The 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
Tournament information
LocationBarwon Heads, Australia
Established1957
Course(s)13th Beach Golf Links
(Beach Course)
Par72
Length6,778 yards (6,198 m)
Tour(s)European Tour
PGA Tour of Australasia
Von Nida Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundA$420,000
Month playedFebruary
Tournament record score
Aggregate267 Dimitrios Papadatos (2022)
267 Michael Hendry (2023)
To par−21 as above
Current champion
Australia Brett Coletta
Location map
13th Beach Golf Links is located in Australia
13th Beach Golf Links
13th Beach Golf Links
Location in Australia
13th Beach Golf Links is located in Victoria
13th Beach Golf Links
13th Beach Golf Links
Location in Victoria

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

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The first Victorian Open was played at Riversdale in 1957, replacing the Victorian Close Championship which had been first held in 1948.[2] It was won by Ossie Pickworth who finished 10 strokes ahead of the field.[3] Prize money was £250 but only one competitor, amateur Harry Hattersley, was from outside the state.[4][2]

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 13th 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.

In 2019 and 2020, the event was co-sanctioned by the European Tour. The event 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, 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] David Law won the first co-sanctioned European Tour edition of the event. He won by a one stroke margin after entering the final three holes three strokes behind. Law birdied the 16th and eagled the final hole, this coupled with Wade Ormsby double bogeying his penultimate hole, led to Law claiming victory.[9]

No event was played in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] The event returned in 2022 as a sole-sanctioned PGA Tour of Australasia event and had a reduced prize fund.[11]

Winners

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Year Tour(s)[a] Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up Venue Ref.
Vic Open
2024 ANZ   Brett Coletta 270 −18 2 strokes   Andrew Martin
  Jordan Zunic
13th Beach
2023 ANZ   Michael Hendry 267 −21 4 strokes   David Micheluzzi 13th Beach
2022 ANZ   Dimitrios Papadatos (2) 267 −21 1 stroke   Ben Campbell 13th Beach
2021: No tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic [10]
ISPS Handa Vic Open
2020 ANZ, EUR   Min Woo Lee 269 −19 2 strokes   Ryan Fox 13th Beach
2019 ANZ, EUR   David Law 270 −18 1 stroke   Brad Kennedy
  Wade Ormsby
13th Beach
Oates Vic Open
2018 ANZ   Simon Hawkes 274 −14 Playoff[b]   Harrison Endycott 13th Beach
2017 ANZ   Dimitrios Papadatos 272 −16 2 strokes   Adam Bland
  Jake McLeod
13th Beach
2016 ANZ   Michael Long 275 −13 Playoff[c]   Matthew Millar 13th Beach
2015 ANZ   Richard Green 272 −16 Playoff[d]   Nick Cullen 13th Beach
Oates Victorian Open Championship
2014 ANZ   Matthew Griffin 281 −7 Playoff[e]   Matt Stieger 13th Beach
Victorian Open
2013 ANZ   Matthew Giles 275 −13 1 stroke   Nathan Holman (a)
  Ryan Lynch
13th Beach
2012 ANZ   Scott Arnold 272 −12 1 stroke   Kurt Barnes Spring Valley
2011 ANZ   Paul Sheehan 276 −8 2 strokes   Matthew Griffin Spring Valley
Subaru Victorian Open
2010 ANZ   Jason Norris 274 −10 2 strokes   Chris Campbell Spring Valley
2009 ANZ   Ashley Hall 278 −10 2 strokes   Scott Laycock
  Craig Scott
Spring Valley
Victorian Open
2008: No tournament
2007 VNT   Kim Felton 280 −8 1 stroke   Steve Collins
  Marc Leishman
  Aron Price
Woodlands [12]
2006 VNT   David Diaz 202 −14 2 strokes   Marcus Cain
  Aron Price
Woodlands
Mitsubishi Motors Victorian Open
2005 VNT   Kurt Barnes 204 −12 Playoff   Nathan Green Woodlands [13]
2004 VNT   Gareth Paddison 204 −12 5 strokes   Richard Green
  Paul Sheehan
Woodlands [14]
Victorian Open
2003 VNT Cancelled
ANZ Victorian Open Championship
2002 ANZ   Andre Stolz 274 −8 Playoff[f]   David Bransdon Sorrento/Portsea
2001 ANZ   Scott Laycock 270 −18 3 strokes   Richard Green Cranbourne
Victorian Open
2000   Brad Lamb (a) 278 −14 Playoff[g]   Jens Nilsson Cranbourne
1999 ANZ   Kenny Druce 275 −13 3 strokes   Lucas Parsons Victoria
1998 ANZ   Brad King 272 −16 5 strokes   Greg Chalmers
  Daniel Chopra
  Terry Price
Victoria
1997 ANZ   Stephen Leaney (2) 280 −8 1 stroke   Darren Cole
  Euan Walters
Victoria
1996: No tournament
1995 ANZ   Stephen Leaney 283 −5 1 stroke   Robert Allenby
  Mike Clayton
Victoria [15]
1994 ANZ   Patrick Burke 278 −10 2 strokes   Tim Elliott
  Robert Willis
Victoria [16]
1993 ANZ   Lucas Parsons 276 −12 3 strokes   Bradley Hughes Woodlands [17]
1992   Ian Stanley 284 −4 1 stroke   Jeff Senior Woodlands [18]
1991   Robert Allenby (a) 287 −1 6 strokes   David Armstrong
  Paul Moloney
Woodlands [19]
1990 ANZ Cancelled
1989 ANZ   Mike Clayton (2) 285 −3 2 strokes   Ossie Moore Kingston Heath [20]
1988 ANZ   Jim Benepe 282 −6 3 strokes   Ian Baker-Finch
  Peter McWhinney
Kingston Heath [21]
Robert Boyd Transport Victorian Open
1987 ANZ   Roger Mackay 277 −11 1 stroke   Greg Norman Kingston Heath [22]
1986 ANZ   Ossie Moore 280 −8 1 stroke   Vaughan Somers
  Greg Turner
Yarra Yarra [23]
Victorian Open
1985 ANZ   Ian Baker-Finch 279 −9 2 strokes   Rodger Davis Yarra Yarra [24]
1984 ANZ   Greg Norman 281 −7 2 strokes   Bob Shearer Metropolitan [25]
1983 ANZ   Bob Shearer 282 −6 1 stroke   Greg Norman Metropolitan [26]
1982 ANZ   Mike Clayton 281 −7 3 strokes   Bob Shearer Metropolitan [27]
1981 ANZ   Bill Dunk 277 −11 5 strokes   Wayne Grady Metropolitan [28]
1980 ANZ   Guy Wolstenholme (4) 282 −6 4 strokes   Graham Marsh Metropolitan [29]
1979 ANZ   Rodger Davis 291 +3 Playoff[h]   Geoff Parslow
  Gary Player
Kingston Heath [30]
1978 ANZ   Guy Wolstenholme (3) 284 −4 Playoff[i]   Arnold Palmer Metropolitan [31]
1977 ANZ   Geoff Parslow 275 −13 4 strokes   Greg Norman Yarra Yarra [32]
1976 ANZ   Guy Wolstenholme (2) 281 −7 Playoff[j]   Graham Marsh Kingston Heath [33]
1975 ANZ   Stewart Ginn 283 −5 3 strokes   Ian Stanley Metropolitan [34]
1974 ANZ   John Davis 287 −5 1 stroke   Ted Ball
  Bill Dunk
  Ian Stanley
  Randall Vines
Huntingdale [35]
1973 ANZ   Peter Thomson (3) 284 −4 2 strokes   Stewart Ginn
  Bob Tuohy
Yarra Yarra [36]
1972   Walter Godfrey 283 −9 7 strokes   Isao Aoki
  Peter Mills
  Kel Nagle
Commonwealth [37]
1971   Guy Wolstenholme 289 +1 2 strokes   Peter Thomson Woodlands [38]
1970   David Graham 273 −19 4 strokes   Kevin Hartley (a)
  Kel Nagle
  Guy Wolstenholme
Riversdale [39]
1969   Kel Nagle (2) 279 −17 3 strokes   Bill Dunk
  Peter Thomson
Kingston Heath [40]
1968   Peter Thomson (2) 288 −12 1 stroke   Stan Peach Huntingdale [41]
1967   Kel Nagle 283 −9 1 stroke   Guy Wolstenholme Yarra Yarra [42]
1966   Frank Phillips (2) 284 −8 4 strokes   Barry Coxon Riversdale [43]
1965   Alan Murray (2) 291 −1 4 strokes   Eric Cremin Royal Melbourne [44]
1964   Frank Phillips 278 −14 3 strokes   Kel Nagle Victoria [45]
1963   Bruce Devlin (2) 286 −10 5 strokes   Peter Mills Kingswood [46]
1962   Bruce Devlin 293 −7 2 strokes   Bill Dunk Huntingdale [47]
1961   Alan Murray 290 −6 4 strokes   Peter Thomson Commonwealth [48]
1960   Jack Harris 282 −6 4 strokes   Bill Dunk Metropolitan [49]
1959   Gary Player 275 −17 5 strokes   Harold Henning Yarra Yarra [50]
1958   Peter Thomson 289 −7 3 strokes   Barry West Kingston Heath [51]
1957   Ossie Pickworth 282 −10 10 strokes   Barry West (a) Riversdale [4]

Source:[5]

Notes

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  1. ^ ANZ − PGA Tour of Australasia; EUR − European Tour; VNT − Von Nida Tour.
  2. ^ Hawkes won with birdie on first extra hole
  3. ^ Long won with birdie on first extra hole
  4. ^ Green won with birdie on second extra hole
  5. ^ Griffin won with birdie on third extra hole
  6. ^ Stolz won with par on second extra hole
  7. ^ Lamb won with par on first extra hole
  8. ^ Davis won with birdie on second extra hole
  9. ^ Wolstenholme won with par on third extra hole
  10. ^ Wolstenholme won with birdie on third extra hole

References

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  1. ^ Cooper, Matthew (6 February 2019). "Vic Open Defying The Norms in Golf's Equal Pay Argument". Forbes.
  2. ^ a b "Jack Harris out of State Open". The Age. 2 October 1957. p. 17.
  3. ^ "Vic Open history". Golf Australia. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Ossie Pickworth is not yet satisfied". The Age. 7 October 1957. p. 16.
  5. ^ a b "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. ^ "ISPS Handa Vic Open: Scotland's David Law wins first European title". BBC Sport. 10 February 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Vic Open cancelled for 2021". Golf Australia. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  11. ^ "Date confirmed for Vic Open return". PGA of Australia. 14 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Felton hangs on to win Vic Open". The Age. 5 February 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Mitsubishi Motors Victorian Open results". PGA of Australia. Archived from the original on 14 December 2005. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  14. ^ "Second win comes after horrid week". NZ Herald. 6 March 2004.
  15. ^ "Leaney settles score". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 20 November 1995. p. 25. Retrieved 21 February 2020 – via Trove.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "Parsons sinks first pro title". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 8 November 1993. p. 22. Retrieved 21 February 2020 – via Trove.
  18. ^ "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.
  19. ^ "Amateur takes out Vic Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 4 November 1991. p. 25. Retrieved 21 February 2020 – via Trove.
  20. ^ "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.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "Greg Norman outshone". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 23 February 1987. p. 20. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  23. ^ "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.
  24. ^ "Baker-Finch takes Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 11 February 1985. p. 22. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  25. ^ "Norman beats jinx to win Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 13 February 1984. p. 14. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  26. ^ "Victorian Open to Shearer". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 February 1983. p. 18. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  27. ^ "Rookie Clayton trumps his ace". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 February 1982. p. 16. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  28. ^ "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.
  29. ^ "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.
  30. ^ "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.
  31. ^ "Wolstenholme beats Palmer". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 20 February 1978. p. 1 (Sports section). Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  32. ^ "Parslow takes Open golf". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 28 February 1977. p. 14. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  33. ^ "Veteran takes golf play-off". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 9 February 1976. p. 12. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  34. ^ "Ginn takes Victorian Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 February 1975. p. 12. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  35. ^ "Davis wins". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 11 February 1974. p. 14. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  36. ^ "Thomson wins Victorian Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 12 February 1973. p. 15. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  37. ^ "Godfrey wins golf tussle". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 7 February 1972. p. 12. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  38. ^ "Thomson loses title". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 8 February 1971. p. 14. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  39. ^ "Young pro wins Vic. Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 9 February 1970. p. 14. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  40. ^ "Nagle wins Vic. Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 February 1969. p. 14. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  41. ^ "Thomson's golf win". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 13 February 1968. p. 19. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  42. ^ "Nagle takes $1,500 prize". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 February 1967. p. 14. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  43. ^ "Phillips takes Victorian Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 26 September 1966. p. 12. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  44. ^ "Sydney golfer wins Victorian Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 27 September 1965. p. 26. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  45. ^ "Phillip's Open win warning to star players". The Age. 28 September 1964. p. 20.
  46. ^ "Devlin Wins Open". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 18 November 1963. p. 20. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  47. ^ "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.
  48. ^ "Murray wins Open title". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 October 1961. p. 12. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  49. ^ "Victorian Open Winner Equals Course Record". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 November 1960. p. 15. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  50. ^ "Record Round To Player". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 9 November 1959. p. 10. Retrieved 22 February 2020 – via Trove.
  51. ^ "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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38°16′40″S 144°27′28″E / 38.2779°S 144.4577°E / -38.2779; 144.4577