Kiwi Holten claims Riversdale Cup in playoff
BY iseekgolf.com | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2005 Riversdale Cup | Wrap | 14 Mar 2005
Waikato golfer Mathew Holten has won one of Australia’s most prestigious tournaments when he took out the Riversdale Cup International in a playoff at Melbourne today.
The Te Aroha player birdied the final hole of a three-hole playoff against Australian Won Joon Lee at the Riversdale Golf Club in the tournament involving players from USA, England, Scotland, Singapore, Korea, New Zealand and the best from Australia.
Holten and Lee, tied for the overnight lead, both shot four-under 68 in the final round for a 72-hole total of 274, 14-under par.
It was a remarkable finish with the New Zealander turning three-under par and holding a four shot lead with three holes remaining. A Holten bogey against Lee’s birdie at the 16th reduced the margin to two shots, which closed to one when Lee birdied the 17th. The Kiwi birdied the final hole but Lee made a magnificent eagle to force the playoff.
It was decided on a three-hole aggregate with both players making pars on the first two holes before Holten hit a superb approach at the third hole to within 30cm for the birdie and the title.
The 21-year-old becomes the first New Zealander to win the Riversdale Cup, established in 1896 and is the second oldest amateur golf competition across the Tasman. Former winners include Robert Allenby, Aaron Baddeley, Jarrod Mosely and Mike Clayton.
It caps a series of outstanding performances by Holten, who earlier in the week won the Australian Foursomes title with Brad Iles.
Holten just missed selection for the New Zealand team for the 2002 Eisenhower Trophy but fell out of form over the past 18 months. He found his game and the zest for the sport again this year with his superb effort in Melbourne the sixth tournament in succession where he has finished below par.
“It is a superb result and we are all delighted for Matt,” New Zealand Golf high performance manager Graeme Scott Said. “Many others would have given up when things were not going so well but Matt stuck at it. He has been in tremendous form this year and this is a great result for him.”
“It’s also a real boost for the New Zealand team as they now prepare for the Australian championships later this week.”
Fellow Waikato player Mark Purser shot a one-under 71 today for a 72-hole total of 294, six-over par with Tauranga’s Josh Geary two shots back. He finished with an even-par 72, including four birdies in the final six holes.
The trio, along with Brad Iles who missed the cut at Riversdale, will be joined by the rest of the New Zealand Titleist Gold Squad to contest the Australian Amateur. There are two days of practice rounds with the 72-hole Strokeplay qualifying starting in Melbourne on Thursday.
Source – NZGA
Photo – Riversdale Cup
