WARRNAMBOOL-based professional Dylan O’Keeffe received an early 22nd birthday present when he shot an unofficial course record at Port Fairy Golf Club.
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The left-hander carded a 10-under-par 62 in a morning round during Wednesday’s competition at his home course.
The score, five shots better than the course record set by three-time club champion Chris Dunn last year, can’t be recognised because the tee markers were up for the midweek competition.
O’Keeffe, who celebrates his birthday on Monday, said he was unlikely to be asking for presents after the bogey-free round that included 10 birdies.
“It certainly felt like it was my birthday,” he said.
“It was amazing. I turned five under and thought ‘I’ve been here before and let’s see if I can gas it like I normally do’ but I went on and made more birdies.
“It was just one of those days where every putt I hit went in the hole.
“It would be nice if I could do it in a pro-am.”
O’Keeffe, who finished his traineeship at the end of December, enjoyed the course’s par fives, making birdies on each of them, at the first, fifth, 12th and 18th holes.
Playing alongside one of the club’s professionals and good friend Anthony Warburton, O’Keeffe made birdies on the par-four third, ninth, 10th, 14th and 16th holes, as well as a two on the par-three eighth in benign conditions.
O’Keeffe missed his Australasian tour card and has been trying to make a living delivering pizzas and contesting pro-am events.
The timing of his 62 comes at the end of the Victorian season.
“There are no events left in Victoria until October unless I can find a sponsor and some money to go interstate,” he said.
“There is a stint over in Perth for two or three weeks in May. If I could find a way, I could head to Queensland for the Troppo Tour in July. But unless I can get someone backing me, I don’t see how I will be getting up there.”
He will continue practising and honing his game before going to qualifying school for the Australasian and Asian tours late this year and early next year.
“I will try to peak in about October when there are plenty of Aussie events on. Unfortunately I have peaked at the wrong time.
“But if nothing else, it (the 62) is a great confidence boost that I can make birdies like that. It’s the lowest score I’ve ever had.
“My previous was six (under) at Port Fairy and Warrnambool.”
