The presence of Marc Leishman adds extra star power to this year’s WA Open field, although it may just be the golf course at Mount Lawley that is this week’s biggest star.
RELATED: Marc Leishman is back in WA with an eye on two Opens
Fresh off its renovation by OCM Golf – which included all green complexes, fairway bunkers and practice facilities – Mount Lawley Golf Club will stage the WA Open for the 11th time, its first since 2018.
Already receiving strong acclaim from those Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia members who have tested their games there, the Mount Lawley layout measures 6,217 metres from the back tees with a par of 72, including 10 par 4s, four par 5s and four par 3s.
One of the feature holes is the par-3 13th with a green that is unmistakably Australia-shaped with OCM adding ‘Tasmania’ within a new front bunker.
“Mount Lawley is built on land which is somewhat reminiscent of the Sandbelt in Melbourne,” said architect Mike Cocking of OCM Golf. “Had this city been the primary focus of Alister Mackenzie’s trip to Australia in 1926, it more than likely would have resulted in some of the most highly regarded courses in the Southern Hemisphere.”
RELATED: Opinion – The recipe for better golf tournaments is deceptively simple
The WA Open was first held at Mount Lawley in 1948, when it was won by New South Welshman Ossie Pickworth. Other notable champions from WA Opens at Mount Lawley include Gary Player (1956), Terry Gale (1982) and Stephen Leaney (1997).
The WA Open also has a strong history of amateur victors with three amateurs claiming the trophy in the past nine years alone. In this year’s amateur field are the likes of 2025 Australian Amateur champion Jye Halls (NSW), recent South Australian Amateur champion Josiah Edwards (WA) and 2025 Victorian Amateur winner George Barclay (WA).
RELATED: Kirsten Rudgeley is aiming to repeat history at the WA Open
But to take the title, the amateur contingent will have to see off Leishman, a winner on LIV Golf this year, who is playing the first of three Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia events before Christmas.
Then there’s Kirsten Rudgeley. The Mount Lawley local and Ladies European Tour player accepted an invitation to compete in the 101st WA Open and is assured of strong support at the club where she came through the ranks as a junior on her way to becoming Australia’s No.1-ranked amateur.
“Making the cut in a men’s event off the back tees is a big achievement,” Rudgeley said. “It’s a level playing field against the men, which really pushes me. My ambition is to make the cut again and just enjoy the challenges and catching up with everyone. I’ve got as much chance as anyone [of making the cut]. Golf is golf and if it’s your week to shine then it’s a great week.
“The course at Mount Lawley is in great shape right now and I’m really looking forward to playing. It’s going to be a great week.”
Last year, the WA Open was the launching pad for Elvis Smylie to eventually win the Tour’s Order of Merit and there will be plenty in the field thinking they can follow the young Queenslander’s path by winning on Sunday afternoon.
Admission to the course on all four days is free.
Nexus Advisernet Bowra & O’Dea WA Open
Venue: Mount Lawley Golf Club
Prizemoney: $200,000
Live scores: golf.com.au
Facebook: @PGATourAus
Instagram: @PGATourAus
X: @PGAofAustralia
TV coverage
The Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open is live on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
*All times AEDT.
Round 3: Saturday 4pm-7pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
Final round: Sunday 2pm-7pm (Fox Sports 503/Kayo)
Players to watch
Marc Leishman – 14 worldwide wins
Ryan Peake – New Zealand Open champion
Cory Crawford – 2025 PNG Open champion
Andrew Martin – 2025 NT PGA champion
Jordan Doull – Webex Players Series Perth champion
Anthony Quayle – 2025-2026 DP World Tour member
Kirsten Rudgeley – Ladies European Tour member
Brett Rumford – Nine worldwide wins
Recent champions
2024: Elvis Smylie
2023: Simon Hawkes
2022: Deyen Lawson
2021: Braden Becker
2020: Hayden Hopewell (a)
2019: Michael Sim
2018: Zach Murray (a)
2017: Stephen Leaney
2016: Curtis Luck (a)
2015: Daniel Fox
WA Open records (since 2009)
• Largest winning margin – 6 shots: Ryan Fox (2014) (Kel Nagle won the 1951 WA Open at Lake Karrinyup by 11 strokes)
• Most top-10 finishes – 4: Kim Felton, Steven Jones, Oliver Goss, Daniel Fox, Michael Sim
• Tournament low round at Mount Lawley – 64: Zach Murray, round one, 2018
• Tournament low 72-hole score – 260: Deyen Lawson, 2022
• Most birdies in a tournament – 29: Ryan Fox, 2014
• Most birdies in a round – 10: Steven Jones, round one, 2014; Ryan Fox, round one, 2014; Josh Armstrong, round four, 2021; Daniel Gale, round four, 2021
• Most consecutive birdies in a round – 7: Changgi Lee, holes 13-1, round four, 2019
