A-League soccer, 2022: Sky's the limit as Jye Pickin shoots for Aussie spot

It has been a feature of his game, almost from the first day he lobbed at Charlestown Golf Club as a 10-year-old, and helped the Novocastrian earn selection in various State juniors team and a regular place in the NSW High Performance squad.

The 22-year-old is among the top handful of amateur players in Australia.

Hitting it "flush" is only part of the equation.

Pickin peeled off rounds of 68,71,74, 70 to finish at even par to be the second-placed amateur and 11^th overall at the Sandbelt Invitational in Melbourne last week.

The mixed field brings together some of the leading professionals and amateurs in Australia, with each round played at a different course in the famous Melbourne sandbelt.

US PGA Tour-winner Cameron Davis shot four rounds in the 60s to finish at 16 under and beat Kiwi female professional Momoka Kobori by a stroke.

Pickin played alongside Davis in the opening round at Kingston Heath.

"He had seven under and made it look pretty easy," Pickin said of the 2017 Australian Open winner.

"It was great to be able to watch the way he goes about his business and pick his brain. He came through the program (NSW High Program) that I am in now. He has excelled very quickly in the pro ranks.

"The thing that stood out was the way he managed the course. He knew his strengths and weaknesses and played to them best as he could.

"When he got in certain situations, he really ground it out and was almost relentless in a way - he was going to make par, going to get it up-and-down. He got in trouble off the tee a couple of times. The distance he was comfortable with was 80 metres. He would knock it out to that number and hit it close from there.

"That is the next big step in my game.

"It was awesome to see how he goes about his game."

Pickin bogeyed the 18^th at Peninsular Kingswood in the final round to finish a stroke behind leading amateur Melburnian Connor McDade.

"I was plugged in one of those tough Melbourne bunkers," Pickin said. "I hit a pretty good bunker shot and was left with a 12-footer down the hill. It was a bit of a slider and missed."

Though disappointed with the "bitter" end, Pickin "played solid" and is confident ahead of a big January, which starts with the Master of the Amateurs at sandbelt course, Southern Golf Club on January 3.

The Australian Amateur is at the NSW and St Michael's golf clubs (Jan 10-13) followed by the Avondale Amateur (Jan 17-20) and NSW Amateur at Pennant Hills (Jan 23-27).

"It is a big four weeks but I'm looking forward to it," Pickin said.

"I have the competitive juices flowing, which is good. My game is good enough. It is the mental side and being relentless."

A successful month will also put Picken in line for selection in the Australian side for the Asia-Pacific Amateur and Eisenhower Trophy.

Davis, 27, was runner-up at the 2015 Asia-Pacific amateur and was part of the three-member Australian team which won the Eisenhower Trophy in 2016.

"Representing Australia is definitely a goal for next year," Pickin said. "That is where you get the most experience in amateur golf, playing at the top level."

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