New South Wales Open (golf)

The New South Wales Open is an annual golf tournament held in New South Wales, Australia. The event was founded in 1931 as the New South Wales Close Championship, being restricted to residents of New South Wales, becoming the New South Wales Open Championship in 1958 when it was opened up to players from outside New South Wales. Norman Von Nida won the event six times, while Jim Ferrier and Frank Phillips won it five times with Greg Norman winning it four times.

Play Today NSW Open

Tournament information
Location	Moama, New South Wales, Australia
Established	1931
Course(s)	Rich River Golf Club
Par	72
Length	6,826 yards (6,242 m)
Tour(s)	PGA Tour of Australasia Von Nida Tour
Format	Stroke play
Prize fund	A$400,000
Month played	March
Tournament record score
Aggregate	264 Jason Scrivener (2017) 264 David Micheluzzi (2023)
To par	−24 Jason Scrivener (2017)
Current champion
David Micheluzzi
Location map
Rich River GC Location in Australia Show map of Australia Rich River GC Location in New South Wales Show map of New South Wales

History

The event was founded in 1931 as the New South Wales Close Championship, being restricted to residents of New South Wales. The first event was held at Manly Golf Club and, after 72 holes played over two days, resulted in a tie between three professionals Charlie Gray, Tom Howard and Sam Richardson.^[1] Gray won the title after a 36-hole playoff scoring 147 to Howard's 148. Richardson took 80 in the first round and didn't complete the 36 holes. Richardson won in 1932 but the remainder of the 1930s were dominated by Jim Ferrier who won five times and was runner-up twice between 1933 and 1939. Three times he won by 10 or more strokes.

Norman Von Nida won in 1939 and then again from 1946 to 1948, to repeat Ferrier record of four successive wins. In 1951 a New South Wales Jubilee Open was organised, the state's first open championship, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Federation of Australia. The tournament was won by Dai Rees while Kel Nagle was runner-up and won the Close title. Von Nida won the Close championship again in 1953 and 1954, setting a record of six championship wins. The 1955 event clashed with the first Pelaco Tournament in Melbourne, an event which attracted all the leading New South Wales professionals.

In 1958 the championship was opened up to players from outside New South Wales, becoming the New South Wales Open Championship.^[1] Peter Thomson from Victoria won in 1961. Two amateur's won in the 1970s, Owen Beldham in 1972 and Tony Gresham in 1975, while American Ed Sneed won in 1973.

The tournament continued to be a major event in the 1980s. Greg Norman won three times in the decade and the 1989 event had prize money of A$300,000. The event then struggled for a number of years. The 1990 championship had prize money of A$50,000 and there was no event in 1991. In 1992 it had increased prize money of A$150,000 but there was again no event the following year. It returned in 1994 on the second-tier Foundation Tour with prize money of A$50,000 and was then not played again until 2002, when it returned with prize money of A$200,000.

From 2003 to 2008 the event was part of the second-tier Von Nida Tour, while from 2009 to 2015 it was a Tier 2 event on the PGA Tour of Australasia schedule. In 2016 it became a Tier 1 event with prize money of A$400,000 compared to the A$110,000 in 2015.

Winners

Year	Tour^[a]	Winner	Score	To par	Margin of victory	Runner(s)-up	Venue	Ref.
Play Today NSW Open
2023	ANZ	David Micheluzzi	264	−20	2 strokes	Kade McBride	Rich River
Golf Challenge NSW Open
2022	ANZ	Harrison Crowe (a)	195^[b]	−18	1 stroke	Blake Windred	Concord	^[2]
2021	ANZ	Bryden Macpherson	266	−18	3 strokes	Elvis Smylie   Jack Thompson	Concord	^[3]
AVJennings NSW Open
2020: No tournament
2019	ANZ	Josh Younger	271	−17	Playoff	Travis Smyth	Twin Creeks	^[4]
2018	ANZ	Jake McLeod	268	−20	2 strokes	Cameron John	Twin Creeks	^[5]
NSW Open
2017	ANZ	Jason Scrivener	264	−24	6 strokes	Lucas Herbert	Twin Creeks	^[6]
2016	ANZ	Adam Blyth	265	−23	3 strokes	Brett Coletta (a)   Jarryd Felton	Stonecutters Ridge	^[7]
2015	ANZ	Ben Eccles (a)	269	−19	3 strokes	Rohan Blizard   Matthew Millar	Stonecutters Ridge	^[8]
Mazda NSW Open
2014	ANZ	Anthony Brown	274	−14	Playoff	Josh Geary	Stonecutters Ridge	^[9]
Gloria Jean's Coffees NSW Open
2013	ANZ	Aron Price	269	−19	4 strokes	Adam Bland   Aaron Townsend   Jack Wilson	Castle Hill	^[10]
NSW Open
2012: No tournament
2011	ANZ	Adam Crawford	274	−6	1 stroke	Paul Donahoo   Jake Higginbottom (a)   Anthony Summers	Newcastle	^[11]
2010	ANZ	Peter O'Malley	270	−18	Playoff	Peter Cooke   Tom Lewis (a)	Vintage	^[12]
2009	ANZ	Leigh McKechnie	281	−3	1 stroke	James Nitties	Vintage	^[13]
2008	VNT	Aaron Townsend	267	−17	7 strokes	Steven Jones	Vintage	^[14]
Vintage NSW Open
2007	VNT	Jason Norris	277	−7	1 stroke	Jarrod Lyle	Vintage
Proton New South Wales Open
2006	VNT	Rick Kulacz (a)	270	−10	Playoff	Tony McFadyean	Moore Park
2005	VNT	Michael Wright	271	−17	2 strokes	Brad McIntosh	Liverpool
NSW Open
2004	VNT	Peter Lonard	270	−18	2 strokes	Anthony Summers	Liverpool
GolfSkins New South Wales Open
2003	VNT	Craig Carmichael	273	−15	1 stroke	Andrew McKenzie (a)	Macquarie Links
New South Wales Open
2002	ANZ	Terry Price	279	−9	1 stroke	Wayne Grady   Adam Groom   Jason Norris   Mahal Pearce   Andre Stolz	Horizons Resort
1995–2001: No tournament
1994	FT	Darren Chivas	283	−5	1 stroke	David Ecob	Manly	^[15]
1993	ANZ	Cancelled due to lack of sponsorship						^[16]
CIG New South Wales Open
1992	ANZ	Craig Parry (2)	277	−7	Playoff	Ken Trimble	Ryde Parramatta	^[17]
New South Wales Open
1991: No tournament
1990	ANZ	Ken Trimble	276	−8	2 strokes	Peter O'Malley	Bathurst	^[18]
Ford New South Wales Open
1989	ANZ	Rodger Davis	277	−15	9 strokes	Bradley Hughes	The Lakes	^[19]
Panasonic New South Wales Open
1988	ANZ	Greg Norman (4)	277	−7	1 stroke	Craig Parry	Concord	^[20]
National Panasonic New South Wales Open
1987	ANZ	Craig Parry	289	+1	1 stroke	Wayne Riley	The Australian	^[21]
1986	ANZ	Greg Norman (3)	275	−9	5 strokes	Lyndsay Stephen	Concord	^[22]
1985	ANZ	Ian Stanley	281	−3	1 stroke	Peter Senior   Lyndsay Stephen	Concord	^[23]
1984	ANZ	Ian Baker-Finch	277	−15	13 strokes	Peter Senior	The Lakes	^[24]
1983	ANZ	Greg Norman (2)	278	−4	Playoff	David Graham	Concord	^[25]
1982	ANZ	Bob Shearer	272	−12	1 stroke	Graham Marsh	Manly	^[26]
1981	ANZ	Bill Rogers	285	−7	3 strokes	Lyndsay Stephen	The Lakes	^[27]
New South Wales Open
1980	ANZ	George Serhan	280	−4	4 strokes	Sam Torrance	Concord	^[28]^[29]
1979	ANZ	Jack Newton (2)	281	−11	9 strokes	Wayne Grady   Jeff Hall   Gary Vanier	The Lakes	^[30]
1978	ANZ	Greg Norman	275	−13	3 strokes	Bill Dunk	Manly	^[31]
1977	ANZ	Trevor McDonald	281	−7	Playoff	Bill Dunk	Pymble	^[32]
1976	ANZ	Jack Newton	269	−19	10 strokes	Ted Ball   David Good	Royal Sydney
1975	ANZ	Tony Gresham (a)	275	−13	1 stroke	Bill Dunk	Manly	^[33]
1974	ANZ	Ted Ball (2)	280	−8	7 strokes	Kel Nagle	Pymble	^[34]
1973	ANZ	Ed Sneed	283	−5	2 strokes	Bob Shearer	The Australian	^[35]
1972		Owen Beldham (a)	284	−4	3 strokes	Bob Tuohy	Newcastle	^[36]
1971		Bill Dunk (2)	284	−8	2 strokes	Phil Billings (a)   Col Johnston	Manly	^[37]
1970		Frank Phillips (5)	277	−11	Playoff	David Graham	Pymble	^[38]^[39]
1969: No tournament
1968		Kel Nagle (3)	289	+1	Playoff	Barry Coxon   Bill Dunk	St. Michael's	^[40]^[41]
1967		Bill Dunk	284	−4	2 strokes	Darrell Welch	Royal Sydney	^[42]
1966		Frank Phillips (4)	280	−4	Playoff	Tim Woolbank	Concord	^[43]^[44]
1965		Colin McGregor	286	−2	1 stroke	Bob Mesnil   Bob Stanton   Darrell Welch	Bonnie Doon	^[45]
1964		Ted Ball	289	+1	2 strokes	Jim Moran   Frank Phillips	La Perouse	^[46]
1963		Peter Mills	288	+4	2 strokes	Frank Phillips	Moore Park	^[47]
1962		Frank Phillips (3)	278	−10	2 strokes	Ted Ball	Manly	^[48]
1961		Peter Thomson	279	−9	7 strokes	Kel Nagle	The Australian	^[49]
1960		Frank Phillips (2)	279	−9	10 strokes	John Sullivan	The Lakes	^[50]
1959		Harry Kershaw	284	E	2 strokes	Kel Nagle	Pennant Hills	^[51]
1958		Les Wilson	294	+10	2 strokes	Kel Nagle	Bonnie Doon	^[52]
New South Wales Close
1957		Kel Nagle (2)	281	−7	1 stroke	Len Woodward	Armidale	^[53]
1956		Frank Phillips	279	−5	7 strokes	Kel Nagle	Concord	^[54]
1955		Bob Swinbourne	301	+17	1 stroke	Eddie Oakman	Goulburn	^[55]
1954		Norman Von Nida (6)	283	−5	10 strokes	Kel Nagle   Sam Richardson	The Lakes	^[56]
1953		Norman Von Nida (5)	285	−3	9 strokes	Kel Nagle	Newcastle	^[57]
1952		Jim Moran	287	+7	1 stroke	Norman Von Nida	Wollongong	^[58]
1951	New South Wales Jubilee Open^[c]
		Dai Rees	279	−9	5 strokes	Kel Nagle	Royal Sydney	^[59]
	New South Wales Close
		Kel Nagle	284	−4	5 strokes	Keith Pix (a)	Royal Sydney	^[59]
1950		Eric Cremin (2)	289	+5	1 stroke	Billy Bolger	Bathurst	^[60]
1949		Eric Cremin	279	−5	12 strokes	Kel Nagle	Concord	^[61]
1948		Norman Von Nida (4)	281	−7	1 stroke	Eric Cremin	Royal Sydney	^[62]
1947		Norman Von Nida (3)	279	−9	2 strokes	Alan Waterson (a)	Manly	^[63]
1946		Norman Von Nida (2)	287	−1	1 stroke	Ossie Pickworth	The Lakes	^[64]
1940–1945: No tournament due to World War II
1939		Norman Von Nida	280	−4	4 strokes	Jim Ferrier (a)	Concord	^[65]
1938		Jim Ferrier (5) (a)	281	−7	13 strokes	Sam Richardson	The Lakes	^[66]
1937		Jim Ferrier (4) (a)	280	−4	10 strokes	Norman Von Nida	Bonnie Doon	^[67]
1936		Jim Ferrier (3) (a)	277	−11	4 strokes	Sam Richardson	Manly	^[68]
1935		Jim Ferrier (2) (a)	266	−10	16 strokes	Don Spence   Alan Waterson (a)	Killara	^[69]
1934		Sam Richardson (2)	284	E	3 strokes	Jim Ferrier (a)   Tom Heard	Concord	^[70]
1933		Jim Ferrier (a)	291	+3	4 strokes	Sam Richardson	The Lakes	^[71]
1932		Sam Richardson	295	+7	1 stroke	Charlie Gray	La Perouse	^[72]
1931		Charlie Gray	303	+15	Playoff	Tom Howard   Sam Richardson	Manly	^[73]^[74]

Notes

1. ANZ − PGA Tour of Australasia; FT − Foundation Tour; VNT − Von Nida Tour.
2. Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.
3. The 1951 New South Wales Close title was contested as part of the New South Wales Jubilee Open.

References

1. "The NSW Open Golf Championship". Golf NSW. 25 July 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
2. "Golf Challenge NSW Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
3. "Golf Challenge NSW Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
4. "2019 AVJennings NSW Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
5. "2018 AVJennings NSW Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
6. "2017 NSW Open Championship". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
7. "2016 NSW Open Championship". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
8. "2015 NSW Open Championship". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
9. "2014 Mazda NSW Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
10. "2013 Gloria Jean's Coffees NSW Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
11. "2011 NSW Open Championship". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
12. "2010 NSW Open hosted by Nathan Green". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
13. "2009 NSW Open". PGA of Australia. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
14. "Townsend wins NSW Open and Von Nida decided". Australian Senior Golfer. 17 November 2008.
15. "Golf". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 February 1994. p. 37.
16. "Lack of sponsors kills of top event". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 October 1992. p. 46.
17. "Parry survives play-off to win". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 March 1992. p. 24. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
18. "In Brief". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 5 November 1990. p. 20. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
19. "Walkover victory: $54,000 for Davis". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 20 November 1989. p. 24. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
20. "Norman's Open, but only just". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 24 October 1988. p. 26. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
21. "Parry's hard road to $27,000". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 27 October 1987. p. 26. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
22. "Concentration lapse — but Norman wins". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 20 October 1986. p. 22. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
23. "Penalty determines Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 21 October 1985. p. 35. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
24. "Golf: NSW Open Baker-Finch does it in record style". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 22 October 1984. p. 20. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
25. "Golf Another conquest for Norman". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 24 October 1983. p. 20. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
26. "Golf Shearer wins NSW Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 25 October 1982. p. 18. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
27. "NSW Open Golf Rogers flies home with his sixth title of year". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 November 1981. p. 18. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
28. "Golf Smiling Serhan walks off with $13,000 NSW prize". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 3 November 1980. p. 18. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
29. Grant, Trevor (3 November 1980). "Serhan stays to the finish". The Age. p. 28. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
30. "Newton wins NSW Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 5 November 1979. p. 16. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
31. "Golf Title to Norman by 3 strokes". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 November 1978. p. 18. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
32. "McDonald beats Dunk in play-off". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 November 1977. p. 16. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
33. "Gresham wins Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 20 October 1975. p. 12. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
34. "Ted Ball wins NSW Open golf". Papua New Guinea Post-courier. International, Australia. 21 October 1974. p. 22. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
35. "N.S.W. Open win by Ed Sneed". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 October 1973. p. 14. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
36. "Beldham takes Open golf title". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 16 October 1972. p. 14. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
37. "Dunk wins NSW Open". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 February 1971. p. 17.
38. "Graham ties Phillips in NSW Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 16 February 1970. p. 12. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
39. "NSW open to Phillips". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 17 February 1970. p. 18. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
40. "Three-way tie in N.S.W. Open". The Sydney Morning Herald. 30 September 1968. p. 13.
41. "Nagle takes Open at last". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 October 1968. p. 24.
42. "Dunk's win in Open". The Sun-Herald. 16 April 1967. p. 66.
43. "Phillips shock in Open golf". The Sun-Herald. 17 April 1966. p. 70.
44. "Open golf to Phillips". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 April 1966. p. 13.
45. "Surprise finish to Open". The Sun-Herald. 11 April 1965. p. 71.
46. "Ball wins Open". The Sun-Herald. 19 April 1964. p. 69.
47. "Open win from two late birdies". The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 April 1963. p. 69.
48. "N.S.W. Open Golf to Frank Phillips". The Age. 15 October 1962. p. 20.
49. "N.S.W. Open to Thomson - Easily". The Sun-Herald. 19 March 1961. p. 20.
50. "Phillips Takes Open Golf Title By 10 Strokes". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 21 March 1960. p. 11. Retrieved 13 February 2020 – via Trove.
51. "Devlin Record in N.S.W. Golf". The Age. 23 March 1959. p. 19.
52. "Wilson wins N.S.W. Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 31 March 1958. p. 9. Retrieved 14 February 2020 – via Trove.
53. "Nagle breaks record in Close title win". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 October 1957. p. 13.
54. "Phillips streaks away in N.S.W. Close golf". The Sun-Herald. 23 September 1956. p. 39.
55. "Phillips streaks away in N.S.W. Close golf". The Sun-Herald. 22 October 1956. p. 58.
56. "Von Nida's Fine Win In State Title". The Sun-Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 10 October 1954. p. 44. Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
57. "Von Nida stars in Close title". The Sun-Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 11 October 1953. p. 45. Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
58. "Close title to J. Moran". The Sunday Herald (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 28 September 1952. p. 8 (Sport Section). Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
59. "Rees Holds Off Challenge By Nagle For Golf Title". The Sunday Herald (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 18 March 1951. p. 8 (Sports Section). Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
60. "Cremin holds Close title by stroke". The Sun (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 15 October 1950. p. 31. Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
61. "Cremin adds Close title to season's successes". The Sunday Herald (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 6 November 1949. p. 12 (Sporting Section). Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
62. "Von Nida wins big golf by stroke from Cremin". The Sun (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 13 November 1948. p. 7 (Final sport last race). Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
63. "Von Nida Makes birdies whistle in big golf final". The Sun (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 9 November 1947. p. 5 (Sports section). Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
64. "Von Nida just scrapes home in golf title". The Sun (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 24 November 1946. p. 11 (Sports section). Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
65. "Von Nida's brilliant golf win". The Sun (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 7 October 1939. p. 8 (Last race all details). Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
66. "Ferrier's golf title: brilliant 69". The Sun (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 8 October 1938. p. 9 (Last race all details). Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
67. "Golf title to Ferrier". The Sun (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 9 October 1937. p. 9 (LAte final extra). Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
68. "Jim Ferrier Amazes With Round of 62". The Sun (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 10 October 1936. p. 6 (Cricket stumps). Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
69. "Ferrier Shattered Record With Amazing Round In Close Title". The Sun (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 13 October 1935. p. 53. Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
70. "Sam Richardson's Fine Win". The Sun (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 3 November 1934. p. 6 (Cricket stumps). Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
71. "Another title goes to Jim Ferrier". The Sun (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 14 October 1933. p. 7 (Cricket stumps). Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
72. "By a stroke". The Sun (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 15 October 1932. p. 7 (The last race result). Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
73. "Triple Tie In Thrilling N.S.W. Golf Title Struggle". The Sun (Sydney). New South Wales, Australia. 22 November 1931. p. 43. Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.
74. "Thrills at Manly". The Sydney Morning Herald. New South Wales, Australia. 23 November 1931. p. 6. Retrieved 20 February 2020 – via Trove.

External links

• Official site
• Coverage on PGA Tour of Australasia's official site