Tasmanian professional golfers struggled at last week s Australian PGA Championship conducted at the Palmer Coolum Resort, Coolum. Mathew Goggin emerged as the best of the Tasmanians finishing in a tie for eighth place. Goggin carded rounds of 71, 66, 70 and 72 to tie with the likes of John Senden, Steven Bowditch and Marc Leishman at nine-under-par. Launceston s Clint Rice and Kalem Richardson, and Wynyard s Craig Hancock failed to make the cut for the weekend rounds. Rice returned rounds of 75 and 73 for his four-over-par total of 148 while Hancock carded 74 and 76 for a six-over-par total of 150. Former two-time Tasmanian Amateur champion Kalem Richardson carded 76 and 79 for eleven-over-par total of 155. World No 1251, Daniel Popovic showed tremendous courage throughout the final round to claim the prestigious Kirkwood Cup. Popovic won the event by four shots over Australia s Rod Pampling and Anthony Brown. Goggin has collected $45,916.66 from two PGA Tour of Australasia events and currently resides at thirty first on the Order of Merit. Hancock and Rice sit at forty seventh and forty eighth positions respectively with approximately $30,000.00 in earnings. While McCarthy and Richardson sit at sixty second and sixty third positions respectively with approximately $22,000.00 in earnings.
Author: Golf Tasmania