18 hours Ago By James Gardiner
BRANXTON rookie professional Corey Lamb couldn't envisage anything better after going head to head in the last group with British Open champion Cameron Smith. Login or signup to continue reading Now, there is a chance he could repeat the dose on home soil. In a major coup, The Vintage will host the $800,000 Ford NSW Open from November 13-16.
It will be the first time the 72-hole championship will be played in the Hunter since it was last played at the Greg Norman-designed Polkolbin layout in 2010. Lamb, 23, played alongside Smith in the final group in the final round at the 2024 NSW Open at Murray Downs last November. Another US Tour-winner and member of golf's elite, Daniel Herbert, collected the Kel Nagle Cup after a four-under 67 final round to finish at 15 under.
Lamb was three strokes back alongside Smith and Alex Simpson. "It was the highlight of my career so far, even though I didn't win," Lamb said. "Talking to him and watching how he went about things.
The hype around the course. "Hopefully, Cam, Lucas and those other big-name players come back." The NSW Open is a lead-in tournament to the $2million Australian PGA and $3.
4million Australian Open. Herbert has indicated he will return to defend the NSW crown but most of the top-line players won't finalise their schedule until later in the year. Lamb is looking forward to the event regardless of who is in the field.
The Branxton Bomber worked in the pro-shop at The Vintage for three years and knows the layout inside-out, which is big advantage. "I'm pretty excited that it is there," Lamb said. 'It is a different type of course to Murray Downs and any of the recent NSW Open courses.
"It is tough. They can get the greens really quick and firm, which makes it a challenge. "It is just a good tournament course to be honest.
We don't play anything like The Vintage. "There are a lot of fairway bunkers and the greens are sloped, which means they can use a lot of pin placements that are tricky. "It will be a big test.
" The Vintage hosted the NSW Open from 2007-2010. Peter O'Malley was the last to hold the Nagle trophy aloft in the Hunter Valley after winning a play-off. "This year's Ford NSW Open presents a fantastic opportunity for us to ensure the tournament continues to be the most prestigious state championship on the Australian golf calendar," Golf NSW CEO Stuart Fraser said.
"Murray Downs was a fabulous venue for last year's tournament, and the crowds we saw throughout the week proved how thirsty the public are for elite-level golf. "The general public of the greater Newcastle and Hunter region has a real love of world-class sport, and we know fans of the game will throw their support behind our flagship event." Lamb's runner-up at the NSW Open, followed a second place at the Players Series South Australia and was a springboard for a breakout season.
He notched five top-10 finishes and was ninth in the Order of Merit. "It was a really strong season, especially coming from Q-school and not knowing if I would get to play every event," Lamb said. "It gives me a big opportunity next season.
I am gauranteed a start in every tournament." As well as play the full Australasian calendar, Lamb has secured a start in three DP World Tour events, including the Alfred Dunhill Links at St Andrews in October. James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald.
James Gardiner, chief football and rugby writer at the Newcastle Herald. Daily Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update.
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