Nicely done: Aussie golf legend Peter Lonard (centre) hits his final shot to secure victory at the Moama Masters, part of the PGA Legends Tour at Rich River Golf Club. Photos: Oliver Shedden
Photo by
Oliver Shedden
Former Australian golfer and PGA Tour legend Peter Lonard carded an unbelievable 11-under-par 59 in the final round of the Moama Masters to secure a one-shot victory at Rich River Golf Club last Friday.
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Having shot a three-over-par 73 on day one to head into the final round nine shots off the pace of overnight leader Ben Jackson, Lonard made 12 birdies en route to a one-shot win ahead of Victorian John Onions, who shot a final-round 63.
Lonard’s 59 on Rich River’s east Ccourse is the first score below 60 in PGA Legends Tour history, and his first sub-60 round, with his previous best being 60 on the number more than two decades ago.
On fire: Peter Lonard sinks the putt to bring his round score to 59, a PGA Legends Tour record.
Photo by
Oliver Shedden
“It’s pretty special and something I’ll remember for a long time,” he said.
“Sometimes you just have those days where everything goes in. I got a couple of good bounces, and suddenly, I was there. It’s a great feeling.”
The three-time Australian PGA champion and two-time Australian Open winner said there were still milestones left to achieve, even at this point in his golfing career.
“There are certain benchmarks you want to hit as a player and breaking 60 is one of them,” he said.
He expressed his admiration for Rich River as a club and the pleasure of playing in Moama.
“It’s a fantastic course. It has great facilities. It has everything you need as a golfer. It’s an overall great environment.”
Looking good: Rich River Golf Course was in superb condition for the Moama Masters.
Photo by
Oliver Shedden
Rich River’s golf director Steve Loader was pleased with how the tournament had gone and Lonard’s performance.
“The day has gone off well. The course has been splendid. You don’t see players scoring 59 very often, it’s amazing,” he said.
“It will always be special when you bring former world-class players together. Our members love it and it’s great for the community,”
The PGA Legends Tour is raising money for Police Legacy, a non-profit organisation that supports police families.
Lonard is hopeful that through events such as the Moama Masters and the rest of the tour, they can raise a substantial amount to help those in need.
“Police Legacy is a great initiative,” he said.
“With 80 more tournaments throughout the year, we have plenty of time to do some good.”
Lonard has expressed interest in a return to Moama as it is now the home of his best score ever for a PGA event.
“I look forward to coming back next year,” he said.
