Six Australasians earn Asian Tour status


Jack Thompson – file photo

Six of the 25 Australasians who teed it up on Wednesday in the 90-hole Final Stage of Qualifying for this year’s Asian Tour have gained one of the cards which went to the leading 35 players and ties at the completion of 90 holes at the Lake View Resort and Golf Club, in Hua Hin, Thailand.

South Australian Jack Thompson did best when he led the qualifiers with a total of 22 under par to win by two over China’s Zhengkai Bai and Sydney’s John Lyras.

“This is great, I guess it hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Thompson who had only just gained a start at the Final Stage by earning one of the last places at Stage One. “It has been a long week, I have been here for a fair few days now, it’s a relief and it’s just nice to win. There is always concern coming into an event if you can do it or not.

“I hadn’t really had the best prep coming in. I had hurt my wrist playing a shot in the Vic PGA last year so I could only hit a bucket of balls in three weeks. It slowly got better and better. Swinging the first qualifier I had no idea, then the next round I worked it out and it carried on from there. I am just super stoked.”

New Zealand’s Nick Voke needed something special in today’s final round to make it through and he was able to do just that with a round of 64 to finish 13th along with Queensland’s Douglas Klein.

Gold Coast’s Jack Murdoch finished 27th while Victorian Thomas Power Horan just managed to scrape through after earning one of the two remaining spots available after a nine man playoff.

The news was not so good for Dimi Papdatos, Queensland’s Aaron Wilkin and New Zealand’s Denzel Ieremia who agonisingly missed one of the last cards by just one shot.

A total of 77 players survived the 72 hole cut yesterday and set out today to gain one of the 35 Tour Cards on offer for the 2023 season, which features 11 events in the first 14 weeks, starting with next month’s star-studded US$5 million Saudi International Powered by SoftBank Investments Advisers.

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Steve Alker picks up where he left off in 2022


Steve Alker – file photo PGA of America Montana Pritchard

If there was any concern about Steve Alker’s stunning 2022 PGA Tour Champions season being an aberration, then his powerful finish to the opening event of 2023 has put an end to any such thoughts.

The New Zealander has finished with a final round of 63 at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hualalai in Hawaii and will finish in a four way share of the runner-up position which, after a slow start to the event on Friday and a stuttering finish to his second round on Saturday, was a reminder of the domination he prevailed over on the PGA Tour Champions last year.

Alker stormed home in 30 including five birdies in his last six holes today to improve from 12th overnight to yet another top three finish and he begins the season with a cheque for US$137,000.

Alker will play the New Zealand Open in Queenstown in early March where many will be keen to see how this long time journeyman but now hugely successful over-fifty phenom will compete against a field of younger Australasian Tour players at the Millbrook Resort but if his consistently good form is anything to go by then he could well challenge for his first New Zealand Open title, after being runner-up on two occasions in earlier years.

The event was won by Steve Stricker who was on 59 watch for much of his second round in the 54 hole event before recording a round of 60 on Saturday and then finishing with a round of 65 today to win by five shots.

Rod Pampling was the only other Australasian in the field and finished tied for 29th.

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Jason Day begins 2023 well in La Quinta


Jason Day – file photo

Jason Day has recorded just two top tens on the PGA Tour in the last twelve months but in his first event of 2023 he has himself nicely positioned at the American Express Championship.

The 35 year old is in a five way share of 3rd place and although five shots from the rookie leader, David Thompson, his improvement is most encouraging.

Day is playing this three course event for just the second occasion in his 15 year PGA Tour career but a second round of 64 over the more demanding Stadium Course layout in Palm Springs saw him improve 24 places to his share of 3rd and although he has yet to play the La Quinta Country Club before the 54 hole cut is made tomorrow, his game appears in fine enough shape to challenge on Sunday.

“It’s nice to be able to get that course out of the way,” said Day referring to the fact that the Stadium Course is typically the most difficult of the three layouts used in the opening 54 holes.

“Got La Quinta tomorrow. So typically, that yields more birdies than these two courses over here. So, but like everyone’s saying, you can’t get ahead of yourself too. Because if you start thinking about it too much you can definitely go out there and just have an average day. So I got to try and stay as focused as possible and just take it as it comes.

“I feel good. I’ve been feeling great actually for a good long while now. So just been kind of seeing myself healthier. I feel like I’m doing the right things. Not only on the golf course, but off the golf course as well. That’s kind of yielded into, I feel like, a better motion at it out here on the golf course.

“Still some of the stuff, the old stuff is in there still, but I kind of got to work through that slowly. Because if I try and press too hard on some of the swing changes the body doesn’t really adapt that quick and can potentially hurt certain areas of your body. But overall this past year to, six months to a year it’s been really, really good for me. So I feel pretty good.”

Day was asked why he decided to play this week when this has not typically been on his schedule.

“Typically in the past I would, if I’m not in Hawaii I would go straight to Torrey. And, I mean, I felt like I was playing like a U.S. Open times a thousand when you go from doing nothing for a month to two months and you go straight to Torrey and you’re playing.

“This way I can come to a tournament like this where typically the conditions are like this and you can kind of see where the game’s at then adjust accordingly going into next week.”

The leader, 23 year old Thompson, is playing his first season on the PGA Tour after graduating via the Korn Ferry Tour last year and will take a two shot lead over Jon Rahm into the final 36 holes.

He has already produced a couple of good finishes in his first few events and joined a select group of golfers to have recorded five eagles in 36 holes in a PGA Tour event.

“I think it has to do a lot with last year,” said Thompson referring to his apparent comfort zone at this level. “Playing on the Korn Ferry Tour and also just playing on some sponsor exemptions out here right when I turned pro. I’m still a rookie, still learning these golf courses, but there is a comfort level to kind of know what to expect at every tournament.

“Watching this tournament for a couple years now I always see the winning score being so low. So, you kind of really don’t have a choice, you just got to keep hitting greens and giving yourself looks and trying to make the putts. I was just fortunate enough to make a lot of putts these first two days. But, yeah, it is easy to stall out, but at the same time, if you just stay present minded and focus on one shot at a time you’ll give yourself a lot of opportunities.”

New Zealand’s Danny Lee is tied for 21st at 9 under and four behind Day, while Harrison Endycott is 34th.

Aaron Baddeley and Cameron Davis are further back and have a task if they are to make the 54 hole cut tomorrow.

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Jason Scrivener contending again in Abu Dhabi


Jason Scrivener – file photo PGA of Australia

Perth’s Jason Scrivener, a runner-up in this same event in 2021, finds himself in a share of 3rd place and just one off the lead at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship as the event enters the weekend at the Yas Links Abu Dhabi.

Just a handful of golfers are yet to complete their rounds as a result of darkness setting in but it will not affect the standing of Scrivener.

The 33 year old added a second round of 70 to go with his opening 65 and he trails only Guido Miggliozi and Francesco Molinari.

Two years ago Scrivener finished four shots behind Tyrell Hatton but one ahead of Rory McIlroy in the event, so this golf course certainly suits the eye of the South African born but Perth raised golfer.

Scrivener has yet to win on the DP World Tour but his runner-up finish here and another runner-up finish nearly two months ago behind Cameron Smith at the Australian PGA Championship in Brisbane suggests that breakthrough win is not far away.

He was not all that fussed with his play today but is certainly happy with the position in which he finds himself.

“Not my best stuff today but ground it out for a good score in the end,” said Scrivener. “Looking forward to the weekend. This is what we play for, really, to be in this position and have a chance to win a golf tournament.”

Ryan Fox overcame a slow start on day one with a fine second round of 66 to be just three from the lead as he looks to pick up where he left off in what was such a brilliant season for him in 2022 when he finished behind only Rory McIlroy in the DP World Tour standings.

“Yeah, I think it was a bit of rust,” said Fox referring to his slow start on day one. “I played a fair bit of golf in the lead up to this, but there’s something about tournament golf that’s a little different. I think I was actually doing pretty well to be doing 2-over through seven (yesterday), the couple of shots I hit.

“Made a couple of all world pars yesterday, and I didn’t think I would be talking to you after two rounds, being in contention. It was really nice out there today. Hit a couple of scruffy shots but definitely felt a lot better.

“I just feel like I’m a much better golfer than I was at the sort of start of last year and have got a fair bit more confidence in my game. I know that there’s not as many weaknesses as there was a few years ago. Like yesterday, I hit it awful but I could rely on my short game and my putter, and I couldn’t have done that in the past. It’s nice to see everything turning in the right direction like that.”

Fox shares 9th place with, amongst others, Perth’s Min Woo Lee.

New Zealand’s DP World Tour rookie this season, Daniel Hillier, has comfortably made the cut at 4 under and in 34th place and so all four Australasians in the field have made it through to the weekend in the US9 million event.

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Four Australasians in Abu Dhabi field


Ryan Fox – file photo PGA of Australia

The DP World Tour begins its regular season events for 2023 in Abu Dhabi this week with the staging of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at the Yas Links Abu Dhabi.

Four Australasians take their place in the field headed by the current world # 28 Ryan Fox who has struggled in this event previously although it was just a few weeks after this event last year that his meteoric run to the number two position on the 2022 DP World Tour began.

With two wins and three runner-up finishes in 2022, Fox reached an all time high of 23rd in the world ranking before finishing the year in 28th place and he begins what promises to be a year of opportunity for the 35 year old who turns 36 this weekend.

As a result of his ranking Fox will get to play several more events in the US in 2023 including the Arnold Palmer Championship and the Masters.

Fox has a best of 19th in six starts in this week’s event so it has not been all that good to him but with the confidence he has built courtesy of such a great past twelve months it will be interesting to see how he performs this week.

Fox will be joined in the field by fellow New Zealander Daniel Hillier who gets to play his third European Tour event as a cardholder, having gained his card via the Challenge Tour in 2022 and played the Australian PGA and Open Championships in November/December.

Perth golfers Min Woo Lee and Jason Scrivener are also in the field.

Lee has missed the cut in two of his previous three appearances in Abu Dhabi and been 35th in the other while Scrivener produced his equal best ever finish on the DP World Tour when runner-up in this event behind Tyrrell Hatton two years ago.

The event carries prizemoney of US$9 million.

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Large line-up of Australasians chasing sought after Asian Tour card


Dimi Padatos – the highest ranked Australasian at the Final Stage – photo PGA of Australia

The final stage of qualifying for the 2023 Asian Tour begins this Wednesday and with the Asian Tour’s schedule now providing larger purses than ever before and both direct and indirect links to LIV Golf, a massive total of 25 Australasian are tackling the 90 hole examination in search of one of the 35 Asian Tour cards up for grabs.

The event will take place at the Lakeview Resort & Golf Club in Hua Hin from January 18-22 with a  total of 234 players entered to contend for one of those crucial top 35 cards.

Most of the Australasians in the field graduated through the five Sectional stages to get to the Final Stage and so their journey has already been a long one.

Dimi Papadatos, the two-time winner of the Vic Open and current holder of that title, is the highest ranked of the Australasians in the field but whoever manages to secure a card this week they have the chance to play an Asian Tour which carries more money than ever before and events which include the jointly sanctioned New Zealand Open in early march.

The full field list is provided here

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Important top ten for Aaron Baddeley in Honolulu


Aaron Baddeley – file photo Bruce Young

Aaron Baddeley, playing on sponsor’s exemption at this week’s Sony Open, has finished in a share of 7th place in the event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu and as a result will assure himself of a start in next week’s American Express event in La Quinta.

Baddeley who was an alternate for next week’s event, earns the right to play by finishing inside the top ten this week and continues his push to regain the PGA Tour playing rights he has owned since first playing the PGA Tour in 2003.

Interestingly, it was in one of his first PGA Tour events as a cardholder, that he finished runner-up after a playoff to Ernie Els in this very event in 2003 so the Sony Open, or its equivalent, continues to be very good to him.

Baddeley is playing with limited status this season having lost his playing rights last year. He does gain entry into some events via a past champion category on occasions but the opportunity to get to play next week courtesy of his fine effort this week is a bonus for him.

Baddeley finished tied for 7th and will earn a cheque close to US$250,000.

“My goal this week was just to get a little bit better every day, and I did that,” said the 41 year old two time Australian Open Champion. “Ball hitting was pretty spot on today. I can honestly say I think I hit one shot offline today. I haven’t done that in forever.”

Baddeley expressed after this final round of 65 just how difficult it is playing without guaranteed status on the PGA Tour.

“It’s definitely hard. It’s probably harder on my family I would say than it is on me because it’s like, oh, you try and make plans and then you either get an invite or you’re top 10 or you Monday qualify or you don’t Monday qualify and you get back home.”

Baddeley was also asked how he would assess his career to date.

“I mean, if I was going to be honest, I’d say disappointing. Sort of coming out if I was 18, 19, 20, if you said I’d only won four times and hadn’t won a major at 41, I would have said — I would not have agreed with you.

“But I can honestly say I feel like my best golf is in front of me, just with how simplified Mike has made my game, and to be able to come into a week like this not really hitting it very well to then having one of my best ball-striking rounds ever, that’s pretty cool.

“It’s nice to know that it doesn’t need to be perfect to start a week to have a good week.”

Adam Scott was also in line for a top ten before a bogey at the 17th and then failing to birdie the last saw him finish in a share of 21st place. Consecutive weekend rounds of 67 followed a round of 66 on Friday and saw Scott improve over the final 54 holes but his faltering finish proved costly.

“It was fairly solid stuff without anything really happening for me,” said Scott. “I liked some of the things that I worked on throughout the week and felt like it’s in a good spot going forward, that’s for sure. Probably just need some practice. I haven’t really practiced since before December.

“I tried to take a bit of a break and came to Kapalua underdone, and I think I’m just starting to get warmed up now.

“But I like — I can take some good stuff out of these two weeks with where the game is at and kind of a theme for the year going forward maybe.”

The event was won by two time Presidents Cup player, Si Woo Kim, whose final round of 64 earned him a one shot victory over Hayden Buckley and completed the Korean’s fourth PGA Tour title but his first since the American Express event in early 2021.

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Adam Scott improves in Honolulu


Adam Scott – not without hope entering the weekend – photo Golf Australia

A second round of 66 has moved Adam Scott within six shots of the halfway leader, Chris Kirk, at the Sony Open being played at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu.

Scott improved 31 places from his opening round of 69 and is now tied for 23rd.

Birdies at his final three holes in today’s round has opened the door for Scott to go one better than his runner-up finish in the event behind Zach Johnson in 2009 but clearly there is a lot of work ahead of the 42 year old if he is to do so.

Scott has a disclosed liking for the Waialae Country Club suggesting on Tuesday;  “I like the golf course. It’s one of the golf courses on tour that’s really underrated. When you look into the stats and what guys do to win here, it’s a really quality golf course. It flies under the radar a lot, and I enjoy that.”

The leader, Kirk, is a  four time winner of events on the PGA Tour, the last of those coming seven years ago at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth. Interestingly however is that he has been twice runner-up in this event, the last of those coming in 2021 when finishing one shot behind Kevin Na.

Kirk leads by one over Taylor Montgomery and J.J. Spaun.

Montgomery has his PGA Tour card for the first time after a solid season on the Korn Ferry Tour last year allowed him to play his way to this higher level.

He has yet to win an event on either the Korn Ferry or PGA Tours so these are giddy heights for the 27 year old. He has, though, finished inside the top 20 in six of his seven starts since joining the tour in September including when 3rd at the Fortinet Championship and was twice runner-up on the Korn Ferry Tour last year so he clearly has some serious game.

Of the other Australasians in the field, Cameron Davis is at 4 under, seven from the lead and tied for 33rd  while Aaron Baddeley and New Zealand’s Danny Lee are a shot further back in 46th place.

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New Zealand and Japan claim Australian Amateur titles


Kazuma Kobori and Mizuki Hashimoto – with their trophies – photo Golf Australia

New Zealand sensation Kazuma Kobori has today become just the third New Zealander since World War 11 to win the Australian Men’s Amateur Championship, the 21-year-old edging clear of a congested final round leaderboard to win by two shots following a final round of 66 at the New South Wales Golf Club.

He joins Michael Campbell 1992 and Tae Koh (2014) as New Zealanders to win the title in that period.

Kobori, whose sister Momoka is making her mark in the professional ranks after a successful collegiate career at Pepperdine University, won the New Zealand PGA Championship four years ago at the age of just 17, and adds this significant title to his impressive resumé.

Kobori took a three way share of the lead into the final round along with Japan’s Taishi Moto and Ireland’s Robert Moran but with Moran only able to record a round of 79 on day four and Moto unable to match the brilliance of his eight birdie final round with the consistency needed to stay in the fight, Kobori edged clear when he birdied the 16th to Moto’s bogey and the cushion had been established.

Kobori won by two over Moto and England’s Arron Edwards Hill.

In the women’s championship, Japan’s Mizuki Hashimoto held off spirited final round challenges from her fellow countrywoman, Saki Baba and Queensland’s Justice Bosio to win by just one shot over the latter pair.

Hashimoto was also the Women’s Asia Pacific Champion in 2021.

Bosio, from Caboolture on the Sunshine Coast, finished runner-up for the second consecutive year, having been defeated by New Zealand’s Fiona Xu twelve months ago.

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Australian Amateur Championships dominated by foreigners


A typically spectacular view at the NSW Golf Club – photo NSW Golf Club

The respective men’s and women’s Australian Amateur Championships have reached the halfway stage at the New South Wales and St Michaels Golf Clubs on the coastline of Sydney’s eastern suburbs and it is a case of Internationals leading the way in both fields.

Amongst the men, New Zealand’s Kazuma Kobori and Singapore’s Ryan Ang share the lead at 10 under par, one ahead of New Zealand’s Sam Jones and Ireland’s Robert Moran while in the women’s field, it is a case of Japan dominating the top of the leaderboard with Mamika Shinchi and Yuna Araki leading by one over Saki Baba with another shot back to Mizuki Hashimoto alone in 4th place.

The leading Australians through 36 holes in the men’s event are Perth’s Gareth Steyn and Jack Buchanan of Adelaide who are three shots from the lead along with Queensland’s Kai Komulainen of the Gold Coast.

The leading Australian women are Kirra St Laurent from the Gold Coast’s Links Hope Island and Annika Rathbone from the Australian Golf Club, that pair tied for 5th with New Zealand’s Amy Im and three shots from the leaders.

The leading 64 players and ties have made it through to the final 36 holes in the men’s event with 70 players remaining in their field while for the women 37 players made the top 36 and ties to contest the remainder of the championship.

With the opening 36 holes having been played at the NSW and St Michael’s layouts the event now focuses on the outstanding New South Wales Golf Club to decide the respective winners.

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