Matt Giles: The All-American Aussie
BY Anthony Powter | 07 Dec 2009
Matthew Giles moved from Sydney to Los Angeles back in 2008 to be a freshman at the University of Southern California. Eighteen months on and numerous tournaments later, Giles has already received a PING All-America honourable mention by the Golf Coaches Association of America and his game continues to thrive under the US Collegiate system.
The move to foreign shores to be based in the US is certainly paying dividends for one of our most promising and emerging golfing talents.
Giles returned home a few week’s back to play his only tournament in Australia this season, The WJBere Masters in Melbourne. The 19-year-old was playing on a sponsor’s invite and he was the only amateur to make the cut for the weekend.
Like any player in Melbourne that week the JBWere Masters was an Australian tournament full of hype and buzz, with world number 1, Tiger Woods, the field’s main draw card. The event itself was a complete sellout, fans were even snapping up practice round tickets to get a glimpse of Woods in his first visit down-under since he played the Australian Open back in 1996 in Sydney.
Giles came away from the Masters experience finishing at 4-over-par and in a tie for 57th position after closing with a even par 72 to move seven positions up the leaderboard, following earlier rounds of 74-69-77. Giles left Melbourne to resume his studies back in the US knowing there is more to do with his game but he was pleased with how his tournament had unfolded.
“It was a great week and obviously having Tiger in the field made it special,” remarked Giles after his final round.
“Making the cut in an event like this was pleasing. I would have liked to have played better and there were too many mistakes that I made, especially with my third round. All in all it was great to play some golf back in Australia and it was a fantastic experience.”
Giles’ transition into the US collegiate and golfing system since he arrived in 2008 has been smooth. Giles loves the college life and all the trappings that go with the system, with top quality coaching, access to state of the art equipment from the main suppliers, as well as the exposure to high quality tournament fields each week.
For Giles, the US Collegiate system has unique aspects which are not available elsewhere.
“I think it was the best thing that I could have done for myself,” says Giles about being based in the US.
“I feel as if my game is constantly improving in the right direction. Ultimately for me I want to play professionally in the US for a living. So being based here makes common sense.”
Results certainly have been forthcoming in the US for Giles.
In 2008, Giles took the top qualification in the US Amateur qualifier at Muskegon Country Club in Michigan and he was the only Australian to compete in the 2008 US Amateur championship at the Pinehurst Club in North Carolina.
It was Gile’s first attempt to qualify for the US Amateur, having previously qualified and played in the US Junior Amateur Championship, where in 2006 he finished inside the top-16.
That year in the US had Giles as the top Australian at Dogwood Invitational finishing T12 at 10-under-par in June. The following week after he secured a runner-up finish at the Sahalee Players Championship, finishing with five birdies over his final 9-holes to take sole possession of 2nd place and in doing so was the only player in the tournament field to shoot under-par in every round.
2009 was a year where Giles was plague with a wrist injury, yet he managed to secure excellent results playing for USC Trogans in collegiate golf. He finished the 2008-09 season as the team’s low scoring player with a 71.35 scoring average and with a season low round 63 at the US Intercollegiate event
His 2nd place finish at the 2008 Sahalee Players Championship remains Giles’ best result, however, he’s optimistic the oncoming 2009-10 US season will see him secure his maiden major win in the US.
“There’s fantastic opportunities in the US,” says Giles, who’s previous best major US amateur result before Sahalee was a T3 at the 2007 Pacific Northwest Amateur.
“This is the best thing that I could have done for myself and I feel my game is at a level where I can win a main event. I’ve no regrets about it.”
The Sunday of the JBWere Masters, Giles was awaiting his return flight back to Los Angeles at Melbourne International airport when we caught up on the phone. Giles had a question he wanted to ask for an college assignment that was due the next day regarding handling the media.
“What’s the main role of the media?”, Giles asked.
My reply was simple, “to report on guys like you”.
In a true Aussie fashion, Giles responded.
“Gee, I better pull my finger out then and do something this season in the US.”
I’ve no doubt that Giles will produce something special when the US Collegiate season resumes next February.
He’s done the hard yards on the course with his game and his timing is right as the Aussie has already been given the honour of an “All-American” status within the US Collegiate system.
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