Anthony Brown remembers the 2014 NSW Open Golf Championship vividly.
His first win in 10 years of professional golf brought plenty joy to the Victorian Professional.
“Obviously any time you win for the first time you savour and celebrate it,” says Brown. “You always imagine you’re good enough to win, and when it happens it's a huge feeling of relief.”
Brown was pleasantly surprised by what he saw when he first arrived at the Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club last year.
“It looked a lot like some of the famous Melbourne courses, with couch grass fairways and raised, firm greens,” he says.
“It felt familiar, it suited me.”
Brown began the 2014 NSW Open Golf Championship solidly, making a hole-in-one on the par-3 6th hole along the way to a first round score of 1-under par 71. A sizzling 7-under par 65 in the 2nd round placed him amongst the leaders. A pair of 3-under par 69 rounds over the weekend saw him finish the 72-hole tournament tied with New Zealander Josh Geary.
It then took a play-off to decide the winner, with Brown sealing the Championship with a birdie on the second play-off hole. Brown’s thrilling Open Championship victory was just reward for a lot of hard work over many years.
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“Winning the tournament and getting (a) two-year exemption status (for the Australasian PGA tour) is a big help, “he says. “You can plan your life a bit.”
The victory is giving him the opportunity to explore tournament options overseas.
“At this stage, I’m entering the Japanese and European PGA Tour Schools at the end of 2016.”
Brown has had a solid but relatively quiet year in 2015 playing a few tournaments in China, and spending some time at home with his young family. He feels his game is coming around and he’s looking forward to the next few weeks.
“I’m looking forward to defending the Championship. I’ve got great memories of the place…Hopefully I get off to a good start and make a good fist of things,” says Brown.
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The 2015 New South Wales Open Golf Championship will be played at Stonecutters Ridge Golf Club from 12 to 15 November 2015. The Championship forms part of the 2015 Australasian PGA Tour schedule. ENTRY IS FREE. For more information visit: www.nswopen.com
The NSW Open Golf Championship – Defining Legends Since 1931