On Thursday, the 14-year-old from Toronto will tee it up alongside his mentor, Green, and some of the best players in the country at the 2019 edition of the state open at Twin Creeks.

Riley chipped in at the 18th hole in a qualifying event at Liverpool on Monday to secure one of 10 places in the field.

In the process, he became the second youngest player at 14 years and three months in history to earn a place in the $400,000 tournament.

That record is held by fellow Novocastrian Blake Windred, who was 13 years and 10 months when he got a start as the fifth alternate in 2011 at the Newcastle Golf Club.

Another Novocastrian, Jake Higginbottom had been the youngest when he qualified in 2008 at age 15. Windred and Higginbottom are among the favourites this week.

"I'm absolutely over the moon," Riley said.

"I had no idea where the cut was sitting when I walked off the 18th. I had a few groups to come in after me and had a bit of a nervous wait. Once it was official, it was definitely a relief.

"In the back of my mind, I knew if I played well, I could probably give it a shot. It's not until you actually do it that you know you are good enough."

In year eight at Toronto High School, Riley expected to be "sitting in the classroom writing notes" on Thursday.

"I won't be doing much school this week," he quipped. "I would definitely prefer to be out on the golf course, I will tell you that."

Riley has caddied for Green and absorbed as much as possible in the past two state opens, in which the 2009 Canadian Open winner has made the cut.

"Being behind the bag and watching them has been awesome," he said. "Now it is going to be me next to them on the range hitting shots. Then come Thursday, actually playing ..... I have walked the course plenty of times. I don't think many people would have a better knowledge of it without playing it.

"Nathan has helped me a lot. I have looked at his yardage book and watched how he goes about playing the course."

Green returned the favour, caddying for Riley in the final of the Newcastle A-grade pennants in March.

"I won't be able to snag him [as caddie] this time. Maybe I can beat him," Riley said laughing. "Hopefully we are in the same playing group. I would certainly be a bit more comfortable playing alongside Nathan."

However, Riley will have another familiar face, Blake Glennie, on the bag at Twin Creeks.

"I can't sack him after today," he said. "Blake plays off one or two at Toronto, is out there are a lot and we practice together a fair bit. He knows my game really well. It's good to have someone who knows my game on the bag."

On Monday in the qualifier, Riley went birdie-bogey-birdie to open and turned at one-under.

He added another three birdies on the back nine to sign off on a 68 and finish equal third at Liverpool, one of three qualifying events.

"I played pretty solid on the front nine," he said. "On the turn I was a bit shaky. I wasn't nervous I just started swinging a little dodgy. I scrambled really well and made a good birdie at the par-five 13th, picked up another shot at 17 and chipped in at 18, which was a good way to finish.

"My short game worked well. Whenever I was in trouble I chipped it close. My putter was pretty hot as well. I didn't have many putts which always helps your score."

In the past month, Riley has won the Toronto club championships and Newcastle District championships - the youngest player to do both - and although the NSW Open is a major rise in class, he is excited rather than daunted.

"Tomorrow when I get down there, it will probably sink in a bit more," he said. "There will be a few nerves, which is probably a good thing. I have played enough to know how to handle the pressure."

* Riley's inclusion in the field takes the Hunter tally competing at Twin Creeks to 11.

Fellow amateurs Jye Pickin and Corey Lamb will join professionals Green, Windred, Higginbottom, Andrew Dodt, James Nitties, Nick Flanagan, Cal O'Reilly and Aaron Townsend.

Jamie Hook, who finished a stroke behind Riley at Liverpool, is the seventh alternate.

* Nathan Green may have scaled back his playing in recent years, but he will take strong form into the NSW Open.

The 44-year-old carded an even-par 71 to finish tied for fourth at the Concord Pro-am on Monday. Fellow Novocastrian Leigh McKechnie was tied for second at one under.

Green's strong result followed a win at Everglades last Friday where he fired a four-under 63. James Nitties was two strokes back in a tie for third.

* Jamie Hook had rounds of 72,71,76 to finish fourth at six-over in the PGA professionals national final at Hamilton Island last weeks. The Pacific Dunes head professional was sixth in the event last year.

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