TALENTED young prospect Ben Rhodes is likely to miss out on most of the Bradford Golf Union’s flagship events in 2022, as he follows his dream of turning professional.

Last year’s Karl Curran Trophy winner, who was just a place away from qualifying for The Open at Royal St George’s in July, is still only 23, so could have a glittering career ahead of him just yet.

Closer to home, Rhodes helped South Bradford win the Bradford Union’s Nine-Hole Clubs Team Championship in May with a superb round of 67.

He also lost by just one stroke in the Bradford Amateur Strokeplay Championship in June, and hit a round of 66 only to see his side come second to Cleckheaton in the Team Championship in August.

But it is on to bigger and better things now for Rhodes, who told the T&A: “I’ve signed the forms and I’m turning pro for 2022.

“Events are going to start around mid-February and I’m looking forward to the challenge, as I have nothing left to achieve as an amateur really.

“I’m not sure what that will mean for my participation in Bradford Union events, because I’m the attached professional to Headingley, who are in the Leeds Union.

“I just played for South Bradford as an amateur last year as I was asked to help them out in the scratch league.

“But I’m still on the 2020protour, which has plenty of events in Leeds and Bradford, and I will sit down with my agent, and we’ll work out what events to put me in for, as it might be a case of picking and choosing.”

Asked about his aims for 2022 and beyond, Rhodes said: “If I can get as close to qualifying for The Open as I did last year, when I missed out by a place, I’d be very happy.

“But my main goal is to see if I can handle the pressure of playing in pro events and if I can handle the pressure of being at, or around, the top of the leaderboard.

“Longer-term, I’m only 23, so I’d like to stay pro for a good few years yet.

“For now, it’s probably about having a three, four, five-year plan and if my results show I’m getting stronger as time goes on, then I’m likely to keep going as a professional for a while.”

Rhodes seems happy with his game heading into this year, saying: “I brought in a new coach towards the end of 2020, and he’s taken my performance levels to new heights.

“My long game is what has mostly improved, and now I’ve got that belief and confidence on a tight hole, for example, to use my driver, rather than go for a club with less distance.”

Those improvements saw Rhodes win the Karl Curran for the Bradford Union’s stand-out golfer of 2021.

And the 23-year-old admitted: “I’d go to amateur tournaments around the country at big venues, but I just felt comfortable coming back and playing in Bradford.

“It felt like a comfort blanket and I felt more able to free wheel it with my game.

“I felt less pressure at the Bradford events and that showed in my results.”