Portmarnock’s Conor Purcell signed off on a successful pro debut with a pair of weekend 70s at the AVJennings New South Wales Open at Twins Creeks Golf and Country Club.
This year’s Australian Amateur Champion looked right at home back playing in the land Down Under on invite and recovered from a day one 74 to fire three rounds under par for a seven-under tally and a share of 29th.
Teeing off his paid circuit journey just west of Sydney without a management company or any sort of status, the 22-year old son of PGA Professional Joey Purcell took the step-up in his stride, trading four birdies and two bogeys in an accomplished Sunday showing for a hard-fought top-30 finish.
It’s no secret that the professional game is an ultra-expensive one where few ever make it but Purcell pockets his first cheque, worth $2,560 for the result and can look at it as tangible evidence that he has the game to compete in the pro ranks.
Great first week as a pro at the AV Jennings NSW Open. Very pleased to grind it out into the weekend. Thanks @golfnsw @PGAofAustralia for a well run week.… https://t.co/cv2jAUpC6b
— Conor Purcell (@conorp45) December 1, 2019
It’s no surprise that the fledgling pro, who rose to as high as 10th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, looked comfortable at the $400,000 event but the step-up will be even greater from Thursday when he joins some of the world’s best players at the $1.5 million Australian Open with Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Paul Casey and Louis Oosthuizen all confirmed in a stunning line-up from December 5-8.
Jason Day was forced to withdraw from the event set for the Australian Club due to an ongoing back injury.
Meanwhile Josh Younger won the $72,000 first prize on Sunday after coming through fellow Aussie Travis Smyth in a playoff after both players completed 72-holes in 17-under par.
Full scoring HERE
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