Andrew Martin is hoping to start 2018 the way he finished 2017.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The Neangar Park professional golfer produced some of the most consistent form of his career at the back-end on 2017, culminating with back-to-back victories on the Pro-Am circuit earlier this month.
Martin, who will be back in Bendigo this weekend to play in the Christmas Challenge, will head to Thailand on New Year’s Eve for stage one of the Asian Tour qualifying school.
“I thought I played pretty well at the start of the year, but I didn’t get the results I wanted,’’ Martin said.
“I hit the ball just as well in the past few months, but the difference was I got hotter with the putter.
“It’s been a pretty good year overall… avoiding (Australian PGA Tour) is a good sign that I played okay.
“It was probably one of the better years I’ve had in terms of how I felt on the course. My game held up pretty well.”
The trip to Thailand opens up an opportunity for Martin to get his foot in the door on an overseas tour.
“By going to Asia I’m not having a big break, so I’ve just been trying to maintain my game,’’ Martin said.
“I’ve played the course (in Thailand) before, so I’m looking forward to getting back there.
“The final stage of qualifying is the week after the first stage.”
In the meantime, Martin is looking forward to playing some less serious golf at the Bendigo Golf Club on Saturday.
Martin will tee off alongside some of his best mates at the Christmas Challenge.
“The Christmas Challenge is always a good day,’’ Martin said.
“I haven’t had the chance to get back to Bendigo much this year, so it will be good to be home for three or four days. I’ll try and play Neangar once or twice while I’m home as well.”
Fellow pro golfers Lucas Herbert and Kris Mueck will also play the event.
Christmas Challenge tee times:
1st tee AM
7.08 Anthony Cherry/Peter Angove Matthew Cherry/ Dean Cherry.
7.16 David Cherry/Graeme Abbott Rod Cherry/Pod Brereton.
7.32 Terry Johnston/Joe McMahon Rob Dubyna/Andrew Spencer.
7.40 Karl Harrison/Peter Hromenko Geoff Viney/Tim Williams.
7.48 Tim Salter/Des Baker Tom Clifford/Russell Marriott.
7.56 Shane Russell/Garry Gunnell Adrian Jones/Geoff Holland.
8.04 Doug Pratt/Phil Southby Ken Connaughton/Ryan Connaughton.
8.28 Chris Bone/Darryn Yates David Daly/ Ray Gunn.
8.36 Glen Deary/Craig Banfield Craig Nolen/Barry Green.
8.44 Doug Rampling/Ian Stevens Des Lowry/John Hamilton.
8.52 Paul Bowe/Darren McGregor Richard Graham/Steven Graham.
9.00 Ken Sheldon/Peter Collins Ken Yates/Alan Besley.
10th tee AM
7.16 George Body/Michael McEvoy John Murphy/Andrew Richards.
7.24 Mick Taylor/John Dennett Mark Bell/Martyn O’Donnell.
7.32 Snowy Needs/Lloyd Needs Steve Campbell/David Campbell.
7.40 Len Rodda/Garry Smith Bill Gaskell/Kevin Dullard.
7.48 Rod Doak/Danny Irwin Ian Doak/Michael Harrington.
7.58 Noel McMaster/Dick Conder Les Dean/Ian Rogers.
8.04 Don Arthur/David Arthur Jason Harvey Michael Griffin.
8.12 Brad Evorall/Parter Peter Davey/Mal Brown.
8.20 Barry Miles/Jenni Bilkey David Bilkey/Kristi Bilkey.
8.28 Kerry Robertson/Michael Foley Vallon Gibson/Rob McMaster.
8.36 Terry Moore/Paul Linehan Barry Linehan/Ron Bradley.
8.44 Bill Bateson/Jarrod Bateson John Dee/Wayne Mildren.
8.52 John Rodgers/Dirk De Moore Stephen Rodgers/Colin Tully.
1st tee PM
11.23 Chris Batty/Carol Batty Sharni Rothacker/Dianne Rothacker.
11.31 Robert Garlick/Mel McGovern Stephen Dean/Peter Garlick.
11.47 Brendan Smith/Sam Baker Luke Polglase/Daniel Williams.
11.55 Wayne Brown/Peter Rothacker John Boundy/Eddy Stefan.
12.03 Andrew Martin/Hayden Nielsen Stuart McGibbon/Travis Fitzpatrick.
12.11 Peter Shanahan/Adam Shanahan Garry Harrop/Brian Edwards.
12.19 Robert Cook/Patrick Falconer Geoff Whatmore/Sam Whatmore.
12.27 Kris Mueck/Andrew Johnston Mitchell Lonnie/Damon Lonnie.
12.35 Lucas Herbert/Terry Kennedy Alan Smith/Michael Tyndall.
12.43 Nick Hall/Andrew Collins Brent Rothacker/Daniel Nalder.
12.51 Ron Winzar/Sam Winzar Damian Drum/Ben Harvey.
12.59 David Allan/Peter Williams Peter Charlesworth/Peter Minehan.
1.15 Steve Woodall/David Dawson Keith McLean/Liam Carney.
10th tee PM
11.31 Chris Whatley/David Vanson.
11.39 Tom King/Anthony Masters Matthew Wilson/Paul Lethlean.
11.47 Len Prior/Lee McCullough Lukas Schelosky/Justin Ryan.
11.55 Robin Munro/Ian Monotti John Taig/Rick Dungey.
12.03 Klai Jermyn/Peter Williams Craig Trethowan/Shane Trethowan.
12.11 Paul Greene/Scott Burton Kevin Hughes/Mark Lewis.
12.19 Bruce Duncan/Rod Barty Dave Harries/Peter Doherty.
12.27 Tom Poulter/Peter Mill Rick Killian/Don McLeod.
12.35 Stephen Turner/Kerry McClusky Des Samson/Lindsay Kofoed.
12.43 Wayne Jelbart/Stan Jelbart Peter Prime/Brendan Brown.
12.51 Doug Lougoon/Brian Doherty Garry Spence/Anthony Woodman.
12.59 Peter Mazur/Steven Lee Clayton Jones/Enda McDermott.
1.07 Darren Kulbars/Vicki Kulbars Wayne Harri/Angel Harris.
