Warrnambool’s Noah Best produced a brave effort to finish second at the Australian Schools 15 and Under Championship in Sydney on Thursday.

Best was part of a four-strong Victorian team which tackled the event, which was played at The Coast Golf Club in Little Bay.

Best, who is a member at Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Commonwealth golf clubs, said he was shocked to claim a place.

“We focused on the individual side, because it was off the stick,” the 15-year-old said.

“On the first day, I missed a few fairways but made up for it with chipping and putting.”

The Warrnambool College student said his second round of even par 70 in the two-round tournament was his best on the challenging course. He opened with a round of 73 on Tuesday.

“I made a couple of birdies and started to play some better shots,” he said.

Best has now turned his attention to the Victorian Junior Open, at Barwon Heads, and the Victorian Junior Masters in Churchill Park Golf Club in Melbourne’s east.

“There’s a few big ones coming up and I’m really looking forward to them,” he said.