SHELLHARBOUR’S Travis Smyth is confident he has found form in time to challenge for the US Amateur Championships, after an impressive top five finish at the Porter Cup in New York.
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After a valuable campaign in the UK, including playing at St Andrew’s and in the British Amateur, Smyth has travelled to the Australian high performance camp in Houston, Texas, before the US Amateur starts on August 14.
Smyth was fourth at the Porter Cup, after contesting the lead throughout the tournament.
“This being my first event here and first tournament with fresh clubs the game feels really good,” Smyth wrote on his Facebook page from the US.
“At the moment I’m in Houston at the Golf Australia high performance camp sharpening everything with my team, preparing myself for the Western Amateur and US Amateur which i'm really looking forward too.”
Smyth was knocked out in the round of 32 of the match play section of the British Amateur, losing on the 19th hole by Switzerland’s Perry Cohen.
He'd earlier finished tied for 11th after the two-round stroke play section.
With the Australian summer circuit on the horizon, Illawarra’s golfing talent have been consistent overseas, with Port Kembla’s Jordan Zunic making the cut in four of the five tournaments he played on the professional European Challenger Tour.
Meanwhile, the Illawarra representative players will compete at the NSW Country Championships, led by defending champion Anthony Brunero.
A former professional, now working as a carpenter, Brunero surged from five shots back to win by two in wild conditions at Goulburn.
The tournament also includes the Inter-District Teams Championships, with 120 of the best regional golfers competing.
“I love getting away and representing Golf Illawarra, they are a great bunch of blokes,” Brunero said.
“I think we will give the teams’ event a good shake again this year too.” Bruenero said.
“I’ll have a go at everything and if it doesn’t go my way, I’m going to work on Monday.
“It could be my last representative side for a while with a daughter due in October, so I’d love to go out with another title.”
The triumph earned the Shell Cove member a place at the NSW Open.
“I played terribly at the NSW Open, but it was an unreal experience with my brother on the bag as my caddie,” Brunero said.
Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
