Queenslander Chris Wood’s Ranking Rise With Vic PGA Win
photo – PGA of Australia
30-year-old Queenslander, Christopher Wood, today won his first PGA Tour of Australasia title with a one-shot victory at the Victorian PGA Championship at Moonah Links on the Mornington Peninsula.
Wood defeated Gold Coast based West Australian Michael Sim and New Zealander James Anstiss by one shot to claim the $A20,600 first prize and rise to his highest ever position in the world ranking.
Despite the lack of world ranking strength in the field, Wood will climb inside the top 600 in the world after starting the week just inside the top 1400.
Wood’s previous highest ranking was in 2016 when 919th after finishing 3rd at the QLD PGA Championship.
Wood’s previous best finishes on the PGA Tour of Australasia were when finishing in 3rd place in the South Pacific Open and the Queensland PGA Championship several years ago but today he sealed his breakthrough with a final round of 67 over the demanding ‘Open’ layout at Moonah Links.
In more recent years Woods has competed on the PGA Tour China but, like so many others, has been forced to wait out 2020, working on his game with Gold Coast coach, Richard Woodhouse.
Anstiss had led through 54 holes after his brilliant third round of 63 but was unable to hold off the powerful finish of Wood who had started three off the pace.
Sim, a former world number one amateur and multiple winner on the then Nationwide Tour in 2009 before joining the PGA Tour, continued his return to tournament golf with another impressive display.
Now with PGA teaching credentials to his name, Sim recorded a final round of 69 to finish just one back. Both he and Anstiss earn A$ 11,300 for their efforts.
