Shepparton’s Kyle Michel put golfers nationwide on notice with a sizzling display in The National Tournament at the weekend at The National Golf Club.
Michel, who had earmarked a big 2024 ahead in previous conversations with The News, was comfortably top of the pile at the halfway mark after a belting pair of rounds on the Moonah course.
He sat pretty with a five-shot advantage before a torrid Saturday resulted in a significant shake-up at the top, posting a three-over 75 to forfeit his place at the summit.
The back nine challenged Michel in new ways amidst the windy conditions he spoke to pga.org.au about following his handy first two rounds.
Holes 12 to 15 proved a downfall, with a pair of bogeys and a double-bogey on the par-four 14th weighing Michel down after new clubhouse leader Cameron John bagged a hole-in-one on the par-three eighth to ascend to first place.
Sunday’s final round started rather inauspiciously for the Shepparton native, with another double bogey opening up a gap early on, from which he never recovered.
A pair of birdies to close out the front nine proved too little, too late.
Michel eventually posted a second straight three-over 75 to finish at seven-under for the weekend, nine adrift of eventual winner John.
His finishing position of equal-eighth at a big PGA Australia event does not tell the story alone, though, given the command Michel had on the field when they turned for home.
The first half of Michel’s laps around the iconic Mornington Peninsula links will more than alert competitors to his presence as he seeks a berth on the Asian tour.