TORQUAY golf pro Ben Eccles spent 2017 in Europe and will be returning this year, but he is excited to be back on a local course as the Oates Vic Open begins today (Thursday) at 13th Beach Golf Links.<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old played in the PGA\u2019s European Challenge and Australasian Tour last year, teeing off in 32 events across 22 countries, and has his sights set on the top-flight European Tour.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t have many weeks off but it was a great experience, I learnt a lot, there were a lot of ups and downs \u2013 I feel a lot more confident now going back this year and trying to compete at a better level,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSmall things are getting better; you can work on technique and your skill level, I\u2019ve been working pretty hard in the off-season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eccles comes into the Oates Vic Open in top form \u2013 he won the Ladbrokes Pro-Am on his home course at The Sands last week, scoring seven birdies and an eagle to record a score of 63 and win by one shot, equalling his own course record in the process.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was great playing that way. Obviously, I didn\u2019t expect to shoot that score,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The 13th Beach course is an easy drive from Torquay, and Eccles said he is keen to get started in a tournament where he has racked up recent high finishes, including tied for third in 2015 and tied for fifth in 2016.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always great being back here playing this tournament as a first event. It\u2019s a good field, good vibes, I feel very comfortable playing around this course. I\u2019m really looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said it was amazing what the organisers had done with the Vic Open, which now sees the men and women playing together in the final rounds.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to see more of it across more events worldwide; it\u2019s what makes this tournament unique.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere hasn\u2019t been a bad thing said about it, it\u2019s going from strength to strength.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eccles\u2019 next tournament will be the ISPS HANDA World Super 6 on February 8 in Perth, which will see 54 holes of traditional stroke play across the first three days followed by a six-hole knockout match play format in the final round.<\/p>\n
\u201cI missed out on the 24 (in the final round) last year so it\u2019d be nice to get in that format and play in that way. It\u2019s great to change up the format for the year.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
TORQUAY golf pro Ben Eccles spent 2017 in Europe and will be returning this year, but he is excited to be back on a local course as the Oates Vic Open begins today (Thursday) at 13th Beach Golf Links. The 23-year-old played in the PGA\u2019s European Challenge and Australasian Tour last year, teeing off in […]<\/p>\n