Now the siblings will team up in the senior Newcastle team to compete at the NSW Country Championships in Forbes on November 6-7.

The 36-hole championships is the first major amateur tournament in NSW since the end of last summer.

Newcastle will send a team of six players. The best five individual scores combine for a team aggregate. The winner of the tournament secures a start a the NSW Open.

It will be the first time Bryce, 23, and Jye, 21, have represented Newcastle together since juniors.

They are just glad to be playing a tournament.

"I have been playing three or four times a week during lockdown, but haven't been able to play tournaments," said Bryce, who plays off a plus-three handicap. "I have been doing a lot of video work with my coach Brett Paterson. I feel like my game has improved and it will be good to get out to Forbes and test it

"Jye and I are very competitive. The last time we played in the same tournament was the NSW Amateur. I made the round of 16 and he made the quarter-finals."

Jye is a member of the NSW High Performance squad, but hasn't been able to travel to Sydney to train and compete against the other State representatives.

"It has been pretty good having him as brother. we have been able to stay competitive in a way," Jye said.

"We have been practicing at Belmont most days, keeping each other on our toes. You have only been allowed to play in a group of two. It has been just me and him. The competition was stiff but there wasn't much chatter.

"I have been able to do some of the [High Performance] stuff over zoom. I know what I have to do to maintain my game.

"People ask 'how have you been playing?' I don't really know at the moment. You don't realise how much you miss tournaments and how much it motivates you until there aren't any. It is good to have something to work towards."

The Pickins will be joined in the Newcastle team by Mick Wade, Dave Alexander and Brij Ingrey, with one spot to be filled.

NSW High Performance member Josh Fuller, Corey Lamb and Josh Fuller head a strong Hunter River team.

** The easing of COVID restrictions has resulted in a packed club calendar for the final two months of the year. As a result, the Newcastle District Championships have been moved to January 16 at Newcastle.

** Blake Windred will need to win one of the two final European Challenge Tour events to secure promotion to the main tour next year.

Windred carded rounds of 70,67,72,69 to be at six under and finish tied for 47^th at the Emporda Challenge in Spain to slip to 37^th on the money list. The top 20 are promoted.

IN THE NEWS:

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: