Damien Jordan won the 2017 Victorian PGA Championship on Saturday, the first event of the 2017 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia season.
Surviving 36-holes in stifling Saturday heat at Huntingdale Golf Club, Jordan fired rounds of 66-70-65-72 for a tournament total 16-under 272 and a two-shot victory.
"I started with a bang this morning shooting 65 but with the wind getting up I knew it was going to be tough,” Jordan said.
"After starting so well I knew every par was another hole closer to getting there and `Pricey' (Aron Price) pushed me the whole way.
"He made a great birdie on 17 and had really clutch putts all the way through the round. I knew I had to make that last putt if he made his; it was tough work out there."
This is Jordan’s first win on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and secures his status until the end of the 2018 as well as the first place prize cheque of AU$15,000.
The Victorian PGA Championship title caps of a huge week for Jordan, with he and his wife welcoming their son, Brody, into the world last Monday.
"She’s going to be over the moon,” Jordan said.
"It’s worth every bit of hard work and all the time we spend away from each other, it makes it all worth it.”
Jordan's win is worlds away from Iraq, where he did two tours with the Australian Armed Forces before he joined the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia in 2015.
"To come back from where I did, the places I’ve been and the demons I’ve fought off to get here, it’s a big achievement for me," Jordan said.
"Once I check Facebook, I know it’s just going to be all the boys on there saying congratulations."
Runner-up was Aron Price on 14 under, while tournament favourite and Olympian Marcus Fraser, James Marchesani and Gareth Paddison were tied 3rd on 11 under.
http://www.pga.org.au/tourns/pga-tour/event/leaderboard?season=2017&tour=pga&id=1061
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War veteran Damien Jordan won the 2017 Victorian PGA Championship on Saturday, the first event of the 2017 ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia season.
Overcoming 36-holes in stifling Saturday heat at Huntingdale Golf Club, Jordan fired rounds of 66-70-65-72 for a tournament total 16-under 272 and a two-shot victory.
"I started with a bang this morning shooting 65 but with the wind getting up I knew it was going to be tough,” the Queenslander said.
"After starting so well I knew every par was another hole closer to getting there and `Pricey' (Aron Price) pushed me the whole way.
"He made a great birdie on 17 and had really clutch putts all the way through the round. I knew I had to make that last putt if he made his; it was tough work out there."
This is Jordan’s first win on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia and secures his status until the end of the 2018 as well as the first place prize cheque of AU$15,000.
The Victorian PGA Championship title caps of a huge week for Jordan, with he and his wife welcoming their son, Brody, into the world last Monday.
"She’s going to be over the moon,” Jordan said.
"It’s worth every bit of hard work and all the time we spend away from each other, it makes it all worth it.”
Jordan's win is worlds away from Iraq, where he did two tours with the Australian Armed Forces before he joined the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia in 2015.
"To come back from where I did, the places I’ve been and the demons I’ve fought off to get here, it’s a big achievement for me," Jordan said.
"Once I check Facebook, I know it’s just going to be all the boys on there saying congratulations."
Runner-up was Aron Price on 14 under, while tournament favourite and Olympian Marcus Fraser, James Marchesani and Gareth Paddison were tied 3rd on 11 under.
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