HE is one of the brightest prospects in Australian golf, he's tested himself against some of the world's best amateurs and now Corey Lamb has his sights set on the Bathurst Open.
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This weekend the Bathurst Golf Club will stage the 81st edition of its open tournament.
It's one which has previously been won by men who have gone on to find success as professionals, players such as Peter O'Malley (1983-85), Steven Conran (1988), Gavin Coles (199) and Lucas Parsons (1991).
Lamb shapes as one of the hot favourites for the 36-hole event, the 19-year-old looking to add Bathurst's tournament to his list of 2020 open triumphs.
He recently took out the Mudgee Open while in July he won his home course Braxton Open by six strokes.
The former NSW Junior Champion also brings with him the experience of playing alongside some of the world's finest amateurs, having scored an invite to January's Australian Master of the Amateurs.
"He's one of the top amateurs in Australia and won the Mudgee Open a couple of weeks ago," Bathurst Gold Club's Brad Constable said.
"He wins a lot of stuff he plays in, he'd be in the top 10 of amateurs in Australia. He's an absolute gun that kid. He's quite renowned in the amateur ranks."
But Lamb is not the only contender in a bumper field that Constable hopes will not be impacted by predictions of heavy rain on Saturday.
Some forecasts on Friday morning indicate Bathurst will be hit thunderstorms and soaked by up to 40 millimetres of rain.
"I've been watching the weather maps and it depends which one you look at, one says it will be pouring down, another one says three mils in the morning, three mils in the afternoon, so fingers crossed," Constable said.
"Currently, if all goes well, it's a 220 field, so yes, fingers crossed. I hope we can get them on the course, it's going to be a letdown if rain knocks out half the field for our open event."
Mudgee golfer Mark Hale, who is Lamb's uncle, has stated his intent to return and try and make it three Bathurst Open wins in four years.
He won the event at his first attempt in 2017 as rounds of 71 and 69 handed him a two-shot victory, while last year Hale shot a 69 and 72 to again be crowned champion.
Orange duo Robert Payne - a seven-time champion - and 2014 winner Andy Campbell also rank amongst the big threats, but Constable pointed out Bathurst has its contenders as well.
Multiple Bathurst Club Champion Reece Hodson and former Parkes player Justin Sutton both will be looking to capitalise on their course knowledge.
"Reece Hodson and Justin Sutton, they're both scratch markers," Constable said.
"Reece, I've haven't seen much of him, they've got the Sheep and Cattle Drome. I'd imagine he's been practising on his home turf out there, they've got a nine-hole course out there.
"Justin and Reece were both in the A grade pennants team, Justin is one of those blokes that on his day can do anything."
