Perth’s Haydn Barron takes first Australasian Tour title
Haydn Barron – finally the breakthrough – image PGA of Australia
Despite a shaky start when leading into the final round of the Webex Player Series Murray River event at Cobram Barooga’s Old Course on the Murray River, soon to be 30 year old Haydn Barron has today broken through for a first PGA Tour of Australasia title.
Baron led by one through 54 holes, but bogeys at his second and third holes on day four had him in a three-way share of the lead with New Zealand’s Jimmy Zheng and NSW’s Declan O’Donovan.
By the turn, it was Baron and Zheng that had edged clear, although Barron would take the outright lead with a birdie at the 10th to lead by one.
Playing three groups ahead, Zheng, who last year was the leading qualifier at the PGA Tour of Australasia Tour School after a collegiate career at Duke University in the US, drew level with Barron with a birdie at the 15th before Barron again took the lead when he birdied the 13th.
Things would remain that way, Barron holding on with a series of pars to win by one over Zheng with Victoria’s James Marchesani and O’Donovan finishing in a share of 3rd two shots further back.
Barron, who has previously finished runner-up on three occasions in PGA Tour of Australasia events, will move to 5th place in the 2025/2026 Australasian Tour Order of Merit although, perhaps surprisingly given what is at stake with final Order of Merit positions, he will take the next two weeks back in his home state of Perth before heading for the events in New Zealand.
Welshwoman, Lydia Hall, who just a couple of weeks ago won the Vic Open, finished as the leading woman following her best of the day final round of 64 to finish in a share of 6th.
