TWO Armidale golfers have made their mark on Australia’s biggest golfing event – helping to launch the 102nd Australian Open in Sydney this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Isaac Riches and 79-year-old Jim Sheedy walked the fairways with golfing superstars Jason Day and Jordan Speith, gaining invaluable advice as they played with the pros.
He may be barely into primary school and aged just five, but Isaac has already attracted the attention of the golfing world.
Fresh from his appearance on the Tonight Show in the US, Isaac worked on his stroke this week with former world No 1 Day and will hit the honorary first tee shot on Thursday to get the tournament underway.
Sheedy teed off this morning with Queensland big-hitting professional Tim Hart and former Wallaby fullback Matt Burke for the 2017 pro-am tournament – competing alongside notable amateurs like Ricky Ponting and Pat Rafter.
“It’s amazing to be on the same course as so many pros – it’s truly an honour,” Sheedy said.
A twenty-time Armidale Golf Club champion, Sheedy, who still plays of a handicap of seven and regularly hits under his age of the stick, could probably teach the international golfers a thing or two, but he says he’ll keep an eye on the pro’s form.
“I’d like to take home their experience with chipping and putting and I want to learn how to hit it a bit farther,” he said.
The Australian Open is supported by the NSW government through Destination NSW, with local MP and Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall also facilitating Sheedy’s nomination for the pro-am competition.
He was on-course on Wednesday to watch Sheedy tee off.
“Jim is a legend of the Armidale course and I’m sure he’ll be able to translate his good form to the hallowed fairways of the Australian Golf Club,” Marshall said.
“These events show that despite the sport’s big prize pools and household names, regional golf maintains its status as an approachable community pastime, with many local legends.
“I congratulate both Jim and Isaac for their dedication to the sport and wish them all the best this week.”
This year it was revealed how Isaac spent about seven hours on the practice green at last year’s Australian Open – displaying a level of skill and focus that attracted the attention of folk from Golf Australia.
His ascent since then has been amazing.