James Marchesani is the 2026 WA Open champion after edging a thrilling three-way shootout at Secret Harbour Golf Links today.
The popular 35-year-old Victorian carded a course record-equalling 65 (seven under par) to claim a one-stroke victory over Jasper Stubbs at -17 for the championship, with defending champion Oliver Bekker a shot further back.
Although a winner on the PGA Tour of China back in 2017, Marchesani had never previously entered the winners’ circle on the domestic circuit despite multiple close calls.
That all changed on a high-octane afternoon of golf at Secret Harbour that served as a glorious advertisement for the quality of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
Playing in the final group, Marchesani, Bekker and Stubbs traded blows all afternoon and were a combined 18-under-par between them on the final day alone.
James Marchesani had the reassuring presence of WA’s Brady Watt on the bag for his final round
The calibre of play coming down the stretch, in particular, would have graced any global tour, with the thousands of spectators thronging the fairways treated to masterclass in attacking golf.
For much of the afternoon, Bekker looked odds-on to become the first golfer since Terry Gale in 1983 to successfully defend a WA Open title.
Back-to-back birdies at 10 and 11 moved him to -16 for the championship, giving the South African a two-stroke cushion that his meticulous play suggested would be hard for his rivals to overcome.
However, Bekker gave the shots back with consecutive bogeys on 14 and 15 to leave the door ajar – and both Marchesani and Stubbs came crashing through it.
A birdie at 14 drew Marchesani level with Bekker before he and Stubbs found another level at the par-five 16th.
With the green completely encircled by spectators, Stubbs holed out for eagle and Marchesani followed him in for birdie as they took over the co-lead at -16.
With the adrenaline pumping, Marchesani promptly arrowed his tee shot on the par-three 17th to within two feet. He converted the birdie to take a one-stroke lead to the final tee.
There, a nerveless iron found the middle of the fairway and he safely found the green in two. Stubbs was unable to get inside him and left his birdie attempt from 45 feet well short.
It allowed Marchesani a two-putt par to secure his breakthrough victory, with long-time friend Hannah Green amongst the first to offer him congratulations as he was doused with Champagne.
“I’ve always believed I’ve been good enough to (win),” a delighted Marchesani said after getting his hands on the Roy Paxton Bowl.
“It’s probably come a little later than what I thought out here. Everyone’s so talented now, so you’ve got to work harder and harder and harder. And as I get a little bit older, it is a little bit harder, but I still love it.
“I think it’s testament to myself, just hard work, just a lot of hard work. It’s nice to get the ultimate reward.”
Hundreds of fans encircled the 18th green to witness Marchesani’s winning moment
Luck charge fails to materialise
After starting the final day just a stroke off the lead, Curtis Luck’s hoped-for title charge never materialised as he carded his worst round of the week – a 75 – to slip down the leaderboard.
Early birdies on 2 and 3 had Luck right in the mix, but a bogey at 4 and a double at the ninth effectively ended his challenge.
The Cottesloe star – a WA Open winner a decade ago – eventually finished in T14th at six-under-par for the championship.
Curtis Luck made a bright start to his final round before his challenge faded
In what was a disappointing week overall for the WA contingent, Haydn Barron was the next best-placed West Aussie in a share of 25th place at three-under-par. View the final leaderboard here.
Elsewhere, the Terry Gale Trophy for the Low Amateur went to Victorian Abel Eduard, while Steve Alderson was a seven-stroke victory in the All Abilities Championship.
