Top Ryggs Johnston – image Golf Australia ; Bottom Jiyai Shin – image Golf Australia
24-year-old American Ryggs Johnston completed an outstanding performance in just his second as a cardholder on the DP World Tour by claiming a three-shot victory at the ISPS Handa Australian Open at Kingston Heath.
The man from Montana, began his final round tied in the lead with playing partner Lucas Herbert with an eagle at his very first hole but it would a roller coaster of a ride to the turn with two birdies and three bogeys to begin the back nine at 1 under for the day and 15 under for the tournament.
Johnston was tied with Herbert as he made the turn but at that point the pair had been joined in the lead by 28 year old West Australian Curtis Luck, one of Australian golf’s most outstanding amateurs until turning professional in 2017.
Luck, who won the US and Asia Pacific Amateur Championships along with an Eisenhower Trophy Medal in a stellar 2016, was playing 30 minutes ahead of Johnston and Herbert. After reaching the turn in 33, he added another birdie at the 10th to be at 15 under and tied for the lead.
Marc Leishman was just one back and so it was all on for the final nine holes with any one of seven or eight players still, very much, in the hunt.
When Luck birdied the 13th and 14th to move into a clear lead however it appeared as if the title might well go to the 2016 WA Open Champion until that is he found trouble at the 17th and 18th to finish his championship at 15 under after a final round of 68.
Out on the course, Johnston had birdied the 10th and when he added birdies at the 14th and 15th he had taken the lead and with a run of pars from there he was the champion by three shots over Luck while Herbert dropped away dramatically with three bogeys for a homeward nine of 39 and an agonising share of 5th place.
“It was definitely a little stressful,” said the winner. “The weather was kind of up and down. It was really nice for 15 minutes and really bad for 15 minutes and I knew I was right in it and just had to come about towards the end.
“On 14 I kind of hit it right again and wasn’t in a great spot and I got myself out of trouble and made a nice 12-15 footer for birdie there and then made a longer one on 15 and that’s kind of when I was really like, ‘alright, you can win this tournament, let’s go’.
“And then when I walked up to 17 green, I finally saw the leaderboard and saw I had a three-shot lead and then I could take a little bit of a breath and just say, I just need to hit a couple more good shots and I’ll be done.”
Having just secured his DP World Tour card at the gruelling and recent Q School, Johnston was asked what his expectations were ahead of the tournament.
“I pretty much came to Australia fresh off Q School. I mean I flew back to the States for less than a day and then flew out here and honestly I was just trying to use the last tournament as kind of a warm-up and then hopefully played better in this one and kind of did that. But as far as winning, I probably didn’t really expect to come out here and win. I just wanted to come out here and play good golf and I just happened to put myself in good position today.”
For Luck it was a case of what might have been, but it is a delight to see this very artistic and creative golfer back in form after a significant neck injury has curtailed his career of late.
While disappointed at not finishing off the event as he would have liked and potentially challenging for his own national open title, Luck will gain a start at the Open Championship in July as one of the three qualifiers via International Final Qualifying from this event.
Johnston and Marc Leishman were the other two who gained a start at Royal Portrush in July.
“Obviously, that is a massive perk,” said Luck referring to a start at the Open. “The finish wasn’t ideal but at the end of the day three months ago I wasn’t hitting balls so I don’t think I can complain too much.
“I think I have been rusty in the four events I have played here in Australia and I think that probably showed down the stretch and I was doing my best to cling on but it got the better of me but am pretty happy how things are.
“Things are looking up but it is still a balancing act and still don’t quite know what next year looks like.”
Luck has a medical exemption for the Korn Ferry Tour but his schedule will be dependent on his continued progress from injury.
Jiyai Shin lived up to expectations by winning the Australian Women’s Open by two shots from the winner in each of the past two years Ashleigh Buhai of Korea.
Shin had opened up a substantial lead through the middle of her round but in the end, the victory was by just two.
“Well I had few shots lead, but I’m still try to keep focus on my game because on this golf course with the conditions, nobody know till the end.
“So I tried to keep focused, but green speed was a little bit faster than yesterday so it was a little bit, I tried to little bit just to touch it, but some holes worked, some holes didn’t work. But you can see I’m still holding my trophy so yeah. Well it was not easy but I’m really happy, very much.”
It would however be another eight shots back to Korean amateur Hyojin Yang while Grace Kim and Hannah Green shared the leading Australian honours in 6th place, albeit 11 shots from Shin.
Men’s Results
Women’s Results
Ben Henkel another first time Australasian Tour winner
Ben Henkel – yet another first time winner on the PGA Tour of Australasia – image Australian Golf Media
The final event of 2014 on the PGA of Australasia has been won by yet another first-time winner with Victorian Ben Henkel taking out the Gippsland Super 6 event at the Warragul Country Club with the Victorian’s par at the first extra hole of a playoff securing him victory in extra time over Queensland’s Dylan Gardner in the six-hole final match.
Henkel had won through to the final with a tense victory over NSW golfer Corey Lamb at the third extra hole in their semi-final while Dylan Gardner had eased into the final with an easy win over Andrew Evans.
With both Henkel and Gardener tied after six holes in the final, Hinkle managed to par the first extra hole to take the title and the A$36,000 cheque.
Henkel has missed four of his last six cuts in PGA Tour of Australasia events but found a way in this unique format to excel after gaining his Australasian Tour card earlier in 2024.
“It’s amazing and I was so fortunate,” said an emotional Henkel after seeing off Dylan Gardner in the final medal match play battle of Sunday.
“I’ve got some great mates that made the trip down, and my mum and dad.I’ve been battling so hard with my game and everything, just fighting through it.
“I’ve had a lot of early mornings before work, after work, just really believing in myself to get a future out of this game. This is massive for me, massive.”
Henkel will race into 15th position on the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit as the 2024 year draws to a close.
Leaderboard
Buchanan and Coletta earn important playing rights
Brett Coletta – an important week for the Victorian in Saudi Arabia – image Australian Golf Media
Australians Brett Coletta and Jack Buchanan have added another strong to their bows following the completion of LIV Golf Promotions in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia overnight.
The event was staged to determine who would graduate to the LIV Golf League in 2025 and while that honour would go to only the top qualifier there were another ten places available for the lucrative International Series events which form part of the Asian Tour schedule.
Coletta and Buchanan finished in a share of 4th position and so will add eight of the International Series events to their schedule in 2025, each expected to carry prizemoney of at least US$2 million.
Coletta played the Korn Ferry Tour for several seasons but in recent years he has focused his attention on the PGA Tour of Australasia and wherever else he has been able to gain a start.
By finishing third on last year’s PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit Coletta has his DP World Tour card for this new season there but this additional playing option offers him the possibility of a full schedule.
The winner of both the Queensland and Vic Opens, Coletta is considered by many to be a significantly better player than his results to date have suggested and despite some ordinary recent form this might be just the boost he needs to elevate his career.
South Australian Buchanan is currently in 4th position on the current PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, following wins in Kalgoorlie and Adelaide and despite missing the cut in last week’s Vic PGA Championship his trip to Saudi Arabia has proven very worthwhile.
Buchanan is arguably, perhaps along with Elvis Smylie, the most improved player on the PGA Tour of Australasia and his progress over the next few months will be watched with interest.
The winner of the event, and the man who will be playing LIV Golf next season, is Lee Chieh-po of Taiwan.
Cory Crawford earns welcome Vic PGA victory.
Cory Crawford – image Australian Golf media
32-year-old Queensland professional, Cory Crawford, has today won his second PGA Tour of Australasia title with a one-shot victory over American Tyler McCumber
An outstanding performer during his amateur days, Crawford has been plagued by injury in recent times but, through the early stages of his professional career, won several pro-am and the 2017 PNG Open.
A fractured back was the issue but despite missed cuts at the Australian PGA and Open Championships there had been some solid finishes just prior and this victory and the A$45,000 will be a great boost for him.
Making the turn at Moonah Links Course on the Mornington Peninsula two shots behind the American Tyler McCumber, Crawford produced a closing nine of 33 to catch and pass McCumber, a birdie at his final hole all but sealing the deal.
Playing in the group behind McCumber was unable to produce the one final birdie he needed to force the playoff. McCumber is the some of former successful PGA Tour professional Mark McCumber.
Recent third-place finisher at the Australian PGA Championship, Anthony Quayle, finished alone in 3rd place and two shots from the winner. After only narrowly making the cut on Friday, Quayle’s weekend surge was impressive.
Crawford jumps to 11th position on the PGA Tour of Australasian money list.
Leaderboard
Cam Smith and Ben Campbell narrowly miss in Riyadh
Cam Smith – image Paul Lakatos Asian Tour
Smith has staged a final-round comeback in what is the final event of his 2024 golfing year for the Asian Tour, narrowly missing his first victory of the year when going down in a playoff to Joaquin Niemann.
Smith’s final round of 64 at the Riyadh Golf Club in Saudi Arabia saw him catch Niemann and American Caleb Surratt and then wait while Niemann and Surratt, playing in the day’s final group, completed their round.
Smith was one behind and finished his day when the final pair played the final hole but they offered Smith a lifeline when they both dropped a shot for all three to finish at 21 under.
All three would birdie the first hole of the playoff before Niemann hit his pitch to the same hole the second time around to less than a foot from the hole and when Surratt and Smith missed makable birdie chances the title went to the Chilean.
For Smith it was his 5th runner-up finish of the year, but the win which has proved elusive since August of 2023 again went begging.
New Zealand’s Ben Campbell, chasing a win in the International Series rankings and a spot in the Liv Golf League next season, staged a valiant bid with weekend rounds of 64 and 64 to finish just one shot from the playoff.
Campbell finishes his season in 3rd place in the rankings behind Niemann and Uihlein and runner-up on the Asian Tour Order of Merit with earnings of US$1.15 million.
Matt Jones finished 9th this week while Travis Smyth was the next best of the Australasians when he tied for 17th.
Smyth finished as the leading Australian on the 2024 Asian Tour Order of Merit in 8th position.
Leaderboard in Riyadh
Asian Tour Order of Merit Final
Brendan Jones’ brilliance earns PGA Tour Champions playing rights
Brendan Jones – file image – courtesy of NZ Open
Canberra golfer Brendan Jones will join the increasing number of Australasian golfers plying their trade on the PGA Tour Champions following the completion of the Final Stage of Qualifying for the 2025 PGA Tour Champions in Scottsdale in Arizona.
Knowing he needed a good final round to force his way into the top 5 who gain full cards for the lucrative over 50’s tour, Jones uncomfortably began the final day with three bogeys through eight holes before things turned around dramatically.
Jones birdied six of his last ten holes for a round of 68 to become one of the three players tied for 3rd place and to earn the final cards for next season.
Jones, the 1999 Australian Amateur Champion, the 2022 New Zealand Open Champion, the runner-up in the 2012 Australian Open behind Peter Senior and a prolific winner of titles and money in Japan, has just completed a horror year in Japan and Asia but his form reversal at both Stage one and the Final Stage of Qualifying has seen him open up a new and potentially lucrative chapter in his career.
“It was an incredibly stressful experience but worth it all now,” said Brendan after receiving his card.
While Jones’s news was good, the same cannot be said for his fellow Australians Scott Barr and Andre Stolz.
Stolz and Barr both missed out on a place in the top five by one agonising shot, Barr, in particular, no doubt rueing a last-hole bogey.
The pair will get their chance to attempt qualifying for events on the PGA Tour Champions but the surety of a card would have made the world of difference.
Mathew Goggin and Brad Kennedy finished 14th and 26th respectively in the field of 78.
Leaderboard
Smith bounces back from Australian Open disappointment
Cam Smith – file image Golf Australia
Cam Smith has bounced back from a disappointing week at the Australian Open to share the lead at the halfway stage of the PIF Saudi International in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Smith is 11 under along with Joaquin Niemann, Peter Uihlein and Logan McCallister in the season ending event on the Asian Tour and the last of the International Series of events for 2024.
Smith added a seven-birdie second round of 64 to head into the weekend with his co leaders although they have just a one-shot margin over another group of four, namely Stewart Lawton, Tyrrell Hatton, Jason Kokrak and Smith’s fellow Australian Travis Smyth.
In fact, a massive number of 18 players are within just three shots of the lead in the US$5 million event which is set to determine the final standings in the International Series.
The winner of the International Series at the completion of this event earns the right to play the LIV Golf Tour in 2025 and with 1000 points on offer this week then several players are still in with a hope including New Zealand’s Ben Campbell currently third in the standings behind the current leader Peter Uihlein.
Campbell is at 6 under for the event and five from the lead.
Two-time Australian Open winner, Matt Jones is amongst the group at 9 under and just two from the lead.
Leaderboard
14 strong Australasian challenge at Asian Tour finale
Cam Smith – one of 14 Australasians in the field this week – image Golf Australia
The 2024 Asian Tour season draws to a close tonight when the US$5 million PIF Saudi International is played at the Riyadh Golf Club in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A strong line-up of 14 Australasian golfers get their last chance of the year to add to their bank accounts, headed perhaps by Cam Smith who will be joined by Lucas Herbert, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones and New Zealand’s Danny Lee from Liv Golf, the number two player on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Ben Campbell, the 11th ranked player in Asia this season, Travis Smyth, Maverick Antcliff, Daniel Gale, Brett Coletta, Jak Carter, Wade Ormsby, Nick Voke and Jed Morgan.
Gale, Coletta and Carter are in the field via their standing on the last Australasian Tour Order of Merit, providing a rare opportunity to play for the sort of money on offer this week.
With the likes of Joaquin Niemann, Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, previous winner, Abraham Ancer, Harold Varner, John Catlin and last week’s winner in Qatar, Peter Uihlein, in the field, their task is not an easy one, but it is a great opportunity in a 120 player field to finish the year off on a high ahead of next season.
TEE TIMES
Australian PGA and Open Champions head for South Africa
Sun City – image Getty Images
Several years ago, the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City was one of the richest tournaments in world golf with a then-restricted field making it even more attractive for those who qualified to play.
These days the event still carries a good purse of US$6 million but in relative terms it has fallen far behind the many other events in world golf and the field has been extended to 70 players.
Still, for those in the field who have played for less than $US 1.5 million in each of the last two weeks in Australia the prizemoney is a welcome boost to the early DP World schedule for the 2024/2025 season.
Two of those are the winners of the two events in Australia, Elvis Smylie and Ryggs Johnston, both of whom are entries into the event and add who add an intriguing dynamic to the event given both were first time winners on the DP World Tour and that both are now into their first season on the DP World Tour.
Two weeks ago Smylie was considering the possibility of gaining entry to the DP World Tour perhaps by finishing inside the top three of the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit but his win in Brisbane has opened up many doors for him including opportunity to play in an event and a country which perhaps seemed a far off dream in mid-November.
The same applies to the latest Australian Open Champion Ryggs Johnston. The American arrived in Australia after gaining his playing rights for the DP World Tour via Final Q School Qualifying a month ago but his impressive three shot victory at Kingston Heath has him second only to Smylie in the Race to Dubai rankings and adding yet another exotic flavour to the tour and this event.
The event no longer attracts the absolute elite of the game but a field that includes Corey Connors, Will Zalatoris, Max Homa, Christian Bezuidenout, Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard and Danny Willett, along with a host of highly talented South African golfers, carries a considerable level of intrigue.
New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier will join Elvis Smylie in the field as the only other Australasian, the 2023 British Masters finding a little form of late after a perhaps disappointing follow-up to his impressive 2023.
The other player who is sure to make his mark on the DP World Tour this season is Chinese star Wenyi Ding.
After a glittering amateur career, Ding turned professional through the Global Amateur Pathway, which was launched by the DP World Tour, PGA Tour and The R&A to help the best eligible male amateur players within the top 20 on the World Amateur Golf Rankings take the next step in their careers and secure playing rights on the DP World Tour.
Although only a few months into his professional career, Ding is already a global golf sensation.
The Beijing-born golfer was the first in Arizona State history to win both the Pacific-12 Conference Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year. He was also the first Chinese golfer to win a United States Golf Association (USGA) title when he claimed the 2022 US Junior Amateur, and this year he won the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship.
By staying professional Ding has turned down the opportunity to play in the Masters and the Open Championship in 2025 as a result of his win at the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship but he might get there anyway given his incredible promise.
Tee Times
Johnston and Shin claim Australian Open titles
Top Ryggs Johnston – image Golf Australia ; Bottom Jiyai Shin – image Golf Australia
24-year-old American Ryggs Johnston completed an outstanding performance in just his second as a cardholder on the DP World Tour by claiming a three-shot victory at the ISPS Handa Australian Open at Kingston Heath.
The man from Montana, began his final round tied in the lead with playing partner Lucas Herbert with an eagle at his very first hole but it would a roller coaster of a ride to the turn with two birdies and three bogeys to begin the back nine at 1 under for the day and 15 under for the tournament.
Johnston was tied with Herbert as he made the turn but at that point the pair had been joined in the lead by 28 year old West Australian Curtis Luck, one of Australian golf’s most outstanding amateurs until turning professional in 2017.
Luck, who won the US and Asia Pacific Amateur Championships along with an Eisenhower Trophy Medal in a stellar 2016, was playing 30 minutes ahead of Johnston and Herbert. After reaching the turn in 33, he added another birdie at the 10th to be at 15 under and tied for the lead.
Marc Leishman was just one back and so it was all on for the final nine holes with any one of seven or eight players still, very much, in the hunt.
When Luck birdied the 13th and 14th to move into a clear lead however it appeared as if the title might well go to the 2016 WA Open Champion until that is he found trouble at the 17th and 18th to finish his championship at 15 under after a final round of 68.
Out on the course, Johnston had birdied the 10th and when he added birdies at the 14th and 15th he had taken the lead and with a run of pars from there he was the champion by three shots over Luck while Herbert dropped away dramatically with three bogeys for a homeward nine of 39 and an agonising share of 5th place.
“It was definitely a little stressful,” said the winner. “The weather was kind of up and down. It was really nice for 15 minutes and really bad for 15 minutes and I knew I was right in it and just had to come about towards the end.
“On 14 I kind of hit it right again and wasn’t in a great spot and I got myself out of trouble and made a nice 12-15 footer for birdie there and then made a longer one on 15 and that’s kind of when I was really like, ‘alright, you can win this tournament, let’s go’.
“And then when I walked up to 17 green, I finally saw the leaderboard and saw I had a three-shot lead and then I could take a little bit of a breath and just say, I just need to hit a couple more good shots and I’ll be done.”
Having just secured his DP World Tour card at the gruelling and recent Q School, Johnston was asked what his expectations were ahead of the tournament.
“I pretty much came to Australia fresh off Q School. I mean I flew back to the States for less than a day and then flew out here and honestly I was just trying to use the last tournament as kind of a warm-up and then hopefully played better in this one and kind of did that. But as far as winning, I probably didn’t really expect to come out here and win. I just wanted to come out here and play good golf and I just happened to put myself in good position today.”
For Luck it was a case of what might have been, but it is a delight to see this very artistic and creative golfer back in form after a significant neck injury has curtailed his career of late.
While disappointed at not finishing off the event as he would have liked and potentially challenging for his own national open title, Luck will gain a start at the Open Championship in July as one of the three qualifiers via International Final Qualifying from this event.
Johnston and Marc Leishman were the other two who gained a start at Royal Portrush in July.
“Obviously, that is a massive perk,” said Luck referring to a start at the Open. “The finish wasn’t ideal but at the end of the day three months ago I wasn’t hitting balls so I don’t think I can complain too much.
“I think I have been rusty in the four events I have played here in Australia and I think that probably showed down the stretch and I was doing my best to cling on but it got the better of me but am pretty happy how things are.
“Things are looking up but it is still a balancing act and still don’t quite know what next year looks like.”
Luck has a medical exemption for the Korn Ferry Tour but his schedule will be dependent on his continued progress from injury.
Jiyai Shin lived up to expectations by winning the Australian Women’s Open by two shots from the winner in each of the past two years Ashleigh Buhai of Korea.
Shin had opened up a substantial lead through the middle of her round but in the end, the victory was by just two.
“Well I had few shots lead, but I’m still try to keep focus on my game because on this golf course with the conditions, nobody know till the end.
“So I tried to keep focused, but green speed was a little bit faster than yesterday so it was a little bit, I tried to little bit just to touch it, but some holes worked, some holes didn’t work. But you can see I’m still holding my trophy so yeah. Well it was not easy but I’m really happy, very much.”
It would however be another eight shots back to Korean amateur Hyojin Yang while Grace Kim and Hannah Green shared the leading Australian honours in 6th place, albeit 11 shots from Shin.
Men’s Results
Women’s Results
12 players within four shots at Australian Open
Ryggs Johnston in action today – image Australian Golf Media
Victorian Lucas Herbert and American Ryggs Johnston have a share of the 54 hole lead at the ISPS Handa Australian Open at Kingston Heath in Melbourne the pair tied at 14 under and two shots ahead of a group of five players at 12 under, namely two recent Asia Pacific Amateur Champions Jasper Stubbs and Wenyi Deng, Finland’s Oliver Lindell, last week’s Australian PGA Champion Elvis Smylie and defending champion Joaquin Niemann.
Herbert had begun the third round with a four shot lead over Johnston but a lacklustre round of even par 72 saw Johnston take the lead with six birdies through 12 holes before a double bogey at the 14th.
The pair traded blows over the closing holes to retain their share of the lead and tomorrow Herbert will chase his first national title while 24-year-old Johnston, currently ranked 945th in the world, looks to get his DP World career of to the best possible start after gaining his card at the recent tour school.
Johnston played on the PGA Tour of the America s in 2024, mostly in Canada, after a very successful collegiate career at Arizona State.
That he has been able to adapt to the Melbourne sandbelt in such a manner speaks volumes for his game and headspace although tomorrow will be tested to the max.
As to the pressure he will face, Johnston was quick to defend his capacity to handle what he will face tomorrow.
“For a while now I’ve been in pretty high pressure situations trying to get my card through Q School. That final round is one of the most pressured. I mean, it’s a different type of pressure there and I did pretty well. So I just try to take that with me and use it as something we’ll look back on to kind tell myself that, ‘hey there, a lot of people watch it and a lot of pressure, but you can still do this’.
“I think I might have gotten a little lucky this week with the golf course playing as soft as it is and not typical sandbelt conditions and more of the golf we are used to back in the starts so it is probably working in my favour a little bit as it makes it a new course for everyone.”
Herbert recently won the NSW Open to claim his first professional title in Australia and tomorrow he chases the title most players want to win outside of a major, his national open.
Herbert was forced to play second fiddle to Johnston today as the American took full advantage of the many opportunities he created for himself after an early bogey.
“A little bit frustrating, but sort of no ground lost really, said Herbert. “I’m still in the lead, might just let a few more people back in the tournament, but still leading, still where I want to be. So yeah, good result from a frustrating day, I guess.
Herbert, though, is a proven winner on both the PGA and DP World Tours but he not only has Johnston to worry about tomorrow but the host of other players of who there are 12 within four shots of the lead and that he is chasing a title of such significance to him.
“It’s been tricky not to walk past the honour board in the clubhouse in there and see the last couple of names that are on that from winning major tournaments here. So that’s probably the other thing about today was maybe it got more frustrating because I really want to win this.
“It looks so easy for Ryggs who doesn’t probably care about the Australian Open as much as I do, with no disrespect to him. It just means so much being my home national Open, I’d love to put one of these on my resume.”
The Women’s Australian Open is being led by 2013 champion and one of the most prolific title winners internationally, Jiyai Shin. Her round of 67 has her two ahead of Australia’s leading world-ranked player, Hannah Green, and the winner of this event in each of the last two years, Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa.
Recently turned Queensland professional Justice Bosio gave evidence of her potential when she took the lead during the round but eventually finished with a round of 73. At 8 under par, she is six shots from Shin’s lead.
South Korean Simon Seungmin Lee won the All Abilities Championship.
Men’s Leaderboard
Women’s Leaderboard