Swapping sports is all the rage in Australia. This new trend seems to have caught on down at Kingston Heath with former QAFL player Matthew Guyatt and Under-19 cricket World Cup player Michael Hendry leading the field at the Australian Masters.
Guyatt backed up his first round seven-under 65 with a composed three-under 69. This is Guyatt’s second attempt at being a professional golfer having returned to the game after a three-year stint playing in the Queensland Australian Rules Football League.
After finishing football, he returned to golf, doing a little bit of coaching as a way to pay the mortgage and support his family.
Things more than likely would have stayed that way had he not impressed in a local pro-am event. Such was his form that a backer, who wishes to remain anonymous, saw enough potential to put in his own money so that Guyatt could return as a professional golfer.
Hot on the heels and only two shots behind is up and coming kiwi Michael Hendry, who turned professional after his cricket career was cut short through injury.
Hendry has been a great improver over the last few years and went into this tournament having finished fourth in the recent Perth International.
Guyatt and Hendry will be playing together on Saturday and they better keep their eyes to the front at all times. A sneaky look over their shoulder and they will see world number sixteen Ian Poulter and world number five Adam Scott playing in the group behind, them with hundreds of spectators close by.
Scott shot a 70 today but played a lot better than that. He is only three shots from the lead while Poulter, who is yet to really click this week, remains five shots behind.
Having seen him last year we are well aware that he has the ability to win the event.
So it looks like we are set for another great ending to one of the better events on the Australian sporting calendar.
The crowd that flocked to the Masters during the Tiger Woods years may have gone, as has free-to-air television, but there is still plenty of great golf to be seen.
I encourage Melbournians with an interest in the game to get down and support our local tour.
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