopewell three-putted from long range to hand the win to Becker, 29, who has been a prolific winner of pro-ams but had never completed the task over four rounds.

Tied for 4th place were previous winner and US Amateur runner-up Oliver Goss and the in form Josh Armstrong who shared the third and fourth prizes in the professional pool given Hopewell’s amateur status.

“I’m in shock,” said Becker. “I’m still shaking. Hit a lot of good shots and I hit some terrible ones and I got punished for them, and I just scraped through.”

Becker receives a two-year exemption to play on the Australasian Tour. “It’s a really good feeling, knowing I’ve got somewhere to play for a couple of years, it’s awesome, but it also gives me the confidence and the dollars to go and push somewhere else, whether it’s DP World Tour or Korn Ferry.”

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Maja Stark completes successful Australian visit with NSW Open win


Stark a trophy at the end of a rainbow – photo Golf NSW

Sweden’s Maja Stark has completed a productive two weeks on Australian soil with a five shot win over her fellow Swede Johanna Gustavsson in the Women’s NSW Open at the Coolangatta Tweed Golf Club today.

After finishing one shot behind winner, Meghan Maclaren, at the Australian Ladies Classic in Bonville Resort last week, Stark led by four heading into the final round but was challenged by Gustavsson through the middle of the final round, in fact the difference became just one when Stark bogeyed the 12th.

Three consecutive bogeys late in her round, however, saw Gustavsson lose touch with the lead and when Stark birdied the final two holes the event’s outcome was decided.

23-year-old Stark, in just her second season as a professional, was the highest world ranked player in the field (81st) leading into the event and will improve further as a result of the victory, her fourth in less than twelve months on the Ladies European Tour and her second of 2022.

She leads the Race to Costa del Sol, essentially the Order of Merit for the Ladies European Tour, and she appears on track for a very productive professional career especially given the aggressive nature of her game and her capacity to win events.

Argentina’s Magdalena Simmermacher finished a shot behind Gustavsson in third place alone.

The leading Australian was Queenslander, Cassie Porter, who finished 6th, although Gold Coast 15 year old, Sarah Hammett, again impressed when finishing in a share of 8th after a best of the day final round of 67.

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