McLeod takes NSW Open
Jaz’s career-best effort
JAKE McLeod is wondering how big an upgrade is needed to his girlfriend’s birthday present after yesterday’s maiden victory at the NSW Open.
The two-shot triumph at Twin Creeks in Sydney’s western outskirts was his longdreamt-of graduation from top amateur to winner in professional golf.
It has taken him three years and the $72,000 winner’s cheque was a wonderful bonus on top of the self-confidence from shooting 20-under-par with rounds of 67-68-62-71.
“There were definitely nerves but less than I thought down the last hole,” McLeod said.
“I’ve been in contention a few times and not played the last round as well as I wanted so getting it done is a huge feeling.
“My girlfriend (Madi Wall) had her birthday last Friday so I’m thinking I need to get her a bigger present.”
McLeod was all smiles when fellow Queensland pros Aaron Wilkin, Cory Crawford and Anthony Quayle showered him with champagne on the final green. GOLD Coast triathlete Jaz Hedgeland has secured a career-best fourth at a World Cup.
Hedgeland finished the 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run at the Miyazaki ITU Triathlon World Cup in Japan in a time of two hours one minute and 56 seconds, less than a minute behind winner Summer Cook.
Fellow Gold Coaster Brandon Copeland finished 15th in the men’s race at the same event.
Copeland finished the race in 1:51:09, while fellow Australian and Olympian Ryan Bailie finished eighth (01:50:17). Marcel Walkington was the best of the Aussies in fifth (1:50:07).