Brendan Smith – Photo Australian Golf Media
33 year old NSW golfer, Brendan Smith, one of Australia’s best amateurs before turning professional a decade ago, turned back the clock to lead the TPS Hunter Valley at the halfway stage of the event at Cypress Lakes in the Hunter Valley.
Smith, who these days works in a coalmine in Central Queensland, took time away from that role to tee it up once again in a PGA Tour of Australasia event and for the man who grew up in Belmont south of Newcastle and not too far from this week’s venue, his efforts to date might yet spark a return to playing the game full time.
Smith knows the Cypress Lakes layout well having earned a scholarship here in his younger days and won the iconic Jack Newton Celebrity Classic on two occasions over the Hunter Valley layout.
Smith knows it is early days yet but with less pressure on him to perform, given his well paid job in the mines, he is taking a different attitude to this rather limited opportunity.
“I can come and play golf and shoot eight-over tomorrow and it’s not going to change my attitude now,” Smith told the PGA Tour of Australasia. “It’s either eight-over or eight-under, it doesn’t bother me no more.
“I know my best is still good enough and it’s just a matter of doing it,” added Smith, who has aspirations to return to the Asian Tour.
“I could come out the next couple of days and play like a busted arse but I’ve got that desire to play back again.
“I’m only 33. I’m as fit as I’ve ever been… I don’t know what the next two or three years hold for me, I’ve got no idea.”
Smith’s second round of 67 to go with his opening 66 has given him a one shot lead through 36 holes over the Gold Coast based Jack Murdoch, Victorian Peter Wilson and New Zealand’s Hanee Song, who leads the ladies side of the mixed gender event.
Smith’s previous best finish on the PGA Tour of Australasia was when 4th at the WAPGA Championship 11 years ago but his renewed appetite for the game has opened the chance for something better this weekend.
Pre-tournament favourites, Rhein Gibson who last week won a Korn Ferry Tour event, and Order of Merit leader, David Micheluzzi, are tied for 27th at 2 under and five from the lead.
Hanee Song – image Australian Golf Media
