VIS golfer Ben Eccles has made a positive start to his professional career at the 2015 Australian Masters held at the Huntingdale Golf Club. — Victorian Institute of Sport

Victorian Institute of Sport golfer Ben Eccles has made a positive start to his professional career at the 2015 Australian Masters held at the Huntingdale Golf Club in Victoria. Soaring through to the final round, 20-year-old Eccles finished in T57 with a final score of 9-over 293.

Eccles announced his decision to swap his amateur status for the professionals following a stellar, title winning performance at the 2015 NSW Open Championships. The young gun flew past the professionals to finish with an even par72 and enter the history books as only the fifth amateur to win the coveted trophy since 1931.

Several major highlights of Eccles’ amateur include winning the 2013 NSW Amateur Championship, finishing in third position at the 2015 Victorian Open and being named captain of the Australian Interstate Title winning men’s Victorian team.

Eccles was joined at the Australian Masters by fellow VIS athletes, Ryan Ruffels and Brett Coletta who both finished in T83 with identical scores of 6-over 148.

Latest News

Throwing herself into history: Stephanie Ratcliffe’s rise in hammer throw hero image

Throwing herself into history: Stephanie Ratcliffe’s rise in hammer throw

September 12, 2025

Stephanie Ratcliffe’s Olympic debut came after a season of highs, setbacks, and steady support. Now back in Melbourne, she’s focused on the next challenge: the 2025 World Athletics Championships.

Flexible fathers hero image

Flexible fathers

September 7, 2025

Supporting Victoria’s athletes to be their best starts with ensuring our staff can perform at their best too. That means maintaining an adaptive workplace that values flexibility and supports parents.

Managing low iron: Inside the VIS approach to athlete nutrition hero image

Managing low iron: Inside the VIS approach to athlete nutrition

September 5, 2025

For many athletes, tiredness comes with the territory. Long training blocks, early mornings, and demanding schedules all take their toll. But when fatigue lingers despite rest and recovery, it may signal something more than just a heavy workload.

Olympic Champion Dr Lauren Burns OAM to lead VIS as Chair hero image

Olympic Champion Dr Lauren Burns OAM to lead VIS as Chair

September 4, 2025

Olympic gold medallist Dr Lauren Burns OAM OLY has been appointed as Chair of the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) – bringing years of sport and academia experience to the role.

Inspiring young Victorians on the road to 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games hero image

Inspiring young Victorians on the road to 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games

August 20, 2025

Olympian Tess Lloyd has swapped her Olympic sailing gear for a new role at the VIS, helping athletes share their stories and inspire Victorians. Being an athlete speaker herself, it was a full-circle moment when she returned to the classroom alongside two VIS winter athletes. Hear what makes this role so meaningful for her and how she’s helping inspire the community.

Related news

Throwing herself into history: Stephanie Ratcliffe’s rise in hammer throw hero image

Throwing herself into history: Stephanie Ratcliffe’s rise in hammer throw

September 12, 2025

Stephanie Ratcliffe’s Olympic debut came after a season of highs, setbacks, and steady support. Now back in Melbourne, she’s focused on the next challenge: the 2025 World Athletics Championships.

Flexible fathers hero image

Flexible fathers

September 7, 2025

Supporting Victoria’s athletes to be their best starts with ensuring our staff can perform at their best too. That means maintaining an adaptive workplace that values flexibility and supports parents.

Managing low iron: Inside the VIS approach to athlete nutrition hero image

Managing low iron: Inside the VIS approach to athlete nutrition

September 5, 2025

For many athletes, tiredness comes with the territory. Long training blocks, early mornings, and demanding schedules all take their toll. But when fatigue lingers despite rest and recovery, it may signal something more than just a heavy workload.

See all our partners

VIS is proudly supported by

VIS and State Government of Victoria

The Victorian Institute of Sport acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land we live and work on, the people of the Kulin Nation and recognise their continuing connection to this land and waterways. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.