Kiwi golfer Josh Geary has taken the lead at the 2025 Vic Open, showcasing his skills at the 13th Beach Golf Links and setting himself up as one to watch as the tournament progresses. With impressive back-to-back rounds of 64 and 65, Geary finished the first day at 15 under par, leading by two strokes over NSW amateur Declan O’Donovan.
Geary, who has found success on the Charles Tour with several victories, is utilizing the Vic Open as preparation for the upcoming New Zealand Open. “My plan was to come over here and get ready for the New Zealand Open... to be honest, some of the long stuff’s still pretty rough,” he explained, reflecting on his performance and the challenges of balancing his golf career with family life as he manages responsibilities as a father of two.
Despite a double-bogey on the final hole of the Creek course, which followed 35 holes without incident, Geary remains confident. He admitted, “It all kind of turned to custard on one hole,” yet he retains hopes for maintaining his lead through the weekend.
O’Donovan, the young Australian amateur, is proving he is up to the challenge with his own strong rounds of 65 and 66, bringing him to 13 under overall. The 21-year-old has enjoyed success recently, including back-to-back NSW Amateur titles, and is eager to continue this momentum. “I’m not going to change anything... I think I’ll just try to have as much fun as I can,” O’Donovan said, emphasizing his focus on the process rather than the outcome.
Sharing the spotlight with the men’s event is the women’s leaderboard, where Japan's Shina Kanazawa currently sits atop after consistently strong performances, including a solid round of 70, bringing her to 9 under overall. Following closely is Kelsey Bennett at 7 under and Cook Islander Elmay Viking at 6 under. Viking, who balances her golf career with working at Australia Post, reflected on her surprise at being among the leaders, stating, “I’ve got no idea, to be honest with you... I never thought I'll be up there contending.”
Notable mentions from the women's side also include LPGA Tour star Jenny Shin and Victorian amateur Jazy Roberts, with Shin remarking on her fitting lifestyle in Australia, “You know what, everybody around me is Australian and I do adapt fairly quickly,” as she prepares for upcoming LPGA events.
With the final two rounds set to continue at the Beach Course and increasing anticipation around the leads, all eyes will be on how Geary and O'Donovan fare against their competitors. The leading groups will tee off Saturday afternoon, with the prospect of thrilling rounds predicted. The tournament’s live coverage is available on Fox Sports and Kayo, capturing every moment of this exciting event.
Whether it’s Geary holding on to his lead or O'Donovan pushing for the win, the Vic Open is shaping up to be not just another tournament, but perhaps the stage for defining contributions to each player's season and career ambitions.