The Nexus Risk TSA Group WA Open will welcome back plenty of returning champions when the tournament kicks off next weekend at Mount Lawley, but who should we look out for?
Entry to the tournament is free and will have several fun activities to participate in throughout the week.
Here are five professional names you should keep your eye out for:
Daniel Nisbet
A career-best year in 2018 has Daniel Nisbet brimming with confidence heading into the WA Open. The 28-year-old currently sits at the top of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, comfortably ahead of Anthony Quayle by more than $30,000. The season has largely been built off the back of victory at the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open where the Queenslander pocketed upwards of $191,000 in prize money.
Nisbet collected his second win at the NT PGA Championship in August to propel himself further towards an Order of Merit victory. As many know every dollar will count towards the back end of the season, and a third title at Mount Lawley for the year will go a long way to guaranteeing Nisbet the no.1 position.
Simon Hawkes
Hawkes began the season on fire to secure the Oates Vic Open at the 13th Beach to gain his tour card for the next two years. The Tasmanian followed up this result with a fourth-placed finish at the New Zealand PGA.
Western Australia has been a happy hunting ground for Hawkes after a third-place finish in Kalgoorlie for the TX Civil & Logistics WA PGA. These flurry of results sees the 29-year-old in fourth position on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit and chasing the leaders come the end of the year.
Hawkes broke his run of recent missed cuts last week at the Vic PGA Championship with a T16 overall.
James Nitties
James Nitties has endured a mixed year on the tour in 2018, leaning off the fantastic result achieved at the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 Perth in February. The 35-year-old finished agonisingly short of victory to Kiradech Aphibarnrat at Lake Karrinyup, with the second place finish guaranteeing Nitties $179,000. A victory however would have resulted in a European Tour card.
Nitties will return to Mount Lawley a former champion after his 2009 victory at the Nexus Risk TSA Group WA Open and will be hunting a second crown to move up the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit. A win will see the New South Welshman jump into second position.
Stephen Leaney
Many would suggest Stephen Leaney is the most decorated player in WA Open history after capturing his sixth title in 2017 at Royal Perth Golf Club. You would be brave to suggest the 49-year-old couldn’t go one better again in a weeks’ time.
The WA veteran comes into the WA Open in strong form after finishing 4that the Vic PGA last week. It’s a welcome return to form during an indifferent year for the champion.
Jarryd Felton
Could this be the year Jarryd Felton captures his home open? The 23-year-old will be a major threat come Sunday, drawing on his experience previously at Mount Lawley. Felton’s year has been highlighted by a 5thplace finish at the Fiji International and WA PGA; however a title is yet to be added this campaign.
The former New Zealand PGA Champion will go in as a favourite and if he holds his nerve may come away with the spoils.
