JAKE Riley expects the sandbelt layout at the Victoria Golf Club to be completely different to any course he has played but that only adds to the attraction of the Australian Master Of The Amateurs tournament.
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The 72-hole championship, which starts next Tuesday, is arguably the premier amateur event in Australia and features some of the top players from around the globe.
Riley is a two-time Newcastle District Champion and is one of the youngest players to have played at the NSW Open, but this will be his maiden experience on a sandbelt course.
"I am looking forward to it," he said. "I have spoken to a few people like [professional] Cal O'Reilly and Jye Forrester, the trainee here at Toronto. They told me it is such a different type of game to what we play here. The way the courses are set up is completely different. They always play a lot firmer and faster. You have to use a lot more slopes and the natural contours of the golf course. With it being so fast and not being able to spin it as much, you have to be more precise. It will be super tough."
As well as the Australian Master Of The Amateurs, Riley plans to compete at the NSW Amateur. Avondale Medal and Australian Amateur - with the ultimate aim selection in the NSW junior team.
"That is the next step," the 15-year-old said. "I really want to play all these big four-round tournaments. They have stronger fields which can only make you better and more competitive. If you perform well in those events it gets your name out there and boosts your amateur [ranking] points.
"One of my main goals is to get into the NSW junior team. I feel like i am at the level where I can start competing in these big amateur tournaments. That is the next step you have to take towards a professional career."
Riley is coming off two solid weeks at the NSW Junior Championships and the Adidas Junior Sixes Invitational national final.
He carded rounds of 72, 73,70 to be tied for fifth at one-under in the NSW junior at Mount Broughton and finished 13th at a rain-soaked Junior Sixes Invitational at Newcastle.
"In the NSW Junior, I hit the ball and played the golf course really well but I struggled to hole any putts and couldn't post a low number," he said. "There were a lot of pars, which around there wasn't too bad, but it got frustrating knowing I could have pushed up the leader board. I was still fairly happy with finishing fifth.
"At Newcastle, even though it is my home track, playing in the rain and wind is never the easiest."
Riley, who will be joined in Melbourne by Newcastle clubmate Josh Robards, heads to teh Victorian capital on Saturday and will have two practice rounds.
"It will be good to get a couple of looks at the golf course, figure out a strategy and just get used to playing down there," Riley sad. "It will be a totally new experience, especially being such a big tournament.
"Distance control on firm greens is key. Because they are so firm and bouncy, you have to be more precise with your landing spots. I will go in with an open mind and try to play it as I see it."
James Gardiner
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
