Ben Eccles claims first professional win at WAPGA
Ben Eccles – photo Australian Golf Media
Australian Ben Eccles has today claimed his second PGA Tour of Australasia title nearly eight years after his first when winning the WAPGA Championship at the Kalgoorlie Golf Course in Western Australia today.
This however would be Eccle’s first win as a professional, his win at the 2015 NSW Open coming just prior to a decision to turn professional.
The win this week comes on top of a missed cut at the WA Open at the Joondalup Country Club last week so for the 28-year-old English-born but Victorian golfer, who earlier this year took a lengthy break from the game after several seasons chasing success on the European Challenge and Asian Tours., the success is timely and welcome.
Eccles game had reached a point where it became necessary for him to return to the PGA Tour of Australasia’s Tour School where he regained playing privileges by finishing 17th there.
The win and the $45,000 comes at a time when Eccles needed a financial boost and the confidence and security the cheque and the title will bring may well see the former NSW Amateur Champion loosen the reins.
Not only did Eccles win but after leading by six shots into the last round he eventually won by five from West Australian Haydn Barron with New Zealand’s Kit Bittle and South Australian Lachlan Barker sharing third place another shot back.
Barron surprised many with a fine showing at the 2022 Australian Open where he tied for 4th and earned a start at this year’s Open Championship as a result.
The Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia now heads east to South Australia for one of the Webex Series of events at the Willunga Golf Course.