Sydney golfer Daniel Gale wins NT PGA Championship in style
A Sydney golfer who was recently overseas shouldering it with some of the world’s best has won the NT PGA Championship. Read how he triumphed.
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New South Welshman Daniel Gale is the 2023 NT PGA champion after a thrilling six-under fourth round to clinch the top honour by four shots at the Palmerston Golf and Country Club.
The 27-year-old came up clutch on Sunday with back-to-back birdies on holes 16 and 17 to finish 14 under overall ahead of Chris Crabtree (-10).
Gale’s stunning round featured a stellar seven birdies, 10 pars and a bogey on the last to finish on top in windy conditions.
The Castle Hill Country Club member entered the day tied for sixth, two shots behind the leader Andrew Kelly who was at 10 under at the time.
Gale was the frontrunner early in the seventh edition of the NT PGA where he held outright leads following the first and second rounds but a one-over Saturday slowed him down.
The win for Gale is his second on the tour and comes after he finished second in the Top End event in 2018.
His triumph also arrives a week after he was in the US playing with world renowned golfers including Justin Thomas and Tony Finau.
Gale said taking home the crocodile trophy was “awesome” following a challenging day on Saturday with windy conditions.
“(Saturday) was a struggle but I grinded it out till the end and to finish two under on the last four yesterday and to get within two, I was pretty happy,” he said.
“Because anytime you’re within two or three of the leader going into the last day, you’re in with a good shot.
“I got out of the gates well (on Sunday), started birdie, birdie and just did what I had to do, plotted around nicely and before you know it, I had a pretty sizeable lead.
“Even with a bit of a mishap on the last, I knew I had shots to work with but we got the job done.”
Gale, who won the 2018 SP PNG Open in his rookie season, said it was pleasing to be a PGA Tour of Australasia winner again after 1939 days of repeated second-place finishes.
“I mean it’s another trophy to the cabinet which is good,” he said.
“It’s good to get that second tour win, that one has been building for a while, I have had a few seconds in tour events, at least three or four, probably four, maybe even five.
“I have come close numerous times and it has been frustrating because it’s one or two shots here and there and then you are holding the trophy.
“But to finally get it done again, like my game was in good shape, I was ready this week.
“I only got back from America (last) Sunday but I was riding a string of confidence from my experiences over there.
“To come over here … it is awesome to start my season with a win.”
The up-and-coming golfer had spent more than three months in the US training and competing in similar warm conditions to Darwin.
His trip overseas featured a course record 60 to lead Monday qualifying for the 3M Open which came after holing out for an eagle on his final hole.
Gale said his experience at the Palmerston tournament, having played in it five times before, also helped him perform.
“Yeah, definitely (made me feel prepared),” he said.
“The first year I played here in 2018 I came second so I had that little bit of a chip on my shoulder, I knew I could play around here.”
“The experience definitely helps, you’ve got to plot yourself around here.
“You can play it 100 different ways, I played pretty conservative off the tee all week and that was working for me so I kept at it.
“And today I didn’t have to do anything special, I was pretty dialled in with my clubs.
“I was doing everything well so I just kept on firing good shots at the pin and just putting myself in play on the fairway and taking advantage from there.”
Queensland golfer Quinnton Croker, 21, was the amateur champion with seven under, tied for ninth.
Tim Hart, Ben Ferguson, Matias Sanchez and Andrew Kelly finished tied for third with nine under.
Second place finisher Chris Crabtree, who was tied for sixth at eight under at the start of the final round alongside Gale, said he felt the nerves early on Sunday.
“To be honest I was quite nervous through the day,” he said.
“It is a long time to wait between the rounds and you can sort of think of everything possible.
“Got off to a shaky start and then got hot through the middle and kept trying to ride the wave and hold on coming in.
“So I didn’t look at any leaderboards or anything, I just thought, let’s just keep making birdies.”
The Pelican Waters Golf Club member from Queensland bounced back from bogeys on the first and third holes to produce a two-under round of 69 featuring five birdies.
Crabtree said it was “nice” to claim a top finish on debut.
“It’s my first tournament out on tour,” he said.
“I got through Q-School so I have been really hoping to prove to myself that I can really be out here and I think I have done that this week.
“Hopefully I will be able to go through with one, one day.”
Relive the final round action below
2.48pm – Gale in good position after making birdie to extend lead
Daniel Gale is set for glory after extending his lead to three at -14 after making birdie on the par three 16th and his chaser Chris Crabtree (-11) putting the ball into the bunker off the tee at 16.
2.20pm – Frontrunner Gale being pushed
Tournament leader Daniel Gale was leading by five but it has been cut to two early in his back nine.
Ben Ferguson in the group behind him alongside Chris Crabtree are coming with the pair making birdies on the par five 13th to push closer.
Crabtree is now two behind Gale teeing off on the par three 13th and Ferguson is three behind.
PNG Open winner Lachlan Barker is also pushing at nine under through the 15th.
1.10pm – It is 1v2 between Gale and Hart after the front nine
The 10:38 group who tee’d off the first hole featuring Daniel Gale (-12, leader) Tim Hart (-9, second) and David Bransdon (-7, tied ninth) looms as the best group to watch heading into the finals stages of the last round at the NT PGA Championship.
Tournament leader Gale has found his groove with four under on the front nine after a difficult day on Saturday where he shot one over and lost his lead.
Hart, who is in the same group, is two behind him overall and is also in form with a two-under front nine.
There are six golfers tied for third at eight under overall.
You can catch this group on the 10th hole as of 1.10pm.
12.50pm – Gale powers back to take lead
Sydney golfer Daniel Gale has regained the lead at the NT PGA Championship after beginning his fourth round with three birdies from the first six holes at Palmerston.
David Bransdon and Michael Wright and two shots behind him at nine under after six holes. Gale, who led after the first and second rounds, slid to tied for sixth before Sunday’s round.
He has found his mojo again now and looks to be in form following his start to the day.
Andrew Kelly who led at the start of the day is now tied for fourth at eight under.
Victorian golfer Andrew Kelly takes lead heading into final round at Palmerston
The final day of the NT PGA Championship is set to be a cracker with four chasing golfers on nine under not far behind tournament leader Andrew Kelly who is 10 under after a solid 68 on Saturday.
In blustery conditions at times, the third round saw Daniel Gale drop from first position to tied for 6th at eight under while defending champion of the competition Austin Bautista threw himself back into contention.
The 2022 NT PGA winner struck the best round of the day with a five-under 66 which now has him tied for 14 and a slight chance of becoming the first player to win back-to-back championships in the Top End.
Michael Wright, Matias Sanchez, Ben Ferguson and Matthew Stieger will begin the final round nine under as they look to overtake Victorian golfer Kelly for top spot.
Reigning PNG Open winner and Order of Merit leader Lachlan Barker is tied for 10th at six under par after a solid round of 67 yesterday.
It is all to play for on Sunday in slightly breezy conditions with the sun shining bright in Palmerston.
NT PGA Championship: Daniel Gale holds lead, Chris Wood has stellar round on day two
A chip in for eagle on the 13th hole at Palmerston has lifted Daniel Gale to a one-shot lead after the second round of the NT PGA Championship.
The spectacular 25m shot saw the ball roll into the centre of the cup as a small crowd of about 10 people erupted into a cheer for the New South Welshman from the Castle Hill Country Club.
The 27-year-old’s shot helped get him to three under for the day and nine under overall as he maintained his lead in the event after doing so in the first round on Thursday.
Gale said it was a “pretty cool” moment to eagle the par five in front of spectators.
“It was (pleasing),” he said.
“I had a few good looks before that shaving some lips.
“I was just short of the green and chipped that one in.
“There was probably about 10 to 12 people and the roar was actually pretty loud.
“It actually went off, they all got behind it, it was pretty cool.
“There might not have been that many people but the way they roared, it was pretty cool.”
Gale finished his Friday round with a disappointing miss from less than three feet to three putt and bogey the final hole, cutting his lead to one shot.
After scoring a six-under 65 in the first round, Gale finished his second round with a solid 68, featuring 14 pars, two birdies, an eagle and a bogey.
Following the day, he said he was looking forward to building on his promising start.
“I am in the position I want to be,” he said.
“I didn't convert a few chances that I had out there today, being the afternoon, just didn’t make any coming in late but overall very happy and looking forward to the weekend.”
Gale leads the tournament over fellow New South Welshman Aaron Townsend (eight under) and Andrew Kelly, Matthew Stieger and Chris Crabtree who are seven under.
Local star Aaron Pike, who also played in the afternoon’s hotter conditions two groups behind Gale, finished the day one under. He ended up two under overall tied for 29.
Queenslander Christopher Wood struck the best round of the tournament so far with a 64 featuring nine birdies and two bogeys with his round earlier in the day.
It marked a strong turnaround after he hit four over par for 75 in his first round.
“I definitely played a lot better than yesterday,” he said.
“I don’t actually know where yesterday’s round came from actually, I was quite confident coming up here this week.
“I wasn’t sort of worried after the round yesterday, I knew I was playing decent so I just went out there today and hit the ball.”
The 32-year-old from Wynnum Golf Club in Brisbane put it down to a few improvements across the board.
“The body just moved better today and I just got into a better position off the tee a bit more and just held a few more putts so hopefully I can ride that for tomorrow,” he said.
Notably, debutant Samuel Slater from Queensland finished three under par to make the cut comfortably.
Defending NT PGA champion Austin Bautista narrowly made it through, finishing tied 47 on par.
The action continues on Saturday at Palmerston Golf and Country Club with the top 50 plus ties going head-to-head in the third round.
Emerging golfer Ben Ferguson ‘ready’ to clinch Australia’s coolest trophy after avoiding disaster hole
West Australian golfer Ben Ferguson says he is keen to win what he says is “without a doubt” the coolest trophy on the PGA Tour of Australasia after a strong showing at Palmerston on Friday.
Following his three-under first round to tie for ninth, the 25-year-old went on to begin his second round with three straight birdies and finish the day three-under par tied for second.
His impressive start to the tournament means the Vines Golf and Country Club member will qualify through to the weekend as he attempts to claim his first win on the main Australasia tour.
Ferguson said he felt “ready” for the breakthrough triumph.
“Yeah, I feel like I’m ready,” Ferguson said.
“I have been working hard the last few months so I am ready to lift the trophy for sure.”
Reflecting on Friday’s round, Ferguson said it was a solid performance.
“It was solid, I feel like I played really well both days,” he said.
“I didn’t exactly hole a lot of puts but I holed a couple of 20 footers which kind of kept my round ticking over.
“I am happy with the way I am hitting the ball and pretty much everything about my game I am pretty happy with at the moment.
“I think six under might be a few behind going into Saturday so looking forward to my role tomorrow and getting moving again.
“You just got to keep making birdies out here because they are definitely out there.”
Among Ferguson’s impressive long range putts was one on the par three 14th where he avoided a double bogey by landing a stunning 20-foot putt.
The hole began with a miss to the left off the tee which caught the path and found its way nestling against an out of bounds stake.
Ferguson thought he could get a relief drop off the stake but it wasn’t permitted, making the next shot “pretty awkward” for him.
But after making a long putt, he saved himself from what “really could have been” a double bogey after the early trouble he was in.
He made par on the same hole the previous day.
Sydney golfer Daniel Gale leads NT PGA Championship after first day
New South Welshman Daniel Gale is leading the NT PGA Championship by a shot at six under par after the first day of the tournament on Thursday.
In at times windy conditions at the Palmerston golf course, the man in a bucket hat had a taste of everything early, beginning his round with par, birdie and bogey before finding his groove in the next three holes, hitting two birdies to go two under.
The 26-year-old finished his first nine holes with a birdie on the 18th before making another three birdies on holes two, four and eight to finish his round with a one-shot lead over Victorian golfer Andrew Kelly.
Kelly, 36, remained the sole player in second at five under par after the first round.
The leaderboard showed six golfers were tied for third at four under.
Tournament leader Gale is chasing his second career win on his home circuit after the up-and-coming golfer took out the 2018 PNG Open in his rookie season.
The round two action is underway at Palmerston on Friday where the top 50-plus ties will go through to the weekend after the day’s play.
‘Multiple tour winners are here’: Local golf star Aaron Pike says this year’s NT PGA field will be best in history
Northern Territory golf legend Aaron Pike says this year’s NT PGA Championship is set to feature the best field the tournament has seen.
The four-day event beginning on Thursday at the Palmerston Golf & Country Club will enter its seventh year after it was revived in 2016 as a tier two event on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
With PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit winners Jake McLeod (2018), Matthew Griffin (2016) and Michael Sim (2009) competing, Pike, 37, who won the tournament in 2020, said it would “absolutely” be the best field yet.
“The strength of the field I think is really good, they have got a whole bunch of multiple tour winners up here playing,” he said.
“I think it is on at a really good time to get a lot of the guys out of the colder states.
“Some of the guys from Sydney and Melbourne have been talking about how cold it’s been down there.
“And even the WA boys are saying the same thing so everyone wants to get out of those colder climates and come up to Darwin, get the warmer temperatures.
“So you also get really strong players and strong fields for this event so that it really positive.”
Pike, who grew up on the 11th hole at the course, said he would benefit from having strong knowledge of the venue including its tough tee shots.
“It’s quite a unique golf course so it is a good one to grow up on,” he said.
“It is a good one to know like the back of your hand, it’s got some pretty interesting tee shots, you sort of need to know when to be aggressive, when not to be aggressive and those sorts of things.
“It is really beneficial to know it as well as I do but I think it is the seventh time we are playing up here now so a lot of these guys they know it, they know it really well.
“So I suppose my advantage of knowing the place better than most is probably winning.”
Pike will enter the competition feeling fresh as he has not played in tour events since April.
The now Sunshine Coast resident has spent time working on a few technical elements of his game and feels ready to give his best shot at the tournament in front of friends and family.
Pike encourages locals to support the four-day event by coming and watching some of the best golfers rolling around in the country.
Emerging Perth golfer Joshua Greer to begin pro golf career at NT PGA Championship
Perth golfer Joshua Greer will bring his professional debut forward to this Thursday’s Northern Territory PGA Championship to maximise opportunities in this year’s Australian PGA Tour.
The emerging golfer was thinking about waiting until the Asia-Pacific Amateur in a few months time but wanted to get on with his career.
“I did think about hanging on until October to play in the Asia-Pacific Amateur, but then I’d miss a lot of opportunities on the Aus PGA Tour,” Greer told Golf WA.
“I’m looking forward to trying to finish as high as I can on the Order of Merit, so I just want to get out there and start competing professionally.
“I’ve loved every part of my amateur career, but I’ve played golf my whole life with the goal of being a pro and experiencing what it’s like to play in events where every shot really matters to your earnings and your ranking.”
The Joondalup Country Club member will compete against several other top golfers for a share of $200,000 at the Palmerston Golf and Country Club.
Recent winner of the WA PGA, TPS Sydney and NSW Open David Micheluzzi will be there to try and add the NT PGA to his trophy cabinet.
Defending champion Austin Bautista from NSW will also be in competition for the four-day event.
While on debut, Greer will be supported by the fact he has earned a number of exemptions into PGA Tour of Australasia events in the past two seasons.
And with former WA state teammates Hayden Hopewell, Connor McKinney and Haydn Barron in action, Greer will have a measure of some of the opposition he might be facing.
The WA and Australian representative at interstate and international competition level will also enter the Territory with some form, having previously finished in the top 10 at Q-School.
The result means he has an excellent chance of earning automatic entry into the DP World Tour co-sanctioned Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open.
Greer will attempt to earn his playing rights on both the DP World Tour and Asian Tour at their respective Q-Schools in the coming months.
He said he was “very grateful” for the opportunities he had been given through GolfWA particularly with his coach Ritchie Smith and physio Marty McInnes.
The West Australian who was born in Scotland also thanked Golf Australia.
“The support of Golf Australia and the opportunities they have given me to travel internationally have also been very helpful and have helped me reach the stage where I’m ready for the next phase of my career.”
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