Ace helps Zach to stunning victory

Pictured: Winner Zach Maxwell with Alan Newcombe, from Optilease, sponsor of the Redcliffe pro-Am.

What a difference a year has made for Zach Maxwell. 

Twelve months ago, he needed a “special invite” to play in the Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am. On Friday he won it!

The 22-year-old from Virginia Golf Club had a stunning start to round two, including a hole-in-one, to catch the leaders in the $80,000 36-hole event.

Maxwell then went birdie-eagle, after the turn, to lead and win $14,384, in the most lucrative tournament on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series, by one shot.

For his ace on the 13^th hole (his fourth having started on 10) Maxwell also won $1000 from Mal Burke and Hippo’s Super Wash.

“I had to give Zach a special invite last year just to be able to play,” said Chris Adnams, Director of Golf at Redcliffe Golf Club.

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“Then for him to turnaround a year later and win the event is a credit to his hard work and dedication. I am very proud of him.

“Zach’s dad Brett is Director of Golf at Virginia GC and was my mentor when I first entered the PGA, so it was a very special moment for all of us to see Zach crowned the champion for 2024.”

Maxwell, in his first year with full tour status, told the PGA Tour: “I have a little rule where when I make a birdie I’m allowed to look at the leaderboard.

“Coming down the last nine holes, I was looking every hole!

“That’s the best part about the pro-ams and why it is such a good pathway onto the tour. You get to create environments and create winning pressure.”

Maxwell wiped out his four-shot first-round deficit by going five-under-par on his first five holes at the start of round two.

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Starting on the 10^th, Maxwell birdied his first and third holes, before a stunning ace at the par three 13^th and another birdie on the 14^th – his fifth hole.

A birdie and eagle on his 12^th and 13^th holes put the 22-year-old on top of the leaderboard – where he stayed, carding 64 for a 36-hole total of nine-under par 133.

Nathan Barbieri, from NSW, matched Maxwell’s 69 in the opening round and had eight birdies on Friday, including six in eight holes.

But his second round 65 was one shy of the winner and Barbieri was runner-up, winning $8304, at the Redcliffe Pro-Am for a third time.

First round leader Aaron Pike slipped back to third with a second round 70 and 135 total, taking home $5376.

Doug Klein, who worked in the Redcliffe pro shop and won the event in 2021, followed his first round 72 with a 64, matching Maxwell’s best-of-the-day, for 136.

He finished tied fourth with Matthew Millar, Gavin Fairfax and Nathan Page, all collecting $3162.80.

Chris Adnams said the 2024 Optilease Redcliffe Pro-Am “was again a huge success from our club’s standpoint”.

“Last year was so good I had very high standards to live up to, but our whole team lifted again this year and we followed the process and everything was perfectly executed,” he said.

“The amazing feedback from all the professionals showed we did all the rights things and I am very proud of all our staff and volunteers”

Leaderboard

1st Zach Maxwell 69, 64 – 133

2nd Nathan Barbieri 69, 65 – 134

3rd Aaron Pike 65, 70 - 135

Tied 4^th Douglas Klein 72, 64 – 136; Matthew Millar 69, 67 – 136; Gavin Fairfax 66, 70 – 136; Nathan Page 68, 68 - 136