Scottish-born Aussie Connor McKinney produced a seventh career hole-in-one and possibly a first ace in men’s pro golf for 2026 on day three of the Webex Players Series Perth hosted by Minjee and Min Woo Lee in Australia.
On a blustery Royal Fremantle Golf Club threw all manner of questions at players over the course of 18 holes, the responses varying in nature from two albatrosses to 18 eagles, 18 double bogeys and everything in between.
Fighting to stay within reach of the top of a leaderboard the 23-year-old has owned since shooting 9-under on day one, the Kirkcaldy-born McKinney arrived at the par-3 17th 1-over on his round and trailing English cult hero Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston by three strokes.
Scot-born Aussie Connor McKinney grabs not only a seventh career ace but what could be a first hole-in-one of 2026 in the men’s pro game. Image PGA of Australia
Admitting that he’d shanked his second right of the green at the par-4 16th only moments earlier, McKinney was urged by younger brother Archie to finish ace-eagle, the 23-year-old coming up only just short by holing a 7-iron on 17 and making birdie at the final hole.
It rescued a round of 2-under 70 and will see him paired with Johnston in the final group on Sunday at 15-under par, Johnston (70) two back at 13-under and Royal Fremantle member Abbie Teasdale (72) third at 12-under
Fighting to stay in it for much of the round, McKinney knows such a finish gives him crucial momentum in pursuit of a maiden Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title.
SCOT-BORN AUSSIE FIRST 2026 MEN’S PRO ACE …
Connor McKinney not only secures a 7th career ACE but possibly the first of the New Year in the men’s pro game
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McKinney said: “I needed something to happen because there was a lot that didn’t quite go my way,” said McKinney, who will play the DP World Tour in 2026.
“There was a lot of average golf, but to be rewarded for my patience and hit a really good shot in 17 that… I don’t know if it deserved to go in, but it was a pretty good shot that probably should have at least had a peek, so that was nice.
“To back it up with birdie on 18, it’s just a good grind-out day for sure.”
McKinney’s ace came after Hayden Hopewell (70) and Brady Watt (71) both made albatrosses, Hopewell slam-dunking a 9-iron from 156 metres at the par-5 11th and Watt one-hopping a gap wedge from the right rough into the hole at the par-5 sixth.
A talent from a young age on the junior scene in Scotland, he continued to flourish after emigrating, winning both the Australian Amateur and the St Andrews Links Trophy in his final year as an amateur in 2022.
Later that year, he turned professional and has since played predominantly on the PGA Tour of Australasia but is now exempt on the DP World Tour after coming through all three stages of late last year’s (2025) Qualifying School
PS: Not sure what prize was afforded Connor post his ace other than the honour on the final tee.
