By Kirra Livingstone
Beerwah Golf Club welcomed pro golfers from across Australia
VICTORIAN David Bransdon overcame some serious jetlag to win this year’s Elgin Valley Pro Am held at the Beerwah Golf Club last week.
Bransdon finished with a 6-under 66, which he said he was particularly pleased with having started his round with a bogey.
He finished two strokes ahead of Scott Laycock on 8-under.
Team winners were amateurs Graham Black, Norm McIntyre, Deano Wye and pro golfer Scott Ford, finishing on 93 points after countback.
After last year’s washout, clear skies and a warm day made for a welcome return to the annual event which saw hundreds of amateurs enjoy a day out with a strong field of PGA and European Tour winners.
Bransdon said he had struggled with jetlag after returning to Australia from the US only a few days prior.
Despite the first hole bogey he quickly moved into gear with four birdies in the next five holes.
He said his goal was to remain competitive and win a Pro Am by the time he turned 50.
“I fell six months shy of that but my goal was to play up there, keep playing so that I was still competitive,” he said.
“Once I turned 50 I’ve run with it pretty well.”
Beerwah Golf operations manager, Matt Lang, said the Pro Am was a great success with around 200 spectators.
“The first shotgun was really good, and the more marquee pros played in the afternoon shotgun session,” he said.
British Open winner, Ian Baker-Finch, played at the Beerwah event for the first time since 2020, and said he was happy to be back at his junior golf club. “It’s always good to get back and see the old course,” he said.
“It’s a little different now to what it was 50 years ago when it was built by all the farmers in the area.”
“The Elks family do such a wonderful job here, not only sponsoring the tournament, but they are really big supporters of the club and have been for so long.”
The new 14th hole was on display at the Pro Am for the first time in a competitive setting, which Matt said the golfers loved.