New champion breaks through at 13th Beach

RISING young golfer Tom Hyland has become the youngest player to win the Men’s Club Championship at 13th Beach Golf Links.

Hyland claimed the title last month after a tense final against Stephen Symons, sinking a birdie putt on the final hole to secure victory.

At just 18 years old, Hyland is the first junior to win the championship and ended Symons’ two-year winning streak in the process.

Hyland continued his strong run of form at last weekend’s Barwon Heads Club Championship, finishing runner-up after falling short on the final hole.

With his family now living in Barwon Heads, Hyland said the results had followed an increase in time spent working on his game.

“Any chance I get I’m out on the course or trying to work on some part of my game,” he said. “With my coach, Brad Lamb, in the last three months we’ve really put all our effort into trying to get my golf swing up to a high standard to compete with other people, and then just working on parts that need fixing along the way.”

Hyland said competing against older and more experienced golfers had helped build in him a strong belief that he has what it takes to become successful.

“It’s given me heaps of confidence,” he said. “I don’t get as nervous anymore or worry about what could go wrong. I think back to the positive stuff that I’ve done and the stuff that went right and then bring that forward.”

Golf may take a back seat at times this year as Hyland balances competition with completing his year 12 studies.

“I try and do as much schoolwork as I can, but I’ve got a few events in the next couple of weeks,” he said.

“I’ll miss out on a whole week of school next week, so in between when you’re playing you’ve got to do all your homework and when you play you just focus on that.”

Despite the busy schedule, Hyland has set his sights high for the future.

“Maybe three or four years ago, Brad said ‘What do you want to be as a golfer?’ And I said I want to win the Masters,” he said. “It’s a massive goal, but if I could get onto the PGA Tour or just compete and be as good as I can then that’s the ultimate goal.”