Wilson reclaims Samoa Golf Open title

By Thomas Airey • 28 June 2019, 8:30PM

Peter Wilson has reclaimed the Invest Samoa Golf Open crown after an eight-under par 64 in the final round at the Royal Samoa Country Club in Fagali'i on Friday put him at 19-under for the tournament.

The Australian pockets the prize money of $20,578.92 tala for the win, which came by four strokes over Andrew Campbell, who had a Round Three 66.

It was Wilson's third Samoa Open victory, and he said he is really comfortable playing the Royal Samoa course for some reason.

"I started with an eagle today, which was a really good way to start then I eagled the ninth.

"[Andrew Campbell] was pushing me along, he was one back for a little while and I just steadied on the back nine and played smart golf, and came away with the win."

Wilson said he is so comfortable playing in Samoa because of the weather and the people.

"I've grown up being a surfer, I've done a few surf trips here."

He said the Fagali'i course suits his game as well.

"I'm a straight hitter and I pitch the ball really well, and that's what you've gotta do here.

"There's not a lot of mid or long irons, my mid or long irons aren't my strength."

Wilson said he is keen to continue coming back for the Open.

"I think I'll try to bring my family next year, stay on for a bit longer with the family afterwards."

He said it's a great part of the PGA Australia Ladbrokes Pro-Am Series tour.

"And the airfares are getting cheaper with Samoa Airways now, the last few years they've been quite expensive but now they're getting better and better."

Wilson said he was impressed by the local talent as well, and Samoa has a few talented young amateurs.

"Hopefully they keep on going and turn professional one day."

One of those talents is 23-year-old, Samu Ropati, who won the Taula Amateur Championship and finished in a tie for third overall after shooting 65 on the final round to end up at -13.

He was one of four Samoans to finish in the top 10, along with Jayden Ford (-12), Malese Maifea and Niko Vui (both -10).

“Every year the quality of local players seems to improve. It is a testament to the work of Samoa Golf Incorporated and the local programs run by the courses,” said David Barker, State Manager with the PGA of Australia.

Richard Backwell won his fifth Senior Open in sixth years, scoring 70 in the final round to finish on eight-under par for the tournament, with Michael Harwood and Brad Burns a shot back.

Samoa Open final leaderboard

POSITION	COUNTRY	PLAYER	TOTAL	R1	R2	R3
1	AUS	Peter Wilson	-19	66	67	64
2	AUS	Andrew Campbell	-15	65	70	66
T3	WSM	Samu Ropati (Am)	-13	69	69	65
T3	AUS	Anthony Choat	-13	65	69	69
T5	NZL	Jayden Ford (Am)	-12	68	67	69
T5	AUS	Edward Stedman	-12	68	68	68
T7	AUS	Michael Wright	-11	67	69	69
T7	AUS	Scott Laycock	-11	67	71	67
T9	WSM	Malese Maifea	-10	70	69	67
T9	WSM	Niko Vui (Am)	-10	70	69	67
T11	AUS	Alex Edge	-9	71	70	66
T11	WSM	Robert Faaaliga (Am)	-9	70	70	67
T13	AUS	Patrick Joseph	-4	73	69	70
T13	AUS	Thomas Punnett	-4	73	69	70
T13	WSM	Lio Vui (Am)	-4	69	70	73
16	AUS	Dane McArdle	-3	75	69	69
17	FRA	Dylan Benoit (Am)	-2	70	76	68
18	WSM	Van Wright (Am)	Par	76	73	67
19	AUS	Andre Stolz	+2	71	78	69
T20	WSM	Timoteo Samau (Am)	+3	72	77	70
T20	AUS	Zachary Churcher	+3	74	72	73
T22	WSM	Laki Peti (Am)	+5	77	75	69
T22	AUS	Martin Dive	+5	70	71	80
24	AUS	Grant Binns	+7	77	74	72
T25	AUS	Rhett McIvor	+8	82	70	72
T25	FRA	Morgan Dufour (Am)	+8	74	76	74
T25	FRA	Guillame Castaguee (Am)	+8	76	71	77
28	WSM	Al Apisaloma-Taeleipu (Am)	+14	72	79	79
29	AUS	Adrian Lees	+16	78	71	83
30	FRA	Dominique Ricaud	+24	80	79	81

Senior Open final leaderboard

POSITION	COUNTRY	PLAYER	TOTAL	ROUND 1	ROUND 2	ROUND 3
1	AUS	Richard Backwell	-8	71	67	70
T2	AUS	Michael Harwood	-7	69	69	71
T2	AUS	Brad Burns	-7	66	70	73
T2	AUS	David Fearns	-7	71	65	73
T5	AUS	Tim Elliott	-1	70	73	72
T5	AUS	Bryan Wearne	-1	69	71	75
T5	AUS	Glenn Joyner	-1	69	67	79
8	NZL	Dean Sipson	+2	73	72	73
9	AUS	Mark McFadden	+3	71	76	72
10	NZL	Bryce Mawhinney	+4	73	73	74
11	AUS	Donald Edwards	+5	73	68	80
T12	AUS	Tomas Mezera	+6	73	77	72
T12	WSM	Corey Keil (Am)	+6	74	72	76
14	AUS	Gregory Rix	+7	73	75	75
T15	AUS	Mark Tickle	+9	72	78	75
T15	AUS	Michael Holden	+9	71	76	78
T15	AUS	Steven Aisbett	+9	71	76	78
18	AUS	Robert McConnell	+10	73	73	80
19	WSM	Garry Vui (Am)	+12	80	74	74
20	AUS	Brad Cumming	+13	76	81	72
21	WSM	Laauli Tui	+14	81	75	74
22	AUS	John Kirchner	+16	73	75	84
23	AUS	Steve Treisman	+17	79	76	78
T24	AUS	Stephen Woodhead	+18	78	81	75
T24	AUS	Richard Beer	+18	74	81	79
26	AUS	Denis Brosnan	+21	79	75	83
27	WSM	Samoa Unoi (Am)	+23	78	79	82
28	AUS	Andy Dakers	+27	79	83	81
29	AUS	Gary Wheatley	+29	83	81	81
30	AUS	Wayne Rogers	+33	84	86	79
31	AUS	Stephen Boswell	-	86	85	DSQ