Herbert declares Olympics a goal

TEEING off at an Olympic Games is a goal Bendigo-raised golfing champion Lucas Herbert would like to achieve.

The first of a series of questions to Herbert from the audience at the Bendigo Sports Star of the Year sponsors function at Red Energy Arena was about Paris Olympics aspirations.

“To compete at the Olympics would be amazing, even just once,” Herbert said before he met six young golfers who he has chipped in to support on their golfing journey.

Herbert donated his winnings as Sports Star of the Year across 2020 and 2021 to provide scholarships for Bendigo region’s rising stars of golf.

Herbert represented Australia in the Eisenhower Cup, an amateur teams challenge in 2014.

Whether it be Paris, Los Angeles in 2028, or Brisbane in 2032, Herbert said to compete at an Olympics would be an “incredible experience”.

The world’s top 15 players automatically qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

From 16th onwards it’s the top two from a country, but the limit is at four per country to reach a capacity field of 60.

Herbert ended last week in 67th place in the World Golf Rankings.

The race to represent Australia in Paris is led by Jason Day and Cameron Smith.

The latest five-week block of competition for Herbert ended with top-10 finishes in the Australian PGA and Australian Open.

Pressure was not as high as he again took to the Bendigo Golf Club fairways and greens on Saturday for the Andrew Johnston Four Ball Best Ball.

A field of 240 vied for a share of the prizes in the Wilson Storage Christmas Challenge to cap a year in which Herbert won the Handa Challenge in Japan.

The Orlando-based Herbert and his entourage which includes partner Erica face a busy round of tournaments across 2024 and beyond.

A great turnout for the Sports Star function drew Basil Ashman Hall of Fame members Robert Burns, Ashley Donaldson, Billy Fry, Ann Howe, Steven Oliver, Ian Ross, Caitlin Thwaites, Trevor Tully and Wayne Walsh.

Those with links to the late George Daniel, Herb Hesse, Frank McCaig, Don Sherman and Ken Wust were also in the room for the special event.