Kennedy breaks through to claim WA Open

Australasian PGA Tour | 2010 WA Open | Round Four | 31 Oct 2010

Queensland professional Brad Kennedy has broken through to claim his first PGA Tour of Australasia title winning the John Hughes Geely NEXUS Risk Services WA Open in a thrilling finish at the Western Australian Golf Club today.

Teeing off in the penultimate group of the day 36-year-old Kennedy shot a final round of five-under to surge up the leaderboard and claim the WA title with a final score of ten-under par.

Inspired by his four-year-old daughter, Kennedy secured the win on his last hole of the day sinking a 20-foot putt for eagle on the par-five 18th.

“My eagle on the final hole was one of those things that makes this game worth while,” Kennedy said after accepting the trophy.

“I was thinking of my daughter when I was putting, she is only four and she would say, ’just knock it in the hole dad’.”

The win was a long time coming for Kennedy who joined the Tour in 1998 after completing a PGA Traineeship.

He credits a new approach and his coach for the turn around in his career.

“This is my first major win in 14 years and it gets the monkey off my back.”

“I’ve been working hard physically off the course over the last 12 months and that has been the major turning point in my career. I’ve also been working with my coach Michael Jones and it has been a big turnaround for my career.”

26-year-old Rohan Blizard finished second to Kennedy only one shot back, but had the chance to take the tournament into a playoff.

Needing a birdie on the 18th to force a continuation Blizard parred the final hole leaving Kennedy to claim his first career title.

“It was a bit heart breaking. I knew I was one behind but that is the way golf is,” he reasoned post round.

“I have to qualify for the Masters if I don’t win next week. Hopefully I can go one better (at the WA PGA) and get straight into the Masters.”

Second and third round leader Matthew Millar struggled to make ground on the final day shooting an even round to finish in outright third.

“It was tough making birdies – the wind was tricky and you again had to think your way around the course and get the ball on the right spot on the green.”

“I had some chances and had some easy ones slip but also made a few…I was just not on my game 100 per cent.”

Tournament drawcard Stephen Leaney finished in T4 alongside 2008 South Australian PGA Champion Heath Reed.

Damien Jordan finished in sixth at six-under, while three-time WA Open title holder Kim Felton made a final day charge shooting four-under to finish with Steve Collins at five-under.

In his first ever professional tournament Jordan Sherratt finished in T9 alongside Martin Doyle and Marcus Both.

Source – PGA Australia