Victorian James Marchesani has won the WA Open, firing a bogey-free 65 on Sunday to edge Jasper Stubbs and defending champion Oliver Bekker by one shot for his first PGA Tour of Australasia title at Secret Harbour Golf Links.
The 35-year-old finished at 17-under, one clear of Stubbs (66), with Bekker (67) third, Australian Golf Digest reported. All three held the outright lead at some stage over the last five holes.
Marchesani made his move at the tough 14th, hitting his approach to within eight feet for a birdie as Bekker dropped his first shot of the day, leaving the pair tied at 15-under.
The shots that won it
He saved par from two bunkers on the 15th, reached the par-5 16th in two and two-putted for birdie, then hit his tee shot on the par-3 17th to tap-in range to go one ahead of Stubbs, who had eagled the 16th. All three closed with pars on the 18th.
“If you had’ve told me I’d have to shoot 65 today – I think that’s what I shot? I don’t even know – to win, I would have thought you were a bit crazy,” Marchesani said.
“The past 18 months, I’ve just played some really good golf and obviously hadn’t quite got there and I just knew if I just keep doing the same things, it’s going to happen.”
Read more: Jon Rahm Gives Up LIV Golf Millions in Separation Agreement
Nearly-man no more
The win ends a long wait. Marchesani had 11 top-10 finishes since the start of 2025 without a victory, including a playoff loss at the NSW Open last November.
He was the only player to break 70 in every round and carded the only bogey-free round on Sunday. His caddie was Brady Watt, who lost the 2012 WA Open in a playoff.
Bekker had been chasing back-to-back WA Open titles, which hasn’t been done since Terry Gale in 1982-83. Queensland’s Louis Dobbelaar also shot 65 on the final day.
What’s next
The win improves Marchesani’s status on the PGA Tour of Australasia, and he will play on the HotelPlanner Tour in Europe in 2027.
More News
