Jed Morgan his immediate future assured – photo Bruce Young
Queenslander Jed Morgan, the current Australian PGA Championship winner, will play in his first majors, this year’s US Open and Open Championship, after securing the Norman Von Nida Medal as the Order of Merit champion on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.
The talented Queenslander, just 22, was confirmed as the winner today by the PGA Australia Chair Rodger Davis, with an unassailable lead ahead of the Tailor-Made Building Services NT PGA Championship, the final event of the tour.
The rising star of Australian golf earned just over $190,000 for the season, with the PGA of Australia ensuring the Norman Von Nida Medalist would have automatic entry to the US Open at Brookline Country Club next month, and the Open Championship at St Andrews in July.
For the first time ever, Morgan will form one of three players on the PGA Tour of Australasia to gain a DP World Tour playing card, with the top three placed on the Order of Merit gaining exemption.
The 2022-23 DP World Tour season will begin at Morgan’s hometown Brisbane in November at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland, the same event that he won in stunning fashion earlier this year.
The Major Championships and DP World Tour opportunities are substantial for a player who has only been a professional for less than a year, capping off a stellar rise to prominence for the Golf Australia rookie squad member and the 2020 Australian Amateur champion.
The Norman Von Nida Medal, struck in honour of one of Australia’s greatest professional players, is awarded each year to the Order of Merit champion on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.
The final Order of Merit placings offer a significant carrot for those in contention, with everything to play for at the NT PGA Championship at Palmerston this weekend.
Blake Windred (NSW) currently sits in second with a $14,055 buffer to third placed Andrew Dodt (Queensland), with the likes of Dimi Papadatos (NSW), Louis Dobbelaar (Queensland) and seventh-placed Aaron Pike (NT) all a chance of leaping into the top three in Darwin to claim European status.
The top five on the Order of Merit list are also given exemptions into the final stage of Korn Ferry Tour qualifying school in the United States this year, so there is plenty on the line this weekend at the NT PGA.
Morgan’s form after his breakthrough win in January dropped off as perhaps the realisation of his achievement and the repercussions for him sunk in but in m,ore recent events he is finding form again and although he will not be involved this week, the initiative by the PGA of Australia to provide these exemptions through their stronger alliance with the DP World and PGA Tour’s could well set him up for a lengthy and successful professional career.
“This is something that I’m going to treasure forever,” Morgan said today.
“Obviously as a young player I’m heading away to follow my dreams and I’m focused on what is ahead of me, but to win an Order Of Merit is something special, I know, and the opportunities that it provides for me are priceless.
“I’m thankful to the PGA for this and I hope that I can justify it by playing well. I’ll certainly by trying hard and I can’t wait to get to America and then to Scotland to play in those majors. Clearly it’s been a massive change in my career and in my life and I’ll always be grateful for getting this kickstart.”
PGA of Australia Chair Rodger Davis said Morgan’s situation epitomised what the PGA Tour of Australasia was trying to achieve when it reached agreement with the DP World Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour about the benefits of Order Of Merit placings.
“We’re trying to create the pathways for these great young players to walk through and chase the world. We have sensational talent in Australia, Jed’s a perfect example of that.
“What he did at Royal Queensland winning by 11 shots is exceptional. So what he needs is to be given opportunities, and as a Tour, we’re working hard to create those opportunities, not just for Jed, but for all our players.
“We bat above in terms of population to high quality golfers, and it’s critical for us to form these alliances with the DP World Tour so that we can keep producing some of the best players in world golf,” he said.
ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit (through WA Open)
1. Jediah Morgan $190,408.77
2. Blake Windred $125,285.83
3. Andrew Dodt* $111,230.70
4. Dimitrios Papadatos* $110,261
5. Anthony Quayle $97,217.33
6. Louis Dobbelaar* $96,691.10
7. Aaron Pike* $93,480.83
8. Brad Kennedy $85,985
9. Jarryd Felton $78,775
10. Daniel Gale* $77,901.88
Asterisk highlights players playing in this week’s event in Darwin.
Jed Morgan wins Order of Merit but still a lot at stake at NTPGA
Jed Morgan his immediate future assured – photo Bruce Young
Queenslander Jed Morgan, the current Australian PGA Championship winner, will play in his first majors, this year’s US Open and Open Championship, after securing the Norman Von Nida Medal as the Order of Merit champion on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.
The talented Queenslander, just 22, was confirmed as the winner today by the PGA Australia Chair Rodger Davis, with an unassailable lead ahead of the Tailor-Made Building Services NT PGA Championship, the final event of the tour.
The rising star of Australian golf earned just over $190,000 for the season, with the PGA of Australia ensuring the Norman Von Nida Medalist would have automatic entry to the US Open at Brookline Country Club next month, and the Open Championship at St Andrews in July.
For the first time ever, Morgan will form one of three players on the PGA Tour of Australasia to gain a DP World Tour playing card, with the top three placed on the Order of Merit gaining exemption.
The 2022-23 DP World Tour season will begin at Morgan’s hometown Brisbane in November at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland, the same event that he won in stunning fashion earlier this year.
The Major Championships and DP World Tour opportunities are substantial for a player who has only been a professional for less than a year, capping off a stellar rise to prominence for the Golf Australia rookie squad member and the 2020 Australian Amateur champion.
The Norman Von Nida Medal, struck in honour of one of Australia’s greatest professional players, is awarded each year to the Order of Merit champion on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.
The final Order of Merit placings offer a significant carrot for those in contention, with everything to play for at the NT PGA Championship at Palmerston this weekend.
Blake Windred (NSW) currently sits in second with a $14,055 buffer to third placed Andrew Dodt (Queensland), with the likes of Dimi Papadatos (NSW), Louis Dobbelaar (Queensland) and seventh-placed Aaron Pike (NT) all a chance of leaping into the top three in Darwin to claim European status.
The top five on the Order of Merit list are also given exemptions into the final stage of Korn Ferry Tour qualifying school in the United States this year, so there is plenty on the line this weekend at the NT PGA.
Morgan’s form after his breakthrough win in January dropped off as perhaps the realisation of his achievement and the repercussions for him sunk in but in m,ore recent events he is finding form again and although he will not be involved this week, the initiative by the PGA of Australia to provide these exemptions through their stronger alliance with the DP World and PGA Tour’s could well set him up for a lengthy and successful professional career.
“This is something that I’m going to treasure forever,” Morgan said today.
“Obviously as a young player I’m heading away to follow my dreams and I’m focused on what is ahead of me, but to win an Order Of Merit is something special, I know, and the opportunities that it provides for me are priceless.
“I’m thankful to the PGA for this and I hope that I can justify it by playing well. I’ll certainly by trying hard and I can’t wait to get to America and then to Scotland to play in those majors. Clearly it’s been a massive change in my career and in my life and I’ll always be grateful for getting this kickstart.”
PGA of Australia Chair Rodger Davis said Morgan’s situation epitomised what the PGA Tour of Australasia was trying to achieve when it reached agreement with the DP World Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour about the benefits of Order Of Merit placings.
“We’re trying to create the pathways for these great young players to walk through and chase the world. We have sensational talent in Australia, Jed’s a perfect example of that.
“What he did at Royal Queensland winning by 11 shots is exceptional. So what he needs is to be given opportunities, and as a Tour, we’re working hard to create those opportunities, not just for Jed, but for all our players.
“We bat above in terms of population to high quality golfers, and it’s critical for us to form these alliances with the DP World Tour so that we can keep producing some of the best players in world golf,” he said.
ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit (through WA Open)
1. Jediah Morgan $190,408.77
2. Blake Windred $125,285.83
3. Andrew Dodt* $111,230.70
4. Dimitrios Papadatos* $110,261
5. Anthony Quayle $97,217.33
6. Louis Dobbelaar* $96,691.10
7. Aaron Pike* $93,480.83
8. Brad Kennedy $85,985
9. Jarryd Felton $78,775
10. Daniel Gale* $77,901.88
Asterisk highlights players playing in this week’s event in Darwin.
Lydia Ko’s candid comment adds to her fan base
Lydia Ko in action yesterday – photo Harry How Getty / LPGA
A beautifully candid comment by New Zealander Lydia Ko after finishing in a share of third in last week’s LPGA Palos Verdes Championship in Los Angeles has added many more admirers to the army of golfing fans she already enjoys.
When asked by on course commentator Jerry Foltz at the completion of her final round as to whether the need to have physical therapy during her round on what appeared to be a back issue she had been suffering was a concern, Ko responded.
“I hope not. It’s that time of the month,” said Ko referring to the fact that the issue had been period pain. “I know the ladies watching are probably like, yeah, I got you. So, when that happens my back gets really tight and I’m all twisted. It’s not the first time that Chris has seen me twisted. I felt a lot better after he came.
“Yeah, there you go. I know you’re lost for words, Jerry. Honesty it is.”
During her now many years in the media spotlight and Ko’s responses to the thousands of questions she has faced in media conferences during that time, it has often been hard to isolate comments that are all that quotable, but she certainly changed that yesterday and one could not help but be delighted by her open and candid response involving the issues facing many sportswomen.
It opens the door for issues such as period pain, unique to women in any sporting arena, becoming more regularly discussed and not the taboo subject where no man or even woman has dared to tread.
Congratulations Lydia Ko for creating an environment where the raising of such issues can be more regular and more comfortable than has been the case in the past.
I now have even more respect for the world number three than previously the case and that it was a woman of her standing that was prepared to be so candid, further allows for the normalising of such discussion and creates an awareness of such issues that might not have been the case previously.
Harrison Endycott’s maiden win both emotional and timely
A very happy Harrison Endycott – photo Getty Images. Article PGA Tour.
Sydney’s Harrison Endycott was not ever sure he would win in the United States, or ever win again for that matter. The 25-year-old Australian last won in 2016, when he was still an amateur, and Endycott described much of his roughly five-year professional career as “frustrating” multiple times this week.
All those frustrations were put to rest Sunday at The Ledges, as Endycott closed out a five-stroke victory at the Huntsville Championship with an even-par 70, capping the final round by draining an 11-footer for birdie on the 72nd hole to finish at 16-under par.
Endycott carried a five-stroke lead into the final round, the largest 54-hole advantage on the Korn Ferry Tour since April 2019, and he turned it into the largest margin of victory in a Korn Ferry Tour event since PGA TOUR rookie Cameron Young’s five-stroke win at the 2021 NV5 Invitational presented by Old National Bank.
“I mean, it’s just a long journey to get here, and we dealt with a lot of real hardships, our family,” said the 25 year old. “Sadly I lost my mum to cancer in 2012, and sadly last week I just lost my grandmother, too.
“The timing of this win is just really special, and, yeah, what a great place to do it as well. I love coming here. I
remember first time I was here was last year and I loved it. Yeah, it’s just super special to be able to do that. Hits
home a little bit because not being able to do it in front of my friends and family, but, yeah, no, I’m very blessed to be able to get it done this week.”
“Yeah, she’s always, and same as my grandmother,” responded Endycott when asked if his mother had been in his thoughts during the final round. Sadly, life just is cruel. You know, you just got to embrace like great moments.
“I’ve had a lot of disappointments in my life and this is definitely not a disappointment.I’m just kind of just a bit shellshocked right now. I’m just trying to figure out kind of how to eat humble pie a little bit right now.
“We’ve still got a golf tournament to get ready for next week, and I’m really looking forward playing in Nashville next week, and Knoxville. So two Tennessees are great. So, yeah, like I said, it’s just a really, really emotional win for me.”
Endycott concluded a decorated amateur career with five individual victories in the 2016 calendar year, highlighted by a win at the prestigious Porter Cup, and a team win for Australia alongside future PGA TOUR winner Cam Davis and future Korn Ferry Tour winner Curtis Luck at the 2016 World Amateur Team Championship. Shortly after a top-10 at the 2017 Asia-Pacific Amateur, Endycott turned professional and debuted at the New South Wales Open Championship in November 2017.
Endycott’s next two seasons (2018 and 2019) were spent on PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, where he ended both without much in the way of improved status, but gained incredible perspective on life as a professional golfer.
“It’s challenging off the golf course and toughens you up as a player. “I learned how to manage myself away from the golf course… learning how to get away from the money. This time (in 2017), I was always looking at how much I could make, whereas (Latinoamérica) Tour taught me how to get into contention more.”
Endycott eventually moved to Scottsdale, Arizona and earned Korn Ferry Tour membership via Final Stage of the 2019 Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament. As a rookie last season, Endycott logged three top-10s, including a season-high T4 at the 2021 Visit Knoxville Open, and six top-25s across 35 starts. After the high point of Knoxville, Endycott bottomed out with nine missed cuts and a withdrawal in his final 10 starts of the season, leaving him 81st on the 2020-21 Regular Season Points List, six spots outside the top 75 for fully exempt status in 2022.
The Sydney, Australia native tried to improve his status at Final Stage of the 2021 Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament, but finished T80 and failed to do so.
Prior to Sunday’s win, the closest Endycott came to a professional victory was a runner-up finish at the 2018 Victorian Open, an Australian state open championship sanctioned by PGA Tour of Australasia. Endycott watched as Simon Hawkes birdied the 72nd hole and forced a playoff, which he lost. Endycott posted a T2 on PGA Tour of Australasia in 2019, but finished six strokes behind the champion.
Endycott’s win launched him from 103rd to 12th on the 2022 Regular Season Points List. With 573 points, Endycott is primed for a legitimate run at his first PGA TOUR card, but the regular season is only through 10 of 23 events and he knows more first-time winners await their own moment atop the mountain.
The 2022 Korn Ferry Tour season continues Thursday with the first round of the Simmons Bank Open for the Snedeker Foundation, hosted by The Grove in College Grove, Tennessee.
Scores
Braden Becker holds off Hopewell to win first title
Braden Beacker (centre) holds his precious trophy – photo PGA Tour of Australasia
29-year-old Braden Becker has won his first PGA Tour of Australasia title with a one-shot victory over outstanding amateur and defending champion, Hayden Hopewell, at the West Australian Open at the Freemantle Golf Club south of Perth.
Born in Pietermaritzburg in South Africa before moving to Perth at the age of 8, the now Mandurah based professional has become a consistent performer on the pro-am circuit in the west but until this week his best performance in a PGA Tour of Australasia event has been when runner-up at the SP PNG Open and 4th at the WAPGA in 2020.
Today Becker took a four shot lead into the final round but eventually held on to win narrowly over Hopewell who began the final day five off the pace, with NSW’s Nathan Barbieri another shot back in third place.
In a rather bizarre finish, Becker bounced his wedged fourth shot at the closing par-5 off the golf ball of playing partner Nathan Barbieri, sitting in the fringe behind the green, and back to a foot from the flag.
It left him with a tap-in par when it could have been so much worse, and moments later a stunned Hopewell three-putted from long range to hand the win to Becker, 29, who has been a prolific winner of pro-ams but had never completed the task over four rounds.
Tied for 4th place were previous winner and US Amateur runner-up Oliver Goss and the in form Josh Armstrong who shared the third and fourth prizes in the professional pool given Hopewell’s amateur status.
“I’m in shock,” said Becker. “I’m still shaking. Hit a lot of good shots and I hit some terrible ones and I got punished for them, and I just scraped through.”
Becker receives a two-year exemption to play on the Australasian Tour. “It’s a really good feeling, knowing I’ve got somewhere to play for a couple of years, it’s awesome, but it also gives me the confidence and the dollars to go and push somewhere else, whether it’s DP World Tour or Korn Ferry.”
SCORES
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.
SCORES
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.
SCORES
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.
SCORES
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.
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.”
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.