Marking the first time that the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia offered a Qualifying School outside Australia, the 72-hole qualifier at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club ended in unfortunate and dramatic fashion.
Malec (68) and Patrick Healy (67) finished level at the top of the leaderboard at 8-under par, a playoff needed to determine who would be crowned medallist and exempt into every event of the 2025/2026 season.
Malec and Healy were on the green at the second playoff hole when Healy realised that he had a 15th club in the bag, having returned a second putter to his bag prior to the playoff in preparation to leave the golf course.
A 34-year-old journeyman with limited starts on the Korn Ferry Tour and Canadian Tour stretching back a decade, Malec had a good look at birdie on the second playoff hole, stunned when Healy conceded defeat due to the rules infraction.
“I feel for him. Really, I do. It’s just an unfortunate thing,” said an emotional Malec.
“I really wanted to hit that birdie putt. It’s OK. I’ll take the result.”
Bogey-free in the final round and with Healy playing in the group ahead, Malec had to make par on the final hole to force a playoff.
He can now look ahead to a summer playing golf Down Under including starts in DP World Tour co-sanctioned events at the BMW Australian PGA Championship and the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, an unfathomable thought even a week ago.
“It is just so hard for me to wrap my head around that I have to plan my way over to Australia now,” said Malec.
“This was kind of a spur-of-the-moment sign-up. I signed up last minute. I just heard about it and felt like it was a good opportunity and here I am and it worked out.
“I’ve been kind of grinding my way along on all these other mini tours, fell short in Canada Q School and honestly, the cash was running low.
“I just kind of believed that I was playing well, although my results weren’t there.
“I’m just grateful that I came and it worked out.”
While devastated at the manner in which the playoff ended, Healy is one of seven players who receive a category for the upcoming Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season that starts with the PNG Open at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club from August 14-17.
The other players to receive a category are Dustin White (71), Harrison Davis (68), Jayce Hargrove (70), Ty Gingerich (71), Jason Leasure (71) and New South Wales amateur Hamish Murray (74).