The ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia remains in Western Australia but has shifted to the state’s capital for this week’s Nexus Advisernet WA Open at The Western Australian Golf Club.
Victorian David Micheluzzi claimed the new season’s first victory at Kalgoorlie on Sunday and now 122 players will seek to add their names to a rich history of those to have won the WA Open at the idyllic Yokine layout.
Starting with four-time WA Open champion Tom Cassidy in 1936, the WAGC has hosted the state open on eight previous occasions with legendary figures such as Kel Nagle (1950), Graham Marsh (1968) and Terry Gale (1975) all victorious at the venue.
The WA Open itself dates back to 1913, the winner that year also owning a special place in the history of Australian golf.
Two years after he and brother Bruce became the first Australians to play in the Open Championship, Clyde Pearce won the 1913 WA Open at Fremantle Golf Club and two days later won the WA Amateur.
Now plying his trade on the Korn Ferry Tour in the US, the most recent WA Open at the WAGC was won by Curtis Luck in 2016 and the club is excited at the prospect of crowning another worthy champion on Sunday.
“We want to put on an event that shows the club and the tournament in the best possible light,” said club general manager, Damien Todorovic.
“Hopefully the crowds will come through to the club and add to the atmosphere around the course.”
With free entry for spectators, activations being run by GolfWA, superb hospitality packages on offer and live television coverage on Kayo and Fox Sports on Saturday and Sunday, the WA Open is gearing up to be a huge event for Perth.
Named the Metropolitan Course and Facility of the Year at the ADH Club Car WA Golf Industry Awards in July, the WAGC course is a parklands classic that features plenty of changes in elevation and is expected to play its part in writing the story of the 2022 championship.
“It’s got a great mix of holes,” Todorovic adds. “And with five par 3s and just three par 5s, it’s not going to be as easy as people might expect.
“Yes, the course is not very long by modern standards given how far the players hit the ball these days, but there is bound to be some wind and the rough and the 80 bunkers on the course will offer plenty of protection.”
Players starting on the first hole will be greeted by one of the trickiest holes on the course – a daunting par 3 of 220 metres.
Needless to say, par is an excellent score on this testing opener, with numerous scoring opportunities presenting themselves later in the round, including a number of driveable par 4s.
The par 5s, while short, all play uphill and Todorovic and course superintendent Idris Evans – who has been at the club for 36 years and is a former club champion – are eager to see how the recent changes implemented by Graham Marsh to the 17th and 18th holes hold up against the professionals.
“From a spectator perspective, our clubhouse offers excellent views of the golf course, including the first, ninth and 18th holes,” Todorovic said.
“We made the decision to remove a large ridge that ran through the 17th and 18th fairways and add a couple of new bunkers. It not only improved the visibility and playability for golfers but made the whole of the 18th hole visible from the clubhouse.
“This is exciting not just for this week when the pros are in town, but every other week when we return to being a members’ course.”
Picking a winner for the week is always tough, but Todorovic is hoping that one of the WAGC members in the field – including two-time club champion Haydn Barron and rising amateur star Joseph Buttress – will be in the mix come the back nine on Sunday.
“The course will offer some birdies and players who hit the ball in the right areas will be rewarded,” Todorovic said.
“But there are some areas to avoid and hopefully some local knowledge will give the WAGC golfers a small advantage.”
Micheluzzi is backing up after his maiden win as a professional to try to complete the WA double with other marquee players teeing it up including the three most recent champions in Braden Becker (2021), Hayden Hopewell (2020) and Michael Sim (2019), former European Tour winners Brett Rumford and Scott Strange and three-time PGA Tour of Australasia winner Jarryd Felton.
Round one begins on Thursday morning and the final two rounds will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo. Round three on Saturday will be live from 2.30pm-5.30pm AEDT with Sunday’s final round coverage running from 12.30pm-5.30pm AEDT.
The weekend will also see the playing of the WA All Abilities Open Championship where reigning champion and last week’s winner in Kalgoorlie, Cameron Pollard, returns to defend his title.
Past WA Opens at The Western Australian Golf Club
2016: Curtis Luck (a)
2010: Brad Kennedy
1975: Terry Gale (a)
1968: Graham Marsh
1965: Len Thomas
1958: Bill McPherson (a)
1950: Kel Nagle
1936: Tom Cassidy
Course record
62 – Curtis Luck (2016)
Course information
5,800 metres, par 70
Marquee players
Braden Becker – defending champion
David Micheluzzi – WA PGA champion
Brett Rumford
Jarryd Felton
Michael Sim
Scott Strange
TV times
Saturday: 2.30pm-5.30pm (AEDT) on Fox Sports and Kayo
Sunday: 12.30pm-5.30pm (AEDT) on Fox Sports and Kayo
