Bell, 65, saw Nathan Green when he was a child prodigy and worked with fellow US PGA Tour star James Nitties at Charlestown and puts the youngster right alongside them at the same age.

Higginbottom equalled a record set by Jim Ferrier in 1931 when he won the NSW Amateur Championship at age 16 on Wednesday.

"Nathan Green was a sensational junior and Gary Tozer went to the world junior championships when he was about 15. They're the only guys I can put with him, to be honest," Bell said yesterday.

"From the age of 10 or 11 he has just killed them in every age group but he's gone a lot further than that now.

"What he's achieved in the last 12 months has just been fantastic.

"The main blokes that I had anything to do with when they were juniors were Nathan Green, James Nitties, Aaron Townsend and Gary Tozer, who was a sensational junior player, and Wayne Stewart.

"And I don't think Jake is behind any of them, to tell you the truth."

Higginbottom put his name with Australian golf greats last week when he won the amateur title.

Newcastle's Jack Newton won the state amateur title, as did Peter O'Malley, Bruce Devlin and Brett Ogle, but none of them did it at 16.

Higginbottom did it all in the same week he was selected in the Australian junior team, the NSW senior squad and as captain of the NSW junior team despite being the youngest member of the side.

Bell said Higginbottom's achievements were special, considering he was from Newcastle and many of the Sydney players had better opportunities against top competition.

"He has surprised me all the way through," Bell said. "He just keeps taking the next step up all the time.

"Winning the state amateur at 16 is almost unheard of. The fact that is hasn't been done since 1931 speaks for itself.

"Even to do it out of Newcastle adds something, because it's always tougher when you have to win these things in Sydney."

Bell said he was cautious about judging players before they turn 18, because of the influences teenagers are presented with along the way.

"But at this stage I don't think I've seen anybody going better than he's going," he said.

Higginbottom is a member of the pennants team of The Australian Golf Club, in Sydney.