L-R Wright, Allan, Percy and Bransdon – image Cameron Percy
In an amazing result for, and effort by, Australian golfers, four will receive one of the five cards available for next season’s PGA Tour Champions following the completion of 72 holes of the PGA Tour Champions Q School in Phoenix today.
Victorian Cameron Percy was either in, or within one of, the lead throughout the 72 holes, eventually winning by five over Queensland’s Michael Wright whose final 36 holes of 63 and 66 were the best in the field allowing him to improve from 32nd at the halfway stage to finish in 2nd place.
Victorian Stephen Allan finished alone in 3rd place despite a near-disastrous double bogey at his final hole and Allan’s fellow Victorian David Bransdon birdied his final two holes, the finish securing him a place in a playoff with, Raphael Jacquelin and Wes Short Jr which Bransdon won with a birdie at the first extra hole.
All four had also successfully negotiated the first stage of qualifying in order to compete this week.
Percy wins US$30,000 for his efforts but that pales in comparison to what he might earn on the PGA Tour Champions next year after turning 50 in May.
At the urging of other players with whom he holds in high regard, Percy experienced a change of heart before this week got underway.
“I wasn’t going to come (here), I was exhausted,” Percy said. “I was actually going to get ready for the PGA TOUR’s Q-School next week. I was told to go to Q-School here and get my card. It’s so much better than having to Monday qualify. So, I did…and, it has all paid off.”
Two-time Australian Open and PGA Champion Greg Chalmers will rue a final hole bogey, after finishing in 8th place and one shot from the playoff, while David McKenzie finished 12th.
Australasia (including New Zealand’s Steve Alker) will have its strongest representation ever numerically on the PGA Tour Champions in 2024.
Alker, Richard Green, Rod Pampling, Mark Hensby, Stuart Appleby, and now, Percy, Wright, Allan, and Bransdon make a formidable group as they tackle the riches of the tour for the over-fifties.
