9 BETS FOR THE WEEK ALL £5EW TOTAL BET £90
DANIEL BROWN 45/1 BOYLE 8PL
CHASE HANNA 100/1 SB 6PL
ZANDER LOMBARD 22/1 SB 6PL
MATTI SCHMID 22/1
HENNIS DU PLESSIS 22/1 SB 6PL
DAVID MICHELUZZI 33/1 PP 6PL
KAZUMA KOBORI 250/1 PP 6PL
DIMITRIES PAPADATOS 750/1 SB 6PL
JEFFREY GUAN 125/1 SB 6PL
SA OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP
AUSTRALIAN OPEN
The South African Open Championship is one of the oldest national open golf championships in the world, having first been played in 1903, and is one of the principal tournaments on the Southern-Africa-based Sunshine Tour. Since 1997 it has also been co-sanctioned by the European Tour.
BLAIR ATHOLL GOLF
At over 7 500 meters, the Blair Atholl Golf Course is the third longest course in the world, and it takes in all the different features and moods of the Estate. The former home of golfing legend, Mr Gary Player. The course is a Gary Player design and forms the heart of the estate with its rolling greens and meadows adding to the sense of space.
The course features no less than eleven water features. Designed in a loop, it is both challenging and rewarding, perfect for scratch players to test their mettle, yet still an enjoyable round for handicapped golfers.
From 1999 to 2016, the tournament was the Sunshine Tour’s flagship event for the purposes of the Official World Golf Ranking, earning a minimum of 32 OWGR points for the winner.
It was replaced as the flagship event for 2017 by the Alfred Dunhill Championship before regaining its status the following year. In 2020, the Alfred Dunhill Championship once again replaced the South African Open as the tour’s flagship event. In 2021, the Alfred Dunhill Championship was scheduled to be the flagship event for the second consecutive year.
However due to the cancellation of the tournament, the South African Open regained its flagship event status for the first time since the January 2020 event.
PAST RESULTS
2022 Thriston Lawrence 272 -16 1 stroke
2021 Daniel van Tonder 272 −16 1 stroke
2020 Christiaan Bezuidenhout 270 −18 5 strokes
2020 Branden Grace 263 −21 3 strokes
2019: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January
2018 Louis Oosthuizen 266 −18 6 strokes
2018 Chris Paisley 267 −21 3 strokes
2017 Graeme Storm 270 −18 Playoff Rory McIlroy
2016 Brandon Stone 274 −14 2 strokes
The Australian Open, owned and run by Golf Australia, is the oldest and most prestigious golf tournament on the PGA Tour of Australasia. The Open was first played in 1904 and takes place toward the end of each year.
THE LAKES GC
The Lakes Golf Club is one of Australia’s premier golf courses, located in the Sydney suburb of Eastlakes in New South Wales. Founded in 1928, this prestigious private golf course is approximately a 10-minute drive from Sydney central business district. Designed by Mike Clayton.
The course has hosted the Australian Open seven times, most recently in 2018. The first two events were won by legends Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman. The event also hosted the 1973 Chrysler Classic, an official event on the Australasian Tour, which was won by Lee Trevino.
EVENTS HOSTED
The Lakes has hosted the Australian Open on seven occasions.
- 1964 United States Jack Nicklaus
- 1980 Australia Greg Norman
- 1992 Australia Steve Elkington
- 2010 Australia Geoff Ogilvy
- 2011 Australia Greg Chalmers
- 2012 Australia Peter Senior
- 2018 Mexico Abraham Ancer
It has hosted other events including the Australian PGA Championship, Ampol Tournament, Wills Classic, Wills Masters, Chrysler Classic, Johnnie Walker Australian Classic, Greg Norman Holden International and the ANZ Championship.
The club also organised the Lakes Open between 1934 and 1974 and hosted the Lakes International Cup between 1934 and 1954.
PAST RESULTS
2022 Adrian Meronk 268 -14 5 strokes
2021 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2019 Matt Jones 269 −15 1 stroke
2018 Abraham Ancer 272 −16 5 strokes
2017 Cameron Davis 273 −11 1 stroke
2016 Jordan Spieth 276 −12 Playoff Ashley Hall-Cameron Smith
2015 Matt Jones 276 −8 1 stroke
2014 Jordan Spieth 271 −13 6 strokes
2013 Rory McIlroy 270 −18 1 stroke
2012 Peter Senior 284 −4 1 stroke
OUR PICKS
DANIEL BROWN 45/1
I have gone with the team here this week and I see the reason why.
His form coming in seems hot and seems to preforming well week on week.
Winner on the DP World Tour already this year back in August at the ISPS Handa World where he shoot four great rounds of 64-66-67-69 to be clear at the top and win it by five shots. That was one of the strongest European Tour fields as well so to beat them all up like that was dam impressive.
One aspect of his game that stood out for me was his driving distance and accuracy this was the main feature as to why he gives himself so many chances to score so low.
He played well last week only shooting an average 71 on Sunday to drop just outside the top ten in the end.
He looks good on the practice holes that we have seen and the putting looks good so if he gets going early watch for a big win again here.
CHASE HANNA 100/1
How has this guy not won yet on the European Tour?
He has been so close over the years check out his missed chances panning the past few years:
- 2021 – 6TH EURAM OPEN – 3RD DIMENSION – 6TH HERO – 6TH CAZOO – 2ND OPEN BRETAGE
- 2022 – 6TH BRITISH MASTERS – 4TH SOUDAL – 2ND QATAR
- 2023 – 4TH ESTRELLA MASTERS
This could be his week and the chance to finally get over that winning line. He likes the way this golf course is set up this week as he told us this on Monday during his few holes warm up.
Not much else to say apart from I see his odds drop from 100/1 to around 30/1 come Saturday.
MATTI SCHMID 22/1
This young German is now making a name for himself all over the world playing on both PGA and DP World Tours. It is only a matter of time before he breaks through with that first win.
This year alone he has come close to having a chance to win on the Sunday at the following events:
- BERMUDA CHAMP – 3RD
- AMERICAN EXPRESS – 6TH
- ANDALUCIA MASTERS – 2ND
We caught up with his coaching team now based in the US at the Shriners Open last month. Plenty of positives to take from what we saw. Very aggressive player so seems to be well suited to perform better on US type courses, his going for green is at 72.4% and his hit green percentage is an impressive 32.2%, he ranks inside the top ten on the PGA Tour for both stats.
He ticks plenty of approach play stats as well to go low here, for me will be the man to beat.
ZANDER LOMBARD 22/1
This guy is hot to trot right now ok the odds are a bit on the low side but I could not rule him out this week folks. We are great friends and drinking buddies with him and his family and have had a side bet with them running all season that he wins it on home soil so he has this week and next to do just that.
He went very close last week but we feel a better set up and course for him here. NAP and one to watch over the next two weeks if he tees it up at the Alfred Dunhill next week could also go well.
HENNIS DU PLESSIS 22/1
One we had to back here we feel he lands four good rounds this week.
He sorted his round three scoring out last week we just need a good first round from him here and who knows he could get over the line.
DAVID MICHELUZZI 33/1
First up this week is David. This time of the year we have to try and gather as much information from all the team from all parts of the globe and this guy is a little beauty.
Our Aussie team who have been following this player all year and have nothing but positive vibes.
Three times a winner on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia in 2023, which is pretty much the same level as the DPO World Challenge Tour.
- TPS SYDNEY – WINNER BY FOUR SHOTS – 66-68-64-61
- VICTORIAN PGA – WINNER BY ONE – 70-69-67-68
- NSW OPEN – WINNER BY TWO – 67-66-66-65
His last three events on the DP World Tour are pretty impressive reading as well:
- Made in Himmerland – 17TH
- Dunhill Links – 14TH
- Aussie PGA – 18TH
Has every right to win it here this week one player for the future. YOU heard it here FIRST.
KAZUMA KOBORI 250/1
Here we go another Kiwi who has been impressing us of late.
We can forgive him last weeks missed cut at the PGA Champs it was still a couple of good rounds 73-70 just missing out in the end.
We like his build up to his time in Aus and he did make our short list last week but felt this week’s setup and course would suit his game better to be honest.
He is climbing up the world rankings for fun and you can see why check out some of his best covering the past few years, and at such a young age:
- 40TH NSW OPEN
- 9TH QUEENSLAND PGA
- 4TH NZ PGA
- 3RD VICTORIAN PGA
- 6TH NZ OPEN
- 6TH ASIA OPEN
- WINNER NZ PGA
Our place NAP of the week or could be better.
DIMITRIES PAPADATOS 750/1
Taking a big punt here and why not we are on a great run and were so close to landing some very big odds over the past few months and feel he could do the job for us.
No one else will be featuring this guy but we know if he starts well here he could have a great chance here this week.
Coming off the back of two missed cuts only just missing out, I like the look of his last Korn Ferry Tour event he played in with rounds of 68-74-72-69.
Can he win it here not sure but will take a 750/1 place all day.
