Hawkes and Lee win it all at Oates Vic Open

THE 2018 Oates Vic Open saw two very different kinds of victories play out over the final round on Sunday.

Held at 13th Beach Golf Links, Minjee Lee led all day in the women’s tournament and eventually finished with a six-under par 67 and five shots clear overall.

It was much tighter in the men’s tournament. Simon Hawkes narrowly missed an eagle chance to secure an outright victory on the 18th hole and had to sink the birdie to force a play-off against Harrison Endycott. Hawkes then putted well to secure the win in the first play-off hole.

Lee, who won the Oates Vic Open four years ago and was the highest-ranked player in the 2018 field, said she built on a solid start of being 4 under after eight holes.

“I haven’t been in this situation too many times,” she said. “I just went out and played my own game.

“I was a little bit nervous out there probably coming down the stretch, but I knew I had somewhat of a lead so I could just play. But most of the pressure I put on myself, so it was nice to come out with the win.”

Queensland golfer Karis Davison, 19, took second place in her first professional tournament, while Hannah Green and Georgia Hall were tied for third.

In the men’s, Hawkes and Endycott both put their second shots into similar positions in the same bunker on the play-off hole, and Hawkes said the final result could have easily been reversed.

“I probably just pipped him in the play-off, really. That putt could have gone either way; him making it, me missing.

“I honestly don’t know (how I won); it really doesn’t feel like I’m a different golfer from when I rocked up on Monday for the practice round.”

Cory Crawford and Anthony Quayle were tied for third, while Torquay’s Ben Eccles (who charged home with seven birdies for the equal-best score of the final round) and Steven Jeffress were tied for fifth.