Spencer Harrison will be hanging out with Aussie golf royalty in August after being announced as a recipient of the 2026 Cameron Smith Scholarship.
The WA state golfer, aged 17, will join South Australian Jackson Leonard on a trip to the United States to spend a week training with Smith at his Florida base.
After that, the duo will attend LIV Golf New York, where they will spend time with Smith and his Ripper GC teammates Marc Leishman, Elvis Smylie and Lucas Herbert.
The scholarship was established in 2016 to reflect Smith’s commitment to supporting the next generation of Australian golfing talent. Previous recipients include Jed Morgan, Elvis Smylie, Louis Dobbelaar, Jeff Guan and WA’s Joseph Buttress.
Royal Perth’s Harrison enjoyed a standout 2025, highlighted by 10 top-10 finishes from 13 World Amateur Golf Ranking events in Australia on his way to winning the national Boys’ Order of Merit.
He also represented Australia at international level, with a highlight being a T9th finish at the Junior PGA Championship in the United States.
That strong form has continued into 2026, with Harrison winning stroke play honours at the WA Amateur Championship, representing WA in the junior and open Interstate Teams Matches, and being called up to Golf Australia’s High Performance Program.
Opportunity of a lifetime
Having first seen Smith in action as a spectator at the 2019 Presidents’ Cup, Harrison says getting to spend quality time with one of Australia’s greatest-ever golfers is a great reward for his dedication to the sport.
“You don’t play golf thinking you’ll earn opportunities like this, but it’s a great opportunity for me and really reinforces that I’m on the right path,” Harrison told GolfWA.
“Personally, I’m most looking forward to seeing firsthand how one of the best players in the world goes about preparing for tournaments.
“Cam is so well-travelled and has performed to such a high level in so many different countries. I’m sure there’s a lot I can learn from him about his approach to golf that can benefit my own game. It will be a great experience.”
Young Spencer Harrison grabs Cam Smith’s autograph at the 2019 Presidents Cup
GolfWA High Performance Manager Rick Kulacz believes Harrison is a fitting recipient of the scholarship after a stellar rise over the past three years.
“It’s a testament to the body of work he has produced over the past few years across state, national and international competition,” he said.
“Equally, the way he conducts himself both on and off the golf course is first-class, and I believe reflects the qualities Cam is looking for when selecting recipients.
“The opportunity to spend time with Cam at his home, play golf alongside him, and then attend LIV New York with Cam and the Rippers team will provide Spencer and Jackson with unique insight into how one of the world’s leading players prepares, competes and conducts himself at the highest level.”
Immediately before his stint with Smith, Harrison will represent Australia at the Porter Cup in Canada and the Junior PGA Championship in Texas.
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