Anthony Quayle – photo Golf Australia
It might be well short of his biggest previous cheque in professional golf, but Queensland based Anthony Quayle’s playoff victory at the Queensland Open at Pelican Waters on the Sunshine Coast today provides perhaps more than money can buy, namely a victory in a professional event.
Quayle, who has plied his trade with commercial success in Japan for the past two years, had yet to taste success in the paid ranks until today but by holding off a spirited and impressive challenge from South Australian amateur Jack Thompson he has broken through for what is likely to be the first of many wins.
Quayle has been rewarded for a very consistent few months where he has finished inside the top twenty in his last seven starts in both Japan and Australasia, one of those when finishing 3rd at the Casio World Open late in the 2019 Japan Tour season.
The cheque for the finish at the Casio was the equivalent of $A190,000 and while the monetary rewards today paled in comparison (A$20,600) the value of the breakthrough victory alone is hard to put a figure on.
Quayle had his nose in front for much of the final round in a battle with West Australian Kim Felton and Thompson but it was Thompson who refused to go away. Quayle blundered early in his back nine and actually lost the lead to Thompson at one stage but he recovered to force the playoff.
Quayle won by saving par at the first extra hole.
The winner, Quayle, and runner-up, Jack Thompson, (left) – Golf Australia
“It feels incredible,” said Quayle. “I’ve given myself a few chances recently and haven’t been able to pull it off and the feeling of frustration or regret walking off the 18th green is definitely not present at the moment,” Quayle said.
“I felt for a while that my first win would be a pretty difficult one to get done and maybe it was difficult because I thought it into reality.
“I showed myself today what it takes to win and it doesn’t have to go perfect. You can make quite a few mistakes and still have a chance to win. I think it’s a pretty good lesson for me today.”
“KB (Ken Berndt) my coach helped me out a lot,” Quayle said while also thanking his parents and wife Sofia for their support.
“We got to a few ahead and then went bogey, double and Jack went par, birdie and all of a sudden he was one ahead and was playing really nicely.
“To catch him I was going to have to play really good golf. KB had a chat to me; got me to compose myself and I barely missed a shot coming in the last five holes.
“He was saying to me as we went to the first playoff hole I didn’t sign up for this extra work, but I wouldn’t be here without him. He’s coached me since I was 14, constantly helping, incredibly selfless, just always there to help you out.”
Brad Kennedy tied for 3rd with New South Wales’ Jake Higginbottom.
The PGA Tour of Australasia now heads to Queenstown in New Zealand’s South Island for the 101st New Zealand Open at the host course Millbrook Resort.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!