Webex Players Series: How Rankin turned his career around

A new grip and putter has helped to turn Brett Rankin’s career around, with the new father on the path for a drought-breaking victory at the Webex Players Series in South Australia.

A new grip and putter has helped to turn Brett Rankin’s career around, with the new father on the path for a drought-breaking victory at the Webex Players Series in South Australia.

The Queenslander had five birdies in a bogey-free round of five-under 65 on Saturday at Willunga to reach 11-under, one shot clear of Kathryn Norris (64), Ben Eccles (65), Chris Fan (68) and Jake Meenhorst (69).

Norris equalled Cory Crawford for the round of the day and will play alongside Rankin in the final group on Sunday aiming to join the likes of Hannah Green, Sarah Jane Smith and Min A Yoon as women to have won a Webex Players Series event.

But Rankin will be the one to beat as he hunts his first Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia victory since 2019 after switching to a LAB putter six months ago which has consistently improved his scores.

Brett Rankin during round three of the Webex Players Series at Willunga Golf Course. Picture: Supplied Golf Australia

“I really struggled the last two seasons with the putter and then last year was a bit of a process of adapting to having a newborn,” said Rankin.

“It was just trying to find the right times to practise, how much time I could practise. Some tournaments I felt like I was a bit underdone and then I just really struggled with the mental aspect of the putting.

“I made a significant change around March this year. I’ve gone to an arm-lock (grip) and a LAB putter and it’s done wonders.

“I’m picking up about 2.5 shots per round putting and it shows. That’s 10 shots and I’m shooting 10 to 15-under every tour event now.

“Ball-striking, I’ve been pretty strong for a few years now, but the putting is definitely the turning point for me.”

With wife Nicole and daughter Dakota watching on in the gallery, Rankin will look to convert his lead into a tournament win on Sunday.

Kathryn Norris, Round 3, Saturday, Webex Players Series SA, Willunga Golf Course. Photo: Supplied Golf Australia

But Norris is confident she can continue on from her career-low round of 64 and challenge for the title.

“If I play like I did today and hole some putts, which obviously is tricky out there, I can definitely be in the mix,” said Norris.

“It’s obviously there. See how I handle it and see what goes my way.

“I’m sure a lot of the girls will be cheering me on because it is hard work. We don’t hit it that far. And even with our head starts, we’re still struggling to keep up with the men.

“I’m sure I’ll have some backing.”

* The final round will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo from 1pm-6pm AEDT on Sunday.

MOUNTCASTLE’S STRONG DAY

Another day, another course record at Willunga as New Zealander Kerry Mountcastle stormed to the top the leaderboard of the Webex players Series event in South Australia alongside a fellow Kiwi, Jake Meenhorst.

A day after Sydneysider Christopher Fan went on a birdie blitz, Mountcastle, 29, equalled his feat, bouncing back from a double-bogey on his fourth hole to reel off nine birdies in his next 14 holes to card a brilliant seven-under 63,

Mountcastle, a regular visitor for the Australian summer who has just one win as a professional, at last year’s Gippsland Super 6s event, was joined on nine-under by fellow Kiwi, and world No.2492, Meenhorst.

The 25-year-0ld , who played college golf at Tennessee but has only played 10 events that hand out world ranking points, and has never won, also had nine second round birdies in his six-under 64 to put his name up in lights and one-shot ahead of Andrew Campbell and opening round leader Fan.

“Finally hit a few good golf shots,” said Mountcastle, who has finished tied 33rd and tied 35th the past two weeks.

Kerry Mountcastle tees off on the 18th hole during the Webex Players Series event at Willunga.

“I’ve been close the last couple of weeks. Hit some good shots but then followed up with some really bad ones.

“Just haven’t been able to get anything going but managed to capitalise on those good golf shots today.”

Meenhorst, playing with limited exemptions, made the cut at last week’s WA Open and now finds himself in a share of the lead in his fourth start for the season.

“It was kind of a little monkey on the back, missing some cuts out here,” Meenhorst said.

“Once I got the first one, I feel like I kind of belong out here now.

“It’s been pretty awesome posting some good numbers this week.”

The leaderboard was full of red figures on day two of the event with 43 players shooting under par rounds to create a bunched leaderboard with 13 players all within four shots of the lead, all looking for their share of the $200,000 prize.

After blitzing the Willunga layout on the opening day to take a two-shot lead after his own course-record equalling 63, Sydneysider Fan had a more measured second round.

The world No.2273 has half as many as his eight round one birdies, and a couple more bogeys, in his one-under 69, which left him a shot behind the leaders going into the weekend.

Another Kiwi, Hanee Song, was one of only two female players to make the cut at the mixed-gender event, and she finds herself seven shots off the lead at two-under, with Amelia Mehmet-Grohn a shot further back.