Dennis lands 'holy grail' of WA amateur golf

Royal Perth Golf Club course superintendent and AGCSA member Michael Dennis (pictured) has captured one of the few remaining titles that have eluded him during his illustrious amateur golf career, taking out the 2010-2011 Paxton Averages title. The eight-time Western Australia state team rep overtook Australian Junior team member Ryan Peake after the final qualifying event, the Royal Fremantle Amateur Open, to finish with an average of 70.38.

The Paxton Averages trophy is regarded by some as the holy grail of Western Australian men’s amateur golf. The trophy is awarded to the player who returns the lowest average for scores achieved in all state and national events and those club open events which have been awarded Paxton Average status.

A previous runner up on four occasions against some of Australia’s top amateurs, Dennis has had a stellar year highlighted by claiming the Mandurah Easter Amateur Open by 5 strokes. Previously Dennis has come perilously close to winning the famed title finishing runner up to US Tour professional Michael Sim on two occasions (2003-04, 2004-05) and former Australian Amateur champion Matt Jager on two further occasions (2007-08, 2008-09).

The previous winner list reads like a who’s who of Western Australian golf, with luminaries such as Terry Gale (six times), Roger Mackay (five times), Stephen Leaney (three times), Michael Sim (twice), Craig Parry (twice), Greg Chalmers, Brett Rumford and Rick Kulacz all lofting the famous Roy Paxton Trophy.

At the recent 27th Australian Turfgrass Conference in Adelaide, Dennis was part of a four-way playoff to decide the 2011 Toro AGCSA Golf Championships at Kooyonga Golf Club. He also finished runner-up in 2006 at North Lakes Golf Club and played in the Australian Open at Moonah Links in 2005. The AGCSA congratulates Michael on this fantastic achievement.