Photo: Josh Younger – Golf NSW
35-year old Victorian, Josh Younger, has today won his first PGA Tour of Australasia title with a playoff victory over Travis Smyth at the AV Jennings NSW Open at the Twin Creeks Golf and Country Club in Sydney’s west.
Younger had led after the opening round on Thursday when he began the week with a round of 63, but he slipped off the pace over the next 36 holes but remained close to the lead as the event headed into its final day.
A double bogey at his final hole added to the long wait Younger has experienced for the breakthrough win in his career but he was able to seal the deal with a birdie at the second extra hole to claim the significant title.
“Normally when you make six down the last it’s all over, you need things to go your way but it’s a massive relief,” said Younger.
“It’s relief. I’ve been (a professional) for 10 years. I got pipped in a playoff in New Zealand PGA in 2016, finished runner up at the (Australian) Masters, so I sort of haven’t really gotten near it as much,” Younger said.
“It’s just so hard to win, that’s the reality of it. There’s 150 blokes each week, competition is just that good now and the cards have got to fall your way.
“There’s times where you can play your best tournament and someone just does better. There are other times when it might fall your way a little bit so it’s a massive relief.”
Smyth will rue the bogey he made at the 17th hole today but his runner-up finish was his best on the PGA Tour since winning the 2017 NT PGA as an amateur and follows several good finishes in Asia of late where he currently plies his trade.
Min Woo Lee’s final round of 73 was never going to be good enough but he would still finish 3rd and record his highest finish since turning professional late in 2018.
Local golfer, Justin Warren, would also double bogey his final hole but the youngster from Picton near Sydney has already displayed an impressive game in his very short career since turning professional in the middle of 2019.
The round of the day came from former winner Ben Eccles whose seven under par 65 saw him finish in a share of 10th place with, amongst others, Brody Martin and another former winner, Peter Lonard, who both recorded rounds of 66.
The PGA Tour of Australasia now heads to Sydney’s coast for this week’s Emirates Australian Open at the Australian Golf Club.
