[Photo: Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia]
After having a huge impact on the final day of the Vic Open last year, the round-busting winds are forecast to be back for more at 13th Beach Golf Links for the 2026 edition, starting on Thursday.
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And this time, it’s going to be all four days where the men’s and women’s fields will have to deal with the Bellarine southerlies, although they hopefully will not be quite as strong as the almost unplayable strength from 2025 that saw Sunday scores skyrocket.
Josh Geary held on to win the men’s title despite a closing 78 and Su Oh overhauled a seven-shot deficit in the women’s event thanks to a closing 72.
The winds for the first two days, when the men’s and women’s tournaments will be played over the Beach and Creek courses, are expected to gust to 50km/h with little drop-off over the weekend when the final two rounds are staged on the less-protected Beach layout.
The list of starters for the men’s Vic Open is headed by the 2023 winner, New Zealand’s Michael Hendry, 2014 champ Matt Griffin (VIC), former NZ Open champion Brendan Jones (ACT) and three players who have already secured Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia titles in the 2025/26 season – Cam John (VIC), Austin Bautista (NSW) and Andrew Martin (VIC).
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Joining defending champion Su Oh and former world No.1 Jiyai Shin as chief contenders for the 2026 women’s title are Ladies European Tour (LET) members Kelsey Bennett (NSW), Justice Bosio (QLD) and Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (WA), and former Ladies British Masters champion Lydia Hall of Wales.
Featuring players from 12 different countries, the women’s field also includes Queenslander Hannah Reeves, who won her first three events as a professional on the WPGA Tour of Australasia last year and Drummond Golf Melbourne International champion Abbie Teasdale (WA).
Fans can walk the fairways with pooches and players throughout the course of the four days or watch the action of the final two rounds on Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
Vic Open
13th Beach Golf Links, 13th Beach, Victoria
Past champions: Josh Geary, Su Oh
Prizemoney: Men – $200,000; Women – $200,000
TV times: Live 2pm-7pm AEDT Saturday; Live 1pm-6pm AEDT Sunday on Kayo Sports and Fox Sports 503
Players to watch
Jiyai Shin – Former world No.1
Kelsey Bennett – Ladies European Tour player
Maddison Hinson-Tolchard – Ladies European Tour player
Justice Bosio – Ladies European Tour player
Cam John – Two-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner
Austin Bautista – Three-time Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia winner
Andrew Martin – 2025 NT PGA champion
Brendan Jones – 19 worldwide wins
