Anthony Quayle will be driven by last year’s playoff heartbreak in an effort to capture his maiden win in the SP Brewery Papua New Guinea Open at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club.
Finishing at the end of 72 holes in round four last year, alongside Aaron Wilkin and Brad Moules, the 22-year-old’s first win of his career, as an amateur, was within grasp.
Playing the par-3 18th hole sudden death, Quayle was the first to bow out leaving Moules and Wilkin to go head-to-head on the second time down the stretch.
With a birdie on the second playoff hole, Moules claimed the victory and winner's cheque of $A21,000 but most importantly a two year exemption on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.
When asked if the narrow loss would play on his mind mentally, Quayle was optimistic in his response.
“I don’t think so. I played nicely up there last year and enjoyed the experience of being in contention.
“If anything, I’m eager to return to Port Moresby and try put myself in that position again.”
It would’ve been a massive boost to Quayle’s rookie year as a Professional to have the guarantee of a place to play in the 2017 season; he was forced to earn his spot the hard way in Qualifying School earlier this year where he earned a full card for the upcoming 12 months.
Quayle has made quite the impact on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia since earning full status on Tour.
Despite a missed cut at the Oates Vic Open and a disappointing 49th in the Coca-Cola Queensland PGA Championship, Quayle has always been at the business end of the leaderboard in final rounds, this year.
His best result so far was a top-ten finish in the New Zealand PGA Championship and was backed up the next week with a top-20 spot, in the ISPS HANDA New Zealand Open.
“I’m pleased with the start to my professional career. It’s nice to quickly transition from top level amateur golf into the professional ranks.
“I have had two legitimate chances of winning since turning Professional, which has been fun. I don’t feel I have done too much wrong, however, I haven’t quite handled the situation to the level I would have liked to in both cases.”
Quayle received a number of recognitions as an amateur including reaching 34th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings, 2nd in Australian National Rankings, 2015 Queensland Male Golfer of the Year and last year was named Captain of the Queensland Men’s State Team.
With a break in the tour, since the Queensland PGA Championship, Quayle has had the opportunity to fully prepare for the Royal Port Moresby layout.
“I know the course quite well. It’s tight off the tee and there is a premium for being in the fairway. It can be difficult to get up and down around the greens as well, so good ball striking will be rewarded.”
The Queenslander is clearly enjoying his golf as a professional and after coming so close in last year’s PNG Open, he will no doubt be hungry to bounce back and breakthrough for a maiden Tour victory.
“It feels really close and I think the momentum is on my side so we will have to wait and see.”
The SP Brewery PNG Golf Open will be played from May 4-7, at the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club, with the field vying for a prize purse of $A156,000. The winner will receive Official World Golf Ranking Points and become fully exempt on to the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia for the remainder of this season plus a further season.