American Gilligan and Korea’s Yang Master of Amateurs champions
Ian Gilligan in action in a PGA Tour event in 2024
Foreigners have prevailed at the Master of the Amateurs events at the Southern Golf Club in Melbourne, American Ian Gilligan taking the men’s title by a narrow one shot and South Korean Hyojin Yang winning the women’s title by two.
Gilligan who attends the University of Florida in the US where he is a standout and the winner of the Western Amateur in 2024, held on to finish one ahead of Queensland’s Kai Komulainen who is also now based in the US at the University of Tennessee.
Gilligan led by two into today’s final round and was three ahead of Komulainen heading into the back nine but was forced to withstand a final nine push by Komulainen to take the title.
Brisbane’s Harry Takis who is also now at college in the US finished 3rd, one shot behind Komulainen and two from the winner.
The women’s event went to Hyojin Yang who recently finished 3rd behind Jiyai Shin at the Women’s Australian Open as an amateur, the Korean coming from behind heading into round four to defeat NSW’s Ella Scaysbrook by two.
Defending champion Rianne Maxili of the Philippines finished 3rd.
Gilligan and Yang pose with their trophies – image Australian Master of the Amateurs – Anthony Powter
