O'Malley and Carmichael share lead at NSW Open

BY iseekgolf.com | Von Nida Tour | 2003 New South Wales Open | Round Two | 21 Nov 2003

Peter O’Malley and Craig Carmichael don’t normally play much golf together. Indeed the pair saw Europe from vastly different angles in 2003 but they will arrive on the first tee together as equal leaders for the third round of the $100,000 GolfSkins New South Wales Open at Macquarie Links.

Tournament favourite Peter O’Malley is home from another successful season in Europe where he finished the year 64th on their Order Of Merit.

Craig Carmichael dipped into his savings and had an unsuccessful mid-year crack at qualifying for the British Open. When he missed out he took a holiday then headed home to the ACT.

A late charge from O’Malley saw him post a six-under-par 66 to earn a share of the lead with the easy-going Carmichael, who posted a 67 several hours earlier as the pair opened up a two-shot buffer over first-round leader Richard Ball (NSW).

O’Malley grabbed an eagle at the third, hitting a four-iron to eight feet and holing the putt, as well as five birdies against just one bogey (at the fifth) to ensure he would be in contention come the weekend.

“The greens weren’t as tricky today,” said O’Malley. “The wind also died down when it began to rain a bit. We had some putts yesterday that were really quick. Today that wasn’t the case.”

Carmichael had an amazing six successive birdies to propel him to a second-round 67 and a two-round total of 14-under par 130.

Carmichael (63-67) and O’Malley (64-66) finished the day with a two-shot cushion over overnight leader Richard Ball (62-70) with West Australian Malcolm Baker (63-70) a shot further behind.

Best of the large amateur contingent in the field was 18-year-old Bankstown ace Mitchell Brown, whose 67-67 start had him in fifth spot with another amateur, the ACT’s Andrew McKenzie (66-68) and right in the thick of the action.

Earlier Carmichael couldn’t get anything special going on the front nine with eight pars and a bogey.

Still he birdied the 10th hole then gave that shot straight back with a bogey at the 11th. After a par at the 12th suddenly the putts began to drop and Carmichael birdied six holes in succession for his five-under-par 67.

Carmichael said access to so many good golf courses was probably part of the reason the ACT produced so many handy golfers these days.

“Especially when you turn professional – there are so few golf professionals down that way – they practically give you the run of the place,” he said. “You get to play all their different golf courses and you aren’t locked into the one place.”

Carmichael, who calls Federal Golf Club home, admitted he missed a lot of the pro-ams this season when he headed for Great Britain for a crack at qualifying for the British Open.

“I missed out but had a bit of a holiday. It was a good experience,” he said. “Since then I’ve been playing a few Von Nida Tour events.”

Carmichael said the string of birdies was totally unexpected.

“One of the caddies mentioned that it was a turkey after I made three in a row,” he said. "He asked me what you called it when I made it four in a row.

“I said I had no idea and the next thing I had made it five in a row, and then six.”

Carmichael said he was a more patient professional on the golf course these days.

“I hadn’t done a lot wrong on the first 12 holes. I just didn’t get any breaks and I was one-over,” he said.

“Suddenly I made one putt and then I got on a roll.

“I was putting well, chipping well, hitting the ball alright so it all came right for me.”

Popular Channel Nine television star Paul ’Fatty’ Vautin, missed the cut and only an errant shot into the water at the last cost him his goal of breaking 80. He finished with an 81 to go with his earlier 86 for a 23-over par total of 154.

Still tournament organisers would have been thrilled to see a large gallery out to follow Vautin as he teed off late in the day, paying odds of $1.01 for $1 to miss the cut with the NSW TAB.

While the Monash and Macquarie Links four-marker might not be as competitive as many in the field, he drew a larger crowd than the Australian Open champion Stephen Allan and US Amateur champion Nick Flanagan, who were playing together in the group behind him.

“Obviously a number of our club golfers can associate themselves with Paul’s situation,” said New South Wales Golf Association executive director David Allan.

“In a way I guess he is playing on their behalf. They love him.”

Vautin admitted he had a ball playing the two days with seasoned professionals Anthony Painter and Chris Downes.

“I hope they invite me back next year,” he said. "I had an absolute ball.

“Actually I didn’t play too badly today. Too many three putts, that was my biggest problem.”

Vautin admitted it was frightening how far the professionals hit the ball compared to someone like him.

“They really are playing a different game to us,” he said. “Chris and Anthony were hitting it about 300 metres today.”

Vautin smashed a good drive up the 17th and commented: “Yeah, look at that, it’s at least 210.”

On the 18th hole, certain that it was his last at this year’s Open, Vautin took a mighty practise swing and said: "I’m going to have a go at this one."

He did but brought his good work undone by hitting his second shot into the water before taking a drop and getting up and down for a bogey.

“It was a great experience and I just want to thank the organisers publicly for inviting me,” he said.

The cut was set at even par which was bad news for seasoned professionals like Mark Allen, Brad Andrews, David Van Raalte, Marcus Cain and Brad McIntosh. Still 11 amateurs, Brown, McKenzie, David Lutterus, Tom Davis, Henry Perks, Michael Foster, Simon Furneaux, Nick Flanagan, Tristan Lambert, Michael Sim and Alex Simpson were looking forward to the weekend after surviving the 36-hole cut.

Source – NSWGA