South African Leon Trenerry has made Australia his home away from home, and now he has added an extra chapter to that story by claiming the biggest title of his career at the Australian Senior Open at City Golf Club in Toowoomba.
The 51-year-old, who is now based at Oxley Golf Club in Brisbane, held off two-time Australian Senior PGA champion Jason Norris by two shots, finishing at seven-under-par after closing with a one-over-par 71.
“This is easily the biggest win of my life,” Trenerry said after adding his name to a trophy that features some Australian greats, including Wayne Grady and Peter Senior.
“Probably tomorrow I’ll be able to express myself better. At the moment I’m just stunned. If you told me at the beginning of the week, I’m going to stand here with a trophy, I would not have believed you.
“I’m just excited, really happy, and I can’t wait to come back next year and defend.”
After a memorable Saturday, which included winning a Mazda BT50 for a hole-in-one, Trenerry’s final-round lead started at three shots and he authored an early statement by making a birdie on the difficult par-4 first hole.
There were moments when he looked like he could be wavering, including a three-putt bogey when the pressure was building on the 15th, but the next hole proved to be pivotal with the South African sticking a wedge approach from the middle of the fairway to 12 feet and making the putt for a birdie.
Norris, who struggled with his short game for most of the day, failed with his birdie chance from closer in and then couldn’t manage to make a 4 from the greenside bunker on the par-5 17th.
With a three-shot lead to take to the final hole, and knowing one of his tour mates, Tim Hart, once stumbled to a 9 at the 18th in a winning position at the end of the 2026 Queensland PGA, Trenerry took no risks after finding a fairway bunker with his tee shot, laying up his second short of West Creek.
He calmly knocked his third close enough to the hole to ensure the title was his to keep.
“I don’t think I’ve showed my best stuff out there, but it’s difficult in the final group,” Trenerry said. “I’m not as experienced as some of the others, so I’m very happy to get over the line.”
After giving away professional golf in his homeland before he turned 30, Trenerry followed his sister and parents, who were in the gallery at City Golf Club, by migrating to Australia in December 2020. Shortly before his 49th birthday, he completed the PGA of Australia’s Membership Pathway Program, opening the door to a second professional golf career.
As well as coaching, he quickly made an impact on the PGA Legends Tour, winning the circuit’s Qualifying School at Murwillumbah by four shots before recording three runner-up finishes and then claiming his maiden title at the 2025 Toowoomba Legends Pro-Am.
He now has a couple of extra reasons to think very fondly of the Darling Downs city. With his victory, Trenerry goes to the top of the PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit, ahead of Brad Burns and Norris.
The next major event for the seniors is NSW Senior Open at Thurgoona, near Albury, starting on October 30.
