A new course record has already been established as Secret Harbour Golf Links south of Perth gears up to host the WA Open for the first time in the event’s 113-year history.
New South Welshman Lucas Higgins shot 7-under 65 to play his way into the tournament in Monday’s qualifier, besting the previous mark of 66 shared by Aaron Townsend and Tim Wood.
Higgins finished four shots clear of the next best on Monday, a total of 15 players adding their name to the field including the American trio of Brock Healy, Kameron Williams and Ryan Johnson.
Located in the City of Rockingham, Secret Harbour has connections to Australian golf royalty as a popular spot to play for the parents of Minjee and Min Woo Lee, signed golf bags of the star siblings adorning the Secret Harbour pro shop.
Although it is the first time ‘Secrets’ has hosted the WA Open, it has served as one of the host courses of the TenGolf Group Pro-Am on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series the past two years.
Queensland’s Louis Dobbelaar won that event played across Secret Harbour, The Cut and Meadow Springs Golf and Country Club in May but it was New South Welshman Aaron Townsend who unlocked the golf course’s secrets best.
Townsend shot 6-under to have the low round by two and says the layout’s exposure to strong winds will place a premium on ball-striking throughout the week.
“It’s a really good golf course visually,” said Townsend, who coincidentally shot 66 Sunday to finish tied 20th at the CKB WA PGA Championship.
“There are a couple of holes where you go, ‘OK, I’ve got to hit a good shot here. I’ve got to hit a good tee shot.’
“It’s pretty open, but then it’s deceptive. It looks open, but then at times it’s not. So maybe that’s the secret of it.
“There are some really long par 3s from memory. The one down the hill over water, 17, depending on where the flag is, that’s a good one.
“I think the par 5s are pretty gettable, but par 3s are tough and there’s some strong par 4s.
“If it’s windy like this, she’s just going to be tough.”
On the back of his victory at Mount Lawley Golf Club 12 months ago, South African Oliver Bekker returns as defending champion with recent champs Deyen Lawson (2022), Braden Becker (2021), Hayden Hopewell (2020), Zach Murray (2018) and Curtis Luck (2016) also in the field.
Other notables in action in the third event of the 2026/2027 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season are local hopes Connor McKinney, Haydn Barron and Jordan Doull, reigning Rookie of the Year Declan O’Donovan, former PGA TOUR player Tyler McCumber and outstanding WA amateurs Spencer Harrison, Josiah Edwards, Zach Capelli and Ollie Marsh.
The final two rounds of the WA Open are broadcast live on Kayo Sports and Fox Sports from 4pm-7pm Saturday AEDT and 2pm-7pm Sunday AEDT.
WA Open
Secret Harbour Golf Links, Rockingham
Recent champion: Oliver Bekker
Prizemoney: $200,000
TV times: Live Saturday 4pm-7pm AEDT; Live Sunday 2pm-7pm AEDT on Kayo Sports and Fox Sports.
Live scores: GOLF.com.au
Instagram: @pgatouraus
Facebook: @PGATourAus
X: @PGATAustralasia
Hashtags: #WAOpen, #TheChaseIsOn
Key stats since 2010
Recent winners
2010 Brad Kennedy (Western Australian Golf Club)
2011 Rohan Blizard (Royal Fremantle Golf Club)
2012 Oliver Goss (a) (Royal Perth Golf Club)
2013 Josh Geary (Mt Lawley Golf Club)
2014 Ryan Fox (Cottesloe Golf Club)
2015 Daniel Fox (Royal Fremantle Golf Club)
2016 Curtis Luck (a) (Western Australian Golf Club)
2017 Stephen Leaney (Royal Perth Golf Club)
2018 Zach Murray (a) (Mt Lawley Golf Club)
2019 Michael Sim (Cottesloe Golf Club)
2020 Hayden Hopewell (Royal Fremantle Golf Club)
2021 Braden Becker (Royal Fremantle Golf Club)
2022 Deyen Lawson (Western Australian Golf Club)
2023 Simon Hawkes (Joondalup Country Club)
2024 Elvis Smylie (Mandurah Country Club)
2025 Oliver Bekker (Mount Lawley Golf Club)
Course record
65, Lucas Higgins (2026)
Highest Winning Margin
6, Ryan Fox (2014)
Most Eagles in a Tournament
4, Oliver Goss (a, 2011); Mathew Perry (2014); Dale Williamson (2019); Zachary Maxwell (2024); Elvis Smylie (2024).
Most Eagles in a Round
3, Dale Williamson (R4, 2019); Deyen Lawson (R2, 2022)
Most Birdies in a Tournament
29, Ryan Fox (2014)
Most Birdies in a Round
10, Steven Jones (R1, 2014); Ryan Fox (R1, 2014); Josh Armstrong (R4, 2021); Daniel Gale (R4, 2021)
Consecutive Birdies in a Round
7, Chang Gi Lee (H13-1, R4, 2019)
