Rookie Professionals Todd Sinnott and Geoff Drakeford have returned home after their first trip overseas and it’s been an interesting learning experience for the pair.

23-year-old Drakeford turned Professional last year at the
Emirates Australian Open to much applause after he lead the tournament
following the first round.

Big hitting Todd Sinnott also made his presence felt during
the 2014 Aussie summer of golf. As an amateur he led the Australian Masters
after the first round then turned Professional after a trip to PGA Tour of
Australasia Qualifying School.

Sinnott was a highly anticipated addition to the
Professional ranks and quickly signed with renowned player manager Chubby
Chandler who counts amongst his talent Lee Westwood, Darren Clarke and Louis
Oosthuizen.

Heading across to Europe, Sinnott earned invites into a
number of European Tour and European Challenge Tour tournaments but found the
adjustment from a team environment to life on the road alone difficult.

"When I turned Pro I went to South Africa and I was by
myself for four weeks, then basically all through Europe I was alone," said
Sinnott.

"It’s definitely a big learning curve going to countries
that don’t speak English, travelling by myself and figuring out how to get to
tournaments."

"I would say it’s definitely one of the biggest differences,
when we travel for the amateur stuff we are always with two or three guys and
we are always travelling as a team."

Sinnott was excited to see Drakeford in Switzerland who had
earned conditional status on the Challenge Tour via Qualifying School.

"He ran up to me and gave me a big cuddle as soon as he saw
me come through the hotel," joked Drakeford who was as equally pleased to have a
familiar face on Tour.

"That was my first event over there and knowing that Todd
was going to be there I thought it was going to be good."

Conditional status has provided Drakeford with other challenges
as it makes planning a schedule difficult.

"It’s tough, it’s a long way from home and with the category
I had it’s a lot of waiting around and last minute things," added Drakeford.

"You’re sitting around not knowing if you are going to be
playing that week. It can get to a Tuesday or a Wednesday and you can get a
call up and you have to jump on an airplane to fly over."

"But once you get the opportunity to play you just have to
make the most of it, I did that one of the weeks then didn’t manage to follow
it up so well," added Drakeford who finished runner-up at the Challenge Tour
event in Spain which should secure him full status for 2016.

However as Sinnott quite accurately points out they have the
best job in the world.

"We get to see a lot of the world; a lot of people don’t get
that opportunity so we are very lucky from that perspective," said Sinnott who
lists Prague and Copenhagen as highlights from his European jaunt.  

"For me all I want to do is play golf and I am so that’s the
good thing. I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else; I wouldn’t want to be
sitting in an office or anything like that."

"I’m getting to see the world and play golf tournaments, its
pretty good."

Now focusing their attention at home, Drakeford and Sinnott
are this week competing in the Isuzu Queensland Open at Brookwater Golf and
Country Club.

Drakeford will tee off in the first round at 11.10am
alongside Brett Rankin and Matt Jager while Sinnott is away at 11.30am with
Jake Higginbottom and Steven Jeffress.

Related Links

Tee times / Isuzu Queensland Open
Article / Queensland Open to relaunch Aussie summer of golf – 18th August 2015
Article / Smith inspiring mates at Queensland Open – 19th August 2015