Putting for professional status

• Xavier Nicholls driving off a tee at Rockhampton Golf Club.

October 4, 2023

Bridport golf prodigy Xavier Nicholls has returned from his first interstate golfing championship with a wealth of experience under his belt and a prize for winning the putting competition.

Nicholls, 14, last week took part in the US Kids Australian Open at Rockhampton Golf Club, competing against 130 children from across the country as well as golfers from New Zealand Sri Lanka, India, America and Canada.

He played 18-holes on each of the two days of competition, with his rounds being a true tale of two stories.

“After day one I was in second position with 82, just one off the leader, which was exciting,” Nicholls said.

“But my second round didn’t really go to plan. I carded a 91 and I ended up finishing in sixth.

“Everything went wrong – the heat got the best of me as it was 32 degrees and the conditions were quite different to at home, plus I just couldn’t hit the ball straight!

“It was a bit disappointing because the actual competition was a qualifying event for the Word Championships at the Pinehurst Golf Club in America and you had to finish in the top three to win a spot there.”

There was a silver lining to the experience for the Scotch Oakburn student though.

“I won the putting competition where you had to putt 8m and it ended up being a three-way tie so we had a play-off and I got the closest so I won which was cool. 

“I got a voucher to Top Golf on the Gold Coast for six people and $100 food and drink voucher so we will use that when I go up in April next year to play in the Junior Age Division Championship at Royal Pines,” Xavier said.

“I also went within 100mm of wining the nearest the pin competition from 70m.”

Nicholls has been playing golf since being introduced to the sport as a 10-year-old at Bridport Golf Club by his dad, Curt.

Under the guidance of Mandy Hall and Lindy Lockhart he developed his game and a year later he had his first handicap.

He’s now on a mission to one day become a professional player – getting in as much time on the course as possible.

Over the school holidays he is competing across four days in the Betty Bradley junior competition, on Friday he will represent the North in a North v South match play event and he’ll be back at his beloved Bridport for Saturday’s competition. 

“I love the challenge - but it can be a very frustrating game,” he said.

“It’s teaching me to keep my calm!”