CAMERON John learnt how quickly the worm can turn just days after his imperious play-off win at the mighty National layout in the final event of the 2025-2026 PGA Challenger Tour.
John, 27, celebrated his third win for the season with family and friends before heading to Japan for an International Series event at the Caledonian Club in Chiba where he was struck down by influenza.
“I woke up on the Sunday morning, and my caddie (Matt Howell) said: ‘You look dead,’ “
Somehow, he managed to struggle out of bed and shoot seven under 64 and tie for seventh. It was a great performance under the circumstances.
“I was disappointed not to make the top five. But I just wanted to get through each shot rather than focus on the outcome.”
It was something he had been working on with his new coach Denis McDade and sports psychologist Ben Crow. John said he finished fifth in an event just weeks after coming under the tutelage of McDade. Crow has been working with John on the mental side of tournament golf for two years. He too has helped him become more “process driven” rather than worrying about the result.
“I had worked with Tim Wendel, the coach at Rowville Secondary College since I started there 12 or 13 years ago and appreciate everything he did for me. But it was probably time for a change,” John said.
John finished an agonising six points behind Travis Smyth in the local Order of Merit which gives him full playing rights next year on the Hotel Planners Tour, the feeder circuit to the DP World Tour. He will also attempt to pre-qualify for the main European Tour in September.
John will have a very busy end of the year because wife, Georgia, is also expecting the couple’s first child around the same time as the Q-school.
In the meantime, John hopes to gain a few starts on the LIV pathway tour and any other events which offer him entry around the world.
With a third win of the season at The National Tournament in Victoria, Cameron John wrapped up a successful summer season on the Australasian Tour.
“I’m sending off plenty of emails every day, asking the question, but so far nothing has come through.
“Matt Cutler, from Golf Australia, is helping me in that regard, too.” Cutler has recently returned to GA after a stint working for well-known management company IMG.
“I really wanted to win at The National to put a stamp on my year,” John said.
“That was important, even though I knew it was unlikely I would finish top of the Order of Merit.”
He finished just six points behind Smyth, on the final OOM, who continued Australasian Tour form by winning the International Series event in Chibi.
John delivered one of the shots of the summer at the first playoff hole to complete a three-win season and secure a second victory at The National Tournament in three years.
Victorious at the Queensland PGA Championship and Vic Open earlier in the season, John (68) was forced to go to
extra holes by Daniel Gale who set the clubhouse mark at 11-under with a superb 8-under 64.
John lipped out for birdie at the par-4 17th as good friend Matias Sanchez joined him at 11-under with a birdie of his own, Sanchez missing his putt for par at the difficult par-4 18th to forgo a spot in the playoff.
John and Gale played together in the final group two years ago on the adjacent Moonah Course, John’s three-stroke win on that occasion his breakthrough on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
That tally now stands at four after an enthralling final day at The National that saw the course record matched twice and players jockey for all-important Order of Merit positions on the leaderboard.
Marchesani’s strong season rewarded
While Travis Smyth’s Australasian Tour Order of Merit win means he can play on the DP World Tour in 2027, James Marchesani and Cameron John will have the opportunity to take their games to Europe and the secondary Hotel Planners Tour as the second and third place finishers.
For Marchesani, while he may not have managed a win, the 2025-2026 season can only be rated as a successful one for the 35-year-old Victorian, who registered nine top 10 placings, highlighted by his play-off loss at the NSW Open.
Haydn Barron was fourth on the final OOM list, with Will Florimo fifth.
Cameron John (right) and James Marchesani, in finishing second and third on the Order or Merit, earned exempt status on the European Hotel Planners Tour.
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