GOING PLACES: Ravenswood's Lucas Herbert will tee for Victoria in the interstate teams challenge. Picture: JIM ALDERSEY
Lucas Herbert’s stunning golf career continues to blossom, with the Ravenswood 17-year-old set to debut in the open age men’s state team.
Herbert and fellow prodigy Ryan Ruffels, 14, will become the first under-18s to debut for Victoria in the Australian Men’s Interstate Matches since 2002.
Victorian men’s team and VIS coach Marty Joyce has no doubt Herbert and Ruffels will match it with the men.
“Lucas has played in quite a few national selection events so a lot of the guys that he’s going to be faced with at the top end he’s already seen before,” Joyce said.
“In some way, the way it’s structured now those guys are getting a lot more access to that level of play earlier and they’ve obviously been able to step up to the plate.”
Herbert’s selection is another big step in an impressive 12 months.
Highlights for the Neangar Park amateur include narrowly missing out on winning his first professional tournament at the Heritage Classic.
Last month, he and Ruffels teamed with two other Australian amateurs to win the Ten Nations Cup in South Africa.
A sizzling six-under 66 on the final day from Herbert helped clinch victory.
Joyce has mentored Herbert throughout his junior career and will continue to do so with the young star joining the VIS.
Joyce expects Herbert and Ruffels’ enthusiasm to benefit the state side.
“It’s going to be an interesting year. On paper we’re looking very good, but we’ve looked very good in the past on paper,” Joyce said.
The Men’s Interstate Matches will be played at Tasmania Golf Club from April 30 to May 3.
The Women’s team, which has three of its six players under-18, will play at Royal Hobart Golf Club on the same dates.