Brett Coletta, Steven Jeffress and Brett Rankin have been declared joint winners of the Qantas Golf Club Gold Coast Challenge.
Victorian Brett Coletta made 10 birdies in his second round of 10 – under par 64 to go alongside his opening 3-under-par 69. The impressive 21-year-old began his round on the 4th hole at Links Hope Island in the morning’s shotgun start format, and started disappointingly with an opening bogey after driving into the rough before making birdies at the 5th, 6th and 8th holes.
Another poor drive at the 9th hole led to another bogey, but that was quickly offset with a birdie on the 10th hole. Further birdies at the 12th 15th 16th and 18th holes saw Coletta move to 6 – under par on his round with 3 holes left to play, and the talented youngster was far from done making birdies at his final two holes to sign for a superb 8 – under par 64.
Coletta, playing in his very first PGA Pro-am Series event was clearly delighted with his round, especially given the tough windy conditions.
“This is the first time that I had played at Links Hope Island”, said Coletta. “I really like the course I can’t believe how good the condition was given all of the rain here in recent weeks, especially the greens which rolled really well”.
“I putted solidly and am really happy with my results the past two days.”
The Victorian said that his focus was now firmly set on Canadian Qualifying School in five weeks time,
“I played well in New Zealand the past couple of weeks and I just want to keep that momentum going so I can head over there playing well. Playing here and at Royal Pines the next couple of days is a really good opportunity for me to gain some confidence before I head to Canada”
Steven Jeffress, who played in the afternoon draw shot a 5-under-par 67 to go with his opening 6–under-par 66, started his round from the 10th tee and after a strong start found himself 2-under-par through 4 holes and 8–under-par for the tournament.
The next six holes were fairly uneventful before the Gold Coast based Jeffress unleashed with birdies at the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th holes get to twelve under par. The only blemish on the card was a bogey at the par 4, 7th hole, where the 42-year-old drove left off the tee and failed to get up and down from just short of the green.
Jeffress said it was his putting that kept him in the game today,“I hit the ball fairly solidly on both days, but it was my putting which kept me in the tournament. I putted really well today”
Rankin’s second round 6-under-par 66 was near textbook, with the 31-year-old going bogey free in the tough and windy afternoon conditions. The Queenslander jumped out of the blocks making birdies at his first three holes, the 8th, 9th and 10th holes to get to 8-under-par, with further birdies at the 12th 18th and 2nd holes jumping him into a tie for the lead.
Rankin credited his short game for keeping him in the hunt today. “I played fairly steady today but it was really my short game which kept me in it”.
Breanna Gill claimed her first official ALPG Tour victory today at The Qantas Club Gold Coast Challenge at Links Hope Island after shooting a solid 2-under-par final round of 70.
Gill, who slept on a one shot lead after the opening round was admittedly very nervous heading out this afternoon, and quickly calmed the nerves after holing from 12 feet at her opening hole, the 7th hole for birdie and following up with another birdie at the par 5, 8th hole after reaching the green in two shots.
A bogey at the par 4 ninth hole saw the 37-year-old slip back to 5-under-par, but a birdie at the short par 4, 12th hole saw her regain the 2 shot cushion over Belgian Manon De Roey who had earlier shot a superb 5-under-par 67 to finish the tournament at 4-under-par.
Gill made another bogey at the 13th hole but managed to steady the ship making pars at each of the next 6 holes before making another birdie at the 2nd hole, her 14th hole where she holed from 40 feet.
Gill bravely holed a putt from 2 metres for par on the 3rd hole, her 15th of the day and finished with four straight pars to claim a two shot victory over De Roey, with Sarah Kemp a further shot back in third place.
Gill was clearly relieved to claim her first official title, especially having lost at the Brisbane Invitational at McLeod Coutry Golf Club last Friday in a four-way playoff.
“Losing the playoff at McLeod really motivated me to do well here at Links Hope Island. I love the golf course and always enjoy playing on the Gold Coast”
Gill also paid thanks to her sponsors “I would really like to thank my sponsors Volvik and John Harriss and his team at Champion Sports for all their support”
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