Sim destroys field to win NZ Strokeplay title
IN: News | New Zealand Mens Amateur | New Zealand Amateur Championship (2005) | Final Round | 21 Apr 2005
Australia's top ranked golfer Michael Sim set a tournament record to destroy the field in winning the strokeplay title at the New Zealand Amateur Championships in Palmerston North today.
The Western Australian shot a final round five-under par 67 for a record 72-hole total of 268, 20-under par to claim the St Andrew's Salver by a record 11 shots. Australians filled the top three places with Adam Porker second on nine-under par, a shot ahead of compatriot Mitchell Brown.
The leading New Zealander was 17-year-old Rotorua schoolboy Jae An who fired a final round two-under par 70 for a four round total of 281, seven-under and a shot behind Brown.
North Island champion Brad Iles (Tauranga) shared fifth place with New Plymouth's Troy Ropiha on five-under par 283, a shot ahead of New Zealand junior representative Perry Hayman (Wellington) and Australian Andrew Dodt.
Nine Australians qualified in the top 32 players to contest the matchplay for the New Zealand Amateur championship, with the notable players to miss out including New Zealand representatives Riki Kauika (Wanganui), Doug Holloway (Hastings) and James Gill (Hamilton), who missed out in a playoff with six players battling for the final four spots on five-over 293.
The field had a one hour rain delay after a sharp southerly storm brought thunder, lightening and freezing temperatures. The weather improved to allow for some excellent scoring, led by Sim who turned at just one-under par but streaked home in 32 including four birdies in the final five holes for his five-under par 67. He shared today's low round with Miramar's David Sherborne, who went on to grab a matchplay spot in the playoff.
Sim, who started the day with a two-shot lead over Porker, had the title in his grasp by the turn when the margin extended to five shots. Porker struggled in the conditions with a four-over 76 while Brown mixed six birdies with five dropped shots to finish third.
An impressed with five birdies and two bogeys although was wayward off the tee at times.
South Island champion Mathew Holten (Te Aroha) and fellow international Josh Geary (Tauranga) shot in red figures to push them up the leaderboard finishing in a tie for 12th and 15th respectively.
There are two rounds of matchplay tomorrow with quarterfinals and semifinals on Saturday and 36-hole final on Sunday.
Source - NZGA
