On Sunday at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club, Lachlan Barker became a first time PGA Tour of Australasia winner. The 2023 PNG Open champion ending a six-year win drought from his days as an amateur.
“That’s actually my first win in six years besides a match play match,” Barker said. “I always knew I could do it, but when it actually happens it is very good for the mental to actually confirm that yes you can do it.
“I wouldn’t say that I was relieved, I would say very happy with myself.
That joy came after a thrilling final day where the 24-year-old streaked away from the field, and overnight leader Chris Wood, over the front nine where he made five birdies and one eagle. A seven-under 30 that could have been better.
Two eagle chances hit the lips of the 3rd and 6th holes but refused to drop for Barker, as Wood struggled on the same drivable par-4s where he recorded a bogey and double bogey.
Barker’s nine hole score took him to 16-under for the tournament and a six shot advantage with nine to play as players returning their scorecards looked in disbelief at what they were seeing on the leaderboards.

“Like I’ve been saying all week, been chasing that low one and it came on the front nine today, so that was really nice,” the South Australian said. “Was swinging it really well, driving it in the fairway makes all the difference, doing the rest of it as I should.
“I’d like to describe it as I was on. And when you’re on, it doesn’t feel like you’re doing much different but you’re doing everything great.”
That feeling started to become a little uneasy with bogeys at the 10th and 12th, but the former Iowa State University player managed to regain his composure and was in full control standing in the 13th fairway with the local crowd cheering his every move.
“When I hit my tee shot on 13 I was settled. I bombed one down 13, and I was like “Yep, all good’,” he said.
“I always knew I could do it, but when it actually happens it is very good for the mental to actually confirm that yes you can do it." - Lachlan Barker.
“The gap really opened up quite quickly and the locals got around me too, which was great. I had a lot of fun out there on the back nine, even with a few wayward shots, I was pretty comfortable, about as comfortable as you could be coming down the stretch.”
Wood had managed to regain some ground through the turn, as did Ryan Peake the third member of the final threesome. But the four shot gap playing the 13th was as close as they got.
Barker mixing two more birdies with one more bogey to arrive at the 72nd hole on 15-under with a five shot lead over Jack Murdoch in the clubhouse, as Wood and Peake faded late.
Missing the green long right, Barker chipped brilliantly to near tap-in distance before marking to let his playing partners finish out.
With a crowd ringing the 18th green and marquees full of people, Barker let the air out of the celebrations momentarily when he missed his par putt, before tapping-in for 67 and 14-under-par total, as well as the green winner’s jacket.
RELATED: Inside Barker's winning bag
His par attempt mirrored by the false start from good mate and travel partner this week Liam Georgiadis whose champagne shower attempt drew a laugh from Barker who was standing arms open at the ready.
“Just a disastrous finish to what was a great week,” he joked. “Nah it was all a bit of fun.”
That fun earns Barker $32,400 for his troubles, while Murdoch took the second place cheque four shots back, with Wood, Michael Wright and Blake Proverbs sharing third at nine-under.
“Maybe a couple of SPs (local beer) this evening then on a plane to Bangkok tomorrow,” Barker said of his plans on Sunday and Monday when he will head to Thailand for two mixed events.
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