Ulladulla golfer Brock Austin has landed his first major golfing win.
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The 15-year-old was named the 14 to 15 years division nett winner at the Brett Ogle Jack Newton Junior Masters held in Goulbourn on November 16 and 17.
Brock said the masters saw him play some of his best golf yet.
“I was playing really well,” he said.
“On the first hole I got a birdie that I chipped in out of the bunker – it was my best shot for the day.”
Playing since he was young, Brock first took up the sport with his cousin and fell in love with golf.
For Brock it is “the excitement” of making a good shot that spurs him on.
“We you hit a good shot, you just want to hit another good one,” he said.
While he has competed at most gold course across the coast, Brock said Mollymook’s Hilltop Course was amongst the best.
“It’s brilliant,” he said.
Another course which gets the tick of approval is the Lakes Golf Course in Sydney, home to the Australian Masters and Australia Open.
With professional coaching to help him refine his technique, Brock said he was proud of his results at the Junior Masters and looking towards a long future with the sport.
“I practice my golf every day,” he said.
“The coaching has made a big difference to my abilities.
“I’d love to go pro,” Brock told the Times.
“That’s my dream.”
Brock knows that achieving that dream is not easy, but he is willing to put the work in.
“It will take a lot of hours of work,” he said.
But, lucky for Brock, the golfer has a great group of friends who all enjoy the sport.
“I have a few mates who play – they are all keen golfers,” he said.
Playing against friends inspires a friendly rivalry amongst the boys and Brock said it means he is “always trying to hit the best shot”.
Along with playing with friends, Brock also plays against some of the regular golfers at Hilltop and said they were always willing to pass on some advice.
Currently playing of a handicap of 10, Brock aims to get to a scratch start.
To help him get there, he is working with his coach on his swing, trying to refine his technique.
The key to being a great golfer, according to Brock, is all about having a good attitude.
He says golf is “a mental game” which takes a lot of patience and concentration.
“You have to really set your mind on the ball,” he said.
“It is really hard at first, but you learn to focus.”
Supported by his family, mum Lynda Smith and sisters Lauren and Courtney, Brock said he was ready for the next challenge.
Brock will be taking part in the Harvey Norman Week of Golf in coming months, playing some of Sydney’s best courses.
He said he would encourage other young people to take up golf after finding that golf was “just perfect” for himself as a sport.