One of the emerging stars in world golf whose style of play and charisma on and off the course has attracted a vast global fan base, Lee will have his sights on being the first player to defend the Joe Kirkwood Cup since Cam Smith in 2018.
Although they weren’t quite able to make it into the top three on the Order of Merit to earn a DP World Tour card, there were plenty of players on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia who definitely trended in the right direction in season 2023-2024.
Brett Coletta and Daniel Gale secured the two remaining DP World Tour exemptions for 2025 on an enthralling final day of a season that will be remembered primarily for Kobori’s three Webex Players Series wins.
A three-time winner since January after earning his tour card by winning the qualifying school last April, the Kiwi has an unassailable lead with just one event remaining, this week’s The National Tournament at The National Golf Club.
An Order of Merit champion crowned, global opportunities created and futures secured on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia. All will unfold this week at the final event of the 2023-2024 season, The National Tournament presented by BMW at the iconic The National Golf Club on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.
Takahiro Hataji has created history with his first victory as a professional, becoming the first player from Japan to win the New Zealand Open in its 103-year history.
They got there in wildly fluctuating fashion, yet Aussie pair Matthew Griffin and Scott Hend will start the final round tied for the lead at the 103rd New Zealand Open.
Finally getting the chance to show off its best side after the two previous tournaments were hampered by heavy rain, the Cypress Lakes course is becoming familiar for the tour’s regulars, even more so for those who competed in Jack Newton Junior Golf events here as youngsters.
The former amateur star was excited to learn his third win in his 10th start as a professional means Kobori has the same win record as Tiger Woods at the same stage of his early life as a pro.
After a week of playing concurrently, the men and women get back to head-to-head competition at the fourth edition of the Webex Players Series Sydney hosted by Braith Anasta.
Victoria’s Brett Coletta came out on top in a head-to-head duel with Jordan Zunic to claim the biggest victory of his career at the Vic Open. Meanwhile, it was 23-year-old Lau’s first win as a professional after a stellar college career at the University of Michigan.
With back-to-back victories at Webex Players Series Murray River and Victoria, the 22-year-old New Zealander has rocketed to No.2 in this season’s Order of Merit.
Kiwi Kazuma Kobori’s chase for a third consecutive Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title, a feat not achieved in almost two decades, and the appearance of a couple of women’s major golf champions will provide two of the major storylines at the Vic Open, which starts today.
Australian Golf Digest
