Teen Bottoms Out But Shire Star Shines

Sydney Morning Herald

Friday November 14, 2008

Neil Goffet

FIFTEEN-year-old Jake Higginbottom adopted a philosophical attitude after walking away with a "terrible" 11-over-par 82 in the NSW Open championship at The Vintage in the Hunter Valley yesterday.

Higginbottom is believed to be the youngest player to qualify for the tournament but is unlikely to make the cut after struggling during a blustery back nine yesterday afternoon.

Higginbottom, who is in year 9 at high school, looked composed making par on his first four holes but made triple-bogey on the par-three fifth after taking two shots out of a bunker.

"I got through it all right. I just didn't hit it very good, but I can't do much about it now," he said. "I was terrible. I just couldn't hit the greens. I was excited and it was good fun and a great experience."

Cronulla's Jamie Arnold, however, could not wipe the smile off his face after shooting 11 birdies in a course-record 62 in the first round. The 25-year-old rattled off five birdies in his first five holes after teeing off at the 10th just before midday.

He made another at the 16th to be six under par at the turn then mixed five birdies with two bogeys on the front nine to card a nine-under 62.

"I'll take it. Yeah, it was good," Arnold said. "I'm happy, really happy.

"Yesterday in the practice round I was playing matchplay with my brother [amateur Scott Arnold] against Jimmy Stewart and my caddie and I had no birdies standing on the 16th tee, and I think I birdied two of the last three. It was playing too easy."

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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