The 2015 Oates Vic Open will be the debut tournament as professionals for Metropolitan Golf Club’s Su Oh and Todd Sinnott.
Just three weeks out of the event, Sinnott announced his move to turn pro with the Oates Vic Open being the first of five events he will compete in on the PGA Tour of Australasia.
The long-hitting 22 year old had his talent on display for the golfing world at the end of 2014, highlighted by his impressive start in the first three rounds of the BetEasy Masters where he lead the field ahead of the likes of Adam Scott, Boo Weekley and defending Oates Vic Open Champion Matthew Griffin.
Sinnott is excited about his debut professional tournament but is refraining from setting any specific expectations on his emerging career.
“I’m pretty excited. It’s obviously been my ambition for a long time to turn pro. It’s nice to have some events coming up and I’m looking forward to it,” said Sinnott.
“I’ll try to do what I’ll normally do. There are no expectations or number of tournament wins for me. I want to play well, stick to the processes and try to get onto an international tour for the 2016 season.”
The Oates Vic Open is a sanctioned event on the PGA Tour of Australasia and will be played at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links for the third consecutive year. Sinnott recalls playing his first ever handicapped round on the Creek Course at Thirteenth Beach and believes the two layouts suit his game.
“I like the courses a lot and I think they suit my game. I think my first ever handicap round was on the Creek course which is pretty cool. My family friends have a holiday house down there so I played there a lot growing up,” added Sinnott.
Also new to life as a professional is Victorian Su Oh who turned professional in November 2014 following a very successful amateur career.
The Victorian received considerable attention in 2009 for being the youngest ever qualifier for the Women’s Australian Open at just 12 years old and has generated attention with her talent since.
Oh, who has played in two Pro-Am’s on the ALPG Tour as a pro is thrilled to be playing in her home Open as her debut full professional event and hopes to have a posse of support at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links.
“I really enjoy playing at Thirteenth. The tournament has a great atmosphere. The last few years down there the crowds have been really good.
“I think my mum and brother will come down on the weekend, and dad will be around all week. Also I know a few friends that are thinking of coming down, so hopefully my friends will bring along their friends,” Oh said.
The 18 year old finished an impressive tied for fourth at last year’s Oates Vic Open as an amateur and feels confident leading into this week.
“I think I am quite used to the wind, and also I’m a fan of the golf courses because they have so much variety. Playing in the wind and the slopy greens, it’s fun,” stated Oh.
With Oh and Sinnott making the jump to professional status, there will however be no shortage of amateur talent on display at Thirteenth Beach. The event will see 15 male amateurs compete, with notable entrants Lucas Herbert, local boy Ben Eccles, Ryan Ruffels, Antonio Murdaca, 2015 Master of the Amateurs Champion Zach Murray and recently crowned Australian Amateur Men’s Champion Cameron Davis.
Meanwhile the women’s field comprises of 35 amateur entrants including Shelly Shin (8th) and Hannah Green (59th) who both are inside the World Amateur Golf Rankings top 100. Shin will be coming off a fantastic win at the Australian Amateur in Sydney just eight days ago.
Victoria’s own amateur Olivia Kline, who recently won the 2015 SA Junior Masters will inject some youth into the line-up as well as the 2015 Victorian Junior Masters Champions, Cameron John and Hira Naveed.
Click here for the Men’s Honour Roll
Click here for the Women’s Honour Roll