NSW’s Lochie Smith held on to his overnight lead to secure the All Abilities Championship title at the Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open.
Eleven strokes clear of the field after a superb 77 on day one, the Sawtell Golf Club member could afford to take a cavalier approach in the final round of the 36-hole championship for golfers with physical, mental and sensory disabilities.
Adopting an attacking mindset in blustery conditions, Smith (pictured above) repeatedly found trouble with the big stick off the tee but scrambled well to keep his rivals at bay.
Although his lead was slashed to just one stroke by Mount Lawley’s Mark Mosbach, Smith had enough in the tank to coast home in style, bombing a 300-metre drive down the final fairway on his way to a rock-solid par.
His round of 90 for a 167 total was enough to grant Smith a four-stroke victory ahead of Mosbach, with former Paralympian Bradley Scott (Busselton GC) a shot further back in third in his event debut.
Nick Carroll (Dunsborough Lakes) finished fourth with a 176 total, while Tony Coates (Melville Glades) and South Australia’s Adam Letherbarrow shared fifth one stroke back.
Smith admitted to being relieved that he was able to withstand Mosbach’s fightback and add the WA Open All Abilities title to the one he captured at the WA PGA Championship last weekend, saying: “I was feeling a little bit of pressure, but it feels good to win two big comps in a row.”
All Abilities Championship runner-up Mark Mosbach
Mosbach was magnanimous in defeat and hailed Smith’s victory: “He did very well today. His recovery shots were great. When you think he’s in deep trouble he manages to get out, and his up-and-downs were phenomenal.
“I’m pleased I was able to make a fight of it. The All Abilities guys are very friendly and encouraging, so it was a lot of fun out there today.”
In the nett championship, Scott topped the standings by five strokes from Letherbarrow and Coates. Letherbarrow will next compete in the 2024 EDGA Senior Open in Portugal in December.
View the final gross leaderboard here.
View the final nett leaderboard here.
Eleven players competed in this year’s All Abilities Championship
