After winning the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Q-School event in the US state of Georgia in August 2025, New York native Chris Malec finds himself in unfamiliar territory at 13-under-par, two shots clear of Will Florimo in solo second at The Heritage Golf and Country Club.

Golf has been a long journey with little reward for the 34-year-old, who played his first Official World Golf Ranking event in August 2015 on PGA TOUR Canada and has never previously recorded a top-20 finish in an Official World Golf Ranking event.

In his debut season on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, Malec’s best results have been T26 at the Ford NSW Open and T21 at the Vic PGA.

He currently sits 88th on the Order of Merit, and a victory this week would secure status on his new tour for the next two years.

“It would mean a ton,” Malec said when asked what a win would mean.

“It would mean I would secure a job here for at least a couple more years. I know where I stand in the Order of Merit – points are a good thing for me this week.”

While trying to get back onto the Canadian Tour through its Q School, Malec discovered the first international entry point to the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia. He described the decision to enter the Georgia-based qualifier at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club last August as a “50-50” call.

After working briefly as a blackjack dealer in 2018, Malec refused to let go of his golfing dream, moving to Las Vegas to work as a caddie while saving money to continue playing.

That path ultimately paid off when he won a playoff at Q School against Patrick Healy to secure his ticket to a tour on the other side of the world.

“I worked briefly in a casino dealing blackjack but golf put me in a hole, so I was doing what I could to get myself out of it and continue playing,” Malec said.

“That was 2018 and then I ended up moving to Vegas to caddie and continue saving up money. While I was in Vegas, I got a little bit of support from my sponsor on my sleeve who kickstarted my professional career again, and here we are continuing a relationship out on the Aussie Tour.”

The New Yorker started the day in solo third at 7-under and surged into the lead with a blistering 4-under front nine to reach 11-under and open up a two-shot advantage.

Back-to-back bogeys to begin the back nine brought the chasing pack back into contention, leaving Malec sharing the lead with Florimo through 11 holes.

He responded immediately with an eagle at the par-5 12th to regain a two-shot cushion and never looked back.

“It was definitely a boost to my round,” Malec said of the eagle.

“It was nice to bounce back with an eagle on 12 and finish strongly after that.”

Florimo’s steady 3-under 69 keeps him firmly in the hunt after starting the day tied for second at 8-under alongside Kiwi Cameron Harlock, who slipped to tied 13th at 7-under.

Overnight leader John Lyras, returning from a five-month injury layoff this week, struggled to a 4-over 76 and fell to 5-under after beginning the day with the solo lead at 9-under.

Haydn Barron, Curtis Luck, Josh Armstrong and Matias Sanchez share third at 9-under, while six players sit tied for seventh at 8-under and remain within striking distance heading into the final round.

Heritage Classic
The Heritage Golf and CC (St John Cse)
Prizemoney: $250,000
TV times: Live 2pm-7pm AEDT Sunday on Fox Sports Main Event and Kayo Sports.