Newsmaker of the month: David Micheluzzi
Last July, David Micheluzzi sent his manager a message. It outlined all the reasons – the financial outlay being the primary one – why he had decided not to attend Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School.
For a player once ranked the No.4 amateur in the world with no status on any tour outside his home country, such a declaration could have seemed fatalistic. Yet in that same message, Micheluzzi outlined his intention to play a full season on the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia, win the Order of Merit and book a spot in the field for the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
The 26-year-old came from five strokes behind to win the $400,000 Play Today New South Wales Open at Rich River Golf Club, the first player to win three tournaments in a single season since Robert Allenby’s ‘Triple Crown’ in 2005. That was enough to clinch the Order of Merit with one event to spare and fulfil the goal he’d set himself almost 12 months earlier.
“That was in July last year. It was a long time ago; I was probably dreaming at that point,” Micheluzzi said of that prophetic message. “I probably didn’t think it was actually possible but three wins in the space of 14 events, I’m just stoked.”
Getty images: Darrian Traynor
Headliners
Tom Power Horan and Andrew Martin: As top-three finishers on the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, they locked up cards on the DP World Tour for 2024.
Gabi Ruffels: Took a crucial step towards promotion to the LPGA Tour in 2024 with a two-stroke win at the Epson Tour’s Carlisle Arizona Women’s Classic.
DotGolf: The technology platform – a 100 percent subsidiary of Golf New Zealand – will replace Golf Australia’s existing GolfLink handicapping system and provide a broad range of digital tools for clubs, facilities, administrators, golfers and fans.
Wade Ormsby: A final-round 65 and a birdie at the first playoff hole secured the South Australian a fourth Asian Tour title at the International Series Thailand.
Tom Power Horan: Aced the par-3 eighth hole in the final round on his way to a one-stroke victory at The National Tournament at The National Golf Club’s Moonah course.
Breanna Gill: Made birdie at the first playoff hole to edge Danni Vasquez for the Australian Women’s Classic title at Bonville Golf Resort.
Travis Smyth: Added his name to the list of Aussies who will contest the Open Championship in July with his third-place finish at the Asian Tour’s World City Championship in Hong Kong.
Louis Dobbelaar: Broke through for his maiden professional win with a three-stroke victory at the New Zealand PGA Championship at Gulf Harbour.
David Milne: Named the 2022 PGA WA Coach of the Year – High Performance at the WA Golf Industry Awards night.
Haydn Barron: The West Australian was named ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia Rookie of the Year after finishing 12th on the Order of Merit. Barron’s best result was a tie for fourth at the Australian Open.
Lachlan Wood: The Hervey Bay PGA Associate won the New Zealand All Abilities Championship by nine strokes, adding to earlier wins at the Victorian Inclusive Open and TPS Hunter Valley All Abilities.
Audrey Kennon, OAM: Kennon’s positive roles in golf for more than 50 years were recognised with a prestigious Pioneer of Sport honour at the Northern Territory Sports Awards in Darwin.
Justice Bosio and Maddison Hinson-Tolchard: The young amateur stars were announced as the Karrie Webb Scholarship recipients for 2023 and will spend time with the seven-time Major champion at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship in June.
Peter Wilson: The veteran Victorian tour pro broke 60 in successive days. Playing at Lang Lang Golf Club, Wilson went 31-28 both days, posting 43 Stableford points off a handicap of plus-4 in the second round at the par-70 layout.
He Did What? A year after claiming the WA Junior Amateur, 15-year-old Ollie Marsh from Wanneroo Golf Club defeated Tom Addy 2&1 in the final of the WA Amateur at Royal Fremantle. In so doing, Marsh equalled the record as the youngest winner in the tournament’s 112-year history.
