Jason Day within striking distance at Pebble Beach

Jason Day – file photo – a chance to win his first PGA Tour title in more then three years

Jason Day finds himself just four from the lead after the completion of the opening 54 holes at which point the cut has been made for the final round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Day added a third round of 70 at his venue at Spyglass Hills today and when he returns to Pebble Beach Links for tomorrow’s final round he will be tied for 8th position in an event he has produced seven top tens in his last nine starts including a runner-up finish in 2018.

Day will need to be at his best tomorrow if he is to haul in those ahead who include Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth although the leaders at present are Beau Hossler and Andrew Putnam.

If Day is able to win tomorrow, he will move close to the top 40 in the world and given that he was 129th two weeks ago it will have been a significant move by the 34-year-old.

It reflects the work he has done on his swing as a means of alleviating the ongoing back issues he has faced through much of his career although Day is not keen to view his improvement as a comeback.

“I’m not looking at it as like a comeback season, I’m just looking at it like every day what can I do to try to get better,” he said after his second round yesterday.

“I’m super, super obsessed with the golf swing right now, which is either a good thing or a bad thing, I don’t know how to take that. But I’m always talking to my coach every day and I’m always constantly working on it.

“The good thing is I need to work on my swing because if I don’t then certain things can creep in and I can hurt my back again. So I got to always be cautious of that.”

If he was to win this week’s event it would go a long way to getting him into the Masters but Day is philosophical about the issue and is just happy that things have turned the corner.

“I know that if I can take care of this week then — like I was 123rd or 129 or something like that last week and I’m 83rd this week because of good play from last week. So I really just have to take care of the day-to-day stuff and then hopefully that turns into really good results and the confidence spurs one more good results.

“I just got to be really patient with that stuff, I know that it’s just around the corner. If do I end up taking it off because my ranking is not good enough, so be it, but I’m thinking about long-term trying to get myself climbing that ladder again. That’s the main process.

When asked why his record at this venue and in this event has been so good Day responded; “I think it’s just first and foremost it’s just having a really good attitude. Like you can get some gnarly weather here, it can be pretty hectic with 40, 45 degrees, blowing sideways, rain, and I remember a few years ago we had hail on the third tee.

“So there can be some pretty rough days, but then you have days like this where it’s, the last two days, even the next two days as well, I mean it’s just absolutely stunning. And then when you’re kind of walking out on Pebble everyone knows how beautiful it is.

“So I love Carmel by the Sea, it’s one of my favorite little towns to kind of go and visit. I just love this area. And I’ve always kind of just gravitated towards this area, especially playing. And I think I’ve taken maybe this event off a couple times or so but every single time that I don’t play I see guys playing Pebble and I’m like, I want to be out there.”

Day was the only Australian to make it to the final round with Matt Jones, Min Woo Lee, Cameron Percy, Aaron Baddeley, Brett Drewitt and John Senden, all failing to survive the 54 hole cutoff.

Day – earlier this week at Pebble Beach

 

 

 

 

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Cameron Smith nicely poised in Saudi Arabia

Harold Varner 111 – joint leader by two – photo Paul Lakatos 

Cameron Smith is tied for 3rd place and just two behind the lead held by Harold Varner 111 of the US and Adri Arnuas of Spain at the completion of 36 holes of the Asian Tour’s lucrative PIF Saudi International in King Abdullah Economic City, North of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

Varner and Arnaus completed identical scores in the opening two rounds of 64 and 66 to lead the star studded field in the US$5 million event, the largest purse ever for a stand alone Asian Tour event.

The long hitting Arnuas, has yet to win a European Tour event but has on four occasions been runner-up and did win the Challenge Tour Grand Final in this region in 2018.

PGA Tour player, Varner, has yet to win on that stage, but was the 2016 Australian PGA Champion, the leading pair negotiating the blustery conditions best against a field which includes Dustin Johnson, Xander Scaufelle, Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson to name just some of the elite field assembled for the first Asian Tour event of the 2022 season.

At the start of the day the event lost one of it’s heavyweight attractions when American Bryson DeChambeau withdrew from the event with a left hand and left hip injury.

Smith completed a second consecutive round of 66 to be tied for third with American Mathew Wolff and appeared to relish the windy conditions.

“I like it windy,” said the Australian, who played on the Asian Tour in 2014, before joining the PGA Tour the following year.

“I grew up in the wind. Being from Australia, it’s something you kind of have to get used to pretty quick. Yeah, you’ve just got to strike the ball well. You’ve just got to hit it out of the middle and judge your wind.”

Of the other Australasians in the field, Wade Ormsby has also made a good start to be tied for 9th and five from the lead, Brad Kennedy and Lucas Herbert are tied for 31st, Andrew Dodt 36th, promising rookie Louis Dobbelaar 45th, and Marc Leishman 60th along with New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier.

Scott Hend, Ryan Ruffels, Jed Morgan, Travis Smyth and Ben Eccles all missed out on advancing to the weekend.

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Money speaks all languages in Saudi this week

Two months after turning professional, recent Aust PGA Champion Jed Morgan plays a US$5 million event.

The first event of the 2022 Asian Tour schedule gets underway on Thursday with the staging of the inaugural PIF Saudi International played at the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Saudi Arabia.

The tournament represents the first collaboration between the Greg Norman inspired LIV Golf Investment’s foray into golf and the Asian Tour and with a prize fund of US$5 million and a field which includes the likes of Dustin Johnson, Bryson De Chambeau, Xander Schaufelle, Patrick Reed, and Phil Mickelson along with Australians, Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and recently crowned Australian PGA Champion Jed Morgan, amongst others, there will ensure plenty of interest from this country and globally.

While not part of the ten event International Series announced recently and supported by this group, this particular event is being funded by the the same source and provides a whole new dynamic for the Asian Tour.

No doubt many are being paid handsomely for their participation even before the first tee shot is hit on Thursday, money appearing to be no object in a region of the world where financial largesse is common.

“We are setting the Asian Tour up as a powerful new force on the world golf stage,” said Norman. “In my 40 years as a professional golfer, I’ve seen many parts of the world that have benefitted tremendously from golf and its growth and development. We now have the opportunity to do that in the Asia Pacific region and the Middle East with this incredible investment platform. Everyone benefits – professional players, amateurs, grassroots golf, fans, economies, communities, stakeholders. I’ve never been so optimistic about the future of the sport.”

In addition to Smith, Leishman, Herbert and Morgan several other Australians and New Zealanders get their chance to play for US$5 million as members of the Asian Tour but others also have a unique opportunity to play for the sort of riches they might only have dreamed of playing for a few weeks ago.

Wade Ormsby, Andrew Dodt, Travis Smyth and Scott Hend are in the field through their Asian Tour membership but Brad Kennedy, Louis Dobbelaar, Ben Eccles, Ryan Ruffels and New Zealander Daniel Hillier get their chance through various eligibility criteria and have a rare opportunity to play against the strongest field ever assembled for an Asian Tour event and for the sort of prizemoney on offer.

 

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Lydia Ko back where she belongs after Gainbridge win

Lydia Ko – yet another trophy photo Douglas P. DeFelice Getty / LPGA

Lydia Ko has today won her 17th LPGA Tour title with a narrow but impressive one-shot victory over her close friend, Danielle Kang, at the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio in Boca Raton on Florida.

For Ko it was just her second LPGA Tour title since 2018 but continued a comeback from a position outside the top 50 in the world ranking eighteen months ago to the point where she is now ranked in 3rd place in the female game. The win will not improve her standing in that regard at this stage but given the manner in which she is playing and her increasing consistency she appears headed for the top once again.

Ko has previously held the top mantle for a collective 104 weeks but the last time she sat atop the ranking was back in June of 2017.

This week’s final round developed into a real shootout between the Ko and Kang, Kang over-coming a two shot 54-hole deficit to draw level with two birdies in her first three holes today and she actually took the lead in the event when birdies at the 11th and 12th saw her move one ahead.

Kang, however, would drop a shot at the 13th and when Ko birdied the 15th and 16th she went ahead and held on to win by one with another shot back to current US Women’s Open Champion Yuka Saso.

Ko and Kang – great friends – photo Getty / LPGA Douglas P. DeFelice

Ko and Kang are the closest of friends and Ko explained after her victory just why. “You know, she is obviously one of the players that I’ve known for the longest time out here. She’s kind of taken me under her wing. Even though we may not text each other every day or don’t live in the same city, I feel like she’s always got my back.

“You know, if she wants to talk to someone about anything I’m always there for her as well. There hasn’t been many times where we’ve played in the final group. I know she’s been playing such amazing golf going into today, so I just tried to focus on me and tried to play the best golf I can.

“I know at points it was a bit of a grind, but I’m glad that I could get that done.”

It is perhaps no coincidence that Ko’s turnaround has come as a result of a switch to former Tiger Woods coach Sean Foley.

“I think last year was kind of a big turnaround year for me,” added Ko. “Even the fall of 2020. When we had that long time off I think it was kind of a time for me to look back at what are the things I need to work on and just take a whole new approach to things.

“Started working with Sean, and I think he’s been a huge help in the technical standpoint getting me to a point where I feel like it’s natural and I’m not trying to make positions. At the same time, him clearing some of the questions and the not-so-good ideas in my head as well.

“So, yeah, I feel like it’s been much more consistent and last year. I feel like even though I didn’t win on the LPGA at the end of the year, I put myself in contention quite a bit.

“I think when you keep knocking on the door you feel like at one point it’s going to open.”

Ko’s earnings on the LPGA Tour have moved beyond US$12.5 million with the win, this 17th victory coming nearly ten years after playing her very first event on the LPGA Tour as an amateur. She now stands just six points short of eligibility for the Hall of Fame which still provides motivation for the 24 year old.

“You know, obviously I have to play well, win, to kind of collect those points along the way. All those awards and accolades and being in the Hall of Fame is great and not many people are there. If I could have my name alongside the many amazing legends in this the Hall of Fame, it would be a huge honour.

“I know there are still things in my game I want to improve and get better at to kind of give myself a run for it. My mom did ask me the other day, she said, Hey, what if you’re near retirement age and you’re one point off (Hall Of Fame). Are you going to keep playing? I think I just have to be realistic at that point, do I think I can get this done or not?”

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Ko’s final round highlights (click to expand)

 

 

 

 

 

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Near miss at Torrey Pines but encouraging signs for Jason Day

Jason Day – file photo

Jason Day might not have won his third Farmers Insurance title at Torrey Pines this morning but his three-way share of third behind the eventual winner, Luke List and runner-up Will Zalatoris, will ensure the former world number one will move well inside the top 100 from his current 129th position in the world ranking, in fact he might move as high as 80th when the rankings are revised on Monday.

Day began the final day in a share of the lead with Will Zalatoris but struggled early in his round with a bogey at the 5th which, in fact, he did well to make given a poor drive found trouble and a third from 154 yards at the par 4 found the bunker.

He would then get up and down for birdie at the 9th but a bogey at the 11th had him two from the lead set by clubhouse leader, Luke List who had finished two hours earlier and Zalatoris, with whom Day was playing.

Day needed something special if he was to get back into the fray and a stunning iron from 119 yards at the 14th did the trick. The shot pitched a foot from the hole bounced ten feet past and then spun back into the hole for an unlikely eagle and he had joined the lead.

A mishit iron shot at the 16th came up well short of the green at the par 3 and he was unable to get up and down and he trailed by one. Then came a poor drive at the 17th before his approach from a difficult lie plugged in the bunker and despite a reasonable bunker shot, he was unable to hole the par save, and he head to the 18th needing an eagle to have any chance.

From a fine drive at the last, had no option to go for the green at the iconic par 5 but was long and although he produced a very impressive birdie from behind the green, he ended up one short of List and Zalatoris but tied for third with Jon Rahm and Cameron Tringale.

For Day, the great return to form is even more encouraging as next week he heads for Pebble Beach where in his last nine outings he has been inside the top 7 on seven occasions so the chances of the momentum he gained this week carrying over are even better.

“I didn’t actually feel like my swing fell down like I did the last three days, so I was just kind of sticking around like a bad smell, I guess,” said the 34 year old. “I holed a nice shot on 15. Sorry, 14.”

“Then yeah, I mean, kind of after that I lost the drive right and I started coming out of it and backing out of it and it’s really hard to trust,” he added referring to recent swing changes. “Especially when you stand up on 17, it’s hard to trust to keep turning the corner and go left when there’s all trouble left and that’s why I kind of backed out of it and hit right.

“It was a quality week though and a lot of positives moving forward. You know, this is a second tournament for me that I’ve really tried to try these swing changes (designed to relieve back issues). So, I mean, it’s great that the progress is kind of is where it is, but still a lot of work to do.

“I know that I’m heading in the right direction, and I know that the work I’ve been putting into my game is starting to pay off. Obviously if it wasn’t I wouldn’t be in that position. So, I know that things are looking up, I’ve just got to really just keep working hard.

“I’m in that stage of like trying to, you know, make these things more concrete and then if I can do that, then I’ll be in contention lot more and then the confidence comes back. Then when the confidence comes back, hopefully I win five, 10 times a year.”

Marc Leishman was the next best of the Australians when he finished tied for 16th although a bogey after finding the water at the last proved costly, while Cameron Davis was 56th.

For the 37-year-old List, who birdied the first extra hole to defeat Zalatoris, it was his first victory on the PGA Tour although he has two wins on the Korn Ferry Tour to his name and has been twice runner-up at this higher level. List also finished 10th here last year and 12th on one other occasion.

Zalatoris was also seeking a first win but the man who finished runner-up on debut at the Masters in 2021 and was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2021, missed a makeable birdie putt at the 72nd hole to win and then was unable to match List’s birdie in extra time.

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Lydia Ko shares lead in Florida – Karrie Webb makes cut

Lydia Ko – file photo Getty / LPGA

Close friends, Lydia Ko and Danielle Kang share the lead through 36 holes of the Gainbridge LPGA Boca Rio in Boca Raton, Florida, the pair opening up a four-shot gap over England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Japan’s Yuka Saso.

Ko, who finished runner-up to Nelly Korda in this event twelve months ago, albeit at another venue, was unable to match the brilliance of her opening round of 63 but she did enough with her round of 70 to share the lead with Kang who was round in 68 today.

Ko explained the golf course player significantly more difficult today.

“I think the temperature was kind of a big thing. Par-5s that played pretty short yesterday, played like a completely different hole. Yesterday I hit driver 3-wood and a little flick wedge into 10, and today it was like a low driver, 3-wood, and like an 8-iron.

“So it just shows how much the weather and the conditions can make the golf course play so differently. It was a little bit more of a grind. I don’t think I was as sharp as yesterday.”

A new putter in the bag appears to be doing the trick for the still only 24 year old New Zealander.

“Last week was a bit of a struggle on the greens, and considering I play out at Lake Nona, you would think I would read it a lot better.

“I actually brought out a new putter this week. It’s called The Catch, so I was like, Oh, this putter is a catch. Kind of seeing something new sometimes I feel like it brings a little bit of a different energy.

“To kind of have putted well yesterday I thought it was a good to debut for the putter. At the end of the day all I can do is put a good roll on it. If it goes in, great; if not, you’re onto the next.”

The weather is expected to get even cooler over the weekend and Ko is prepared for it.

“I’m like a Florida resident and last week was cold and this weekend is going to be cold again. You know it’s cold when they’ve run out of hand warmers at the nearest supermarket.

“Everybody is going to play in pretty much similar conditions. It’s not like it’s going to be extra cold for people that tee off a little bit earlier and not so much in the afternoon. Yes, there is a little bit of a difference, but it’s not going to be miles different.

“You just have to play with the conditions that you get. Luckily for us I got to practice playing in four, five layers of clothing last week. That will kind of be the go-to goal tomorrow as well.”

Su Oh, fresh from her win at the WAPGA event in Brisbane two weeks ago, is nicely placed in a share of 10th while the only other Australian to make the cut was the 47-year-old and arguably Australia’s greatest ever player, Karrie Webb.

“Webb was delighted just to be back playing again and happy with the way she has played to date in her first LPGA Tour event since November of 2020.

“Yeah, I think coming out here this week, I guess it feels a lot like coming home. You had this life and this routine for over 20 years, 25 years, so you pick up where you left off pretty quickly.

“It feels comfortable, and it’s great to see a lot of friends that I haven’t seen for a long time and catch up with them. The banter back and forth and the caddies and some of the players, I do really miss that, so that’s been fun this week.

“I felt like I played pretty well for the two days. Didn’t make a lot putts, but for not having played a tournament for such a long time, it’s nice to be in the action on the weekend.

“I’ve lived down here for 23, 24 years now, so I guess I feel like a local as much as you can in Florida. Yeah, no, it’s nice. Been a nice turnout, and it’s been nice that everyone has appreciated that I’ve shown up to play. It’s made me feel special for sure.

Karrie Webb file photo – Henry Peters

Oh played with Webb today which given her win in the inaugural Karrie Webb Cup at Royal Queensland recently was perhaps fitting and Oh was singing the praises of her idol.

“I think she just gives back like so much. She really gives back to the people that are up and coming. There is not many people who would bring two girls, even when she was still like playing full time like to the U.S. Open when she’s probably like super stressed as well.

“Just to give the younger generation a chance at what she thinks is the pinnacle of golf. So it’s a gift for us to like experience that and be like a motivation for us when we turn pro, and hopefully make it out here.

“She’s hitting it so good at the moment. Not good for her standard, but she’s still ripping it. I love the way she hits her irons. It’s probably one of my favorites. Like so good, so high. Yeah, it’s nice.

“Especially when it’s so muddy as well. She’s just like clips it perfect and it goes very high. Very envious of her ball flight.”

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Jason Day finds form at happy hunting ground

Jason Day file photo

Jason Day and Torrey Pines get along just fine and today was another example of how the Southern California layout seems to fit the eye of the man who has won two professional events, finished runner-up at another and won a World Junior title over the oceanside facility near San Diego.

So, it is no surprise that a second round of 65 over the North Course layout (one of two used on the opening two days at Torrey Pines) has allowed Day to leap into a share of 6th place at the halfway stage of the Farmers Insurance Open.

Despite a bogey at his 11th hole Day stormed home over the closing nine in 32 including a hole out for eagle at his 16th hole and a twenty-footer for birdie at the last and now finds himself four shots from the lead held by Jon Rahm, Justin Thomas and Adam Schenk.

Day’s injuries woes have continued to plague him of late, his world ranking now of 129 his worst in 11 years and even today he suggested after his round that he was feeling old.

“I was just telling Joaco (One of Day’s playing partners for the day, Joaquin Niemann) that I feel old.

“Just like watching him today, he hit it wonderful the last two days and for me to — I was telling him in 2016 — I used to be fast. I was telling him at U.S. Open 2016 on the range I was swinging it 127, high 80s in the ball speed. I don’t know if those days are past me, maybe they are, but it’s good to kind of keep the body in check and keep the ball out in front of myself.”

Day was asked how his start compares to those he had in his previous wins at Torrey Pines and added; “I know that I typically got off to an average start on the South and then played a really good round on the North, and then you kind of get into the weekend, you’re kind of holding on for dear life.

“Yeah, no, I don’t know where I’m at, I haven’t even checked, I haven’t even really worried about it. It’s nice to be able to get in at 9 under.”

Given Day’s season in 2021 where he recorded just two top tens in 19 PGA Tour starts this is an encouraging sign and provides hope for the weekend.

“We’re into the weekend and not too far away from the lead hopefully and just give ourselves a chance.”

Marc Leishman, also somewhat of a course specialist at Torrey Pines with a win and two runner-up finishes previously, is the next best of the Australians in 23rd place and three behind Day and Cameron Davis another two shots back in 50th place and the only other Australian to make it into the final 36 holes.

 

 

 

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Steve Alker picks up where he left off in 2021

 

Steve Alker – at it again – photo PGA Tour

New Zealander Steve Alker has picked up where he left off in 2021 with a runner-up finish at the opening event of the 2022 PGA Tour Champions, the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai in Hawaii

Alker actually tied for the lead through 54 holes before losing a playoff at the 2nd extra hole to Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Both Alker and Jimenez stormed home in 31 including birdies at the last by both to force a playoff and finish one shot ahead of Vijay Singh and Canadian Stephen Ames.

Alker only joined the PGA Tour Champions in August of 2021 as a Monday qualifier but played his way to full status with a remarkable run of finishes in the latter half of last year, recording a remarkable nine top tens in ten starts, including his win in November and a runner-up finish at the season ending Charles Schwab Cup.

The win gained him access to this season opener, the field restricted to winners on the PGA Tour Champions over the past two years and senior major champions over the past five years.

Alker earns another US$200,000 for the runner-up finish and in just five months since joining the tour for over fifties he has accumulated US$1.35 million in earnings.

 

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Brilliant teenager Kim heads Asian Tour Order of Merit

Joohyun (Tom) Kim – photo Asian Tour Paul Lakatos

19-year-old Korean star, Joohyun (Tom) Kim, has claimed the Asian Tour Order of Merit following the completion of the final event of the extended 2020/2021 season in Singapore this weekend.

Kim’s win at last week’s Singapore International and this week’s runner-up finish at the Singapore yielded US$288,000 for Kim and swept him past the leader heading into these past two week’s Wade Ormsby who would eventually finish 3rd behind Kim and the winner of the Singapore Open Sadom Kaewkanjana.

Kim took over from Ormsby at last week’s Singapore International and Kaewkanjana also move ahead of Ormsby following this week’s victory, completing the season with US$508,000 in just eight events.

Kim now finds himself just inside the top 80 in the world having started the year in 131st position and further confirms the accolades being attributed to him by so many in the know.

Kim, who was based in Melbourne during some of the formative years of his golf, became familiar with Australasian golf fans when he led the New Zealand Open into the final round two years ago at the age of 18 before eventually finishing 4th.

Not only was it his incredible golfing skills that impressed at the Millbrook Resort in March of 2020, but the manner in which he conducted himself at such a young age.

Kim finished in a share of second this week at Sentosa Golf Club after a final round of 69 and, despite the R&A dropping the right for the winner of the Asian Tour Order of Merit to earn a start at the 2022 Open Championship, by finishing inside the top three in this weeks’ event and not otherwise exempt for the Open Kim will get to play the event at St Andrews in July.

The leading Australasian in this week’s event was New Zealander Ben Campbell who finished 8th, his best finish in nearly three years on the Asian Tour.

Ben Campbell best of the Australasians this week

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Anthony Quayle rides roller coaster to win QLD PGA

Anthony Quayle – another win at home – photo PGA of Australia

He might have been born in NSW and raised until the age of 14 in the Northern Territory, but 27-year-old Anthony Quayle is a self-confessed proud Queenslander and today he added further to the pride he has in representing the Sunshine State with his second Queensland State title to go with his 2020 Queensland Open Championship.

Quayle converted a six shot 54-hole lead into a two-shot victory over New South Welshman Daniel Gale at the Queensland PGA Championship, but that very simple summary hardly describes the dramas of a day which ebbed and flowed and at one stage appeared as if Quayle might blow such a significant final round lead.

As he, his fellow Queenslander, Louis Dobbelaar and New South Welshman Justin Warren teed off in the final group of the day, Quayle appeared likely to add this title to the 2020 Queensland Open he won an hour up the road at Club Pelican in Caloundra.

But six shot leads can prove difficult to maintain in a final round as there is the ongoing question whether a player should attack and extend the lead or consolidate that which he had built over the opening three days.

Two of those six shots disappeared at the first when Quayle hit a tree with his tee shot, almost lost his second after perhaps trying to do too much from a an awkward lie, pitched short after a spectator luckily found his ball and then missed a ten-footer for bogey.

Quayle was perhaps lucky to find his ball at the first – photo Bruce Young

Initially it was Dobbelaar who made the first statement when he hit a beautiful approach to the 1st converted for a birdie and he had nearly halved his own starting deficit of seven.

But four holes later, all six of Quayle’s starting lead had gone and the momentum had swung to 26-year-old Warren whose power had proved a valuable asset over the opening five holes with four consecutive birdies to get to 11 under and at that point he was tied with the apparently faltering Quayle.

Quayle somehow found managed to settle things down with what could be described as the shot of the week when he powered a 5 iron 180 metres through the wind to the 6th, the magnificent iron settling less than three feet from the hole and when Warren over-shot the green, found the hazard and took bogey, the pressure was released and the margin was three once again.

“I got off to a terrible start and Justin (Warren) was pushing really hard,” said the winner. “He didn’t miss a shot on those first five holes and then the 5 iron from 180 metres to 2 feet settled me down a little bit and I was able to build a little momentum off the back of that.

“From that point on I calmed down a lot and felt like I had more control of my ball and then I hit a really nice shot into the par 3 8th  and holed a nice putt and I think after that I felt pretty settle for most of the day.

“Louis though made a big charge on the back nine and was looking really solid for a while so overall it was probably a bit more stressful than I thought it would be but it was also a lot of fun.”

“I thought Louis was my biggest danger during the back nine but I did notice that when I got to the 17th green that Galey (Daniel Gale) was 10 under and although I knew I had a two shot lead playing the last, that tee shot is pretty daunting with the water carry and even if you hit the green there it is not all over.

“I was pleased to feel that come off the club well, hit a good shot and two putt.”

Quayle, who has played most of his golf on the Japan Golf since turning professional, has yet to win in that country but he played well at last week’s Australian PGA Championship after taking a lengthy break from golf, in fact he had not touched a club since late November before the start of last week’s event at nearby Royal Queensland.

“I was just relaxing and just trying to clear my mind after a busy year in Japan and take care of a few things. Then I got Covid two weeks ago and was locked up for a week and so the last two weeks have definitely exceeded my expectations.”

His coach Ken Bernd from the Hills International Academy in Jimboomba was not on the golf course today but perhaps reflecting just what that coach player relationship means to Quayle is that ten years after leaving Hills, Quayle still works with Bernd.

“Last year was a difficult year for me on and off the golf course personally so to start the year like this and get a win is a little bit of validation that I can still compete, play well and do some pretty cool stuff.”

The recently announced strategic alliance between the PGA Tour of Australasia and the DP World Tour provides opportunities for players performing well in Australia to gain pathways to other tours and Quayle is aware and excited by the prospect that further good performances at home might offer an opportunity to play in the US in 2023.

“I hear there are exemptions at the end of the year based on where we finish on the money list here so I will try and push very hard for that before I go to Japan and then try and keep my status in Japan early so I can have status there and push for a card in the US.”

Daniel Gale – strong closing nine earns runner-up finish – photo Bruce Young

Runner-up, Gale, has become a consistent performer on the Australasian Tour since winning an event in Papua New Guinea in 2018.

He powered home with a round of 66 to keep the winner honest until the last hole but he fell two short. It was, though, the second time he has finished runner-up in an Australasian Tour event in addition to his win in PNG.

It was also yet another good week for recently turned professional Louis Dobbelaar who after winning two significant amateur events in the US last year, turned to the paid ranks in November and finished 3rd at last week’s Australian PGA Championship and 3rd again this week. His earnings in those two weeks are over $80,000 so his career is under way with a bang.

The youngest player ever (15) to win the New Zealand Amateur Championship and with a very classy amateur career behind him, Dobbelaar looks well on his way to success in the paid ranks.

The tournament was played over the recently opened layout at the Nudgee Golf Club on the Gateway Motorway near Brisbane. The course will benefit from maturity in the years ahead but there is little doubting the location assisted in attracting a large crowd to the final day of the $200,000 event and a successful start to staging the Queensland PGA Championship.

Louis Dobbelaar – a fine start to his professional career – photo Bruce Young

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