McKechnie wins in extra time - PGA of Australia

McKechnie wins in extra time


The sun disappeared for the final round of the Mitchell and Brown Spalding Park Open and was replaced with strong winds and rain to make the professionals work extra hard to get their hands on the trophy.

The sun disappeared for the final round of the Mitchell and Brown Spalding Park Open and was replaced with strong winds and rain to make the professionals work extra hard to get their hands on the trophy.

""After round two Leigh McKechnie and Rick Kulacz were the both on top of the leaderboard at 8-under par but there was plenty of players within reach to jump to the top on the final day.

Stephen Dartnall was a shot further back at 7-under par, Cottesloe Open Champion Michael Choi fourth outright on 5-under and three WA locals Michael Long, Daniel Fox and Darren Garrett tied 4-under par and ready to pounce.

Through 45-holes the leaderboard stayed very similar but it was the back-9 in round three was where all the moves were made.

Braden Becker eagled the 10th followed by birdies on both the 11th and 12th moved him to within one of the overnight and on course leader McKechnie.

He eventually shared the low round of the day with a superb 5-under par 67 finishing the event tied 3rd with Michael Long, Daniel Hoeve and Michael Choi at 7-under par.

Leigh McKechnie continued his solid play turning the front-9 in 1-under par and extending his lead to two with another birdie on the 10th.

Daniel Fox playing in the group in front was also putting a fine round together turning 1-under and extending his day’s score to 5-under par with four further birdies between the 10th and 16th , eventually recording par on his last two holes to sign for a 67 to be 9-under par and one behind McKechnie, still on course.

McKechnie leading by one had a late stumble with a bogey on the 17th before a par on the last and signed for a 71 and 9-under par total alongside Fox.

This took the players to the par-5 9th hole for extra holes, McKechnie missed the fairway left and had to go down another fairway to approach the green, with his third shot left of the green.

Fox hit a perfect tee shot then hit his rescue club straight over the pin trickling through to the rough leaving himself a tricky chip shot to get close to the hole.

McKechnie hit his 3rd safely to 20-feet and awaited Fox’s chip shot to which he hit a little hard running it past the pin to be a foot further away than McKechnie.

Fox’s putt slid by on the low side of the cup which left McKechnie an opportunity to clinch his first Spalding Park Open title after many years of supporting the event. He then hit a perfect putt that disappeared in the hole and claimed the coveted blue jacket.

“It’s such an honour to finally win this event, I’ve been coming here for years now as I love the event and the golf course, the Clarkson’s and Spalding Park put on an amazing week," said McKechnie.

"The players love the opportunity they give us and it’s one that I’ll continue to support. This gives me some great confidence and I hope to take this form into some more Pro-Am’s before heading to Q-School for hopefully a big 2019.”

McKechinie takes home $7329 for his great play. Players now head further north to the final events on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series May/June Swing at Karratha, Port Hedland and Broome.


Headlines at a glance

Media Centre