Q Golf - Official online magazine for Golf Queensland Autumn 2017 | Page 14

THE GOLFER AND THE COWBOY JAKE REVEALS JT QUALITIES

By Tony Durkin
Lee Eagleton , coach of rising Queensland golf prodigy Jake McLeod , has likened the 22-yearold to his football hero , Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston .
“ Out on the course Jake is a bulldog . He ’ s a real fighter who hates to lose ,” says the well-credentialed teaching pro based at The Brisbane Golf Club .
“ He ’ s only a little bloke , but like JT he has plenty of ticker . I reckon that renowned North Queensland spirit is evident in both of them .”
Long regarded as one to watch , Townsville-raised McLeod made his first Queensland team at age 12 . Now , after just three starts in 2017 and already $ 55,000 in prizemoney banked , he is starting to attract attention – and headlines – on the big stage .
McLeod charged into major prominence in February by shooting a course record 61 in the second round of the Victorian Open at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links in Barwon Heads . He shot eight birdies , two eagles and a bogey in what he described as ‘ easily the round of my life ’.
The following day his four under 68 gave him a three-shot lead , but a final round 75 was his undoing and he finished in a tie for second with Adam Bland , two shots behind Dimitrios Papadatos .
While disappointed with his five bogeys on day four , McLeod was still chuffed by his overall play and ecstatic at his final standing in the tournament . Eating his dust were some of the biggest names in Australian golf , including Richard Green , Brett Rumford , Robert Allenby , Jarryd Lyle , Adam Blyth , David Bransdon , Nathan Green and Nick Cullen .
“ I played unbelievably in my round of 61 . I hit the ball so good and rolled in some tricky putts ,” he recalled .
“ Going into the final round in the lead I am frustrated that I didn ’ t handle that situation better , but in retrospect it was a terrific result for me . And yes , I ’ m proud of what I achieved .”
The week prior to the Vic Open McLeod was tied ninth in the Victorian PGA and the week after tied 39th in another star-studded field in the Super 6 in Perth . And , he says , he is starting to feel comfortable in that illustrious company . “ Mentally , I ’ m handling things better now ,” he said .
“ Good results help breed confidence , and it ’ s important to think you belong in these fields . My course strategy is also

OUT ON THE COURSE JAKE IS A BULLDOG . HE ’ S A REAL FIGHTER WHO HATES TO LOSE .

14 Q Golf Autumn 2017 www . golfqueensland . org . au