The respective winners flank tournament host Ewan Porter
The inaugural staging of the Junior 6’s Invitational at the Cronulla Golf Club in Sydney was completed yesterday and already the talk turns to next year’s event and expanding on the tournament’s successful debut.
The brainchild of former two-time Nationwide Tour winner, Ewan Porter, himself a member of the Cronulla Golf Club during his amateur days, the event was administered by the Cronulla Golf Club along with Porter and Gold Coast based professional Peter Shaw and consisted of 36 holes of stroke-play over the opening two days followed by a rapid fire series of six hole knockout matches.
The respective male and female fields were restricted to players 17 years of age and under.
The leading eight players from the stroke-play phase played off on the final afternoon to determine the winners of both the girls’ and boys’ competitions.
West Australian Hayden Hopewell defeated current Australian Junior Champion Elvis Smylie of the Gold Coast in their final to win what he described as his most important title in his young career to date.
“My game plan for the super 6’s was to go for everything, don’t hold back and have no regrets,” said Hopewell.
“It paid off. I ended up being nine under for the 15 holes.
“This win is definitely up there. I won the Jack Newton (International) last year. I’m proud to be the inaugural winner.”
The finals would see both the Australian Boys and Girls Junior Champions defeated with RACV Royal Pines based Korean, Hye Park, who holds the Australian and NSW Junior Amateur titles along with the Queensland Amateur Championship, going down to Concord Golf Club (Sydney) Belinda Ji in the Girls’ event.
It’s an amazing win for me,” said Ji
“I haven’t really played anything like this before, so it feels special to win.”
Both players earn starts at their respective NSW Opens in November and March (girls)
Porter was delighted with the initial staging of the event is especially pleased with the base formed for future growth.
“I was really pleased how the event came together so well in its first year and with the opportunity to build on that then I see a great future for an event which is so close to my heart,” he said.
“The Cronulla Golf Club played such a role in my early golfing days and that the trophy for the Strokeplay phase in both the girls and the boys events was named after my Dad (Norm), who passed away a year ago, made the event even more special.”
Busy Australian Summer for Adam Scott
Photo – Adam Scott on a previous visit to the Australian Open
The announcement today that Adam Scott will play the Australian Open in Sydney in early December ensures a busy summer of golf for the Queenslander.
With Scott committing to the Australian PGA Championship earlier in the year and heading the International side for the Presidents Cup, the 39 year old will play three consecutive events in Australia in December.
It will be his busiest Australian schedule since 2013 when he triumphantly returned from his Masters breakthrough to win the Australian PGA Championship, the World Cup of Golf with Jason Day and to play the Australian Open in which he lost narrowly to Rory McIlroy.
The 2009 Stonehaven Cup winner and long-time Aussie fan favourite will make a 14th appearance in his national championship.
Scott, who is this week playing the Japan Open, will be returning home following a solid 2019 campaign, including three consecutive top-10 finishes in the recent FedEx Cup playoffs.
“I’m really looking forward to playing at The Australian Golf Club again and giving myself a chance at a second Stonehaven Cup,” Scott said of the 5-8 December tournament.
“Sydney is front of mind for me at the moment as we’ve also just announced a scholarship program with the University of Sydney.”
Scott has a remarkable Australian Open record. The nine-time Presidents Cup star has only once finished outside the top 15 in 13 previous appearances – including six top-fives – and his stroke average over 51 tournament rounds is an extraordinary 70.27 with his win coming at the nearby New South Wales Golf Club.
Scott’s signature adds even more class to an already stellar field that boasts fellow Aussie favourites Jason Day, Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith.
It includes four-time major champ Ernie Els, Open Championship hero Louis Oosthuizen and in-form European Tour stars Paul Casey and Sergio Garcia, as well as Presidents Cup debutant, CT Pan.
Sky Sport Becomes NZ Open Presenting Sponsor
Millbrook Resort – Host venue for the 2020 NZ Open
New Zealand’s premier golfing event, The New Zealand Open, is delighted to announce a new long-term partnership agreement, whereby current broadcast partner Sky Sport will also be the Presenting Sponsor for the event.
Sky Sport have supported the New Zealand Open as its broadcast partner since the tournament’s move to Queenstown eight years ago.
New Zealand Open Tournament Chairman John Hart is delighted to have Sky and the Sky Sport team continue their support and invest in the future of the tournament.
“It’s pleasing to have such an iconic New Zealand company providing support for our tournament,” said Mr. Hart
“Sky have been there from the start of our involvement with the event, and to now see them grow their part in the tournament is both reassuring and gratifying.
“This commitment from Sky allows us to continue planning for a positive long-term future for the tournament, as we strive to become one of the world’s pre-eminent Pro-Am events.”
Sky Chief Executive Martin Stewart says Sky is delighted to be supporting the New Zealand Open which has become a staple in the New Zealand sporting calendar.
“Sky has been broadcasting this special event for a number of years. It’s been fantastic to see how this tournament has grown into one of the leading events in the country in that time. We’re looking forward to continuing to work closely with the team at the New Zealand Open and its partners to take it to the next level.”
The tournament will now be known as The New Zealand Open, Presented by Sky Sport.
Below: the Sky Sport production team at the 2019 NZ Open
Australasians Chasing LPGA Tour Dream
Becky Kay – one of Australia’s best performed amateurs of late gets her chance
The LPGA Tour continues its search for new recruits when Stage 2 of its qualifying gets underway in Venice in Florida later today.
Amongst the field of 185 vying for a minimum of 30 positions in next month’s Q Series finals at Pinehurst Resort are five Australians and one New Zealander who play 72 holes at the Plantation Golf and Country Club.
Queenslander Robyn Choi had status on the LPGA Tour this season but such has been her indifferent form that she is required to start again at Stage 11.
Former Pepperdine University golfer Hira Naveed of Perth, New South Wales golfers Soo Jin Lee and Celina Juan and Queenslander Becky Kay also get their chance having advanced from Stage 1 in August while New Zealand’s Julianne Alvarez, a star during her time at the University of Washington, looks to join her fellow countrywoman, Lydia Ko, as the only New Zealanders on the LPGA Tour.
Big Payday for David McKenzie in North Carolina
David McKenzie – photo Henry Peters
52-year old Australian golfer, David McKenzie, has recorded his best ever finish on the USPGA Tour Champions after producing a final round of 63 at the SAS Championship in Cary in North Carolina.
McKenzie recovered from an early bogey today to produce a closing nine of 6 under 31 to finish just one shot behind American Jerry Kelly
McKenzie’s previous best was when 3rd at the Rapiscan event in early 2018 and the Pacific Links Bear Mountain event in late 2017, the latter of which occurred even before becoming a full member of the Champions Tour.
McKenzie also earned his biggest cheque in professional golf by winning US$184,000 today and moving to 37th on the Charles Schwab Cup money list.
The Victorian won several lesser events during his regular tour career, a runner-up finish at the Australian Masters in 2004 perhaps one of his best finishes in a Australasian Tour event.
He began his career in the over fifties with a top ten finish at the Senior Open Championship at Royal Porthcawl in 2017 and worked his way onto the Champions Tour with a series of a good finish and by earning partial status at the Tour School later that year.
Another of McKenzie’s contemporaries, Rod Pampling, also had a good week when he finished 12th this week while Stephen Leaney, in his first year on the Champions Tour after earning full status at last year’s Tour School, was 56th.
Pampling, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour, was playing just his second event on the Champions Tour courtesy of his career money list standing having also finished 16th two weeks ago on debut, mixing play on both tours at present.
Darren Beck’s Australasian Tour Breakthrough in Kalgoorlie
New South Welshman, Darren Beck, has won his first PGA Tour of Australasia event with a two-shot victory over long-time leader, Jarryd Felton, at the WA PGA Championship at the Kalgoorlie Golf Course in Kalgoorlie.
Beck’s final round of 69 was enough to edge him one clear of joint 54-hole leader, Felton, with Gold Coast based West Australian, Michael Sim, another two shots back and alone in in 3rd place.
Beck, whose only other victories as a professional came when winning an event on the Asian Tour in Brunei ten years ago and two events on the then Von Nida Tour earlier, surprised many with his bounce-back from an opening nine of 39 to record a final nine of 30 to edge clear of Felton.
“It feels great. It was a little nerve-wracking five or six holes in,” Beck said.
“There was a big change in scores. I birdied the 12th (hole) and Felts (Jarryd Felton) bogeyed so it quickly turned round. I thought I was playing for second for a while there.
“It just feels good to keep it together and finish the way I did. The putter was just unbelievable so I can’t explain how good that felt.”
Felton had been in or near the lead throughout but the Perth golfer was unable to hold out Beck, 17 years his senior.
Sim, one of the stars of the Nationwide Tour in 2009 when wining three times and playing his way to the PGA Tour, produced a final round of 67 to grab third place ahead of NSW’s golfer Robert Hogan.
New South Wales golfer, Blake Windred, who turned professional this week, impressed by finishing 8th in his debut in professional golf.
Australasians well off the pace in Italy
Matthew Fitzpatrick leader – Getty Images
Three Australians and one New Zealander live to fight another day at the Italian Open in Rome but if they are to have a chance of a week of any significance they have a lot of work to do over the final 36 holes.
Lucas Herbert (28th) and Wade Ormsby, Jason Scrivener and New Zealander Ryan Fox (44th) have survived the halfway cut at the Olgiata Golf Club.
The services of Sam Brazel, Scott Hend and Michael Campbell will not be required over the weekend.
Herbert brilliantly recovered from an opening round of 74 with a round of 65 today to move to 3 under par and within seven of the leader, Matthew Fitzpatrick, although an opening nine of 31 had promised event better.
Herbert needs a good finish over the next few weeks as he is currently in 118th place in the Race to Dubai Rankings with only the top 110 regaining their European Tour status for 2020 and so a strong finish this weekend will go a long way towards that goal.
Fitzpatrick leads by one over Denmark’s Joachim B Hansen but two shots back is a group of five in 3rd place including Justin Rose.
“Just a really solid day,” said the Englishman. “I figured out something with my irons after the second hole. I just needed to get a little bit more loft on it going back, something I’ve been working on since Wentworth, really. Just felt much more comfortable with my irons once I was out there. That certainly showed. Only missed one green after that.
“I think I got to seven under par and I thought, now I’m sort of in the mix, really, which is obviously where you want to be. I did feel the way I played on the front nine, I was able to push it on the back nine, certainly, to get to 10 under.
“It’s been a little while, Germany, which was back in June, that I was challenging and then Sweden. When you’re in these kind of positions, it’s always exciting. That’s why you play the game, and I look forward to the weekend.”
Australasians Featuring at Bridgestone Open
David Bransdon – One of several Australasians within touch of the lead
There is a strong Australasian presence at the top of the leaderboard at the Japan Golf Tour’s Bridgestone Open near in Chiba near Tokyo, six currently inside the top twenty six and within six shots of the lead at the completion of 36 holes.
Brad Kennedy heads that group at 8 under and three from the leader, the defending champion and one of the game’s hottest players at present, Shugo Imahira.
The event is being played just east of Tokyo and the biggest concern for tournament organisers over the weekend is the looming arrival of Typhoon Hagibis which is likely to play havoc with the event.
With the likelihood of round three being washed out and only a chance of the final round being played then it may be that the 36 hole results will be the final outcome although that has yet to be decided.
Kennedy has yet to record a top ten in twelve starts this season on the Japan Tour but three birdies to finish his round today have opened the door for something significantly better.
Fellow Australians Brendan Jones, David Bransdon and Adam Bland along with New Zealander Michael Hendry make up the group of Australians within striking distance.
Matthew Griffin is another shot back while Dylan Perry and Won Joon Lee have also made the cut but are well back.
File Phot0- Brad Kennedy – Getty Images
Jarryd Felton Moves Three Clear in Kalgoorlie
Jarryd Felton- PGA of Australia
24-year old West Australian Jarryd Felton has the lead at the halfway mark of the West Australian PGA Championship at the Graham Marsh designed Kalgoorlie Golf Course, the two-time Australasian Tour event winner opening up a three-shot lead over his nearest rival Darren Beck.
Felton, who shared the overnight lead with New South Welshman Jordan Junic, added a second round 67 to overtake the early day two leader, Beck, and extend his lead to three by the time he finished his round.
Felton missed the cut at the recent Alfred Dunhill Links event in Scotland but he has played this golf course well previously finishing 5th on two occasions.
Beck has struggled in the six events he has played on the Australasian Tour in 2019, missing the cut in three of the six events he has played but he, too, produced a round of 67 to be Felton’s nearest pursuer heading into the weekend in the Tier 2 A$137,000 event.
Justin Warren is one shot behind Beck while first round co-leader Junic and NSW’s Robert Hogan are tied for 4th.
Two of the more senior players in the field, Peter Lonard and Brett Rumford are nicely positioned in 6th place at 6 under and just three shots out of second place, Rumford continuing his recovery from wrist surgery late last year while Lonard who has played well in senior golf events when he has played is well placed.
SCORES
Betting Prospects for October 10th
Three events come under our betting spotlight this week. The PGA Tour is in Houston for the Houston Open, the European Tour is in Rome for the Italian Open and the Japan Tour is in Chiba for the Bridgestone Open.
Last week we gained small returns with Jon Rahm in Spain and I thought were home with course specialist Patrick Cantlay in Las Vegas so surely we are due for a better return.
Click below to listen
Inaugural Junior 6 Champions Decided
The respective winners flank tournament host Ewan Porter
The inaugural staging of the Junior 6’s Invitational at the Cronulla Golf Club in Sydney was completed yesterday and already the talk turns to next year’s event and expanding on the tournament’s successful debut.
The brainchild of former two-time Nationwide Tour winner, Ewan Porter, himself a member of the Cronulla Golf Club during his amateur days, the event was administered by the Cronulla Golf Club along with Porter and Gold Coast based professional Peter Shaw and consisted of 36 holes of stroke-play over the opening two days followed by a rapid fire series of six hole knockout matches.
The respective male and female fields were restricted to players 17 years of age and under.
The leading eight players from the stroke-play phase played off on the final afternoon to determine the winners of both the girls’ and boys’ competitions.
West Australian Hayden Hopewell defeated current Australian Junior Champion Elvis Smylie of the Gold Coast in their final to win what he described as his most important title in his young career to date.
“My game plan for the super 6’s was to go for everything, don’t hold back and have no regrets,” said Hopewell.
“It paid off. I ended up being nine under for the 15 holes.
“This win is definitely up there. I won the Jack Newton (International) last year. I’m proud to be the inaugural winner.”
The finals would see both the Australian Boys and Girls Junior Champions defeated with RACV Royal Pines based Korean, Hye Park, who holds the Australian and NSW Junior Amateur titles along with the Queensland Amateur Championship, going down to Concord Golf Club (Sydney) Belinda Ji in the Girls’ event.
It’s an amazing win for me,” said Ji
“I haven’t really played anything like this before, so it feels special to win.”
Both players earn starts at their respective NSW Opens in November and March (girls)
Porter was delighted with the initial staging of the event is especially pleased with the base formed for future growth.
“I was really pleased how the event came together so well in its first year and with the opportunity to build on that then I see a great future for an event which is so close to my heart,” he said.
“The Cronulla Golf Club played such a role in my early golfing days and that the trophy for the Strokeplay phase in both the girls and the boys events was named after my Dad (Norm), who passed away a year ago, made the event even more special.”