Down the fairway: Bridges fills up big cups for 59 at Charlestown pro-am
GET IN THE HOLE: Charlestown professional Ryan Smith rolls a putt towards the hole at the Jarrod Lyle Challenge Big Cup Pro-am on Monday. Picture: Simon McCarthy
CLAYTON Bridges sported a smile as wide as the holes after shooting a 59 to take out the Jarrod Lyle Challenge Big Cup Pro-am at Charlestown on Monday.
The 26-year-old drained 14 birdies and had one bogey in a spectacular round to notch golf's magic number for the first time in his career.
The holes were 20 centimetres in diameter, which is double the normal size.
"Big hole, small hall that is my lowest," Bridges said. "My best [with regulation holes] is nine-under 63 at Charlestown when I played with Jake Higginbottom, Jamie Hooke and Ethan Morris. I lost to Jake, who shot 11-under that day.
"It helps when the cups are a little bit bigger. It's more the mental approach. When you know the cup is bigger, the lines you take into the greens change. You know if you miss it on the short side, you are able to get up-and-down a bit easier. You still have to hit your shots and play good golf."
Bridges finished five strokes clear of Jamie Hook (64). Isaiah Meliah and Leigh McKechnie were equal third at seven under, a stroke ahead of tournament host Ryan Smith.
MAGIC: Clayton Bridges fired a spectacular 13-under 59 to win the big cup pro-am at Charlestown on Monday. Picture: Marina Neil
All players received a yellow Jarrod Lyle signature shirt, duck head-cover and pins and money raised from the day will go to Challenge - supporting kids with cancer charity.
Shortland Waters professional Andrew Rollo won the Forty Winks Shoot Out, which was held in conjunction and knocked a 60 metre wedge to 60 centimetres.
The win was Bridges' second pro-am success in a fortnight after taking out the Lake Macquarie event on his home layout Belmont.
He will be hoping to continue the good run at the Greater Bank Merewether Pro-am on Tuesday.
"I have finished top-five at Merewether before but tomorrow is another day," he said. "It's back to normal size holes and the mindset will be a bit different. Generally a good score wins there. It is very tight and is definitely a ball-striking golf course. If I can continue with my ball striking, hopefully the putts drop."
* Charlestown, Newcastle and Nelson Bay are finalists for the country club of the year which will be announced at the Golf NSW Awards night on October 21
The clubs were judged on a number of categories.
All three clubs from the region have increased membership, improved facilities, implemented successful programs and support various charities.
The other three finalists are Dubbo, Queanbeyan and Rich River.
* Blake Windred has switched focus to European Tour School and turning professional after a roller coaster week at the Asia-Pacific Amatuer Championship in Shanghai.
The 22-year-old from Charlestown opened with a nine-under 63 and started the final round in a four-way tie for the lead. But he couldn't get going down the stretch, despite birdie chances at nine, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15. In the end he signed for a four-over 76 to slip to four under for the tournament, six behind winner Yuxin Lin.
Windred heads to European Tour Q-School next month.
"This is what I want to do for a career so I've got to suck up the bad times because I was riding the wave early in the week and really making the most of the good times," he said. "That nine-under, is a memory I'll never forget. There are so many things I can take out of this week."
* Corey Lamb made the match play section of the South Australian Amateur last week, but bombed out in the round of 32.
The recently turned 18-year-old, who is working part-time at The Vintage, had rounds of 74,76 to qualify 27th and went down two and one to Reid Brown.