Following another exhilarating competition, the Gary Player Classic continues to prove itself as one of the most significant and successful events for Australian Junior golfers. Over the past 42 years, the annual event sponsored by the South African Grand Slam champion has brought many amateurs under the age of 21 closer to their professional dreams and launched the careers for many past champions including Jason Day, Adam Scott, Ian Baker-Finch and Greg Norman.
“It is such a pleasure to support Junior Golf in Australia and see so many talented young golfers prosper after competing in this long-standing event,” said golfing icon Gary Player. “Junior golf is extremely crucial to the future and growth of golf around the world. Golf Queensland has done a superb job with the Gary Player Classic, and I am thrilled to be involved with this top-notch tournament.”
The Gary Player Classic, held at the Pacific Club in Brisbane, continues to showcase Australia’s top talent in one of the longest running junior tournaments in the country.
This year’s field has attracted a number of emerging juniors to compete for the 18-20, 16-17, and Under 15 bracket titles with Daniel Gale, Joshua Taylor and Charles Pilon winning their respective age divisions as the tournament concluded last Friday.
The 15 years and under Division was dominated by Pilon from the Hills Golf Club. After an opening round of 81, he managed to rebound with rounds of 73, 70 and 75 to finish at 11-over for a seven shot victory.
The 16-17 years division was a closer affair with only one shot separating champion Joshua Taylor, from Yarra Yarra, and runner-up Douglas Klein, from Redcliffe. Taylor held a one shot lead heading into Friday’s final round and was able to hang onto the lead despite a spirited challenge from Klein, finishing with rounds of 72-75-76-74 to card 9-over.
In the 18-20 years division, Daniel Gale, from Castle Hill, was able to extend away from the field with a four stroke winning margin after scores of 70-72-75-75 to finish at 4-over.
Gale, Taylor, and Pilon are just the latest to join the list of storied champions at the Gary Player Classic, which includes many of Australia’s top golfers who have risen to prominence over the event’s history.
Former World Number One golfers Greg Norman and Adam Scott are notable past victors.
Jason Day, current World Number Eight, is one of the few players to have won three Gary Player Classic titles as he won the Under 15 division in 2002, and 16-17 division in both 2004 and 2005.
The Gary Player Classic is a feature on the Australian Junior Order of Merit, now in its 43rd year.
ABOUT GARY PLAYER
Gary Player, often referred to as the Black Knight, symbolizes all that world class golf is or was ever intended to be. A champion in every sense of the word, he has won 165 professional tournaments worldwide and through the philanthropic efforts of his foundation generated nearly $60 million dollars for the education of underprivileged children. Player, a master of the game, and a world leader in golf course design is credited with shaping more than 365 courses worldwide.
In 2015, Gary Player will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his Grand Slam, which he won at age 29 at the 1965 US Open. Player became only the third golfer to win the Grand Slam, following Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen. Since then, only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have added their names to this elite group. Player has, to date, won nine major championships on the regular PGA Tour and nine on the Senior or Champions Tour. He is a three time President’s Cup Captain and in 2000 received South Africa’s Sportsman of the Century Award.
In addition to his 40 years of golf course design, Player currently serves as the Global Ambassador to the World Golf Hall of Fame and holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from St. Andrews University. His legendary career and humanitarian endeavors have been acknowledged by numerous awards, including the 2012 PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2006 PGA Tour Payne Stewart Award, and the 2003 Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Player has circled the globe in pursuit of sporting events, and after journeying over 15 million miles, or 25 million kilometers, he is widely recognized as The World’s Most Traveled Athlete™. When not traveling to or from sporting events, Player divides his time between the South African stud farm, where he has bred over 2000 winning thoroughbred race horses, and his residence on Jupiter Island in Hobe Sound, Florida.
Contact:
Gary Player Group
Grace Vine, 864-477-2720
grace@garyplayer.com
