Maja Stark completes successful Australian visit with NSW Open win


Stark a trophy at the end of a rainbow – photo Golf NSW

Sweden’s Maja Stark has completed a productive two weeks on Australian soil with a five shot win over her fellow Swede Johanna Gustavsson in the Women’s NSW Open at the Coolangatta Tweed Golf Club today.

After finishing one shot behind winner, Meghan Maclaren, at the Australian Ladies Classic in Bonville Resort last week, Stark led by four heading into the final round but was challenged by Gustavsson through the middle of the final round, in fact the difference became just one when Stark bogeyed the 12th.

Three consecutive bogeys late in her round, however, saw Gustavsson lose touch with the lead and when Stark birdied the final two holes the event’s outcome was decided.

23-year-old Stark, in just her second season as a professional, was the highest world ranked player in the field (81st) leading into the event and will improve further as a result of the victory, her fourth in less than twelve months on the Ladies European Tour and her second of 2022.

She leads the Race to Costa del Sol, essentially the Order of Merit for the Ladies European Tour, and she appears on track for a very productive professional career especially given the aggressive nature of her game and her capacity to win events.

Argentina’s Magdalena Simmermacher finished a shot behind Gustavsson in third place alone.

The leading Australian was Queenslander, Cassie Porter, who finished 6th, although Gold Coast 15 year old, Sarah Hammett, again impressed when finishing in a share of 8th after a best of the day final round of 67.

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Hannah Green takes three shot lead in Los Angeles

Hannah Green in action today – photo Harry How Getty Images

Australian Hannah Green has taken the halfway lead at the Palos Verdes Championship in California, her best of the day second round of 66, allowing her to improve from 8th to 1st and take a three shot lead over a group of four golfers including her fellow West Australian, Minjee Lee, and New Zealander, Lydia Ko.

Green appears to be building to a win in 2022, having finished runner-up last week at the Dio Implants event.

This is just the 7th start for Green in 2022 and with three top tens in her previous six, she appears to be finding a rich vein of form.

Reference was made to the fact that she arrives with good form given her near miss last week which no doubt helped her in terms of confidence coming into this week.

“Yeah, I mean, I would like to say that it was, but my two wins that I have had on tour I’ve actually missed the cut both weeks prior.

“I mean, it is nice that I have had a good week last week, and I’m actually going home back to Australia on Sunday, so I’m in a really good headspace at the moment. Hopefully that can get me across the line.

“Yeah, I feel like I’ve hit some bad shots out there. I don’t feel like I played my best golf but I definitely have played well, if that makes sense.

“But I’m excited to see what the weekend brings. I think they’re going to maybe change the course setup, maybe make things a bit more drivable. It’ll be good. I’m excited.

“Always nice to play in the last group and playing last weekend, I think that helps as well.”

Ko recovered from a shaky start when double bogeying her third hole but stormed home over the closing nine in 31 for a round of 67 and be very much in calculations for the weekend. She and Green will play together tomorrow.

Ko has taken a couple of weeks off and feels her game and mindset is better for it.

“Nothing against that event,” she said referring to missing the event in Los Angeles last week. “But I have not played well like the three times I’ve played there, so it was kind of not on my calendar.

“It was nice. I actually took a extra few days and spent it with family after Hawaii, so I stayed back a little bit and then came over to California.

“So, it was my birthday. I said last year I missed the cut to not play on my birthday, so I just decided to not play golf on my birthday without having to miss a cut.”

Lee led after the opening round but struggled to a round of 73 today to now be three off the pace and tied for second place. An eagle at her 7th hole was a highlight but there were also four bogeys and she has work to do over the weekend to catch her compatriot.

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Minjee Lee starts well to lead at Palos Verdes

Minjee Lee – photo Harry How Getty Images

World number four, Minjee Lee, has the lead after day one of the Palos Verdes Championship at Palos Verdes Estates in Los Angeles, California.

Lee’s round of 63 leaves her one ahead of world number one, Jin Young Ko, with England’s Charley Hull, Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn and American Jennifer Chang another shot back.

“My golf club back home it’s the same type of fairways,” said Lee when referring to her familiarity with the grasses at this new venue. “I don’t think we play a course with that same type of grass throughout the whole year, so it was kind of a nice surprise when I got here.

“I feel like throughout the first half of the season already I been hitting it pretty solid, so I know my game is there. I just need to put it all together. Hopefully I can take my good round today into the next three days.”

After her good 3rd place finish last week also in Los Angeles, Lee took time getting to know the venue despite it being the first time the LPGA Tour has played here.

“I took Monday off. Didn’t even come to the course. Tuesday I played nine holes, and then I played the other — saw the other nine in the pro-am.

“So I think kind of set up well with just coming off one week. I think it’s so hilly out here that you want to keep your legs fresh, so I’m glad I didn’t play all 18 on one of the days.

Hannah Green also began her week well with a round of 67 to be tied for 8th, Sarah Jane Smith, Katherine Kirk and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko share 21st place after rounds of 69, Stephanie Kyriacou is 37th at 1 under 70 and Sarah Kemp who is back from her week at an event at Bonville is at even par 71.

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2022 sees concurrent staging of Australian Opens

 

The latest Men’s Australian Open Champion – Matt Jones

In a world-first for golf, the Men’s Australian Open and the Women’s Australian Open are joining forces.

The marquee events will be played at the same time and at the same venues, with the event to be held on the world-famous Melbourne Sandbelt from December 1-4.

Victoria Golf Club is the primary host venue across all four days of the tournament and Kingston Heath Golf Club is set to host play on the first two days.

The men’s event will headline the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia, while the women’s event will be sanctioned by the WPGA Tour of Australasia.

In another first for the Australian Open, the men’s event will also be sanctioned on the DP World Tour, putting Australian golf on the world stage for two consecutive weeks with the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship to be staged at Royal Queensland the week prior.

Field sizes of 144 men and 144 women will compete for an equal split of the minimum $3.4 million prizemoney on offer.

This year’s Australian Open will also feature the third edition of the Australian All Abilities Championship, which assembles the top 12 players on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) from across the world supported by global partners EDGA, the International Golf Federation and newly formed G4D Tour.

Inbee Park – the latest Women’s Australian Open champion

 

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Anthony Quayle takes Crowns lead in Nagoya

Courtesy of Japan Golf Tour

Australia’s Anthony Quayle picked up right where he left off last week by blazing the course for a bogey-free nine-under-par 61 and snatching a two-shot lead after the opening round of The Crowns on Thursday.

The 27-year-old Queensland based Quayle came out with all guns blazing at the Nagoya Golf Club’s Wago Course, firing seven birdies in his opening 13 holes, igniting a thrilling battle chase with Daiki Imano atop the leaderboard.

Quayle had the last laugh when he closed with glorious back-to-back birdies, including one from 45 feet on 17, moving two shots ahead of second-placed Imano.

Koumei Oda and Yuki Inamori both carded matching 64s to share third place, while Yuto Katsuragawa, buoyed by last week’s ISPS HANDA Championship triumph, sits a further shot back in a four-way tie for fifth place, which comprised of the Korean duo Dongkyu Jang and Junggon Hwang, the joint-runner up with Quayle in 2018 and compatriot Kota Kaneko.

Quayle was delighted to find himself returning to a prime position in the same tournament after four years. In 2018, the Australian shared the first round lead with Rikuya Hoshino following a 65 before finishing runner-up.

“It was a fun day. It feels really comfortable to be able to hit the kind of golf shots around here. And I’ve had some good performances here, so I feel very relaxed around here,” said Quayle, who also came in tied fifth in 2019.

Quayle has now gone 28-under through 90 holes after posting a fifth straight sub-70 round. In Ibaraki last week, he fired a weekend pair of 64 and 65 to finish joint sixth.

But he is taking nothing for granted, knowing that he needs to secure four consistent low rounds if he is to secure his maiden JGTO breakthrough victory this week.

“Last week’s performance has definitely allowed me to free up my game a little,” added Quayle.

“The last time I shot a nine-under (on the par-72 course) in a tournament was on the European Tour at the Fiji international in 2018.

“I’ve won a couple of times in Australia since then, and I also had a few leads in Japan. Being in this position doesn’t add more pressure (to win). It’ll happen eventually, I believe, so this is just another opportunity to do it.”

Qualifying Tour winner Andrew Evans responded superbly to his missed cut last week with an opening 66 to tie for ninth spot with fellow Australian Brad Kennedy and another international competitor, Todd Baek of the United States.

Evans mixed five birdies with a lone blemish on 16 to begin his pursuit of another good result after coming in joint 19th at the Kansai Open.

“I’m very pleased with myself as I’m playing both a new course and tournament this week. The weather was perfect for scoring,” said Evans.

“I played great and gave myself a lot of chances. Hopefully, I can keep this momentum going.”

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Women’s NSW Open silverware re-named Jan Stephenson trophy


Jan Stephenson with the trophy named in her honour – photo and article Golf NSW

One of women’s golf’s greatest advocates and a trailblazer in Australian sport, Jan Stephenson OAM, has been honoured by Golf NSW with the trophy for this week’s Women’s NSW Open Championship Trophy to be known from this point on as the Jan Stephenson Trophy.

The recognition honours Jan’s outstanding contribution to the game and one of the State’s finest sporting talents.

“I was emotional when I was I told that the Trophy was going to be named in my name; I still am even now,” Ms Stephenson said.

“This is one of the proudest moments in my golf career. It’s a huge honour and I am grateful to Golf NSW for this recognition.”

Stephenson began her golf on the NSW Central Coast at Tuggerah Lakes Golf Club (now Shelly Beach) and at Bonnie Doon in metropolitan Sydney where, as a junior, she claimed three straight NSW Junior Girls titles and three Australian Girls Amateur Crowns.

Turning professional in 1973, Stephenson claimed the first of her Women’s Australian Open crowns the same year, and in 1974 she joined the LPGA Tour – taking the ‘Rookie of the Year’ title. Stephenson was to go on and become the face of the tour during its growth years in the mid 1970’s and 1980’s.

“In 1976 I had just won a tournament in the USA, and the new commissioner of the LPGA told me we had to change the image of women’s golf and we have to push women’s sport and sex in sport, hence I featured on the front of several magazines, the result was we added another 18 women’s tournaments.

Stephenson claimed three Majors in a career that has covered almost five decades. She recorded wins on most of the world’s prestigious professional tours, including 16 on the LPGA, two on the WPGA (ALPG Tour), two on the LPGA of Japan, and one on the Ladies European Tour (LET).

In the late 1990s, Stephenson was instrumental in establishing the Women’s Senior Golf Tour (now called the Legends of the LPGA Tour) in the United States.

Stephenson has recorded four wins on the same tour, with her most recent success coming last year alongside Laura Diaz in the BJ’s Charity Championship.

Stephenson’s impact on the game extends beyond the course. She has been a tireless worker for charity for many years, including acting as the honorary chair of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in the United States. She is also an ambassador for blind and disabled golf through ISPS Handa. Through her foundation (Jan Stephenson’s Crossroads Foundation), she also provides initiatives for blind/disabled and wounded veterans and first responders.

Inducted into the Sports Australia Hall of Fame in 2005, Stephenson was also awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2018 to recognise her contribution to the sport.

In 2019, Stephenson was admitted into the World Golf Hall of Fame alongside Retief Goosen, Peggy Kirk Bell, and Billy Payne, former chairman of Augusta National Golf Club.

Stephenson carved the pathway for many of our nation’s finest golfers, including Jane Crafter, Karen and Mardi Lunn, Rachael Heatherington, and fellow World Golf Hall-of-Famer, Karrie Webb, to follow.

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Hannah Green finishes runner-up in Los Angeles

Hannah Green this week – Michael Owens Getty / LPGA

She may have finished five shots behind the runaway winner, Nasa Hataoka, but the runner-up finish of Perth’s Hannah Green in this week’s DIO Implant LA Open was the 25-year old’s best LPGA Tour finish since finishing in the same position at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore twelve months ago.

Green had also finished 3rd in this same event and at the same venue a week earlier than the Singapore event in 2021.

Green began the final round four shots behind the eventual winner, Hataoka, and although she began her round with two early birdies, it was a case of whatever she could do, the Japanese star would match and better it.

By the turn she had fallen five behind and when Hataoka eagled the 15th the probable became inevitable and Hataoka would go on to win by five to secure her 6th LPGA Tour title.

Green secures a cheque for US$177,000.

“Yeah, definitely really happy with how things are trending,” said Green. “It was nice to be a bit more consistent. Last week I got off to a great start and then just couldn’t maintain it in Hawaii.

“So I feel like once I get the putter hot I’m pretty excited to see what’s to come.

“I guess I’ve had good results here at Wilshire before. I came tied third so I kind of knew that it was possible to have a good result here.

“Next week — every course is very different, but I just had good feelings. Just it was nice to see some putts go in today. Just made my confidence go up a little bit higher.

“Hopefully I can continue that into next week and the rest of the year.”

Minjee Lee matched Green’s final round of 68 and finished in a three way share of third with Madelene Sagstrom and Inbee Park.

“To be fair, I’m probably a little disappointed in my performance this week,” said Lee. “I made a lot of bogeys but I did make a lot of birdies, so I guess that’s the good thing.

“But, I mean, Top 5, I don’t think I can really be too disappointed, but hopefully better things to come next week.”

 

 

 

 

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Meghan MacLaren Australian success continues with Bonville win

Meghan MacLaren – photo Ladies European Tour

England’s Meghan MacLaren has won the Australian Women’s Classic at the Bonville Golf Resort in Coffs Harbour, a birdie at the last hole edging her clear of Sweden’s Maja Stark in the event reduced to 54 holes after weather interruptions earlier in the week.

After an outward nine of 37 today, MacLaren had lost her 36 hole lead but she stormed home with a final nine of 4 under 33 to regain the lead and eventually win by one over Stark, both players producing birdies at the final hole with Stark finishing two clear of England’s Hannah Burke, Spain’s Carmen Alonso and Argentinian Magdalena Schimmermacher.

For the 27 year old MacLaren, it was her third win on the Ladies European Tour, the first coming when successful at the NSW Women’s Open in 2018. She also won the NSW Women’s Open in 2019 and from her current ranking of 419th in the Rolex Ranking she will improve sharply.

MacLaren wins €36,000 for her efforts and will head to next week’s Women’s NSW Open at Coolangatta Tweed Golf Club on the Queensland/NSW Border where she will face a similar field in attempting to secure her third victory in the event.

The leading Australians were amateurs Justice Bosio and the 15 year old from the Gold Coast, Sarah Hammett who tied for a very impressive 6th place at 6 under and four from the lead

Pre-tournament favourite, Sarah Kemp, left her best to last with a final round of 68 to finish tied for 8th.

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Anthony Quayle’s brilliant weekend in Japan

Anthony Quayle – file photo Bruce Young

Queensland’s Anthony Quayle has recorded his best finish on the Japan Golf Tour in nearly two years with a share of 6th place at the ISPS Handa Championship in Ibaraki near Tokyo.

This was Quayle’s third event of the 2022 Japan Tour season after missing the cut in his first and then finishing 40th last week so this is a big improvement for the 27-year-old Gold Coast based golfer.

Quayle finished five shots behind the 23-year-old winner, Yuto Katsuragawa, who broke through for his maiden win with a one-shot victory over Rikuya Hoshino.

Quayle’s weekend was simply stunning producing rounds of 64 and 65 to jump from 43rd on Friday evening to his eventual share of 6th place.

“I think I did as much as I needed to. I thought I still stood a fighting chance. If only I had a few things gone my way,” said Quayle.

“Without the three bogeys, it could have been a nine-under to put me in a pretty good chance to contend at 22-under overall.

“But like I said yesterday, for me to make it happen, I would still need some help from the leaders, but they were all playing very well today.”

New Zealand’s Michael Henry finished 10th in his first start of the season after contracting Covid earlier in the year.

Brad Kennedy finished 16th, while Matthew Griffin and Brendan Jones were 43rd.

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Hannah Green holds second place at LA Open

Hannah Green – photo Michael Owens – Getty Images

Australia’s Hannah Green is in outright second and four shots from the leader, Nasa Hataoka, as the Dio Implant LA Open enters tomorrow’s final round.

Green improved one spot from her overnight 3rd with a round of 69 on the Wilshire Country Club in her 6th LPGA Tour start of the season, her best finish to date being when 8th at the HSBC event in Singapore.

“I think my putting has kind of been the thing I’ve been working on,” said Green when asked what aspects of the game she had been putting most emphasis on.  “I feel like I hit the ball good in Hawaii, I just didn’t necessarily putt very well, so it kind of made everything feel a little bit tougher.

“So I actually took Monday off this week. I was pretty tired from just playing in the wind and traveling, also, from Hawai’i. Just came out and did some putting and some short game, just trying to get as much confidence as possible.

Green is chasing a third LPGA Tour title and after a good start to the year when playing mixed gender events in Australia she appears to be building towards just that.

Green acknowledged the fact that the Wilshire layout does not require power but rather finesse. “I think that’s been the difference this week is having slightly shorter clubs in, but you don’t have to hit driver everywhere here. I don’t think it makes much of an advantage for those longer hitters, I think just those that are accurate and have a good putting game.”

“I feel like I haven’t played my entire best, so I’m hoping tomorrow I can kind of get everything to go my way and try and put as much pressure on Nasa as possible.”

Hataoka is chasing her 6th LPGA Tour title and has a nice cushion heading into the final round and she is a little surprised about being in the lead.

“Yes, to be honest, I didn’t expect this position at the beginning of this week,” said the Japanese star. “But like I said before, something clicked inside me during yesterday’s round so I’ll try to keep that momentum going forward for tomorrow’s round.”

Green’s fellow West Australian, Minjee Lee, is the only other Australian in the weekend field and is three shots behind Green and seven shots from the lead.

 

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