Oliver Bekker wins thrilling WA Open

[Monday, October 20, 2025 19:54:00]

Oliver Bekker

Oliver Bekker made an outrageous par save at the last to land the Nexus Adviserment Bowra& O'Dea WA Open at Mount Lawley Golf Club.The South African clinched a one-stroke victory over Victoria’s overnight leader Cam John on a whirlwind final day that saw the lead exchange hands numerous times.

 A fixture at the top of the leaderboard all day after three early birdies, Bekker kept his nose in front of the chasing pack with a clutch bogey putt on the 14th, but the drama really kicked in on the penultimate hole.

Despite pulling his tee shot on the treacherous par-three 17th, a lucky kick off the bank saw Bekker’s ball hop right and pull up just a few inches short of the hole.

The tap-in birdie moved Bekker to seven-under-par, but he almost contrived to throw his advantage away on the par-five 18th after coming up just short of the green with his approach.

Bekker’s decision to putt rather than chip almost backfired spectacularly, as his effort broke savagely left and ended up on the lip of the deep, left-hand bunker.

With no stance, he was forced to putt down a steep slope left-handed with the back of his flatstick and raced his birdie attempt a good 10 feet past.

Under immense pressure, Bekker’s breaking par saver found the middle of the cup to preserve his narrow advantage, eliciting a roar of relief from the usually taciturn 40-year-old.

Playing in the group behind, John pulled to within a shot of the lead with a birdie on 16, but a drive into the trees on 18 severely limited his chances of a grandstand finish.

A punch out was followed by a short iron to the back of the green and when John’s par putt refused to drop, the win was Bekker’s — along with a two-year exemption on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.

After struggling with his game for the past few weeks, Bekker says his win around such a challenging layout was as unexpected as it was welcome.

“This come so far out of left field,” he said. “I’ve missed the last six or seven cuts in a row, but I said to my wife, I feel like [my game’s] close and I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m playing well one week. This was the week, apparently!

“This golf course is so unforgiving. You’ve got to play such conservative golf, even with wedges in hand from the middle of the fairway. It was a grind and I’m glad I could stick it out.”

Bekker joins illustrious countryman Gary Player as a WA Open champion at Mount Lawley, the nine-time Major winner having lifted the trophy here way back in 1956.

 

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