A happy hunting ground for amateur golfers, the state Open has a long and storied history with an honour roll bearing not only the biggest names to come from the West but around the rest of the country and even the world.

Won by the likes of Stephen Leaney four times, Greg Norman, Ian Stanley, Ian Baker-Finch and Kel Nagle, the trophy also features the names of Peter Jacobsen and Gary Player, while amateurs have won the title four of the last six years.

After last week’s season opener in Kalgoorlie the local players will have an increased idea of where their games sit ahead of the remaining 15 events across the summer, and the always strong local West Australian contingent will feature a couple of members of the host club that welcomes the WA Open for the ninth time this week.

As was the case last week at the WA PGA, there will be a concurrently held WA All Abilities Open Championship where the winner in Kalgoorlie Cameron Pollard will defend his title won earlier this year.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Last season’s event (played earlier this year) at Royal Fremantle ended in some of the most unlikely circumstances that saw a home favourite miss out on defending his title by the slimmest of margins.

RIGHT: Braden 'Boris' Becker claimed his first Tour title at this event earlier this year. PHOTO: Australian Golf.

Amateur, and club member, Hayden Hopewell was hoping to go back-to-back in his state Open and was every chance playing before a stroke of luck for eventual winner Braden Becker.

Becker’s fourth shot to the par-5 72nd struck the ball of playing partner Nathan Barbieri sitting off the edge of the back of the 18th green and remarkably ricocheted to a foot and a tap-in par. In the moments following, Hopewell three putted the last to give the man brilliantly nicknamed ‘Boris’ his first PGA Tour of Australasia win by one shot at 19-under-par.

COURSE: The Western Australian Golf Club welcomes back the WA Open for the first time since 2016 when then amateur Curtis Luck authored a tournament scoring record.

As host of this event, the layout at the base of Mount Yokine has a knack of producing high quality winners and viewing prospects. And make no mistake, despite Luck’s scoring in 2016 is no pushover.

Laid out by Eustace Cohen and Victor Steffanoni in the 1920s, the club benefitted from a visit to Perth by Alex Russell in its early days, with the legendary designer making some changes and adding bunkering. West Australian Tour pro turned course designer Graham Marsh more recently adding his own modifications.

Uniquely featuring five par-3s and three par-5s, the par-70 will measure 6,342 metres this week and opens with a brute of a one shotter of over 200 metres, while the conditioning is always impressive under the stewardship of long time Superintendent Idris Evans.

PRIZEMONEY: $162,500

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Last week was a moment plenty anticipated but took longer to materialise than expected when former amateur star David Micheluzzi won his first home Tour title.

The Victorian saluted after a final day battle with Jarryd Felton and while backing it up will be a big ask, the confidence of finally breaking his duck will help push past any fatigue.

The Western Australian hosts its ninth WA Open this week. PHOTO: Brendan James.

Felton too can’t be ignored based off his past stellar play in his home state and his form last week when his winning chances were undone over the last two holes. The multiple-time Aussie Tour  winner the kind to take motivation rather than carry disappointment from his finish.

Given the history of amateurs winning this event and at this venue, it would be remiss not to mention some of the top professional prosepects still playing without payment, including Jeffrey Guan who was right in the thick of things last week, and 2020 winner Hayden Hopewell who must still be wondering how he didn’t defend last year after being on the wrong side of lady luck.

Also worth keeping an eye on is South African Aldrich Potgieter who won The Amateur Championship earlier this year and at one time resided in WA.

One of the club members in the field Haydn Barron has to be considered around a track he knows like the back of his hand and has worked sporadically on the greenkeeping staff of at times.

A few of the usual suspects to watch include Brett Rumford and Michael Sim, while Blake Collyer is a player you would describe as a “pro’s pro” and a genuine chance to join the winners' circle this summer.

72-HOLE RECORD: 261, (Curtis Luck, 2016)

18-HOLE RECORD (The Western Australian): 62, (Curtis Luck, 2016)

RECENT WINNERS: Braden Becker (2022), Hayden Hopewell (2020), Michael Sim (2019), Zach Murray (2018), Stephen Leaney (2017).

TV TIMES*
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports & KAYO LIVE 2:30pm – 5:30pm)
Round 4: Sunday ((Fox Sports & KAYO LIVE 12:30pm – 5:30pm)
*AEDT, check local guides