KIERAN Pratt rewrote the record book on his way to winning the Lake Macquarie Men's Amateur Championship at Belmont Golf Club yesterday.
The 21-year-old from the Commonwealth club in Melbourne produced the greatest 72-hole total in the 52-year history of the tournament when he finished 21 under par.
Belmont's Brendan Smith had to settle for second again but was a whopping 11 shots behind Pratt.
Pratt's effort included a third-round 63 that equalled the course record set by Jason Day in 2002.
The Victorian led the tournament from start to finish after an opening-round 65 gave him a one-stroke lead over Newcastle's Jamie Hook and Matthew Whittenberg from Avondale.
He followed with rounds of 71 and 63 to hold an eight-shot advantage over second-placed Smith heading into the final round and closed it out with a 68.
"I can't believe I've won it, I really can't," Pratt said after making a nervous bogey on the last hole with a three-putt from close range.
"I thought after I made birdie coming up six that it was pretty much mine for the taking.
"All I had to do from there was stay in the game and I thought I managed to do that for the rest of the round."
Pratt put his name alongside some of the biggest names in Australian golf such as Geoff Ogilvy, Jack Newton and Rodger Davis who are all past winners.
But he also jumped ahead of 2008 champion Danny Lee from New Zealand and 1986 winner Peter O'Malley who shared the tournament record of 20 under par.
Playing in the Lake Macquarie event for the first time, Pratt was unaware of the records he had broken.
"They told me after my round on Saturday that I'd equalled the course record," Pratt said.
"But I had no idea about that [tournament record].
"Stuff like that is just a bonus because I still can't believe I've won."
Winner of the Dunes Medal last month and the Victorian Medal and Victorian Amateur Championship before that, Pratt continued an amazing two months with his Lake Macquarie victory.
He said the run of success had not altered his plans to turn professional in 12 to 18 months' time.
Despite being a distant second, local boy Smith kept the crowd entertained with an eagle on the par-five 16th hole and a pinpoint approach to the 18th in front of more than 200 supporters.
He tapped in for a birdie on the 18th from close range before Pratt to allow the Victorian to bask in the glory.
The only problem was Pratt missed a three-metre putt then a tap-in from close range.
Canberra's Matthew Stieger was crowned junior champion and finished in a tie for third place with Daniel Bringolf three shots behind Smith at seven under.
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