Fowler, Diaz, Doyle and Flanagan to play Open Championship
BY iseekgolf.com | Australasian PGA Tour | 2005 British Open International Final Qualifying | Wrap | 26 Jan 2005
Newcastle’s Nick Flanagan has won an exciting four way sudden death playoff on the third hole to take the fourth and final position, joining first place finisher Peter Fowler, second placed David Diaz and third finisher Martin Doyle as the four players who have successfully qualified for the 2005 Open Championship at St Andrews, after the final round of International Qualifying at Kingston Heath today.
The 2003 US Amateur champion, Newcastle born Flanagan began the first play off hole on a score of 1 over par with Nathan Green (NSW), Andrew Tschudin (SA) and Shannon Beck (Qld). Flanagan and Beck birdied the first par 5 hole, whilst Tschudin and Green made par and fell out of competition. Both Flanagan and Beck bogeyed the second play off hole before Flanagan took the final hole, making par after a sensational putt that put him within a foot of the hole to knock in his winning putt and grab a spot at the Open. Beck’s bogey on the final hole cemented Flanagan’s win.
For 20-year-old Flanagan, the Open Championship appearance will be his second after he qualified for the 2004 Open courtesy of his 2003 US Amateur Champion status. This year’s appearance will be his first as a professional and his first time playing at the famed St Andrews course.
In contrast, this year’s appearance will be 45 year old Fowlers tenth at the Open Championships and his third at St Andrews. He played the 1984, 90, and 95 events there. The New South Welshman’s run over the past two days was also a lot smoother. He shot rounds of 70 and 69 to finish 5 under for the event, two shots ahead of Diaz who finished second on 3 under, with rounds of 69 and 72 and five shots ahead of Doyle who shot rounds of 73 and 71 to finish even for the two rounds.
Fowler was pleased with his start to the season and believes his five days of practice prior to the event played a major role in his performance.
“I decided to come over early and get in some practice because I had just come off six weeks off not playing, said the New Zealand based golfer. “Kingston Heath is one of my favourite courses so that was a plus. I stuck to my game plan and whilst I was a bit stiff and it was a bit of a wake up call after the time off, I’m now feeling in better shape to take on the next few events in the weeks ahead.”
Fowler will be playing in the Victorian Open starting Friday at Woodlands Golf Course and the Heineken Classic the week after at Royal Melbourne.
For 37-year-old Diaz, who joined the Australasian Tour in 1991, he will be contesting the Open for the first time after he failed to qualify in 1995.
“I’m just stoked that me and Harry (caddy) are going to be standing on the first tee at St Andrews”, said Diaz, who shot a 3 under 141 for the two days of qualifying. “I went over there in 1995 and hit five under for the first day of qualifying but then went out onto the course and had a look in the morning and it’s the worst thing I could have done. I then shot a 73.”
The birth at the Open is an extra bonus for Victorian Diaz who considered giving up the game prior to a long overdue victory at the 2003 Queensland PGA Championship on the Von Nida Tour. Prior to that victory his last win was ten years prior at the 1993 Schweppes Coolum Classic. He will now take his place in the line up at the St Andrews course at one of the most prestigious tournaments and locations on the world golfing calendar.
Doyle, from Victoria, who was in equal sixth place with five other players overnight had a steady even round today where others fell away and found himself in outright 3rd place at the end of competition today. With Scotland a favourite location, Doyle would have considered attempting to pre-qualify again for the Open had he missed out on today’s placing, but has that now safely in the bag.
“It is a relief to have that now in place and know that I will be playing in the Open,” said the affable Doyle as he watched the play–off. “I would have tried to qualify again because I love it over in Scotland, but now I can concentrate on playing the next four tournaments on the Australasian Tour before I have to start up overseas again.”
The next event on the PGA Tour of Australasia is the Victorian Open, starting this Friday January 28th at Woodlands Golf Club, Mordiallac, followed by the Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne from February 3-6, the Holden NZ Open at Gulf Harbour, Auckland from February 10-13, the Jacobs Creek Open at Royal Adelaide, February 17-20 and the INZ NZ PGA at Clearwater Gulf Resort in Christchurch from February 24-27.
Source – PGA Tour
Photo – Anthony Powter/Snaperture Sports
