Alumni Profile

Blake Collyer (2014)

Since leaving Camberwell Grammar School, I decided to dedicate my time to focus on my golf, with training at the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS), and the things I needed to do to turn professional and make my way up the ranks. Alongside this, I had a job at Apples and Sage Organics in Balwyn and was also completing a series of online study courses through the VIS. It was great to have a balance of work and training when I was in Australia, and it helped self-fund my overseas travel for tournaments.

When I was young, I played a range of different sports from footy to basketball to tennis and more, as well as being enrolled in a junior golf program at Kew Golf Club. When I was 10, I won a competition in the local newspaper to be a part of a group lesson with Adam Scott involving 14 other kids at Huntingdale. Spending time with Adam, and his kind words of ‘You’ve got a mighty fine swing, keep up your golf’, has stuck with me since, and has helped shape me into the golfer I am today.

As I grew up, I played basketball at school – club and representative level – but still managed to allocate time to focus on my golf. I went on the USA Basketball tour with the school and have to say it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. The enjoyment and mate-ship created as a group, and the experiences on and off the court, is something you don’t get much of in an individual sport like golf.

During my final years at CGS I made the Victorian State Team for golf and captained the team, which was a great honour. Following the completion of Year 12, I was accepted on a golf scholarship at VIS where I have just recently finished the program due to my professional status. I played National Amateur tournaments around Australia and then, with the help of the VIS, travelled to the UK and USA to play in their summer amateur events. Four years of competing in those tournaments, and the gradual improvement of my game, put me in a great position to turn professional at the end of 2019 and take the next step in my golfing journey.

In my first event as a professional, the Victorian PGA Championship, I finished in 4th position which included a -10 under par in the second round. I got the opportunity to play in the Australian PGA on the Gold Coast which happened to be the same event that Adam Scott was competing in. It was quite surreal considering some 13 years earlier he had given me advice, and it was great to reflect on where the last 13 years had taken me. Since the start of my pro-career, I have continued to build on my positive early results and have been able to get my name up at the top of the leaderboards at recent events.

Before the Covid pandemic, I was able to secure my 2020/2021 tour card on the PGA Tour Australasia and, after a few strong finishes late in the season, have recently finished in the top 50 of the money list in the season to again secure my tour card for the 2021/2022 season. I have gained tour status on the Asian tour, however, the uncertainty of overseas travel has made it difficult for that tour to restart.

At CGS, I enjoyed the camaraderie and friendships I built and the opportunities I was given to compete in a wide range of organised sports within the School. For those in Year 12, you’re often meant to feel like you should know what you want to do with your life straight away, however, for some people, it can take many years to work it out and there is no rush to tie yourself down. Explore what’s out there and do what you enjoy. I’m excited for what the future holds and am looking forward to achieving the goals I have set out and continuing to develop my game. I enjoy being a role model both on and off the golf course and the opportunities I can provide to help others, which is another key area I will continue to build on going forward.