New Kalgoorlie course hosts WAPGA
BY Bruce Young | 11 Oct 2012
The West Australian PGA Championship is being played this week at the newly constructed Kalgoorlie Golf Course about 600 kilometres east of Perth.
The Graham Marsh designed layout is built amongst the desert and is owned by the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. It was perhaps fitting that Marsh, one of this country’s leading designers over the past twenty five years or so, should have been commissioned to design the layout as the mining town is Marsh’s birthplace.
The tournament is what is known as Tier Two event on the PGA Tour of Australasia and begins a three tournament swing through Western Australia.
This week’s event is followed by the $2,000,000 Perth International at Lake Karrinyup in Perth and the W.A. Open at the Royal Perth Golf Club before a one week break then the Australian Masters at Kingston Heath.
With the disappointing situation of a One Asia Tour event in China clashing with a PGA Tour of Australasia event, this week’s field consists mainly of pro-am players from around Australia, many of whom will develop into some of our better players in the future.
Having said that two players who have down well internationally over a long period, Peter O’Malley and Stephen Leaney are in the field.
Two players who have no doubt eagerly awaited this moment are the newly turned professionals Matt Stieger of NSW and Tasmania’s Ryan McCarthy.
Steiger has just returned from the Eisenhower Trophy in Turkey where it took until the final day for him to find form but he has enjoyed a very well credentialed amateur career and should propser in the professional ranks.
McCarthy was one of this country’s best amateurs until a surfing accident curtailed his career nearly two years ago but like Stieger he has the makings of a good professional and his play will be watched with interest.
Discuss this article in our forums
