Newsmaker of the month: Hannah Green

TPS Murray River became a humble tournament that garnered worldwide attention when Australian Major champion Hannah Green showed her class to win by four shots at Cobram Barooga Golf Club.

The latest addition to the mixed Webex Players Series, Green made history as not only the first female winner of a TPS event but the first woman to win a mixed-gender, 72-hole tournament on a major tour anywhere in the world.

Owning at least a share of the lead all four days, Green
began the final round tied with Andrew Evans, Matthew Millar and Blake Collyer but separated herself from the field with a chip-in eagle at the par-5 10th, going on to win for a unique entry into golf’s record books.

“Hopefully it’s inspiring the rest of the girls not only in the juniors but in the field to try to get their name on a trophy,” Green said of the significance of her victory in a tournament that utilises scaled tees to provide an even playing field for men and women.

“We need to get as much exposure as possible and it’s great that we have events on in the summer when the peak of sport is on.

“Hopefully this can get some traction and people will see it.”

Headliners

Dimitrios Papadatos: Drained a clutch birdie putt at the 72nd hole for a one-stroke victory at the Vic Open at Thirteenth Beach, securing a place in the Open Championship at St Andrews in the process.

Matthew Griffin: Booked a spot at The Open for a second time by virtue of a third-place finish at the Vic Open. Griffin’s only previous Open appearance was at Royal Birkdale in 2017.

Kirsten Rudgeley: Tuned up for her debut at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur by taking out The Athena at Sandy Golf Links, defeating Grace Kim in a putt-off after the three-hole final finished all-square.

Jarryd Felton: Won a TPS Sydney tournament reduced to 54 holes due to repeated weather delays by making birdie at the first playoff hole against fellow third-round leader Brendan Jones at Bonnie Doon Golf Club.

Jeffrey Guan: Took his talents to the world, winning the inaugural Uniqlo/Adam Scott Junior Championship by eight shots at River Ridge Golf Club in California. Queensland’s Justice Bosio finished second in the girls’ event.

Grace Kim, Louis Dobbelaar and Jed Morgan: The three rising stars are the latest additions to the Golf Australia Rookie Squad, which will provide support in their formative year as professionals.

Caitlin Pierce and Samuel Slater: South Australian Pierce set a new course record at Kingston Beach to win the women’s Tasmanian Open as Queenslander Slater won the men’s event, one stroke clear of Victorian Toby Walker.

Steve Prior: Fought an ice-cold putter to win the Victorian Inclusive Championship at Thirteenth Beach, his total of
11-over par edging defending champion Cameron Pollard by one stroke.

Henry Epstein: The former tour player and trick-shot artist added another string to his bow, taking out the Australian Mini Golf Championship at Sporties Barooga.

Kade McBride: Emerged from a soggy Coffs Harbour Golf Club with the North Coast Open trophy, shooting 10-under total for a one-stroke win in the 36-hole event.

97

That is the number of clubs and facilities affected by rainfall and flooding that saturated the east coast up until March 7. South-east Queensland clubs such as Carbrook [pictured], Keperra and Brisbane were almost entirely underwater, clubs in western Sydney such as New Brighton suffering a similar fate as the weather system moved south. Golf Australia and the PGA of Australia will work with clubs, facilities and golf businesses to secure State Government Disaster Recovery Grants, as well as prioritising those clubs for future 2022 grant opportunities.