A BRONZE medal at his first national championship has been the icing on the cake for golfer Sam Smythe this year.
As a member of the Victorian squad at the inaugural Special Olympics Golf Tournament on the Gold Coast in October, Smythe excelled at his first national championship to finish on the podium.
Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organisation for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Smythe performances across the year have earned him a nomination as the November representative for the 2023 Northern Mallee Sports Star of the Year.
Having only played golf for seven years, Smythe has already reduced his handicap to 13 and attained his World Ranking for Golfers with Disability.
The system ranks the top golfers with disability on the basis of their average performance in eligible events over a rolling cycle of the previous two years.
Smythe is a regular player at the Mildura Golf Club, and also competes in events at the other district golf clubs.
Across 2023, he finished 16th at the Victorian All Abilities Golf Championship and eighth at the South Australian All Abilities Golf Championship.
In February Smythe will travel to the Thirteen Beach Golf Club to compete in the All Abilities Victorian Open Championship.
As the November sports star winner winner, Smythe receives an Intersport voucher and is eligible for the 2023 Community Bank Merbein & District 97.9 Triple M Northern Mallee Sports Star of the Year Awards.
The awards ceremony is on Friday, February 16 at the Club Da Vinci, Mildura.
Mallee Sports Assembly is calling for December nominations for the Northern Mallee Sports Star of the Year Awards.
Nomination forms are available from the MSA office at 101-101a Ninth Street, Mildura, or via www.malleesportsassembly.org.au.
For further information phone 5021 3464.
