Hayden Gulliver knew he had to produce something special to secure his second Maitland A-grade golf title after a disappointing opening nine score of 39 in the third round of the championship.
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He did, carding seven straight birdies to finish the day on 68 and then followed it up with a birdie on the first hole of day four.
“I don’t think you even dream of a run like that,” Hayden said this week after claiming the A-grade and handicap titles with a score of 282, 14 shots clear of his nearest rival Blake Palmer, with 2014 winner teenager Clayton Small a shot further behind.
“I couldn’t sleep that night. The adrenaline was just pumping and I couldn’t settle down to sleep even after a few celebratory drinks with mates.”
“I probably played better overall the day before in scoring another 68. I started all over the place on day three and was on 39 for the first nine.
“To come home with seven birdies and then score one on the first hole a week later is just incredible.”
There were more drinks and a party with mates in Newcastle later on Saturday as Gulliver delivered himself an early 21st birthday.
“The final day was a strange round as I birdied the first hole and my closest rival Blake Palmer double bogeyed it, so I went from 10 up to 13 and knew the title was pretty much in the bag,” Gulliver said.
Gulliver took home the A-grade scratch, A-grade handicap and coveted Hollywood Bowl for the best handicap score across all grades.
His father Bryan also was in the winner’s circle, winning the senior scratch title to ensure father and son won titles for the first time in the same year.
A past A-grade title winner, Bryan has now won five senior titles but missed out when Hayden won his first A-grade title in 2015.
The Gullivers are forming a formidable team on the Australian amateur circuit, with Bryan taking part in senior tournaments as Hayden continues his rise up the Australian rankings and his ultimate goal of turning professional.
Ranked 56 on the Australian amateur order of merit, Gulliver said it was a tough road ahead.
Gulliver said he believed it would be five to seven years before his game reached the standard consistently to go professional.
“It’s a big step up from amateur to professional. The biggest difference is that the professional guys produce round after round,” he said.
Until then he will continue a busy schedule of state titles and pennant golf in Sydney with the Moore Park Golf Club to get his game to the required standard.
His tournament and pennant commitments will mean he will be away from Maitland for much of the summer.
“I’m going to see a fair bit of Australia with dad this summer. The Australian titles are in Perth so that will be the biggest trip,” he said.
“I work part time to help with the costs and Moore Park help out with some of the travel costs and tournament entries, but it's a big commitment.
“I want to see it through and know that I’ve given it my best shot.”
Title winners:
A-grade scratch and handicap: Hayden Gulliver.
B-grade scratch: Paul Fairweather.
B-grade handicap: Noel Bradfield.
C-grade scratch: Dave Brennan.
C-grade handicap: Dave Winchester.
Junior scratch and handicap: Clayton Small.
Senior scratch: Bryan Gulliver.
Senior handicap: Dave Winchester.
Veteran scratch: Nick Robbins.
Veteran handicap: Noel Bradfield
Hollywood Bowl overall handicap: Hayden Gulliver
