Blitz Perth Tees Off In Record Style
Pictured: Fans Surround Shell | OTR Stadium & Winner Kirsten Rudgeley With Trophy
Blitz Perth has kicked off the 2026 season in sensational fashion, with a record crowd of over 2,500 attending to witness an incredible day of action and Kirsten Rudgeley ultimately claiming back to back wins in the West.
The enthusiastic crowd, almost triple last year’s, was treated to some exceptional golf. Legend Brett Rumford and local club hero Haydn Barron were among the most popular groups, while plenty of young talent was on display alongside celebrities including Elliot Yeo, D’Arcy Short and Josh Treacy.
ROUND 1
In Round 1, festively dressed Braden Becker got cooking early and, along with the Ice Man Austin Bautista and Hayden Hopewell, led at minus one through the opening six hole Blitz. At the other end of the cut line, Brett Rumford and Ryan Peake advanced via a nearest to the pin. Kirsten Rudgeley and Lachlan Barker both rolled in excellent long putts on the final hole to avoid the tiebreaker nearest to the pin and progress.
ROUND 2
With just three holes to play in Round 2, birdies were at a premium as 12 pros battled for only four spots in the final. Bogeys proved costly, with a few early mistakes all but ending Hayden Hopewell’s hopes of making three consecutive finals. Jye Pickin looked strong until a rare eagle putt slid past on the Stadium Hole, with the follow up also missing to leave him even through three holes.
Six players finished tied at minus one, setting up a nearest to the pin shoot out to determine the four finalists. It was the class of Brett Rumford who went first and punched his ticket, followed by two of last year’s series finalists, Jordan Doull and Austin Bautista.
The final spot was narrowly claimed by Kirsten Rudgeley, edging out Ryan Peake. Lachlan Barker, who had showcased a premium short game all day, was left to rue opting for the putter over the favoured chip, with his resulting putt clipping a sprinkler head.
THE FINAL
In the final, Rumford and Doull both needed birdies after Bautista fired his 130 metre tee shot on the final par 3 to within three feet, but both came agonisingly close. Kirsten was next, hitting an excellent tee shot to around six feet after using the slope beautifully, then draining a statement putt celebrated with a fist pump. Bautista was left needing to match it to force a replay.
In the replay, both players hit solid tee shots. Bautista missed first, then Kirsten had the chance to win but watched her putt just slip right. It was back to the tee for a nearest to the pin from 130 metres to decide the winner.
Bautista went first and delivered a superb shot under pressure, one that would have won on most days. However, Kirsten responded with a shot that sailed over the pin, landed on the edge of the green and slowly trickled back down the slope to creep inside Austin’s effort and secure the victory.
It was an amazing event, and the 2027 edition is already being eagerly anticipated.