Teenagers tee off in qualifying

THREE of the latest recipients of the Lucas Herbert golf scholarship will tee off in Monday’s qualifying for the Victorian Open golf championship.

Neangar Park and Southern clubmates Archie Alston and Morten Hafkamp, and Bendigo/Southern’s Flynn Anderson will compete at Curlewis.

They will be among a strong contingent of amateurs vying to earn a place in the field to contest the Open at 13th Beach on 6–9 February.

Also in qualifying will be the in-form Jesper Wallace, whose clubs include Heathcote, Neangar Park and Southern.

Among the most recent hit-outs for Wallace was at Mandalay where he achieved a course record score of 67.

The field for the Victorian Open includes Bendigo’s Andrew Martin, who began his golfing journey at Neangar Park near Eaglehawk and is a multiple finalist in Bendigo’s Sports Star of the Year awards.

Sports Star of the Year across 2020 and 2021, Lucas Herbert has dedicated some of his earnings to assist the region’s rising golfers through the scholarship program.

Young stars from Axedale, Bendigo and Neangar Park – where Herbert played a lot of his early years in the game – are selected for the scholarship.

The intake for 2024 included Mitch Cakebread of Bendigo Golf Club and Axedale clubmates Noah Edwards and George Kenny.

After capturing last season’s LIV crown with Team Ripper, Herbert will tee off in the season opener in Saudi Arabia on 6 February.

A highlight of the season is the Adelaide round on 14–16 February at The Grange.