Western Australian Open

The Western Australian Open, also known as the WA Open, is a golf tournament on the PGA Tour of Australasia. It had been a tour event every year since 2009 with the exception of 2019.

Western Australian Open

Tournament information
Location	Western Australia
Established	1913
Tour(s)	PGA Tour of Australasia
Format	Stroke play
Current champion
Hayden Hopewell (a)

History

The first Western Australian Amateur Championship was held in 1911. This consisted of a 36-hole stroke-play qualification stage, played in a single day, followed by match-play to determine the champion. The leading four players in the stroke-play qualified in 1911, increasing to 8 in 1912.[1][2] In 1913 the stroke-play stage was opened up to professionals, becoming the first Western Australian Open Championship.[3] It was played at the Fremantle links on 28 August, nearly 30 players competing.[4] In both 1911 and 1912, Norman Fowlie had led the stroke-play stage but in 1913 he was challenged by Clyde Pearce, who had won both the Australian Open and Australian Amateur in 1908, as well as losing the final three times in the amateur. Pearce won the Open with rounds of 77 and 78, three ahead of Fowlie who had rounds of 83 and 75. P. C. Anderson came third. The leading professional, David Dakers, came seventh. Pearce would go on to win the amateur championship as well.[5]

The 1914 championship was again played on the Fremantle links in late August. Norman Fowlie reversed the 1913 result, winning by three strokes from Clyde Pearce, with rounds of 80 and 77. Two professionals entered but were well down the field.[6]

Although the state amateur championship resumed in 1919, it was until not 1921 that the open championship was played again. Reg Forbes won with a score of 160. Three players tied for second place on 161, Arthur Geere, Percy Maunder and John Walker. Maunder won a prize of 5 guineas as leading professional, although a £10 prize was available for a professional winner.[7] 1922 saw the first professional winner, Maunder's score of 160 beating Geere by a stroke. Maunder took the £10 first prize.[8]

Winners

Year	Winner	Country	Venue	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Ref
Nexus Risk WA Open
2020	Hayden Hopewell (a)	Australia	Royal Fremantle	209	−7	1 stroke	Haydn Barron (a)	[9]
2019	Michael Sim	Australia	Cottesloe	273	−15	1 stroke	Hayden Hopewell (a)	[10][11]
Nexus Risk TSA Group WA Open
2018	Zach Murray (a)	Australia	Mount Lawley	272	−16	2 strokes	David Micheluzzi (a)	[12]
2017	Stephen Leaney	Australia	Royal Perth	273	−15	1 stroke	Callan O'Reilly	[13]
2016	Curtis Luck (a)	Australia	Western Australian	261	−19	2 strokes	Travis Smyth (a)	[14]
2015	Daniel Fox	Australia	Royal Fremantle	277	−11	3 strokes	Curtis Luck (a)	[15]
John Hughes / Nexus Risk Services WA Open Championship
2014	Ryan Fox	New Zealand	Cottesloe	265	−23	6 strokes	Stephen Dartnall	[16]
2013	Josh Geary	New Zealand	Mount Lawley	273	−15	5 strokes	Kristopher Mueck	[17]
John Hughes Geely / Nexus Risk Services WA Open Championship
2012	Oliver Goss (a)	Australia	Royal Perth	272	−16	Playoff	Brady Watt (a)	[18]
2011	Rohan Blizard	Australia	Royal Fremantle	278	−10	2 strokes	Ashley Hall Matt Jager David McKenzie	[19]
2010	Brad Kennedy	Australia	Western Australian	270	−10	1 stroke	Rohan Blizard	[20]
John Hughes Geely WA Open Championship
2009	Michael Curtain	Australia	Cottesloe	272	−16	4 strokes	Kim Felton	[21]

The 2020 event was a non order of merit event on the PGA Tour of Australasia. It was scheduled as a 54-hole event. Brody Martin was the leading professional. The 2019 event was not part of the PGA Tour of Australasia. In 2018 Matthew Millar was the leading professional. In 2016 Antonio Murdaca was the leading professional. In 2012 Brett Rumford was the leading professional. Goss beat Watt at the fifth extra hole.

• 2008 James Nitties
• 2007 Simon Pope
• 2006 Kim Felton
• 2005 Brett Rumford
• 2004 Stephen Leaney
• 2003 Kim Felton
• 2002 Stephen Leaney
• 2001 Kim Felton
• 2000 Paul Sheehan
• 1999 Brad King
• 1998 Tim Elliott
• 1997 Stephen Leaney
• 1996 Brad King
• 1995 Ben Jackson
• 1994 Stephen Leaney
• 1993 Grant Moorhead
• 1992 Leith Wastle
• 1991 Stephen Leaney (a)
• 1990 Terry Gale
• 1989 Ross Metherell

Year	Winner	Country	Venue	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Ref
Town and Country Western Australian Open
1988	Bradley Hughes	Australia	Lake Karrinyup	284	−4	1 stroke	Ken Trimble	[22][23]
National Panasonic Western Australian Open
1987	Gerry Taylor	Australia	Joondalup	290	+2	Playoff	Brad King	[24]
1986	Greg Norman	Australia	Lake Karrinyup	276	−12	1 stroke	Terry Gale	[25]
1985	Ian Stanley	Australia	Royal Perth	276	−12	1 stroke	Paul Foley	[26]
Town and Country WA-RAC Western Australian Open
1984	Ian Baker-Finch	Australia	Royal Perth	272	−16	4 strokes	Terry Gale	[27][28]
Town and Country Western Australian Open
1983	Terry Gale	Australia	Lake Karrinyup	280	−8	Playoff	Jack Newton	[29]
1982	Terry Gale	Australia	Mount Lawley	275	−13	Playoff	Vaughan Somers	[30]

In 1987 Taylor won at the second extra hole. In 1983 Gale won at the second extra hole. In 1982 Gale won at the first extra hole.

• 1981 Glenn Carbon (a)
• 1980 Terry Gale
• 1979 Peter Jacobsen
• 1978 David Galloway
• 1977 Mike Ferguson
• 1976 Graham Marsh
• 1975 Terry Gale (a)
• 1974 Ross Metherell
• 1973 Graham Johnson
• 1972 Terry Gale (a)
• 1971 John Muller (a)
• 1970 Barry Jones (a)
• 1969 Stan Peach
• 1968 Graham Marsh
• 1967 Len Tidy (a)
• 1966 Dennis Bell (a)
• 1965 Len Thomas
• 1964 Len Thomas
• 1963 Dennis Bell (a)
• 1962 Trevor Osborn
• 1961 Dennis Bell
• 1960 Bob Tuohy
• 1959 Len Thomas
• 1958 Bill McPherson (a)
• 1957 Bill McPherson (a)
• 1956 Gary Player
• 1955 Ted Taylor (a)
• 1954 Eric Cremin
• 1953 Kelly Rogers (a)
• 1952 Kel Nagle
• 1951 Kel Nagle
• 1950 Kel Nagle
• 1949 Eric Cremin
• 1948 Ossie Pickworth
• 1947 Les Nicholls
• 1946 Keith Pix (a)
• 1940–1945 No tournament due to World War II
• 1939 Fred Thompson
• 1938 Dan Cullen
• 1937 Dan Cullen
• 1936 Tom Cassidy
• 1935 Harry Godden
• 1934 Charlie Snow
• 1933 Tom Cassidy
• 1932 Ernie Bissett
• 1931 Eric Alberts
• 1930 Harry Godden (a)
• 1929 Tom Cassidy (a)
• 1928 Tom Cassidy (a)
• 1927 Eddie Cassidy (a)
• 1926 Eddie Cassidy (a)
• 1925 Eddie Cassidy (a)
• 1924 Eddie Cassidy (a)
• 1923 Eddie Cassidy (a)
• 1922 Percy Maunder
• 1921 Reg Forbes (a)
• 1915–1920 No tournament due to World War I
• 1914 Norman Fowlie (a)
• 1913 Clyde Pearce (a)

RFeferences

1. "The state amateur championship". The West Australian. XXVII (7, 968). Western Australia. 13 October 1911. p. 5. Retrieved 15 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
2. "State amateur championship". The West Australian. XXVIII (8, 205). Western Australia. 19 July 1912. p. 10. Retrieved 15 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
3. "Golf". Western Mail. XXVIII (1, 444). Western Australia. 29 August 1913. p. 40. Retrieved 15 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "Golf". The West Australian. XXIX (3, 551). Western Australia. 30 August 1913. p. 14. Retrieved 15 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "West Australian championships". Kalgoorlie Miner. 19 (4586). Western Australia. 2 September 1913. p. 8. Retrieved 15 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "Golf". Kalgoorlie Miner. 20 (4887). Western Australia. 2 September 1914. p. 8. Retrieved 15 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "Golf". The West Australian. XXXVII (6, 034). Western Australia. 19 August 1921. p. 9. Retrieved 15 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "W.A. Golf Championship". The Australian (274). Western Australia. 12 September 1922. p. 4. Retrieved 15 November 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "2020 Nexus Risk WA Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
10. "2019 Nexus Risk WA Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
11. "2019 Nexus Risk WA Open – Michael Sim Wins A Thriller By A Shot". Cottesloe Golf Club. 17 October 2019.
12. "2018 Nexus Risk TSA Group WA Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
13. "2017 Nexus Risk TSA Group WA Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
14. "2016 Nexus Risk TSA Group WA Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
15. "2015 Nexus Risk TSA Group WA Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
16. "2014 John Hughes / Nexus Risk Services WA Open Championship". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
17. "2013 John Hughes Nexus Risk Services WA Open Championship". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
18. "2012 John Hughes Geely / Nexus Risk Services WA Open Championship". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
19. "2011 WA Open Championship". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
20. "2010 John Hughes Geely Nexus Risk Services WA Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
21. "2009 John Hughes Geely WA Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
22. Sweeney, Peter (21 October 1988). "Hughes holds on to win WA Open". The Age. p. 24.
23. "Town and Country WA Open". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 October 1988. p. 54.
24. "Taylor breaks drought with win in WA Open". The Age. 23 November 1987. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.
25. "Year of the shark ends in triumph". Sydney Morning Herald. 24 November 1986. p. 53.
26. "Stanley's Open". The Age. 20 May 1985. p. 31.
27. "First major title to rising star". The Age. 14 May 1984. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
28. "Town and Country C'ships". Sydney Morning Herald. 11 May 1984. p. 25 – via Newspapers.com.
29. "Gale wins play-off". The Age. 23 May 1983. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
30. "Gale just home". The Age. 24 May 1982. p. 24.

External links

• Coverage on the PGA Tour of Australasia's official site
• List of winners