After rain forced organisers to reduce the tournament at Coffs Harbour Golf Club to a single round, the pressure was dialled up with a $50,000 prize purse and three coveted qualifying spots for the 2025 Ford NSW Open on the line.
“Little bit of a surprise,” Armstrong said post-round.
“To be honest, I thought I had to hole that putt on the last, but turns out the other boys had done the work for me.”
The leaderboard was tight all day, with several players jostling for position.
Local favourite Jack Pountney and Sydney’s Nathan Barbieri were right in the mix, going shot for shot down the stretch. The two were neck and neck coming down the 16th hole, with Pountney briefly edging in front, but costly bogeys on his final two holes saw him slip back.
Meanwhile, Armstrong, who was just one group behind, held his nerve, needing only a par on the last to claim victory.
“I was shocked, to be honest,” he said.
“This is kind of the first one where I had to come from behind a little bit. I was fully prepared to go to a playoff. Even now, I’m still trying to settle myself back a little bit, but it’s a good problem to have.”
The 24-year-old from Canberra played a bogey-free round and credited his strong short game for getting him across the line.
“I drove the ball well and I putted really good,” he said.
“Iron play was just mediocre, but I gave myself plenty of chances, and the putter did its wonders today.”
CHRISTOPHER WOOD, JOSH ARMSTRONG AND JACK POUNTNEY HAVE ALL BOOKED THEIR SPOTS IN THE 2025 FORD NSW OPEN. (PHOTO: GOLF NSW)
His personal highlight? A clutch birdie after scrambling from a poor tee shot.
“I hit a terrible tee shot and had to punch it through the trees. Then I holed a 35-footer. That kind of kept me going; kept me in it. I birdied the next par five after that as well.”
With the win, Armstrong books his ticket to the Ford NSW Open at The Vintage in November, a venue he’s looking forward to returning to.
“I love the Hunter Valley and everything it has to offer. I have had a bit of success there in the past, so it’ll be great to get back there. I know it’s going to be a good field.”
Despite the tough finish, Pountney still grabbed one of the qualifying spots, finishing in a three-way tie for second at six-under alongside Barbieri and Dillon Hart.
“I started off a bit crappy, but everything seemed to flow,” Pountney said.
“Got lucky on a hole and then just kept making birdies. Obviously, a bogey-bogey finish is never good, but I was pretty happy with it in the end.”
The chance to play in front of a home crowd added a special touch to the week for the Coffs Harbour local.
“I don’t get to play in front of my family very often, so it was good to see all of them out there. It was lovely.”
Christopher Wood secured the final qualifying place with a five-under finish, helped by a hot start.
“I started off really well, which sort of set up the round,” he said.
“Didn’t make any birdies on the back nine, but finished strong and got up there on the leaderboard. To finish top-three was really nice.”
Wood is looking forward to his debut at The Vintage.
“I haven’t played The Vintage actually, so it’ll be good to get there the week of and suss out the course and prepare.”
– Kass Rogan
Ford NSW Open Regional Qualifying Series Remaining Schedule:
• Catalina Club Batemans Bay – South Coast Open: September 17-19
• Queanbeyan Golf Club: September 21-23
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