Brisbane’s Sam Slater has gone one better. After the heartbreak of finishing runner-up in a playoff last year, the 24-year-old turned redemption into reality by lifting the 2025 World Sand Greens Championship trophy at Binalong Community Club.
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The big-hitting Queenslander produced rounds of 65 and 64 to finish at 11-under-par in the 36-hole event, his only blemish in today’s final round a solitary bogey on the seventh hole.
“It feels really good,” Slater said. “I wanted this one ticked off after last year. I sort of knew what I had to do, and I feel like I did a pretty good job of that in the end.”
While the leaderboard shifted constantly throughout Sunday, Slater’s patience proved decisive.
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Douglas Klein mounted a strong challenge late, pulling level with Slater down the stretch, but the eventual champion never wavered.
“There was a little bit of pressure when I knew Douglas was tied, but the game plan doesn’t change,” Slater explained.
“I wanted to get to 11-under, I thought that would be the number, and it ended up being the number.”
The win didn’t come from fireworks early, but from composure. Slater admitted little happened in his opening holes, but a steady back nine, highlighted by clutch putts, sealed the deal.
“I just stayed patient the whole day,” he said. “Not a lot happened the first seven holes, but then I got on a little run there. A couple of good putts on the back nine, and that’s what got it done.”
Unlike many new champions, Slater’s celebrations will be low-key.
“Probably not much,” he laughed. “I’ll have a glass of wine with the lovely people I’m staying with, and that’s about it. But it’s a nice win to start the season and will hopefully set me up well.”
Klein finished in second at 10-under-par, with fellow Queenslander Tim Hart and South Australian Lachlan Barker sharing third on nine-under.
Caleb Hanrahan was crowned the low amateur. The young New South Welshman battled through a tough opening 73 before storming home with a 68 to finish at one-over-par.
World Sand Greens champion Sam Slater and the low amateur, Caleb Hanrahan.
The championship brought together top sand greens talent and shone a light on the character of regional courses such as Binalong.
NSW Minister for Sport and Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Steve Kamper, praised the championship’s success and Slater’s triumph.
“Congratulations to Sam Slater on securing the prestigious World Sand Greens title,” Kamper said. “His stunning victory over a class field capped a fantastic three days of golf at one of our state’s most beautiful courses.
“The NSW Government is delighted to partner with Golf NSW to bring major tournaments like the World Sand Greens Championship to our regions. It not only attracts fans who support local businesses and jobs but also showcases our regions to visiting golfers who want to experience playing on stunning courses like Binalong.”
