![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2023\/04\/341909913_190869750_38127.jpg\")
However, a four-over par (76) fourth round slid Eccles down to 17th overall, making the final day of his season a somewhat stressful one.<\/p>\n
“It’s a strange course, I’ve played a couple events there the past year, but it’s difficult,” Eccles added.<\/p>\n
“It’s long, it plays with your head and there are some difficult blind tee shots, it’s not a gimme course by any means. It’s one of the longest courses in the Southern Hemisphere.<\/p>\n
“I got a little unlucky on the final day and it was just a nerve-wracking week, but a strange feeling at the end of it all knowing I had lost a chance to win the event, but also kept my job for another year in the process.”<\/p>\n
Eccles will now enter a quiet few months as he prepares for next season, and said it would give him a chance to get back to the drawing board and begin 2023\/24 with a blank slate.<\/p>\n
“I imagine my next event will be around August barring any drastic fixture changes, so there is not much on between now and then.<\/p>\n
“It’ll be nice knowing I have somewhere to play next season so I can look forward to that over winter, get my body to a stage where I can play a few weeks in a row and work on my strength and health.<\/p>\n
“I’ll also work at The Sands Torquay Golf Club in that time and build up a bit of a pot to work with next season but I’ll also enjoy a bit of a break from training as well.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LOCAL golfer Ben Eccles is enjoying a bittersweet moment in his golfing career, securing his card to the PGA Tour of Australasia for season 2023\/24 despite crashing out of contention in the final round 2023-24 Qualifying School in Fingal. Eccles will feature in his ninth professional golf season in 2023\/24 thanks to a three-under performance […]<\/p>\n