WA golfers Nate Johnson, Katie Seol and Michael Lucas have topped their respective national Orders of Merit for 2025-26.
Johnson, who turned 18 in October, scored one nationally ranked title and four top fives from seven events to edge out Victorian Ben Ellul at the top of the boys’ standings.
The Joondalup Country Club member’s victory in his final junior event on WA soil – the Drummond Golf 54-Hole Junior Classic in October – played a crucial role in his success.
Seol, meanwhile, enjoyed a blockbuster season, winning five nationally ranked events at home and interstate.
The 15-year-old played in 10 counting events across the season. Alongside her five titles, she accrued three further top-five finishes and never finished lower than T12th.
Her hot-streak commenced last December as she won the IJG Gosnells Junior Invitational ahead of a 5th place finish at the South Australian Junior Amateur in January.
She wrapped up the Victorian Junior Am and Junior Masters of WA crowns in the July school holidays and doubled up again in October, winning the Victorian Junior Open and Drummond Golf 54-Hole Junior Classic on home turf.
Seol finished clear of NSW’s Camilla Kim in the Girls’ Order of Merit, while Lakelands’ Kortni Houston‘s strong season was also reflected in her finishing fourth overall.
Katie Seol and Nate Johnson’s most recent wins came at the Drummond Golf 54-Hole Junior Classic in October
Speaking on his achievement, Johnson said: “It means a lot, and definitely gives me confidence moving forward.
“I’ve been with my coach, David Milne, for just over a year now and he’s taught me so much about preparation and structure before events. That’s what’s helped me achieve these results.
“Even though winning the Order of Merit is a cool thing to have, putting the work and time into my game will help me achieve bigger and better things.”
Seol added: “I’m really grateful to have finished on top of the Girls’ Order of Merit. It means a lot to me, and I’m very thankful for everyone who has supported and helped me throughout the year, especially my family and coaches.
“There is still so much I want to learn and improve on, so I’m hoping to take the experience from this season into next year, continue working hard and keep developing my game.”
Evergreen Lucas hits new heights
Harvey Golf Club’s Michael Lucas put in another typically consistent season to top the Senior Men’s Order of Merit, where he clocked up one title and three runner-up finishes from eight counting events.
Lucas’s third consecutive WA Senior Men’s Championship title in March gave him a solid foundation to build on, and he rounded out his season in style with a runner-up finish at the Australian Senior Amateur Championships in October.
Harvey also represented Australia in the Senior Trans-Tasman Matches against New Zealand, helping the men’s team to a comprehensive 10-2 victory.
Michael Lucas won the WA Senior Men’s Amateur for the third consecutive year in March
Andrew Brown (Royal Perth) also finished in the Senior Men’s Order of Merit top 10, claiming sixth position.
Elsewhere, Kortni Houston was WA’s highest-ranked golfer in the Australian Women’s Order of Merit in 10th position, just ahead of state teammate Amie Phobubpa (Joondalup CC).
In the Senior Women’s Order of Merit, meanwhile, Royal Perth’s Colette Nalder was WA’s highest-ranked golfer in 9th place.
Josiah Edwards (Royal Perth) led the way for WA in the Aussie Men’s Order of Merit, ending the season in 6th place; while Ollie Marsh (Wanneroo) was WA’s next best behind Johnson in the boys’ rankings, finishing 4th.
View all the national Orders of Merit here.
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