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LUCAS Herbert reaffirmed his status as one of the rising stars of world golf with a standout performance at the Australian Masters at Metropolitan.
The Bendigo teenager set the course alight on Saturday, setting a course record seven-under par 65 to catapult himself into contention for the title.
He was equal leader briefly on Sunday, before back-to-back bogeys midway through his round halted his title charge.
A double bogey on the 18th hole left a sour taste in his mouth and cost the 18-year-old amateur a top-10 finish overall, plus automatic entry into this week’s Australian Open in Sydney.
“I didn’t quite finish it off, which was disappointing, but overall it was a great week,’’ Herbert said after finishing in a tie for 11th, four shots behind winner Nick Cullen
“To play well in a big event like this was great. It would have been nice to finish it off stronger.”
Herbert’s final round one-over par 73 was not a true reflection of how well he played.
With the eyes of Australian golf on him on Sunday, the 18-year-old amateur showed composure beyond his years.
Birdies on the par five fourth and par five sixth moved him into a tie for the lead.
He then hit a great tee shot on the par-three seventh, but his birdie putt lipped out.
That proved to be a defining moment in Herbert’s round.
He only managed a par on the short par-five eighth and, with his confidence rocked, made bogeys on the ninth, 10th and 12th to slip five shots off the lead.
Herbert’s round could have easily spiralled into freefall, but the Neangar Park native stood firm and brilliant birdies on the 14th and 16th drew him within two shots of the lead with two holes to play.
Herbert’s birdie putt on the 17th was on target but fell agonisingly short.
Needing a birdie on the last to have any chance of putting pressure on playing partner Cullen, Herbert’s tee shot hit the foot of a spectator and unluckily kicked left into trees.
Herbert had no other option but to chip out on the fairway.
His wedge to the 18th was 30 feet from the hole and the teenager three-putted for double bogey.
It wasn’t the finish Herbert deserved, but that’s golf.
“I lost my momentum at the eighth and played nine and 10 poorly, but I can’t focus on that,’’ he said.
“I played too much good golf over the weekend to let that get me down.”
Herbert’s course record was equalled on Sunday by Bendigo-born professional Rhein Gibson, who mixed an eagle and eight birdies with three bogeys.
Gibson, who moved away from Bendigo aged eight, finished in a tie for ninth at six-under.
Kris Mueck had a strong finish to the tournament, firing a four-under par 68 on Sunday to be in a tie for 25th at two-under par.
Andrew Martin had his worst round for the tournament on Sunday.
A four-over par 76 saw him finish in a tie for 50th at two-over par.
Australian Masters Leaderboard:
-9: Nick Cullen.
-8: Adam Scott.
-8: Josh Younger.
-8: James Nitties.
-7: Matthew Griffin.
-7: Aron Price.
-7: Adam Bland.
-7: Paul Spargo.
-6: Rhein Gibson.
-6: Robert Allenby.