Former Australian Amateur Champion McKinney wins first Australasian Tour event
Connor McKinney – image PGA of Australia
Sottish born West Australian, Conner McKinney, might have stumbled over the closing stages of the Webex Player Series Perth event at Royal Fremantle today but such was the lead that he had built up in the early stages of his final round that he was still able to run out the winner by four shots over his fellow West Australian Curtis Luck, and West Australian lady professionals Abbie Teasdale and Kirsten Rudgeley.
McKinney headed into the final round with a two-shot lead over England’s Andrew Johnston, but within four holes, that lead had extended to six over Johnston and Teasdale.
By the turn, McKinney had moved seven ahead and although Luck emerged from the ruck with a final round of 67 and McKinney dropped three shots in his final five holes, the damage had already been done for his rivals, and the 23-year-old, currently ranked outside the top 1000 in the world cruised to a four-shot victory.
For McKinney, a former Australian Amateur Champion who only recently gained his DP World Tour card via the final stage of qualifying in Spain, the victory was his first on the PGA Tour of Australasia and just his second win as a professional following his win on the Scottish-based Tartan Pro Tour in 2025.
Luck is a significantly better golfer than his results in the professional ranks would suggest, the former US Amateur and Asia Pacic Champion has been plagued by mysterious injury issues in recent times, but a runner-up finish at the Australian Open in 2024, a victory on the Korn Ferry Tour and finishes like this highlight just how good he can be when right.
Teasdale and Rudgeley earn A$15,000 each as a result of their share of the runner-up finish with Luck who earned the same amount in the mixed gender event. Luck will move inside the top 20 on the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit despite his limited schedule.
The round of the day came from Sydney’s Kevin Yuan, who improved from 38th to finish in a share of 9th with a round of 63.
