Smylie's time in Mandurah at the 100th WA Open

21 Oct 2024

Media Release:

In a dramatic final day at Mandurah Country Club, Elvis Smylie has claimed his first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia win at the Bowra & O'Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open in its 100th year and remarkable conditions.

For the second straight week on Tour, extra holes were needed to decide the champion, with Smylie edging out eventual runner-up Jak Carter on the first play-off hole after both were tied at the top at 19-under after 72 holes.

Also playing in the final group, local West Australian hope Curtis Luck finished in solo third one back at 18-under, with Victorian Matias Sanchez fourth at 15-under.

It was all about the final group today however, with all three players trading the lead at various points, and with scoring made difficult on the final day as the rain settled in over Mandurah, no player further back in the field was able to make a charge.

While overnight leader Carter started slow with two early bogeys, both Luck and Smylie started charging early and found themselves tied at the top.

A Carter birdie at six kept him in the hunt, as all three players played the next seven holes in even par. Keeping the friendly golf going, all players birdied 14, Smylie remaining two shots ahead of Carter and one of Luck.

Smylie and Luck made their first bogeys of the day on 16 and 17, Smylie's lead now cut to one over both his playing partners coming up 18 after multiple delays due to the weather.

Both Smylie and Luck found the green safely with their second shots, but faced lengthy birdie putts which neither would convert, while Carter hit his second to a metre and drained the birdie putt to force the play-off in high winds and intermittent rain.

Heading back down 18, Carter took the honour and leaked his tee shot right finding a bare lie in the trees and some casual water he eventually got relief from, before Smylie piped his first down the right-centre finding the short grass.

A punch into the left greenside bunker was the best Carter could manage, while Smylie stepped up and almost holed his wedge, spinning it to two feet and placing one hand on the Roy Paxton Bowl.

As Carter holed out eventually for bogey, all there was left to do for Smylie was roll in his short putt and make his first Tour win official.

For those who have watched Smylie grow up, this win is a long time in the making, and the Queenslander's relief as that final putt dropped was evident as he took his cap off and let out a primal scream to the skies.

"It means absolutely everything," said Smylie. "I've been busting my backside out here for the last three years and to be able to get my first win, it means absolutely everything.

"I'm just so grateful and appreciative for all the people that have been by my side since day one, and the people that have me right now, I wouldn't be in this position without them.”

Speaking to the wedge that sealed his victory, Smylie says he turned to a club that has been faithful to him all week.

"I actually used the exact same club that I used on 16 in the third round to hole-out with. So definitely have some good vibes with the 50-degree wedge at the moment," he said.

"Hit a nice low flighted wedge shot and I'm not sure exactly where it landed. It's an elevated green, but obviously hit it to about two foot and really nice knock it in and notch my first win that way."

With Hannah Green winning on the LPGA tour today, it makes it two worldwide wins for Ritchie Smith coached players on the same day, Smylie revealing that his game has gone to another level under the star West Australian coach.

"It speaks volumes to the quality of coach that Richie is and the amount of great players that he has in his stable is really strong and I really enjoy being in that environment and practising and training with him," said Smylie.

Coming off a third place finish at the CKB WA PGA Championship presented by TX-Civil & Logistics, Smylie now shoots to the top of the Order of Merit, with Jack Buchanan having a solid week to only drop to second.

Young West Australian Ollie Marsh was the low amateur of the tournament, taking home the prestigious Terry Gale Cup, while NSW’s Lochie Smith made it back-to-back wins in the All Abilities championship.