Teenage amateur Lucas Herbert's wild ride continues after he followed an overnight drive from Melbourne to Sydney by qualifying for this week's Australian Open.
Only a last-hole double bogey cost the 18-year-old Victorian star a top-10 finish at the Australian Masters in Melbourne on Sunday and automatic entry to the Open.
Undeterred, he got into the family Holden station wagon and tried to sleep as his parents drove from the Metropolitan course to Sydney in time to contest Monday morning qualifying for the Open.
Remarkably, Herbert needed to birdie the last hole at Sydney's Carnarvon GC to get into his first Australian Open and did so, completing a five-under-par 67 and joining Adam Scott and world No.1 Rory McIlroy in the field at The Australian from Thursday.
Then he took time to reflect on his odyssey.
"Basically I didn't book a flight because I wasn't sure whether I was playing," explained national team member Herbert, who shot a course record 65 in the Masters third round on Saturday.
"Then by the time we finished at Metro and started looking for a flight, we couldn't find one and the only option was to drive.
"Dad said he was prepared to drive and then mum decided she wanted to help him out with the driving.
"I stretched out on the back seat and got some sleep. We stopped off at home (Bendigo) for some supplies, then kept on going.
"I reckon I woke up at about 6.30. It wasn't the best sleep I've ever had, but it was better than nothing," he told Golf Australia.
"I was still wearing the same shirt that I wore at Metro and I had a 9.30 tee-off at Carnarvon, so I jumped in the shower at the club, and away we went.
"I didn't feel it (fatigue) as much as I thought that I would," said Herbert.
"I couldn't let what happened yesterday get in my way. I just kept focusing on what I had to do. I'm so happy."
Herbert was only bested by Samuel Phillips, who shot a six-under 66.
Also qualifying from Carnarvon was fellow amateur Daniel Nesbitt who also shot a 67.
At Liverpool golf club James Marchesani led qualifying with a five-under 67, while fellow Victorian Daniel Valente and Queenslander Aaron Pike shot 68s.
And at Ryde-Parramatta New South Welshman Nevan Basic and Victorian Geoff Drakefor finished first and second to round out the Open field.
