Region’s golfers excel onmany courses

JAPAN, United States and at nearby Cobram are areas some of the Bendigo region’s golfing stars have shone in recent months and weeks.

Lucas Herbert’s feat to score 20-under and win the International Series Japan earnt June honours in the 60th edition of Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year awards.

The Ripper GC and LIV Golf ace netted his first Asian Tour title with a final-round 64 at Caledonian Golf Club in Chiba.

Herbert’s charge to a five-shot victory included back-to-back eagles on the 18th hole.

He also took the lead in the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

A previous recipient of the Cyril Michelsen Trust Fund, Herbert’s previous monthly wins in Sports Star of the Year include November 2024 and June in 2018.

In recent years he has chipped in with Sports Star to provide funding for the Lucas Herbert golf scholarship.

Those to earn a scholarship last year included Flynn Anderson, who birdied the first play-off to win the men’s Victoria Country Championship and Cobram-Barooga Open Amateur Title.

Anderson’s latest success has earnt a Sports Star scholarship in which he will receive funding and use of the facilities at D-Club 24/7 Fitness and Healthy Mates Bendigo.

A goal for Anderson is to contest more elite amateur tournaments and build a pathway to the pro circuit.

Another golfer from central Victoria in hot form is Jazy Roberts.

A Sports Star finalist in 2023, Roberts qualified for next month’s US Women’s Amateur Championship by winning the 123rd PNGA Women’s Amateur title at Wine Valley in Washington.

Roberts fought from three-down after eight holes in the final to be within a shot after she won holes nine, 14 and 18.

The young gun who spent her early years in golf at Belvoir Park and Bendigo golf clubs then won five of the first 10 holes in the second round to be two-up.

The next seven holes would be halved as Roberts celebrated her first overseas win.

Roberts earnt a Sports Star scholarship in 2019.

The US Women’s Amateur will be played from 4 until 10 August at Bandon Dunes in Oregon.