US scholarship for 18yo Port Stephens golfer Amy Squires

BOAT Harbour golf sensation Amy Squires is ready for the next chapter in her promising career on the fairways.

The highly regarded 18-year-old, who grew up sinking birdies at the Nelson Bay and Horizons Salamander Bay courses, heads to the United States next Wednesday to commence a four year golfing scholarship at Texas Tech University.

Amy will join her university colleagues in red hot form after tasting success at the recent two day Castle Hill Next Generation Under 21s tournament staged at the Castle Hill Country Club and Oatlands Golf course.

Amy carded eight under to win the women’s section and featured in a playoff with male golfers Darcy Mackay and Kade Webber, for the overall top prize.

Mackay clinched the playoff when he birdied the par three 18th hole at Oatlands on the final day after Squires and Webber had each registered par.

The talented field could only complete 27 of the mandatory 36 holes on the opening day due to foggy conditions, with Amy posting scores of 72 and 35 to finish four under par.

She then backed it up with a four under 69 the following day at Oatlands to claim victory in the women’s division.

There’ll be no settling-in time for Amy when she arrives in Texas.

The former NSW Junior Champion will link up with her new golfing colleagues for qualifying tournaments on 22-23 August, then there’s the Carmel Cup on the famous Pebble Beach course from 29-31 August.

Amy will return to Port Stephens for a quick Christmas break with her family before jetting back to Texas in January to resume her new golfing adventure and studies in the city of Lubbock, the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll legend Buddy Holly.

“It will be sad leaving my family and friends but I’m so excited at the prospect of making new connections and improving my golf education over in the United States for the next four years” Amy told News Of The Area.

“The golf courses in America can be quite challenging and will test my resolve no end.”

By Chris KARAS