A number of British players tee it up in the Greater Building Society Lake Macquarie Men’s Amateur International Championships which begin on Thursday, January 26 at the Belmont course. A total of 36 overseas players have entered including two from Finland, 6 from Germany, 5 from Ireland, 13 from New Zealand, 9 from the England and one from Scotland.
Australian Charlestown golfing protégé Jake Higginbottom is one of the favourites to win. The 18 year old star, currently at number 15 in the world men’s amateur rankings, is the highest ranked player in the field of 168 international and Australian players. Last year, Higginbottom won the Keperra Bowl in Brisbane and a week earlier won the Queensland Amateur Championships.
He is the holder of both the NSW and Queensland amateur crowns as well an international title, the 2010 China Amateur Open. Every season since he turned 14 he has either won a junior event or a main amateur tournament and he has never had a better chance to break through in the prestigious Belmont event. A product of the Charlestown Club, he now plays out of the Australian Club in Sydney and has a plus 3 handicap.
The last member of the Belmont Club to win the tournament, Bruce Boyle, who took out the title 40 years ago, will again be part of the field.
After the first two rounds of the tournament, there will be a cut to the top 80 players plus ties. For the last two rounds, it will be a seeded draw with the last tee times at midday.
For first and second draw click here.
