Born in the north-western country New South Wales town of Coonabarabran, Paul’s
family including his father, John, his mother, Margaret, and five siblings,
headed for Sydney to live when he was just three months old. It is still a
journey that is dear to Paul’s heart. When describing the inspirations in his
life Paul is quick to refer to his parents whose gamble in taking such a large
family from the small country town to the Sydney in order that they may have a
better life as being simply ‘awesome’.
The family lived first in Granville but eventually settled in the North Rocks
area of Western Sydney from where Paul’s first introduction to the game came via
his father, John. “I played soccer from the age of five but at the age of 12 I
was told by my dad (because of financial constraints) that I had to choose
between golf and soccer as I was also playing golf by then. I asked which one I
had a better chance at making money at and the answer seemed to be golf and so
that was the way I went.”
Paul’s initial coaching came from his father who himself had developed into a
six handicapper but when he started making New South Wales teams Paul came under
the influence and guidance of Alex Mercer who was and still is the NSW Coach.
Paul was and still is a member of the Cumberland Country Golf Club in Sydney’s
west and attended Northmead High School
Paul twice won the New South Wales Junior Championships in the late 1980’s and
was also a member of the successful New South Wales Senior Team in the
Interstate Series in four consecutive years.
Paul eventually turned professional in 1994 at the age of twenty four.