Simon Hawkes wins WA Open and takes early Order of Merit lead

Simon Hawkes – photo PGA Tour of Australasia

Tasmanian Simon Hawkes is the 2023 WA Open Champion following a tightly fought final round at the Joondalup Country Club north of Perth.

Hawkes, who began the day four shots ahead of the field, had to fight off a spirited challenge from Scottish-born West Australian Connor McKinney, the 2022 Australian Amateur Champion, and South Australian Jason Norris to win his second event on the PGA Tour of Australasia having won the Vic Open in 2018.

Hawkes, currently ranked outside the top 2000 in the world, put together three consecutive rounds of 67 to establish a sizable lead over Norris heading into the final round but managed to hold on to win by two after an outstanding up and down after a lengthy bunker shot at the last led to a final birdie.

Hawkes, who has worked on the construction of the new Seven Mile Beach Course in his home state of Tasmania, collected a cheque for A$31,500 and established an early lead in the 2023 / 2024 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit ahead of NT PGA winner Daniel Gale.

It was a welcome return to contention for Norris who has been playing events on the European Senior Tour this year but who put together several good finishes on last year’s PGA Tour of Australasia including when 10th at the Australian Open won by Adrian Meronk.

For McKinney, the Australian Amateur Champion 18 months ago, this is a continuation of a solid start to his professional career having produced several good finishes in his rookie Australasian Tour season and playing Challenge Tour events in Europe this year.

The Australasian Tour stays in WA for this coming week’s WAPGA Championship at the Kalgoorlie Golf Course.