Beck wins WA PGA

Darren Beck celebrates his triumph in Kalgoorlie. Image: PGA Tour of Australasia

A remarkable nine-year revival, Darren Beck won the WA TX PGA championship of 2019.

Beck arrested a disastrous opening that made him pass three times at the fifth hole on the Kalgoorlie golf course.

But six birdies out of nine-nine, including three in a row from holes 16 to 18, helped the 41-year-old win his first ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia victory since 2008.

"It feels great. It was a little nervous with five or six holes in it," Beck said.

"There was a big change in scores. I birdied the 12th (hole) and Felts (Jarryd Felton) bogey so that it turned around quickly. I thought I was playing there for a second time.

“It just feels good to hold it together and finish it like I did. The putter was just incredible, so I can't explain how good that felt. "

Beck experienced a radical transformation on the back-nine. After scoring a front-nine 39 – 3-over par – the New South Welshman came to life with a remarkable 6-under 30 on the last nine holes.

He finished the day three under the card with rounds of 68, 67, 68 and 69 for a tournament total of 272 – two shots away from the second placed Jarryd Felton.

"I think it was hard early in the round because we couldn't see leaderboards and it's hard to know what's going on. You don't know if guys came from behind and got a good score," said he.

"I had to ask a few people what the scores were to be sure and then I could just play my own game without trying to push it.

“The last time I didn't want to push too much once I had a lead of two shots. I just played a three-shotter trying to make a birdie. It is a great feeling. "

The race with two horses between Beck and Felton was fascinating. Felton returned to the lead early in the first nine and rushed to the turn for a lead of three shots.

But Beck grabbed Felton's bogeys on the 12th and 13th to win his first big crown since the 2009 Brunei Open on the Asian Tour.

"It shows that my game is not too far away. It would have been good to win, but you can do it and hopefully win by the end of the year."

Beck and Felton are now playing next week's WA Open at Cottesloe Golf Club on the Ladbrokes Pro-Am series before re-entering the ISPS Handa PGA Tour of Australasia at the 2019 Victorian PGA Championship.

With the win, Beck World Golf Ranking Points and full exemption from the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia until the end of 2020.

Former PGA TOUR player Michael Sim finished third thanks to a final round of 67 and a tournament total of 12 under.