![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/nathan-cropped.jpg\")
The consolation is that he has climbed to No.5 on the Order of Merit standings, while John, who won the Queensland PGA Championship in October in another come-from-behind performance, is now second, close behind NSW Open champion Christopher Wood.<\/p>\n
The new Vic Open winner said he felt for his good mate and playing partner this afternoon.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously Nathan and I are quite close and I’m disappointed for him because he’s a very deserving winner,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut anytime you get a chance to sort of be in this position, it’s great and you never know what can happen until the very end.\u201d<\/p>\n
A four on the par-5 second was Barbieri\u2019s only birdie of the final round.<\/p>\n
WA PGA champion Austin Bautista (71) was outright third at 5-under-par, with Lachlan Barker (69) fourth at 4-under after closing with an eagle on 18.<\/p>\n
After playing in the final group both yesterday and today, veteran Brendan Jones (78) tied for seventh.<\/p>\n
On the women’s side of the tournament, Wales\u2019 Lydia Hall secured a fourth WPGA Tour of Australasia title with her steady golf and vast experience in the wind leading to a four-shot victory.<\/p>\n
Hall\u2019s three previous wins in Australia had been over the sprint distance of 36 holes, including the 2024 World Sand Greens Championship, but this time she negotiated 72 holes in even-par after closing with a 72.<\/p>\n
Kelsey Bennett (NSW) shared the lead with the former Ladies British Masters champion with five holes to play but ended up in a share of second with West Australian Kathryn Norris. Both players touring the Beach Course in 1-over 73 in the final round.<\/p>\n
Australian amateur representative Raegan Denton (70) took fourth place at 5-over-par.<\/p>\n
Hall said putting her name on the Vic Open trophy alongside the likes of Minjee Lee, Hannah Green and Jiyai Shin was a career highlight.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really pleased to kick the season off with the win. First time for everything. It’s been 18 years,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously an historic event as well, and it’s just really pleasing to have my name along some of the female major champions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s definitely one that I’ve always wanted to have on my CV at the end of my career and yeah, really pleased to get it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The short 90m par-three seventh hole was Hall\u2019s nemesis on Saturday when she stumbled to a double-bogey to fall out of the lead, but today it was her friend.<\/p>\n
After missing the green to the right, the 38-year-old chipped in for a birdie which gave her a four-stroke lead with 11 holes to play.<\/p>\n
All four shots disappeared with Hall bogeys on nine and 11 and Bennett birdies on the same two holes.<\/p>\n
It was the par-416th hole that proved to be decisive. The Australian\u2019s approach shot ended up in ankle-high weeds behind the green and she needed three shots \u2013 two chips and a putt \u2013 to make it on the putting surface before one-putting for a double-bogey.<\/p>\n
Hall gave her chasers no chance by making six straight pars and a birdie on the 18th to close out her round.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just knew as long as I could kind of stick around level par that would put the pressure on them and not on me to have to chase,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just kind of aware of sticking around that number and just trying to play golf shots like I know I can play.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hall will be in action this week at Webex Players Series Victoria hosted by Marcus Fraser at Rosebud Country Club, starting on Thursday.<\/p>\n
She will also be a starter in the four events co-sanctioned by the WPGA Tour of Australasia and Ladies European Tour, headlined by the women\u2019s Australian Open at Kooyonga and Australian WPGA Championship at Sanctuary Cove.<\/p>\n
“I mean, as long as I can keep doing what I’ve been doing, I know I’ve always got a chance. We’ll just have to see what happens,” the Tour’s latest winner said.<\/p>\n
Further down the leaderboard, reigning women\u2019s Australian Open champion Jiyai Shin climbed to sixth place thanks to a bogey-free 70 in the final round.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
WINNING the Vic Open has been on Cameron John\u2019s bucket list for 20 years and he ticked the target off after some late final-round drama in the 2026 event at 13th Beach Golf Links today (Sunday, January 18). The 26-year-old Victorian trailed long-time leader Nathan Barbieri by two shots when he stood on the 72nd […]<\/p>\n