Locals dominate Tasmanian Open

BY Anthony Powter | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2009 Tasmanian Open Championship | Round Two | 21 Feb 2009

With three Tasmanians accounting for the top four positions and ties after the second round, the locals will be out in force for tomorrow’s final thirty-six hole encounter at the Tasmanian Open.

Ryan McCarthy and Kalem Richardson share the lead at 7-under-par, whilst Queensland’s Daniel Nisbet is a stroke behind in outright third position. Another Tasmanian, Craig Hancock, rounds out the top four at 5-under-par, along with first round leader Seven Puymbroeck from Queensland.

Richardson started yesterday’s second round at Launceston in tied tenth position after opening with a 71, but a course record 66, elevated his position to top of the leaderboard to be with McCarthy.

McCarthy is chasing his first National Selection title, after winning the 2008 Tasmanian Amateur and being runner-up at the 2008 Victorian Amateur. Earlier in the year in his first international hit out, McCarhty came within a stroke of making a three-way play-off at the Asia-Pacific Open Amateur Golf Championship in Mission Hills, China.

The move to the Victoria Golf Club, which is McCarthy’s new training base along with Daniel Nisbet and Kalem Richardson, is proving the right decision. All three moved from their respective state bases to share a house within a seven iron distance from Victoria Golf Club, in Melbourne’s famed sand-belt region.

House sharing arrangements aside, the three will do battle for the title today in Launceston.

“It’s rather strange that all three of us who now live together in Victoria are now based out of the same club and are in the hunt for the same trophy on a final day,” says McCarthy.

“I’ll dearly love to win this one in front of my home crowd and that’s my focus.”

“A lot of supporters from Seabrook have made the hour and a bit journey to watch. It’s great to again be in with a chance, but with a thirty-six hole final day, anyone within eight shots of the lead can win. I’ll just play conservatively off the tee and then try and attack the pins.”

Daniel Nisbet, like McCarthy, is seeking his maiden National Trial event title.

As a junior, Nisbet won virtually everything there was to win, including the Australian Junior, Australian Junior Masters and was twice winner of the Queensland Junior title. With full playing status now in the main amateur events, Nisbet is making his mark early since evolving from the Junior ranks and has settled into the grind of major amateur golf.

“It is my first full year playing these main amateur events,” says the 18-year-old.

“I’m just one behind the leaders, so I’m in a solid position for the final thirty-six holes tomorrow. That’s what you aim for, to be able to give yourself a chance and just see from there how your game unfolds. The course is fair and there are opportunities out there if you play the right tee shots. It’s all about position off the tee here.”

One player within striking distance of the leading pack who is capable of applying pressure to the leaders is Scott Arnold with rounds of 69-71, to be just three strokes behind the leaders.

Conditions in northern Tasmania for the final round have deteriorated with gusty winds and strong rain periods. Arnold will be seeking to emulate his efforts a fortnight ago where under similar playing conditions he fired a course record 64 at NSW Golf Club to win the NSW Cup, a State Vardon event.

Brendan Smith, runner-up to Arnold at the Lake Macquarie Amateur last month, is a stroke behind Arnold at 3-under-par and four from the leaders. Should Smith gets his game going tomorrow he also has the capacity to take this event out. Smith shares tied eighth position along with Kieran Pratt, who Arnold denied victory at last year’s Riversdale Cup.

The lowest fifty scores and ties progressed from the thirty-six hole cut, which came in at 4-over-par.