Herbert qualified for the international stage of the event in China next month after finishing tied for third overall at the Heritage Golf and Country Club.

The 16-year-old was runner-up in China last year at the Lion Lake Golf Country Club.

Herbert was equal leader overnight at the under-18s event at Heritage following a scintillating three-under par 69 on the St. John Course.

Teeing-off in the final group on Sunday, the Neangar Park golfer started brilliantly to be five-under through 12 holes.

But a howling breeze picked-up in the afternoon, savaging the last groups and Herbert carded 75 off the stick – six shots behind the winner.

“Everything was going great, then the wind picked-up and got really severe and he lost eight shots in the last six holes,” Herbert’s father Lyndon said.

“Unless you’ve played down there you don’t realise how much the wind affects you on that sort of course. You cannot afford to miss fairways or miss greens, it is so punishing.” 

Herbert easily claimed the 16-year-old boys’ title, eight shots clear of the runner-up.

The four-player Australian boys’ team and two-player female team will play in China at the end of November.

The winner of the event earns a spot in next year’s Australian Open, while first and second will play in the Victorian PGA.

But first Herbert will attempt to pre-qualify for the Australian Masters early next month, before heading to Western Australia to play in the 36-hole State Junior Boys Amateur, which is a national junior ranking event.

Herbert will take confidence into his busy schedule after winning the Bendigo District Golf Association champion of champions, the Bendigo Golf Club’s annual tournament and the NSW boys’ amateur championship recently.

Meanwhile, Herbert’s Neangar Park clubmate Tahlia Holmberg was part of the Victorian side which won the teams event at the ABIJC.

Holmberg finished third in the girls’ 17 to 18-years age group with scores of 88 and 90 of the stick.