West Lakes Classic

West Lakes Classic
Tournament information
Established1975
Tour(s)PGA Tour of Australasia
FormatStroke play
Final year1982
Final champion
Australia Ian Stanley

The West Lakes Classic was a golf tournament held in the Adelaide area of South Australia from 1975 to 1982.

History[edit]

The event was historically sponsored by the Commercial Bank of Australia. In 1982 it was merged into a new bank called Westpac and the event was called the Westpac Classic in its final year. Prize money was A$20,000 in 1975, A$35,000 in 1976, A$50,000 in 1977, A$60,000 in 1978, A$65,000 in 1979, A$75,000 in 1980, A$80,000 in 1981 and A$100,000 in 1982.

The event is perhaps best known as the site of Greg Norman's first professional victory. Norman still regards this as his most important win.[1][2]

Winners[edit]

Year Winner Country Venue Score To par Margin
of victory
Runner(s)-up Winner's
share (A$)
Ref
Westpac Classic
1982 Ian Stanley  Australia Royal Adelaide 285 −7 3 strokes Australia Stewart Ginn 18,000 [3]
CBA West Lakes Classic
1981 Eamonn Darcy  Ireland Royal Adelaide 285 −7 Playoff1 Scotland Sam Torrance 14,400 [4]
1980 Bob Shaw  Australia The Grange 285 −3 2 strokes Australia Ted Ball 15,000 [5]
1979 David Graham  Australia The Grange 285 −3 2 strokes Australia Bob Shearer
United States Gary Vanier
13,000 [6][7]
1978 Wayne Grady  Australia The Grange 280 −4 2 strokes Australia Bob Shearer 12,000 [8]
1977 Bob Shearer (2)  Australia The Grange 271 −13 6 strokes Australia David Good 10,000 [9]
West Lakes Classic
1976 Greg Norman  Australia The Grange 271 −13 5 strokes Australia David Graham
Australia Graham Marsh
7,000 [10][11]
1975 Bob Shearer  Australia The Grange 282 −2 Playoff2 Australia Mike Cahill 4,000 [12]

1 In 1981, Darcy won at the first extra hole.
2 In 1975, Shearer won at the third extra hole.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Final Shot with Greg Norman". Hong Kong Golfer. 6 August 2014. pp. 73–74. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  2. ^ Verdi, Bob (25 June 2007). "Interviews: Top Gun". Golf Digest. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  3. ^ "Classic goes to Stanley". The Canberra Times. Vol. 57, no. 17, 201. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 1 November 1982. p. 18. Retrieved 7 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Darcy forced into play-off for Westlakes classic win". The Canberra Times. Vol. 56, no. 16, 831. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 26 October 1981. p. 18. Retrieved 7 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "A few frights but Newcastle's Shaw ties up the title". The Canberra Times. Vol. 55, no. 16, 468. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 27 October 1980. p. 19. Retrieved 7 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Graham wins, 3 under". The Canberra Times. Vol. 54, no. 16, 105. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 29 October 1979. p. 14. Retrieved 7 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Graham cashes in on Shearer's bogeys". The Age. AAP. 29 October 1973. p. 42. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  8. ^ "A calm Grady takes classic". The Canberra Times. Vol. 53, no. 15, 744. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 30 October 1978. p. 16. Retrieved 7 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Shearer wins West Lake with a final round of 67". The Canberra Times. Vol. 52, no. 14, 919. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 31 October 1977. p. 14. Retrieved 7 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Norman holds on to win golf title". The Canberra Times. Vol. 51, no. 14, 518. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 25 October 1976. p. 11. Retrieved 7 May 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "No catching golf rookie". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 October 1976. p. 21. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Shearer's eyes on Paris gold". The Age. 6 October 1975. p. 24.