HE might have missed out on a place in this week’s Australian Open field, but on Wednesday when Bathurst golfer Reece Hodson played at The Australian Golf Course he still gave his career a boost.

Hodson took part in the Australian Open Pro-Am, a traditional lead-in which sees professionals, celebrities and leading amateur golfers compete in a teams event.

Having qualified for the field by winning the Australian Golf Club’s 2014 Club Championship, Hodson’s playing group had John Senden as their professional.

A Queensland native, Senden is a two-times US PGA Tour winner and finished in a share of eighth position at the prestigious 2014 Masters Tournament played at Augusta National Golf Club.

“It was a great day, I played with John Senden and he is unbelievable, he’s a great ball striker and is very professional, so I picked up a lot of little things,” Hodson said.

“It was great learning off him, just the way he plays the game and how he approached the course.

“John’s coach was also there and I got to talking to him, and dad [Bruce Hodson] chatted to him as well and it looks like I am going to get a few lessons from him.

“Dad, with his professional background, is very well respected and who he was and what he achieved helps open doors for me, it looks like I am going to Queensland to have lessons off John Senden’s coach.

“John’s physio was there as well and I am going to get some help off him with my strength and fitness. So while it was disappointing not to end up playing in the Australian Open, the Australian Pro-Am was really good for my career, it has opened a lot of doors.”

Hodson’s playing group, which also included Noel Darnell and Australian Youth Olympics representative golfer Lizzie El Massian, fared well after being one of the earlier combinations to tee off.

They finished at 10-under, Senden leading the way as he carded a five-under round. However, not everything went smoothly.

“John filled out the card, but he only did it for scratch, he didn’t fill in the stableford points because he didn’t realise it was a handicap event as well,” Hodson said.

“If he’d done that I think we would have finished in the top three.”

While learning from Senden was the highlight, Hodson did get to meet a number of other professionals. It included a brief encounter with former world number one Adam Scott.

“Afterwards at lunch there were a few professionals there and I spoke to a few. I had a brief chat to Adam Scott on the putting green, it was only like 30 seconds when he was walking past,” Hodson said.

“In the morning there were a lot of professionals on the putting green you could say hello to and have a chat to when you walked past.

“It was my first time playing in a field of this sort of quality and it was great experience.”

Bathurst professional Peter O’Malley also played in the pro-am, his team included Wallabies great John Eales.