Early success: New Midlands Golf Club champion Kelly Lyle, 16.
WHEN Kelly Lyle walked into the Midlands clubhouse, the standing ovation he received felt surreal, he said.
Lyle, at 16, is the youngest Midlands Golf Club champion in the club’s 93-year history. He polished off the four-round tournament by edging out his golf hero Craig Boucher by four shots on Saturday.
Boucher, who won his first Midlands title aged 18, had won four of the past six Midlands club championships.
Lyle succeeds Travis Davidson, who won the title aged 17, as the youngest A-grade champion.
“It’s pretty special really,” Lyle said
“Especially because I was leading after the second round and had quite a while to hold the lead and win the title.’’
Andrew Sharp and 2006/07 club champion Chris Van Der Horst joined Boucher and Lyle for the final round. Lyle claimed his title with rounds of 75, 71, 72 and 74 for a total of 292 shots.
Club members gathered around the 18th hole to watch, knowing Lyle had all-but-sealed the championship.
“Everyone shook my hand when I walked into the clubhouse, that was the best part about it,” Lyle said.
The St Patrick’s College year 11 student has been invited to join the Commonwealth Golf Club in south-east Melbourne and the state school team in May.