Cancer Council Claremont Pro-Am

Tristan McCallum from WA has secured his first professional win at the Cancer Council Claremont Golf Club Pro Am.

McCallum who finished his PGA Traineeship in 2009 was able to take advantage of perfect conditions in the morning today for a new course record of six under par 65. In a round that contained two eagles, three birdies and a lone bogey to finish one shot clear of two other morning players Kalem Richardson (Vic) and Nathan Uebergang (Qld). With a strong sea breeze picking up during the afternoon round McCallum’s round was always going to be hard to beat.

“I was able to start the round with a rush when I holed a 60 metre approach for eagle on my opening hole. I was then able to finish the round with another chip in eagle and a birdie in my final two holes. It was a thrill to come to Tasmania and have my first professional win,” said McCallum.

After missing out at the final stage of tour school McCallum is now plying his trade on the Pro-Am circuit with the aim of securing enough ranking points to gain a start on the PGA Tour of Australasia.

“My aim is to play on the OneAsia tour and secure a regular position on the PGA Tour of Australasia with the ultimate aim of getting a start in the US,” commented McCallum.

In a testament to the difficult conditions faced in the afternoon 10 of the top 13 players played in the morning field. David Good, Clint Rice and Steve Frith were the best of the afternoon players on one over 72.

The next event is the Tasmanian Senior Open at Kingston Beach Golf Club. Former US PGA Champion Wayne Grady along with Mike Harwood and Rodger Davis will headline the field for the 36 hole event with the professionals playing for a prize purse of $20,000.

The Tasmanian swing of Southern Tour is the Irrigation Tasmania Highlands Pro-Am at the historic Bothwell course on Tuesday January 31. There are eight events on the Tasmanian Pro-Am schedule in 2012 with prize money in excess of $50,000.