Defending champion coy about WA PGA hopes this weekend

Victorian Ben Eccles was typically honest and open while generally downplaying his chances of back-to-back victories in the $250,000 City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder WA PGA Championship at Kalgoorlie Golf Course, starting on Thursday.

Eccles, whose triumph at the 2023 tournament broke an eight-year run without a major victory, on Wednesday said he was glad to be back in the Goldfields, albeit without earth-shattering expectations.

“Last year was great, but it was more relief that I got it done, rather than pressure,” Eccles said.

“It had been a long gap of being in that situation, so it was pretty emotional.

“But I actually haven’t been playing too much competitive golf of late so it will be interesting to see how things pan out this time.

“In terms of expectations, I think most of that is external.

“There’s a lot of good players out here, I know how hard it was to win last year and how hard it is to back up those performances.”

As the local course continues to receive glowing reviews, Eccles rated it “at the top of the tree”.

“The golf course is always in great condition which is a credit to the team who work here,” he said.

“Year-in and year-out, it’s always good so I definitely concur with all the great things anyone says about it.”

Eccles, who turns 30 next month, was born in the UK and his family moved to Australia in 2006.

“Golf was definitely a theme (back in the UK), through the influence of my Dad who got my older brother and I involved,” he said.

“Once we moved to Australia, it became all-encompassing and an obsession when I was a teenager.

“It’s been an amazing journey for me in golf — from the start to where it is now, so I’m very thankful to Dad for getting us started.”

Fellow Victorian Jasper Stubbs said he also looked forward to another tilt on the Kalgoorlie course.

“This is my second time here, after playing all four rounds last year,” Stubbs said.

“I’ve seen it a little bit by now, but certainly less than some of the other guys out here this week.

“The course is definitely an amazing piece of land on some good soil and I love the layout — especially the contrast in green from the red dirt which is pretty awesome and that you don’t see anywhere else.

“I’m probably not in great (form), but not too far off and certainly not wild with my golf.

“A good practice day today (Wednesday) hopefully will serve me well for the next few days, for sure.”