Rare win by South African on PGA Tour of Australasia
Oliver Bekker with a long-awaited trophy – image Australian Golf Media
South African Oliver Bekker, who has missed the cut in his last eight tournament starts, has today won the WA Open at the Mt Lawley Golf Club to potentially resurrect a career that had appeared to be going nowhere.
Currently ranked outside the top 1000 in the world ranking, after being close to the top 100 two years ago, Bekker came from one behind the lead through 54 holes to record a final round of 69 to win by one over Victorian Cameron John with South Australian Lachlan Barker, Victorian Marc Leishman and NSW’s Nathan Barbieri sharing third place at 5 under and two from the winner.
Bekker has won several events on the South African Sunshine Tour over the years, but in more recent times, it has been a struggle, and by gaining an invite to play this week’s event, he has taken full advantage and perhaps saved his golfing future.
The victory will give him at least two full years on the OGA Tour of Australasia, and with the possibility of a move to Perth in the future, the win is both timely and potentially career and life-changing.
“This comes so far out of left field,” Bekker told the PGA Tour of Australasia. “I’ve missed the last six or seven cuts in a row, but I said to my wife, I feel like [my game’s close and I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m playing well one week. This was the week, apparently.
“This golf course is so unforgiving. You’ve got to play such conservative golf, even with wedges in hand from the middle of the fairway. It was a grind and I’m glad I could stick it out.”
“Let me tell you, there were some things that happened that I’ve never seen in my life,” added Bekker, referring, in the main, to a near-disaster at the final hole which turned into a remarkable par save to set the mark for those playing behind. “So yeah, it was interesting.”
The last Australian to win on the PGA Tour of Australasia is likely to have been the 2008 Australian Open winner, Tim Clark, mainly due to their Sunshine Tour events clashing with those in this country.
After four events on the 2025/2026 PGA Tour of Australasia schedule, Bekker has moved into 4th place behind the new leader, Nathan Barbieri of NSW.
The next event on the schedule is the Webex Player Series South Australia event at the Willunga Golf Club beginning on Thursday, 23rd.
