Jarrod Lyle

Sports Hall of Fame Inductee

The Sports Hall of Fame is delighted to add another sport in which to recognise a Shepparton sports person who has represented our City at the highest level in the world. The sport of golf will now feature the late Jarrod Lyle as an inductee in the Sports Hall of Fame. His father John was a good golfer and introduced Jarrod to the game at an early age. By the age of 16 he was playing A Grade pennant golf for Shepparton under the coaching of Gary Dixon. He also won against his father in the Shepparton Club Championship.

After winning some regional competitions he came under notice of the Commonwealth Golf Club in Melbourne. However no sooner had he become a Commonwealth player, he received a phone call from his doctor that would change his life.

Jarrod was immediately off to the Children’s Hospital in Melbourne to be treated for a blood cancer called Leukaemia. It was a serious illness with grave concerns for his future and the expectation of months in hospital. However, Jarrod was a fighter but it was some months before he returned to his beloved sport at Commonwealth Golf Club.

The not for profit sports organisation “Challenge” heard about Jarrod fighting the illness and made arrangements for him to have a round of golf at the Private and exclusive Capital Golf Club in Melbourne where he met his golf hero Greg Norman along with Australian champion Robert Allenby who would be a friend throughout his golfing career.

He returned to Shepparton to win the Shepparton Golf Championship and was chosen in the Victorian Institute scholarship squad. Although he was struggling with his health he grabbed the opportunity to compete in the 2002 Australian Open at Victoria Golf club. So here was the boy from Shepparton playing alongside the best golfers in the land.

In 2003 he entered the international arena representing the Institute in the UK, then the Australian Amateur team playing in Puerto Rico.

By 2004 he was ready to play in the Australian “Master,” the Australian P.G.A. and the Australian Open.

In 2005 Jarrod really came under notice of the golf fans when he was placed 3rd in the Heineken Classic. Following that performance Jarrod became the first Shepparton golfer to play on the world golf circuit. He played in Asia, UK (including the British Open), USA, and New Zealand.

In 2007 he re-connected with a girl he had known in Shepparton school days, Briony Harper and commenced a wonderful courtship. That must have been good for his golf as he won his first International tournament in 2008 on the nationwide tour circuit at the Mexican Open in 2008 by 5 strokes. Following that win, an invitation to play in that year’s U.S. Open was extended to Jarrod, where he acquitted himself very well. 

A second win on the circuit came when he took out the Knoxville Open.

After a slightly disappointing 2009 Jarrod went back to the US and regained his card for the 2010 U.S.PGA Tour. He played 18 events in 2010 before flying home to marry his sweetheart Briony. Not surprisingly their honeymoon included Jarrod’s participation in the Australian Masters Golf Tournament at Royal Melbourne.

Early in 2012 his cancer returned and he was back in Hospital at St. Vincent’s. In the midst of his treatment he became a father when Briony gave birth to a daughter Lusi. He was so excited to be a dad.

He spent 4 months in hospital undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and a stem cell transplant. Whilst under treatment he received a DVD from the golfers on the American circuit wishing him a speedy recovery and saying how much he was missed. Players such as Ernie Els, Arnold Palmer, Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Adam Scott and Jeff Ogilvie all said hello along with many others. Following treatment Jarrod, Briony and Lusi moved to Torquay where Jarrod became ambassador for the Sands Golf Club. He fought hard to improve his health and by the end of 2013 made a comeback in the Australian Masters.

In 2014 the family flew to the USA, purchased a large motorhome and Jarrod was back on the U.S. circuit travelling around the tournaments as a family. In California he was pleased to welcome his Australian friends Ian and Thelma Bull, Ray Sizer and Graeme Makepeace who had flown in to see him play.

In 2016 Jarrod’s second daughter Jemma Jayne arrived and Jarrod was over the moon to have another girl to love. Jarrod returned to the USA by himself but felt that his pro playing days were over so he returned to Torquay and did some casual work as a pro.

But once again fate dealt a cruel blow when Jarrod found his Leukaemia had returned.

Just before Christmas in 2017 Jarrod underwent another Stem Cell operation, with his brother Leighton as the donor.

He spent 3 months in Melbourne but did get to Torquay for Lusi’s first day at school. However his health declined and he eventually succumbed to his illness on 8th August 2018. Shepparton had lost a star sportsman and the golfing world lost a much loved player.  Professor Jeff Szer who was a wonderful person to Jarrod during his illness said this of Jarrod – “He was always very positive, very pleasant and very keen to be as normal as he could. He was the most likeable guy on earth.”

Jarrod’s great International golfing mate and Australian star Rob Allenby said – “I love him like a brother, he’s a top bloke and an inspiration to millions. He is loved and admired all around the world, he will always be my hero”.

Tonight, the City and the people of Shepparton salute a true hero and pay tribute to Jarrod Lyle as a sportsmen who represented our city with distinction on the world stage. He was a wonderful ambassador for Shepparton both on and off the golf courses of the world.

We have great pleasure in inducting Jarrod Lyle into the Shepparton Sports Hall of Fame.