REGULAR early morning wake-ups and trips down the Western Highway to Melbourne has paid off for Horsham golfer Jordy Briggs.
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From January next year, Briggs will be a professional golfer as a trainee for the Professional Golfers’ Association under the eye of Horsham Golf Club manager and PGA member Paul Riley.
Halls Gap’s Adam Tribe has also been successful, and will complete his traineeship at the Horsham Golf Club also under Riley.
Briggs said the traineeship gave him the opportunity to play for money and further his knowledge of the game.
“At the moment I am an amateur and am not eligible for prize money, but as of January 1 I am eligible for prize money and sponsorship,” he said.
“It’s basically a three-year golf traineeship where I work full-time at the Horsham Golf Club and study as well. We study business and get our coaching degree and there is a standard of golf you have to keep as well.
“This will go for three years and I’m looking forward to the study but the last few years I’ve really lacked tournament golf experience.
“Playing three scheduled years of golf, travelling across Australia for tournaments, will benefit me. About 80 per cent of my tournaments will be based in Victoria but I will have the chance to play across Australia.”
Briggs, who is originally from Ouyen, first started playing golf as a child under the eye of his father, Steve.
“It’s very much a farm and footy culture in Ouyen and I started playing sandscrapes and that kind of thing when I was young,” he said.
“Dad moved to Horsham for work and we came with him. Since I’ve been here I’ve really kicked into gear with my golf and the facilities out here are awesome.”
PGA life member Kel Llewellyn coaches Briggs, something Briggs said had been instrumental for his game.
“My dad coached me for a long time but it got to the stage where it was getting a bit stressful for him,” he said.
“Kel Llewellyn in Torquay is my coach now and he has been all over the world and has massive credentials. He has been huge for me and he actually coached my father and my grandfather too.”
Briggs has regularly travelled to Melbourne this year to play golf, often waking up at 3am to be at the golf course in time for tee-off.
“With my playing tests I’ve had to get up at 2.30am and go to Melbourne and play up to 36 holes with pros in some of the events,” he said.
He has also had to complete playing tests, as well as have character references to ensure he would be a positive member of the PGA.
He said he was thrilled all of the time and effort has paid off.
“It’s been worth it and obviously I dreamt of this as a kid and you work towards it but the past 12 months I have really focused on my golf,” he said.
“It’s going to be a massive step playing for money and our biggest tournament is in Ballarat and we will be playing for $60,000. Things like that can really kick off your career.
“Hopefully I can get off to a good start in January and February and remain fit and healthy across the three years.”
