Home advantage at Mandurah Country Club puts Braden Becker amongst the favourites for the Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open
Having been at Mandurah since he was a junior, Becker also completed the PGA Membership Pathway Program there and still works at the club, even helping a member with a club fit after his practice round on Monday.
“I would’ve played here somewhere like 1,500 to 2,000 times at least,” said Becker of his home track. “I think the course looks great, they’ve definitely got the greens up and the fairways look fantastic. It’s not very long golf course, but it’s very tight, and knowing where to miss is super important.”
His breakout win in the 2021 WA Open at Royal Fremantle solidified Becker’s status on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia. However, despite having consistent seasons, he has been unable to re-enter the winners’ circle since hoisting the Roy Paxton Bowl.
Becker played both the opening events of this season, following up his T35 finish at the PNG Open with a T35 last week in Kalgoorlie, but says he is happy where his game is at.
“The game’s trending in the right direction, so I’m happy with that,” he said. “Obviously, I really wanted to peak this week being at my home course.
“I’m happy with how I’m driving the ball, happy with how I’m putting and chipping, so all the aspects of the game are there, I’ve just got to just minimise my mistakes.”
While Becker will have a significant advantage over most of the field this week, he’s not the only one, with a flurry of Mandurah locals hoping to hoist their home state’s open in its historic 100th year at their home course.
Braden Becker’s 2021 WA Open win remains his sole tour title
WPGA Tour of Australasia player Kathryn Norris is another Mandurah hopeful, and is one of four women in the field this week continuing a strong tradition of Western Australia’s top women golfers teeing it up in the state open.
Norris’s partner, Jordan Doull, has played so much golf at Mandurah in recent months that he took up membership and will be another player the club members will be backing this week. Hot off his runner-up finish at the WA PGA in Kalgoorlie, Doull will be looking to go one better this week.
Arguably Mandurah’s best hope for a local winner however is Jason Scrivener, who is returning to contest his state open fresh off securing his DP World Tour card for another season.
Scrivener’s house is just over the fence from the 10th green at Mandurah, and, like Becker, he could play the course with his eyes closed. The pair played a casual round together a few months ago, with Scrivener carding a 58.
Come Sunday, the balcony overlooking the 18th at Mandurah will be full, and if one of their fellow members is leading down the stretch, Becker says the scenes will be a sight to behold.
“I think anyone from here could do it, you definitely will see some scenes,” he said. “Everyone will run on the green and it’ll be a pretty wild celebration night.
“If it’s me, I might have to change my Monday flight, I might have to fly out Wednesday, but I mean it would be the best feeling ever.”
Read more about some of the likely title contenders here.
The Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open will take place at Mandurah Country Club from October 17-20 and is FREE for spectators to attend. Find full details about the event here.
Not able to get to Mandurah to attend the event in person? No problem. You can tune in to live coverage of the championship on Foxtel and Kayo over the closing two rounds.
- Saturday, October 19: 1pm – 4pm (AWST)
- Sunday, October 20: 11am – 4pm (AWST)
