Victorian Open

The Men's Victorian Open is an annual golf tournament held in Australia. It was founded in 1957 and is the Victoria state open championship for men. It is run by Golf Victoria and is a Golf Australia national ranking event.

"Vic Open" redirects here. For the curling tournament, see Vic Open (curling).
Victorian Open
Tournament information
LocationBarwon Heads, Australia
Established1957
Course(s)13th Beach Golf Links (Beach Course and Creek Course)
Par71
Tour(s)PGA Tour of Australasia
European Tour (2019–)
FormatStroke play
Prize fundA$1,500,000
Month playedFebruary
Tournament record score
Aggregate269 Min Woo Lee (2020)
Current champion
Min Woo Lee
13th Beach
Location in Australia

The event is held concurrently with the Women's Victorian Open and offers equal prize pool for the two events. The tournament's tag line is: "Men and women. On the same course. At the same time. For equal prize money." The men and women play on the same course at the same time in alternating groups.[1]

History

The first Victorian Open was played at Riversdale in 1957 and was won by Ossie Pickworth who finished 10 strokes ahead of the field.[2] Prize money was £250 but only one competitor, amateur Harry Hattersley was from outside the state.[3][4]

Three of the first four editions were won by Victorians with Gary Player winning 1959. However professionals from New South Wales won 9 of the 10 events from 1961 to 1970 with only Peter Thomson from Victoria breaking their run of success in 1968.[5]

From 2004 to 2007 the tournament was part of the second-tier Von Nida Tour. It was not played in 2008 but from 2009 to 2016 it was a Tier 2 event on the PGA Tour of Australasia schedule. In 2017 it became a Tier 1 event.

Since 2012, it has been held concurrently with the Women's Victorian Open, being held at 3th Beach Golf Links in Barwon Heads, Victoria since 2013.[6] When the tournament moved to 13th Beach Golf Links in 2013 the combined prize pool was $300,000, with $150,000 on offer for each of the men's and women's fields. In six years, the total prize pool has increased ten-fold. In 2019, the men's and women's Victorian Open fields played for a total purse of $3 million, $1.5 million for each event.

Starting in 2019, the event has been co-sanctioned by the European Tour, and continues to be played alongside the Women's Victorian Open, now co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour. The event features a double cut, 65 players will remain after the first cut, then 35 players after the Saturday cut.[7]

In February 2019 player James Nitties matched the world record of nine consecutive birdies in the Victorian Open. His birdie run from the 15th to the fifth in the first round set a European Tour record and matched Mark Calcavecchia's feat in the 2009 Canadian Open.[8]

Winners

[5]

Co-sanctioned by PGA Tour of Australasia and European Tour
YearWinnerCountryVenueScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
ISPS Handa Vic Open
2020Min Woo Lee Australia13th Beach Golf Links269−192 strokes Ryan Fox
2019David Law Scotland13th Beach Golf Links270−181 stroke Brad Kennedy
Wade Ormsby
PGA Tour of Australasia event
YearWinnerCountryVenueScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-up
Oates Vic Open
2018Simon Hawkes Australia13th Beach Golf Links274−14Playoff Harrison Endycott
2017Dimitrios Papadatos Australia13th Beach Golf Links272−162 strokes Adam Bland
Jake McLeod
2016Michael Long New Zealand13th Beach Golf Links275−13Playoff Matthew Millar
2015Richard Green Australia13th Beach Golf Links272−16Playoff Nick Cullen
Oates Victorian Open Championship
2014Matthew Griffin Australia13th Beach Golf Links281−7Playoff Matthew Stieger
Victorian Open Championship
2013Matthew Giles Australia13th Beach Golf Links275−131 stroke Nathan Holman (a)
Ryan Lynch
2012Scott Arnold AustraliaSpring Valley272−121 stroke Kurt Barnes
2011Paul Sheehan AustraliaSpring Valley276−82 strokes Matthew Griffin
Subaru Victorian Open
2010Jason Norris AustraliaSpring Valley274−102 strokes Chris Campbell
2009Ashley Hall AustraliaSpring Valley278−102 strokes Scott Laycock
Craig Scott
Von Nida Tour event
YearWinnerCountryVenueScore
2008No tournament
2007Kim Felton AustraliaWoodlands280
2006David Diaz AustraliaWoodlands202[nb 1]
2005Kurt Barnes AustraliaWoodlands204[nb 1]
2004Gareth Paddison New ZealandWoodlands204[nb 1]
2003No tournament
PGA Tour of Australasia event
YearWinnerCountryVenueScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner-up
ANZ's Tour Victorian Open
2002Andre Stolz AustraliaSorrento/Portsea274−8Playoff David Bransdon
2001Scott Laycock AustraliaCranbourne270−183 strokes Richard Green
Non-tour event
YearWinnerCountryVenueScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner-up
2000Brad Lamb (a) AustraliaCranbourne278−14Playoff Jens Nilsson
PGA Tour of Australasia event
YearWinnerCountryVenueScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-upRef
1999Kenny Druce AustraliaVictoria275−133 strokes Lucas Parsons
1998Brad King AustraliaVictoria272−165 strokes Greg Chalmers
Daniel Chopra
Terry Price
1997Stephen Leaney (2) AustraliaVictoria280−81 stroke Darren Cole
Euan Walters
1996No tournament
1995Stephen Leaney AustraliaVictoria283−51 stroke Robert Allenby
Michael Clayton		[9]
1994Patrick Burke United StatesVictoria278−102 strokes Tim Elliott
Robert Willis		[10]
1993Lucas Parsons AustraliaWoodlands276−123 strokes Bradley Hughes[11]
Non-tour event
YearWinnerCountryVenueScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner-upRef
1992Ian Stanley AustraliaWoodlands284−41 stroke Jeff Senior[12]
1991Robert Allenby (a) AustraliaWoodlands287−16 strokes David Armstrong
Paul Moloney		[13]
1990No tournament
Earlier events
YearWinnerCountryVenueScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-upRef
1989Michael Clayton (2) AustraliaKingston Heath285−32 strokes Ossie Moore[14]
1988Jim Benepe United StatesKingston Heath282−63 strokes Ian Baker-Finch
Peter McWhinney		[15]
Robert Boyd Transport Victorian Open
1987Roger Mackay AustraliaKingston Heath277−111 stroke Greg Norman[16]
1986Ossie Moore AustraliaYarra Yarra280−81 stroke Vaughan Somers
Greg Turner		[17]
Victorian Open
1985Ian Baker-Finch AustraliaYarra Yarra279−92 strokes Rodger Davis[18]
1984Greg Norman AustraliaMetropolitan281−72 strokes Bob Shearer[19]
1983Bob Shearer AustraliaMetropolitan282−61 stroke Greg Norman[20]
1982Michael Clayton AustraliaMetropolitan281−73 strokes Bob Shearer[21]
1981Bill Dunk AustraliaMetropolitan277−115 strokes Wayne Grady[22]
1980Guy Wolstenholme (4) AustraliaMetropolitan282−64 strokes Graham Marsh[23]
1979Rodger Davis AustraliaKingston Heath291+3Playoff Geoff Parslow
Gary Player		[24]
1978Guy Wolstenholme (3) AustraliaMetropolitan284−4Playoff Arnold Palmer[25]
1977Geoff Parslow AustraliaYarra Yarra275−134 strokes Greg Norman[26]
1976Guy Wolstenholme (2) AustraliaKingston Heath281−7Playoff Graham Marsh[27]
1975Stewart Ginn AustraliaMetropolitan283−53 strokes Ian Stanley[28]
1974John Davis AustraliaHuntingdale287−51 stroke Ted Ball
Bill Dunk
Ian Stanley
Randall Vines		[29]
1973Peter Thomson (3) AustraliaYarra Yarra284−42 strokes Stewart Ginn
Bob Tuohy		[30]
1972Walter Godfrey New ZealandCommonwealth283−97 strokes Isao Aoki
Peter Mills
Kel Nagle		[31]
1971Guy Wolstenholme AustraliaWoodlands289+12 strokes Peter Thomson[32]
1970David Graham AustraliaRiversdale273−194 strokes Kevin Hartley (a)
Kel Nagle
Guy Wolstenholme		[33]
1969Kel Nagle (2) AustraliaKingston Heath279−173 strokes Bill Dunk
Peter Thomson		[34]
1968Peter Thomson (2) AustraliaHuntingdale288−121 stroke Stan Peach[35]
1967Kel Nagle AustraliaYarra Yarra283−91 stroke Guy Wolstenholme[36]
1966Frank Phillips (2) AustraliaRiversdale284−84 strokes Barry Coxon[37]
1965Alan Murray (2) AustraliaRoyal Melbourne291−14 strokes Eric Cremin[38]
1964Frank Phillips AustraliaVictoria278−143 strokes Kel Nagle[39]
1963Bruce Devlin (2) AustraliaKingswood286−105 strokes Peter Mills[40]
1962Bruce Devlin AustraliaHuntingdale293−72 strokes Bill Dunk[41]
1961Alan Murray AustraliaCommonwealth290−64 strokes Peter Thomson[42]
1960Jack Harris AustraliaMetropolitan282−64 strokes Bill Dunk[43]
1959Gary Player South AfricaYarra Yarra275−175 strokes Harold Henning[44]
1958Peter Thomson AustraliaKingston Heath289−73 strokes Barry West[45]
1957Ossie Pickworth AustraliaRiversdale282−1010 strokes Barry West (a)[3]
  1. Tournament played over 54 holes from 2004 to 2006.

In 2018 Hawkes beat Endycott with a birdie at the first extra hole. In 2016 Long beat Millar with a birdie at the first extra hole. In 2015 Green beat Cullen with a birdie at the second extra hole. In 2014 Griffin beat Stieger with a birdie at the third extra hole. In 2002 Stolz beat Bransdon with a par on the second extra hole. In 2000 Lamb won with a par at the first extra hole. In 1979 Davis won with a birdie at the second playoff hole. In 1978 Wolstenholme beat Palmer with a par at the third extra hole. In 1976 Wolstenholme beat Marsh with a birdie at the third extra hole.

References
  1. Cooper, Matthew (6 February 2019). "Vic Open Defying The Norms in Golf's Equal Pay Argument". Forbes.
  2. "Vic Open history". Golf Australia. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  3. "Ossie Pickworth is not yet satisfied". The Age. 7 October 1957. p. 16.
  4. "Jack Harris out of State Open". The Age. 2 October 1957. p. 17.
  5. "Honour Roll – Men's Victorian Open Championship" (PDF). Golf Australia. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  6. Berhow, Josh (7 February 2019). "Vic Open's mixed gender format lauded by many, but some irked by yardage issues". Golf Magazine.
  7. "Five thing to know – ISPS Handa Vic Open". PGA European Tour. 4 February 2019.
  8. "James Nitties equals world record with nine consecutive birdies". BBC Sport. 8 February 2019.
  9. "Leaney settles score". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 20 November 1995. p. 25. Retrieved 21 February 2020 – via Trove.
  10. "Burke outlasts Willis to snatch Vic Open and end lean times". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 November 1994. p. 28. Retrieved 21 February 2020 – via Trove.
  11. "Parsons sinks first pro title". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 8 November 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 21 February 2020 – via Trove.
  12. "A four-time runner-up takes title". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 November 1992. p. 21. Retrieved 21 February 2020 – via Trove.
  13. "Amateur takes out Vic Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 4 November 1991. p. 25. Retrieved 21 February 2020 – via Trove.
  14. "Gusty winds and heavy rains bedevil golfers". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 February 1989. p. 29. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  15. "Benepe's plan comes together in Vic Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 February 1988. p. 20. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  16. "Greg Norman outshone". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 23 February 1987. p. 20. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  17. "Moore lands tense Open win with birdies at finish". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 February 1986. p. 24. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  18. "Baker-Finch takes Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 11 February 1985. p. 22. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  19. "Norman beats jinx to win Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 13 February 1984. p. 14. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  20. "Victorian Open to Shearer". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 February 1983. p. 18. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  21. "Rookie Clayton trumps his ace". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 February 1982. p. 16. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  22. "Billy Dunk in runaway five-stroke victory". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 16 February 1981. p. 16. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  23. "Four-time winner likes this time of the year". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 18 February 1980. p. 16. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  24. "Four-time winner likes this time of the year". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 18 February 1980. p. 16. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  25. "Wolstenholme beats Palmer". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 20 February 1978. p. 1 (Sports section). Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  26. "Parslow takes Open golf". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 28 February 1977. p. 14. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  27. "Veteran takes golf play-off". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 9 February 1976. p. 12. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  28. "Ginn takes Victorian Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 February 1975. p. 12. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  29. "Davis wins". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 11 February 1974. p. 14. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  30. "Thomson wins Victorian Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 12 February 1973. p. 15. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  31. "Godfrey wins golf tussle". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 February 1972. p. 12. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  32. "Thomson loses title". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 8 February 1971. p. 14. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  33. "Young pro wins Vic. Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 9 February 1970. p. 14. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  34. "Nagle wins Vic. Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 February 1969. p. 14. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  35. "Thomson's golf win". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 13 February 1968. p. 19. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  36. "Nagle takes $1,500 prize". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 February 1967. p. 14. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  37. "Phillips takes Victorian Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 26 September 1966. p. 12. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  38. "Sydney golfer wins Victorian Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 27 September 1965. p. 26. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  39. "Phillip's Open win warning to star players". The Age. 28 September 1964. p. 20.
  40. "Devlin Wins Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 18 November 1963. p. 20. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  41. "Brown one out in P.G.A." The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 19 November 1962. p. 20. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  42. "Murray wins Open title". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 October 1961. p. 12. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  43. "Victorian Open Winner Equals Course Record". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 November 1960. p. 15. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  44. "Record Round To Player". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 9 November 1959. p. 10. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  45. "Thomson Wins Vic. Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 17 November 1958. p. 12. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.

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