Published - 3 weeks By - Tony Webeck
Victorian Andrew Martin has broken through for the biggest win of his professional career but it took a world record four eagles and his lowest score in 15 years on tour to do it.
Beginning the final round of The Players Series Sydney eight shots from the top of the leaderboard, Martin sent statisticians and leaderboard attendants into a frenzy with a front nine at Bonnie Doon Golf Club that featured four eagles, a birdie and a bogey to draw within striking distance of overnight leader Charlie Dann.
Three bogeys in succession by Dann after the turn saw Martin edge clear and when he completed his 10-under 61 with a birdie at the 18th hole set a clubhouse total of 18-under for the likes of Dann and Jordan Zunic to chase.
Published - 4 weeks By - PGA Media
Andrew Martin has won his maiden ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia title with a two-stroke victory over Charlie Dann at #ThePlayersSeries Sydney presented by Cisco Webex.
Starting the final round tied for 14
th at 8-under the card, Martin took advantage of lighter winds than the previous three days to make eagle on the par-4 third hole before adding a birdie at the fourth.
A further three consecutive eagles on holes seven, eight and nine propelled the Bendigo local up the leaderboard to second place as he made the turn.
A birdie at 11 lowered his score further before adding a final birdie at 18 to go to a fourth round total of 10-under and the lead of The Players Series tournament at 18-under.
Philosophical about being run down by such an extraordinary round of golf - Martin scored four eagles in his first nine holes - Dann remained positive about his performance and took pride in delivering his best result in a PGA Tour of Australasia event. He s looking forward to returning to the Sunshine Coast and to playing at Pelican Waters, which is effectively his home course. He ll be joined by a host of Sunshine Coast golfers, including his close friend Shae Wools-Cobb, who also figured strongly in Sydney, finishing tied third after rounds of 64, 68, 70 and 67. Pelican Waters amateurs Chris Crabtree (67), Blaike Perkins (67) and Justin Morley (68) won their way into the field through pre-qualifying on Monday at Pelican Waters, while Noosa teaching pro Jimmy Douris pre-qualified at Virginia.
Published - 1 month By - Tony Webeck
The equal-best round of the day and a stunning bounce-back have given Queensland’s Charlie Dann and Victorian Peter Wilson a share of the lead at the halfway point of The Players Series Sydney at Bonnie Doon Golf Club.
Strengthening winds made play progressively more difficult for the morning groups and was at its strongest as the afternoon wave took to the course, conditions easing later in the afternoon.
Dann’s 7-under 64 was highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 ninth while Wilson had to fight his way back into contention after starting the second round with three consecutive bogeys heading into the teeth of a wind he estimated to be in excess of 40km/h.
Frustrated by inconsistent putting for the first three weeks of the Victorian swing earlier in the year, Griffin made a slight adjustment prior to the final round of the Moonah Links PGA Classic, his Sunday 66 bettered only by eventual champion Bryden Macpherson.
A 15-footer for birdie at the par-4 fifth was the only putt of significance on Thursday as he assembled a relatively stress-free 7-under 64.
“I just had to play so well tee to green to have a decent score over those weeks,” said Griffin.
“Even starting today, once I rolled in a couple early you relax a bit with the putter and holed a few through the middle stages.”