American Ian Gilligan holds off Kai Komulainen at Australian Master of the Amateurs

January 6, 2025 | by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com

Ian Gilligan (Australian Master of the Amateurs/Anthony Powter Photo)

Gilligan birdied No. 18 to secure the one shot win over Komulainen after he birdied No. 16 and 17 to tie the lead late

Florida standout and 2024 Western Amateur champion Ian Gilligan shot an even-par 72 in the final round to hold off first-round leader Kai Komulainen and win the 2025 Australian Master of the Amateurs at Southern Golf Club in Keysborough, Australia.

Gilligan recorded rounds of 68-64-70-72 to get to 14-under and win by one shot. Komulainen set off fireworks late in the round, birding holes No. 16 and 17 to tie Gilligan for the lead at 13-under. However, Gilligan stepped up and made the long birdie putt on the par-4 No. 18 to win by one shot.

Harry Takis finished in solo third place at 12-under, Jye Halls finished in solo fourth place at 8-under, and Billy Dowling finished in solo fifth place at 7-under.

Komulainen and Gilligan both tied the course at Southern Golf Club with an 8-under 64. Komulainen recorded nine birdies and one bogey, including birdies on holes No. 15 through 18, to get into the clubhouse at 8-under in the opening round.

Gilligan recorded nine birdies and one bogey en route to his second-round 8-under 64.

Komulainen made the final 32 of the 2024 NSW Men's Amateur and led after the first round of the 2024 Australian Men's Amateur. He finished T26 at the 2024 Australian Master of the Amateurs.

Gilligan is currently ranked No. 5 in the Golfweek/AmateurGolf.com World Rankings.

Past winners include Lukas Michel (2021), Sahith Theegala (2020), and Aaron Wise (2017).

In the women's division, Hyojin Yang shot a final round, even par 73, to jump 54-hole leader Ella Scaysbrook and win the championship by two shots. Scaysbrook shot a final round 4-over 77 to turn a two shot lead into a two-shot deficit.

Yang carded rounds of 72-70-71-73 to get to 6-under and secure the two-shot win. She bounced back from a 4-over start after recording a double bogey on No. 1 and bogeys on No. 2 and 4 to fall to 2-under overall.

She then made birdies on holes No. 5, 8, 10, and 11 and no bogeys to win.

Scaysbrook finished in solo second place at 4-under, and 2024 champion Rianne Malixi finished in solo third place at 3-under.

Jazy Roberts and first-round leader Sarah Hammett finished T4 at 2-under to round out the top five.

Final round highlights

Results: Master of the Amateurs

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Ian Gilligan	Reno, NV	1000	68-64-70-72=274
2	Kai Komulainen	, Australia	700	64-72-68-71=275
3	Harry Takis	, Australia	500	65-72-69-70=276
4	Jye Halls	, Australia	500	69-67-75-69=280
T5	Billy Dowling	, Australia	500	70-73-68-70=281

View full results for Master of the Amateurs

About the Master of the Amateurs

American Ian Gilligan holds off Kai Komulainen at Australian Master of the Amateurs

The Master of the Amateurs, a 72-hole medal play Championship, has rapidly become one of the elite championships in amateur golf. Like The Masters, the champion receives a Green Jacket. Contestants participate in the first round of the championship w...