BENDIGO golfing ace Lucas Herbert has put school ahead of golf this year, but that won’t stop him from taking on the world’s best amateur golfers in three major events.
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Herbert, who is the headline act for Sunday’s Neangar Park Classic, has cut back on his golfing schedule to focus on Year 12 studies at Bendigo Senior Secondary College.
Herbert will put school aside in July to head to the United States to play in the US Amateur Championship and the Western Amateur.
He’ll also play in the Asian Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne in November.
A top two finish in the US Amateur or victory in the Asian Amateur will earn Herbert a trip to Augusta for next year’s US Masters.
Herbert, who is ranked the 25th best amateur golfer in the world, will chase two victories on home soil this weekend.
On Saturday, he’ll take a 15-shot lead into the final round of the Neangar Park Club Championship.
The 18-year-old looks set to win his third-straight club title.
On Sunday, Herbert heads a strong field for the Neangar Park Classic – a 36-hole event which is part of the prestigious Ivo Whitton Trophy.
Herbert will play alongside fellow young gun Ryan Ruffels, who is ranked 39th on the world amateur golf rankings.
Herbert, Ruffels and Neangar Park’s Sam Baker will tee-off at 7.51am in Sunday’s first round and 12.21pm in the second round.
The third gun amateur in the field is 16-year-old Zach Murray.
The youngest male to win the Victorian Amateur Championship, Murray is ranked 246th in the world.
The Neangar Park Classic also features a strong women’s field.
Neangar Park young gun Tahlia Holmberg will be the player to beat after her win at last month’s Victoria Autumn Country Championships.
The Bendigo Golf Club will hold its leg of the Ivo Whitton Trophy series on Sunday, July 13.
