The winner of the Australian Senior PGA Championship in October, Norris (64-68) finished on an impressive 12-under-par total for the 36 holes to be three shots ahead of new PGA TOUR Champions member David Bransdon (69-67).

It was the fifth victory of the year, and eighth overall, for Norris on the PGA Legends Tour as he finishes off a busy 2023 which has also seen him compete on the Staysure Legends Tour in Europe, where he had three top-10s, and the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.

The shot of the tournament, the third leg of the Sunshine Coast Series, came from Queensland’s Richard Backwell who aced the par-3 12th hole on day two, holing out from 135 metres with an eight-iron.

HOW THE VICTORY UNFOLDED

Norris had visions of shooting his first 59 in competition when he was an incredible 10-under-par after 14 holes in his opening day 64 at Maroochy River.

Starting on the 12th, the 51-year-old birdied his opening four holes and then produced another streak of four in a row from the 4th to the 7th.

Bogeys on the 9th and 11th ruined the 59 chances but still left the Victorian with a two-shot overnight lead over Paul Gow and Marcus Cain.

A front nine of 31 in windy conditions sealed the win on day two where the only bogey of his round came at the short par-4 15th.

WHAT THE WINNER SAID

“It was just amazing golf,” Norris said of his opening day 64.

“The putts went in, the drives went straight and my irons were good. It doesn’t happen often so you take it while you get it.

“I started really well again today which was nice but the putts didn’t go in on the back nine.

“I’m a score looker, I like looking at scores, and there were a couple of guys coming closer so I felt a bit of pressure which was nice.”

LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN

-12: Jason Norris (64-68)

-9: David Bransdon (69-67)

-7: Mark Boulton (69-68)

-6: Terry Price (69-69), Murray Lott (68-70)

-5: Paul Gow (66-73)

NEXT UP

The Sunshine Coast Series reaches its finale with the Living Choice Australian Legends Tour Championship at Headland Golf Club on Wednesday and Thursday. The 36-hole event has a $30,000 prize purse with Norris as the defending champion.

Photo: Jason Norris with his son Bailey at Maroochy River

One of the most popular events on the PGA Legends Tour circuit attracted a host of iconic names within Australian golf, Twin Waters Golf Club offering pristine playing surfaces in which to showcase their skills.

Stolz and Sanctuary Cove Legends Pro-Am winner Brad Burns shared the lead after day one with matching rounds of 5-under 67, one shot clear of Jason Norris.

A winner in his first start at Noosa, Pampling began the second round two shots off the pace but produced a brilliant 7-under 65 with a grandstand finish to match Stolz’s two-round total of 10-under par.

“It’s always great to be back up here and playing the course and seeing the old guys,” said Pampling, a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR Champions in the US.

“Obviously Andre has been the champion here for a few years so it was nice to tie him.

“It’s good fun just to see everyone. It’s more catching up with the old boys and having fun. Obviously the golf is good which is a bonus.”

Stolz joked that he’d be happy to see Pampling return to Texas given his recent form but was thrilled to have the Queenslander back playing on home soil.

“We played together at Robina Woods when we were trainees – I might have been a year ahead of him – so I’ve known him for a long time,” said Stolz.

“It’s great to see him having a great career and winning again on the Champions Tour this year and great to have him back here playing.”

HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED

For much of the second round Stolz seemed on course for a successful defence of his 2022 title.

He holed a bunker shot for birdie after missing the green left at the par-3 17th and stood on the 18th tee with a two-stroke lead.

As Stolz plotted what he thought would be a tournament-winning par, Pampling threw a final Hail Mary.

He lasered a brilliant second shot into just a few feet to set up eagle for the second straight day to tie Stolz at 10-under.

Pampling had a chance to win outright at his final hole – the par-5 first – but would have to settle for par and a shared victory.

Stolz and Pampling finished two shots clear of Norris (68) with Burns (72), Brendan Chant (70) and Murray Lott (69) tied for fourth three shots further back.

WHAT THE WINNERS SAID

Andre Stolz: “I checked the leaderboard walking to the 18th tee. I’d forgotten what hole Rod was on so I checked the leaderboard and I was two in front. Two minutes later I check again and see that Rod has made eagle.

“I thought the course was playing fantastic, as it usually does. I’ve been lucky enough to play here a lot over the past couple of years so if I’ve half figured out the greens. I don’t think I’ve fully figured them out yet.

“Played pretty nice the past two days which was good because I’ve been struggling with my striking a little bit.”

Rod Pampling: “I needed something special to happen. I didn’t realise that Andre had made birdie on 17 but it was a good number and it came out perfect.

“It was just one of those shots that landed and rolled up nice and close which made it a comfortable putt to tap in.”

LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
T1        Andre Stolz                  67-67—134
T1        Rod Pampling              69-65—134
3          Jason Norris                68-68—136
T4        Brad Burns                   67-72—139
T4        Brendan Chant            69-70—139
T4        Murray Lott                 70-69—139

The second event of the Sunshine Coast Series that will close out the 2023 PGA Legends Tour season, Beerwah brought together an exceptional field boasting major champions, PGA TOUR winners and European Tour winners.

Playing two groups ahead of the man whose father helped to build the golf course at Beerwah, Ian Baker-Finch, Bransdon was initially slow out of the blocks.

A bogey at his first hole – the par-4 third – was perhaps a carry-over from his flight home from Florida but he responded with four birdies in his next five holes on his way to a round of 6-under 66 and a two-stroke win.

“I felt like a human today,” said Bransdon, who was one of four Aussies to secure a PGA TOUR Champions card for 2024.

“I’d just got back from the States a couple of days ago and I hadn’t felt like a normal person until today.

“Back to what I was doing last week, hitting it good and rolling a few putts in.”

HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED

After his initial backward step, there was no looking back for Bransdon.

He was 3-under by the time he arrived at the 10th tee, adding just the one birdie on the back nine at the par-5 15th.

With the likes of Scott Laycock (68), Brendan Chant (69), Lucas Bates (69) and David McKenzie applying leaderboard pressure, Bransdon birdied his final two holes to take the win by two strokes.

WHAT THE WINNER SAID

“Tricky, especially that back nine,” Bransdon said of the Beerwah layout.

“You’ve got to hit the straight ball because there’s quite a lot of penal bush around.

“Keep it in the fairway and hit it on the green.

“This has been a plan for seven years when I went to Japan at 43. It was my plan to play up there until I was 50. I fell six months shy of that but my goal was to play up there, keep playing so that I was still competitive.

“Once I turned 50 I’ve run with it pretty well.”

LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1          David Bransdon           66
2          Scott Laycock              68
T3        Brendan Chant            69
T3        Lucas Bates                  69
T3        David McKenzie           69

NEXT UP

The Sunshine Coast Series continues on Thursday with the two-day, $30,000 Sunshine Coast Masters at Twin Waters Golf Club.

A winner on the Champions Tour in the United States this year, Pampling has been mixing golf with relaxing at home with family and friends in Brisbane over the past month, including playing in the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland.

With his driver and short irons working well, the 54-year-old had a two-shot win at Noosa Golf Club, finishing ahead of another Champions Tour regular David McKenzie and fellow Queenslander Richard Backwell.

Stephen Woodhead produced the shot of the day, holing out for a one on the 135m par-3 fifth hole.

PGA Legends Tour Order of Merit leader Andre Stolz had a rare off day, finishing in a tie for 29th at 3-over, while a round of 70 gave Allan Cooper a victory in the super seniors division.

WHAT THE WINNER SAID

“It was a fun day, beautiful weather and I made a few putts here and there,” Pampling said.

“It’s fun to be back out here with a lot of familiar faces.

“I’ve played events here (at this golf course) for a long time but it’s been five years since I’ve been back. Covid shut me down for three years and then I had a sore knee last year but it’s been good to be back.

“Obviously having a win makes it even better.”

LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN

-4 (66): Rod Pampling

-2 (68): Richard Backwell, David McKenzie

-1 (69): Martin Peterson, Murray Lott, David Fearns, Euan Walters, Donald Edwards

Seven players were tied at the top after Round 1 but it was a late charge from Walters that would prove the difference.

After starting from the daunting par-4 10th on Friday, Walters made birdie at four of his final six holes for a round of 6-under 66 and a one-stroke win from American Richard Gilkey (69).

Order of Merit leader Andre Stolz (68), Scott Laycock (70), Scott Barr (68) and Peter Lonard (69) all finished in a tie for third at 5-under par as the PGA Legends Tour builds towards its season conclusion.

Although he grew up playing on the Melbourne Sandbelt, Walters said he has developed a liking for the putting surfaces of south-east Queensland.

“My first year out on tour I really struggled, being a member of a Sandbelt course,” admitted Walters, pictured with tournament sponsor Greg Rix.

“I learnt to get over it and I actually think that Queensland greens are the best in the country, consistently from the start of the day until the end. I think that’s what makes them great.

“They’re very true, they roll very smooth, it’s just getting used to reading the grain.

“Other than that, I really love them so I putt well on Queensland greens.”

HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED

A par on 10 was a solid start on day two, Walters following it up with back-to-back birdies at the par-5 11th and the par-4 12th.

Four pars preceded a dropped shot at the par-3 17th, which would be his only bogey of the day.

He birdied the par-4 first but it was a run of four birdies from the par-4 fourth and culminating with the crucial birdie on nine that would get him across the line.

WHAT THE WINNER SAID

“I hit it pretty close a lot of the time and wedged it well.

“Drove the ball pretty good today – bit better than yesterday – and managed to seal the deal on most of the putts.

“The course was fantastic out there. If you played well you got rewarded, which I was very fortunate to do.

“It’s been a rough year for me, I’ve been struggling with a lot of injuries and stuff like that.

“But a lot of people are helping me so I’m just grateful to be able to hit it actually.

“I’ve had some pretty bad scores over the last month just trying to work through it so I’m very grateful for how it worked out today.”

LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN

1          Euan Walters    71-66—137
2          Richard Gilkey 69-69—138
T3        Scott Barr        71-68—139
T3        Scott Laycock  69-70—139
T3        Peter Lonard    70-69—139
T3        Andre Stolz      71-68—139