The Legends Course at Moonah Links proved to be a popular draw for some of the biggest names on the Legends Tour, Long’s 3-under 69 just enough to finish one-stroke clear of a six-man logjam for second.
A five-time winner on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, Long won both the NSW Senior Open and Australian PGA Seniors Championship in 2018 and held his nerve down the stretch to earn his first PGA Legends Tour title of 2026.
“I probably played a little conservative, being my first time round here,” said Long.
“Tried to pick up the birdies where I could. I was a little disappointed on a couple of the par 5s that I didn’t take advantage of it but first time around here, just trying to keep the ball in play.
“My wedge game came to the fore and I was able to make some birdies on a few of the par 4s.”
Among those to share second was recent Point Nepean winner Terry Pilkadaris, Legends Tour rookie Steven Jeffress and two-time Australian PGA Seniors champion Jason Norris.
Quick quotes
“I just tried to keep the ball in play because it’s my first time going around here,” said Long.
“It’s a wonderful golf course. It’s fun to play. I really enjoyed it from the moment we teed off. The greens were great.
“Hit a couple shots down the middle and thought, Well, we’ll just see how it goes.
“It’s a wonderful golf course and I think an equal of the Open Course.”
Leading scores
1 Michael Long 69
T2 Steven Jeffress 70
T2 Nigel Lane 70
T2 Terry Pilkadaris 70
T2 Jason Norris 70
T2 David Van Raalte 70
T2 David McKenzie 70
Next up
PNG Senior Open, Lae Golf Club, April 24-26
March 12
Pilkadaris wins in the wind
There were unusual club choices and course management decisions to be made and it was Terry Pilkadaris who did it best to win the TLC Healthcare Point Nepean Legends Pro-Am.
Played across both Portsea Golf Club and Sorrento Golf Club layouts on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, Pilkadaris trailed Adam Henwood by two after Round 1 at Portsea, his 2-under 68 at Sorrento and 4-under total securing a three-stroke win.
Euan Walters also posted 68 at Sorrento to snare second, Steven Jeffress (69) and Michael Long (69) sharing third at even par.
For Pilkadaris, insight from Sorrento Golf Club Head Professional Mark Williamson came in very handy on day two.
“I played Sorrento once about 15, 20 years ago, so I had no idea where we were going,” Pilkadaris said.
“I’m friends with Mark Williamson, the head pro, and I rang him up yesterday and said, ‘All right, what’s the ins and outs of the course?’
“He just said, ‘Don’t go right on four and hit it over the bunker on 11.’ We get up there and it’s blowing 50ks straight into me on 11 so I said, ‘Well, I’m not getting over the bunker,’ so had to lay up right.
“You couldn’t be too aggressive in the wind. It’s been conservative golf and just managed to make a couple of birdies with some nice shots in.”
Quick quotes
“It was raining and windy today, it was blowing 40 to 50ks an hour,” said Pilkadaris.
“We’re out on the course sort of trying to judge the wind. It was just a matter of trying to keep the ball in play and not make too many mistakes.
“Luckily today, I had four birdies and two bogeys, so I sort of tried to limit the damage, which was nice.”
Leading scores
1 Terry Pilkadaris 69-68—137
2 Euan Walters 72-68—140
T3 Steven Jeffress 72-69—141
T3 Michael Long 72-69—141
5 Peter Lonard 71-71—142
T6 Andre Stolz 74-69—143
T6 Marcus Cain 70-73—143
March 7
Maiden win for Paul Griffiths
Calling it “one of the best double-bogeys I’ve ever made”, Griffiths dropped two shots at the par-4 11th but steadied with two pars and then peeled off three birdies in four holes to post 4-under 63 at the par-67 layout.
Knowing the score to beat, the afternoon wave then took their turn, Peter Jones (64) getting closest but ultimately one-shot shy of Griffiths and his winning total.
“Feels amazing,” said Griffiths, pictured with The Valley GM, Brenda Rogers, and Head PGA Professional, Shane Johnson.
“To be able to shoot a score like 4-under around a course like this, it’s obviously my first win, so very, very excited.
“I played last year as my first year out on the Legends Tour and the course took me apart because I didn’t really know what I was doing.
“I had a bit more knowledge this year and managed to get myself around and keep myself out of trouble most of the day.”
Quick quotes
“It’s probably one of the best double-bogeys I’ve ever made,” said Griffiths of his misfortune on 11.
“I hit four really, really good shots and ended up with a six.
“I kept myself out of trouble and sort of got myself in close and the greens were fantastic this morning, so I was able to roll in a few putts.”
Leading scores
1 Paul Griffiths 63
2 Peter Jones 64
T3 Lucien Tinkler 65
T3 John Onions 65
T3 Euan Walters 65
T3 Michael Isherwood 65
February 6
Drought broken at Gardiners Run
A more than three-year wait finally came to an end as Carl Smedley bested a stellar PGA Legends Tour field to claim the Homehealth & Medical Supplies Gardiners Run Legends Pro-Am.
Smedley’s only previous Legends Tour win came at the Bribie Island Legends Pro-Am in July 2022 yet he defied that drought with a superb 7-under 65 to finish one-stroke clear of multiple winner this season David McKenzie as four players shared third.
Starting from the 14th tee, Smedley headed to the front nine at Gardiners Run 1-under par yet peeled off five birdies in the space of seven holes to be 5-under with four to play.
He picked up a shot at the par-5 10th to move to 6-under and then closed out with the eighth birdie of his round at the par-4 13th to clinch victory.
“I was in awe of myself actually,” said a thrilled Smedley.
“Today was probably the first time in a long time that every iron shot that I hit came out the way I wanted it to, and the distance control was really good.”
Quick quotes
“I think I hit like 17 greens in regulation and the only one I missed was with a short wedge,” said Smedley. “I hit it over the back of the green.
“Hit a lot of six irons, all the par 3s, I hit them close and I played the par 3 a few under.
“I drove the ball well and I hit my irons really close all day.
“The greens are as true as you’ll get. You hit it online, it doesn’t bounce offline. It just stays rolling end over end. It’s just perfect.
“I did roll the ball quite well on the greens. A better surface I don’t think you’ll find anywhere.”
Leading scores
1 Carl Smedley 65
2 David McKenzie 66
T3 Paul Griffiths 68
T3 Euan Walters 68
T3 Michael Long 68
T3 Guy Wall 68
March 5
Lonard’s record round at Club Mandalay
He first took one step back, but it didn’t stop Peter Lonard from setting a new low mark in winning the Undercover Roasters Legends Pro-Am at Club Mandalay Golf Course.
Admitting that he had a “sooky la la” moment after making bogey at the par-4 ninth, Lonard responded with eight birdies across his final 17 holes to post 7-under 65 to set a new course record and claim his first win of the 2026 PGA Legends Tour season.
A couple of days after finishing outside the top 10 at Bairnsdale, Lonard’s signature stellar iron play took advantage of more fairways found to finish one stroke clear of Michael Long (66) with Andre Stolz (67) third.
“I haven’t been driving it very well,” Lonard conceded.
“Today was a bit better and hopefully it’ll be a bit better again tomorrow. And if you’re not in play, you’re not in play.
“I had a lot of opportunities, hit some pretty good iron shots and at the end of the day, I was pretty happy.”
Quick quotes
“I made four birdies after the bogey, so 3-under after nine, and then I managed to make another four birdies on the back nine,” said Lonard.
“I hit it reasonably well and I putted really well. I really didn’t miss anything that I should have gotten, so that was a pleasant surprise after the start to the year.”
Leading scores
1 Peter Lonard 65
2 Michael Long 66
3 Andre Stolz 67
T4 David Wilson 69
T4 Robert Farley 69
T4 Paul Powell 69
T4 Euan Walters 69
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