Jordan Sherratt turns pro
BY Anthony Powter | 18 Oct 2010
Jordan Sherratt has announced his decision to move into the professional ranks and will play the Western Australian Open starting 28th October at The Western Australian Golf Club.
Sherratt, 22, was a three-time title holder on the major amateur circuit winning the 2009 Riversdale Cup, the 2010 Master of the Amateurs and one international title, the 2009 Barrett Amateur in Canada.
Sherratt follows the trend by a number of main Australian amateurs to recently move on. A list that includes Jason Scrivener and Daniel Beckmann. Scrivener will also be returning to his home state to tee it up with Sherratt at the Western Australian Open after advancing through to Stage One of PGA Tour Qualifying, while Beckmann has the Australian Q-School later in the year in his range.
The decision by Sherratt to take the move into the professional ranks was a reflection as to where he currently stands with his amateur career.
“I’d kind of achieved everything that I wanted to with amateur golf and felt that it was the right time to move,” said Sherratt above the decision.
“I’ve gained some starts with some local PGA events and hopefully I’ll be playing a few more of them like the bigger NSW PGA Championship and the NSW Open. This is what I always wanted to do and with no more amateur events for a while, this was the right decision to make.”
A notable feature of Sherratt’s game is his ability to post consistent rounds in main amateur tournaments. This he’ll take onto the professional circuit and it’s a trait that’s sure to serve him well in the future.
Sherratt has also being known to blow away a field posting low numbers in the process as demonstrated with his walkaway victory at the prestigious 2009 Riversdale Cup winning at 21-under-par, with a course record 63 thrown in there, for a five shot victory from nearest rival, Scott Arnold.
Unlike the hype and blow-out style that’s common with professional announcements within the US, Sherratt will initially take much of the responsibility upon himself.
For a number of years he’s been under the watchful eye of Jay Fuss, the local professional at Sherratt’s home club, Thaxted Park Golf Club, just south of Adelaide. That will not change and there’s been no change either with his equipment, as Sherratt loves his Titleist gear.
“I’m very much my own man with this move,” says Sherratt.
“I’ll work my way onto a tour, probably at this stage looking at One Asia, and then keep developing from there. The main objective is to work onto a tour and play well to stay there. So I’m not planning to change anything at this stage and just keep focusing upon what I can do best.”
The ensuring nine months will be critical for Sherratt as he embarks upon a profession that littered with talent and where only the strongest survive.
Emerging Aussie professionals have punched well above their weight on the international stage for years. This list is endless but in recent times Andrew Dodt, Marc Leishman, Rick Kulacz, Michael Sim, Nick Flanagan, James Nitties, are classic examples of young Aussie determination and a preparedness to give it a go.
Sherratt plans to follows suit and take his game to the next level.
“It will be a case of re-evaluating where I am in six months time,” says Sherratt.
“I know that it will be tough and the competition for spots is fierce. That’s the nature of the game and it’s something that I feel I’m ready to try.”
Gifted with a steely resolve and raw ability to play the game Sherratt is a name that you will be hearing a lot more in the future, as another young Aussie takes to the challenge on the international golfing stage.
