Studying for HSC exams is enough to send some students into meltdown but Jordan Garner wasn't too fussed - his mind was already on the golf course.
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The 18-year-old from Shelly Beach on the Central Coast laughs exams were the furthest thing from his mind when he was finishing school two weeks ago.
His newfound status as a Federal Amateur Open champion suggests he might have put his eggs in the right basket too, having carded a 15-under par 273 to win the men's title at the Federal Golf Club on Sunday.
Tahnia Ravnjak bounced back from a slow start to clinch the women's title with a seven-under 285 on a remarkable final day.
"I didn't really try hard in my exams, I just wanted to get them over and done with and get my HSC. Now that it's all over, I can try to focus on golf and make it more like a job," Garner said.
Garner is eyeing a leap to the professional ranks "within the next few years" in a move that would cap off a remarkable journey that started as a six-year-old.
In an era where people complain about the influence of video games on children Garner is proof there are some benefits - if it weren't for the Playstation, he never would have played golf.
"I played the Tiger Woods game when I was younger and that sort of sparked me," Garner said.
"I enjoyed it, playing on the Playstation and I just thought I would give it a go. I've loved it since basically."
Garner enjoyed a brilliant start to the final day and was as safe as a bank with putter in hand to put his mind at ease, with Blake Windred finishing one shot behind.
Thirteen-year-old young gun Sophie Yip was the women's frontrunner for the opening two days and came away with the junior girls title on a mammoth day three, carding a two-over 294.
Jediah Morgan scored an 11-under 277 to clinch the junior boys title, with all four winners shining in a 138-strong field competing for a share in $8000 of prizes.
