Paul Hayden (Jindalee Golf Club) has won the 2010 FKP QLD PGA Trainee Championship through a thrilling three person playoff at Peregian Springs Golf Club on the Sunshine Coast.
Hayden, Katelyn Must (Horton Park Golf Club) and Sam Eaves (City Golf Club Toowoomba) all finished on a total of three over par (291) following completion of forth round. Once scores were finalised all players headed back down the eighteenth hole for a sudden death playoff.
With a strong crowd overlooking the green at the playoff hole, each player withstood the pressure and fired their third shots inside 8 feet, Must was first to play and made the birdie putt, Eaves missed his six foot putt, eliminating him from the contest, Hayden then forced the playoff into an extra hole, tying Must with a birdie of his own. Both players then headed back to the eighteenth tee.
Both played the hole in regulation and at the green Must had a difficult 20 foot putt for birdie, while Hayden left himself with a similar putt which he held in the first playoff hole, Must hit a bold putt which just missed the cup on the high side of the hole, leaving Hayden with a putt for the win. Hayden was able to control his nerves, making the putt and winning the state championship event.
"It is unbelievable to think I am going to have my name on the same trophy as Greg Norman", Hayden said after the round, "today felt so much better than yesterday, my nerves were gone and I was so happy with the way I played".
For Must it was a case of being so close but so far away, the popular local Sunshine Coast trainee enjoyed a fantastic tournament, and will learn a lot from her week. In the end it was only a couple of putts that lipped out that left her one place away from being the first female trainee to have her name on the 41 year old trophy.
Eaves the first trainee to be eliminated in the playoff, stormed into contention by birdying the final two holes and signing a final round card of four under par (68), the best round of the day by a total of four shots.
The Peregian Springs Golf Club in its third year hosting the event proved to be again a fantastic venue. From the testing championship course to the extremely hospitable staff and members. All participants enjoyed a fantastic week on the Sunshine Coast.
All trainees will now commence a six week playing break, a period where they can concentrate on their academic commitments in the PGA Traineeship Program.
The Queensland PGA Trainee Championship has attracted considerable support from a number of sponsors, these being: FKP, Coca-Cola Amatil, Titleist, Cobra, Footjoy, Peregian Springs Golf Club, Harris & Harris, Fort Constructions and Hotel Laguna.