Elvis Smylie produced a moment of magic in brutal conditions to win the Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open in a sudden-death playoff against Jak Carter.
On a day that saw players battered by 40km/h winds and sheeting rain, causing multiple suspensions of play, Queenslander Smylie hit his approach to two feet on the first playoff hole to secure the 100th WA Open – and his first tour title – with a birdie.
Also playing in the final group, WA’s Curtis Luck finished in solo third one back at 18-under after a costly bogey on 17, with Victorian Matias Sanchez fourth at 15-under.
During a drama-filled day, all three leading players held the lead at various points, with the treacherous conditions preventing any of the chasing pack putting in a last-day charge.
While overnight leader Carter started slow with two early bogeys, both Luck and Smylie started charging early and found themselves tied at the top.
A Carter birdie at six kept him in the hunt, as all three players played the next seven holes in even par. Keeping the friendly golf going, all players birdied 14, Smylie remaining two shots ahead of Carter and one of Luck.
WA’s Curtis Luck missed the championship playoff by a single stroke
Smylie and Luck made their first bogeys of the day on 16 and 17, Smylie’s lead now cut to one over both his playing partners coming up 18 after multiple delays due to the weather.
Both Smylie and Luck found the green safely with their second shots, but faced lengthy birdie putts which neither would convert, while Carter hit his second to a metre and drained the birdie putt to force the play-off in high winds and intermittent rain.
Heading back down 18, Carter took the honour and leaked his tee shot right finding a bare lie in the trees and some casual water he eventually got relief from, before Smylie piped his first down the right-centre finding the short grass.
A punch into the left greenside bunker was the best Carter could manage, while Smylie stepped up and almost holed his wedge, spinning it to two feet and placing one hand on the Roy Paxton Bowl.
As Carter holed out eventually for bogey, all there was left to do for Smylie was roll in his short putt and make his first tour win official. The Queenslander’s relief as the final putt dropped was evident as he took his cap off and let out a primal scream to the skies.
Elvis Smylie demonstrates how good it feels to win the WA Open
“It means absolutely everything,” said Smylie. “I’ve been busting my backside out here for the last three years and to be able to get my first win, it means absolutely everything.
“I’m just so grateful and appreciative for all the people that have been by my side since day one, and the people that have me right now, I wouldn’t be in this position without them.”
No happy homecoming for Scrivener
After his opening-day heroics, pre-event favourite Jason Scrivener never really found his top gear. The Mandurah local closed with a one-under-par 70 to finish T6th at -12 for the championship alongside fellow WA pros Brady Watt and Brett Rumford.
Daniel Fox finished in a tie for 17th at 10 under, while Mandurah member Braden Becker’s closing 66 propelled him up into T21st a further shot back.
Wanneroo Golf Club teenager Ollie Marsh won the Terry Gale Cup for low amateur in a three-hole playoff with Royal Fremantle’s Zach Capelli after the pair finished tied for 25th at eight-under-par. Read the full report here.
Today’s other winner was NSW’s Lochie Smith, who won the All Abilities Championship for golfers with physical, mental or sensory disabilities by four strokes. Read the full report here.
WA Open trophy winners Ollie Marsh, Elvis Smylie and Lochie Smith
