BIG hitting Aussie golfer Scott Hend has made a big stride toward the Rio Australian Olympic team after claiming his ninth Asian Tour title on the weekend.
The Queenslander snatched the lead of the Queen’s Cup in Thailand with three back nine birdies on Sunday and went on to claim a one stroke victory, his second of the year.
The win will be a big confidence boost for the 42 year old, even though he reckons he has let a number of possible wins slip through his fingers this year.
“I lost the [European Tour BMW PGA Championship] tournament in Wentworth, lost the tournament in Mauritius and had chances in China,” Hend said.
“That’s four times this year and I didn’t win. Whether this was my golf course or not, I’ve been playing very good golf and trying to not get down on myself. It’s nice to win again.”
The win increased his chances of making it to Rio, edging him up the world golf rankings and closer to current team hopeful Marcus Fraser.
“There are three more weeks for the Olympic qualifying,” Hend said. “I’m 43 this year, who knows how much longer (I can play) although I’m getting better with age.
“It’ll be nice to go the Olympics and be one of the first Australians to play in it since golf’s re-inclusion.
“It’s all these different things that you chalk up in your career and when you’re finished, you just sit back and say this is what I did.”