Cottesloe Golf Club’s Michael Hanrahan Smith is targeting pro success after earning playing rights on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
Former WA state golfer Hanrahan Smith earned fully exempt status after a top-20 finish at Qualifying School in Victoria at the start of April. He did it the hard way, too, negotiating two stages and seven rounds of golf to secure his card.
Stage 1 at Moonah Links was particularly trying, with players battling torrential rains and 70km winds throughout the three-day event.
Hanrahan Smith (pictured) battled to a 54-hole total of +6, which was just enough to propel him into the final qualifying stage at the Sandhurst Club a few days later.
There, the 26-year-old was required to dig deep again after an opening round of 77 (six over par) left him with a mountain to climb.
If he was feeling the pressure, he didn’t show it as he bounced back with ever-improving rounds of 70, 68 and 65 for a four-under-par 72-hole total.
With only the top 26 and ties earning full status, Hanrahan Smith faced a nervous wait to see if he’d done enough, but was ultimately rewarded with a share of 20th position.
“It’s kind of weird, because a year ago I wasn’t really even playing golf,” Hanrahan Smith told GolfWA.
“But then I got into a nice run of form in February and March, which gave me a lot of confidence heading into Q-School. And even after that first round in the final stage, I didn’t feel like I was ever going to miss out.”
Having put in the hard yards, Hanrahan Smith says he’s now full of confidence and looking forward to making a swift impression in the pro ranks.
“I’ve been doing quite a bit of caddying for Curtis Luck on tour, and being up close to the players and watching how they approach the game, I absolutely feel like I’m good enough to compete.
“A year ago, I probably didn’t think I could have done this. But my performance at Q-School cemented my belief that my good is definitely good enough.”
Hanrahan Smith’s first pro outing comes at this week’s Dunsborough Lakes Pro-Am, and he will also compete at several more events on WA swing of the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series throughout May and June.
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