The tournament crew at Cobram Barooga Golf Club (pictured with Dylan Alcott) pulled out all the stops to successfully host a fourth consecutive Webex Players Series Murray River event last week. The fourth of five Webex events on the 2024-2025 Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, the tournament format features both men and women competing alongside one another for the overall title.

Held again on Cobram Barooga’s Old Course, this year’s event had a number of highlights. In addition to Victorian Cameron John’s course record 11-under 60 in the third round, eventual winner Blake Proverbs had to negotiate a tense three-hole playoff against Jason Norris to claim his first Australasian tour victory.

As has been a feature of the past two Murray River events, six female sports turf managers joined course superintendent Terry Vogel and his team to help them prepare the course for the tournament. Their placement was facilitated by ASTMA Gold Partners John Deere and Envu, in conjunction with the ASTMA, who recently joined forces to launch an enhanced Women in Turf program. Getting a taste of tournament experience this year were Ella Arter (Maroondah City Council, Vic), Abbey Taylor (Charlestown GC, NSW), Olivia Cowan (Kooringal GC, Vic), Vicki Liddington (City of Stirling, WA), Emma Lewis (Settler’s Run G&CC, Vic) and Christina Wilson (Green By Nature, Qld).

“The ground staff and volunteers presented the course on another level this year,” says Cobram Barooga assistant superintendent Kane Kerr. “Unlike previous years where pre-tournament rain was welcomed, we were due for a scorcher this year. Staff and volunteers were thrown extra challenges, with the heat being the biggest factor. Our aim was to keep the course green and healthy with 10 days in a row over 36 degrees.

“Only receiving 6mm since the start of December meant we had our work cut out for us, but luckily we had six female greenkeeping volunteers from around Australia to assist us for the week. Initially run by John Deere and now done in conjunction with Envu and the ASTMA, the Women in Turf initiative has been a brilliant addition year after year and a great success. Currently working at other golf courses, the women brought a lot of enthusiasm, experience and energy to our team during the week.

“Lots of water was pumped out over the course during the lead up to the tournament and this year we had to apply a couple of extra fungicide, wetting agent and fertiliser applications to combat the tough conditions. Our staff were exceptional right through, navigating the right balance of moisture and speed in the greens. Using our Pogo moisture sensor, we were able to adapt to what needed extra hand watering along with the required irrigation cycles at night to keep the greens rolling true and consistent.

“The feedback from the professionals was outstanding with some excellent scores coming in, including a course record 11-under and an exciting three-hole playoff to determine the winner. Congratulations to all the winners, including the all abilities and juniors, and a big thank you to all our staff and the Women in Turf program volunteers for their excellent contribution and making our tournament yet again another success.”

The ASTMA congratulates Terry and his team on a great tournament and for playing a key role in strengthening the participation of women in the sports turf management industry. A full wrap of the tournament will be included in the next edition of Australian Turfgrass Management Journal.