Beckmann's lead shrinks at Amateur
BY Anthony Powter | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2009 Australian Amateur Championship | Round Three | 21 Mar 2009
Daniel Beckmann found his four stroke lead had evaporated following the third round of the Australian Amateur being played at Royal Queensland.
Jordan Sherratt, winner a fortnight ago at the Riversdale Cup, exacted revenge after Beckmann took the Riversdale course record from him by firing a 65 at Royal Queensland yesterday, to eclipse Beckmann’s first round course record 66 at this championship.
Sherratt is a stroke behind Beckmann moving into the final round of the stroke play title. Jason Scrivener, Scott Arnold, Brett Arnold and Bryden MacPherson, are all within four strokes of Beckmann, with the challenges to Beckmann coming thick and fast.
Sherratt’s game continues to show the form he exhibited in his runaway five stroke win over a similar field at Riversdale. The 21-year-old from from Thaxted Park Golf Club south of Adelaide is driving the ball superbly and playing smart golf around Royal Queensland.
“I’m minimising my mistakes,” says Sherratt, ranked 107th in the world.
“Where I missed the green today, I was able to recover well and that kept my scoring low. I’m still feeling good since winning at Riversdale and my game feels strong.”
Beckmann in contrast struggled during his round, carding a 2-over-par, 74 after earlier rounds of 66-66.
“It was a tussle a bit for me out there today,” he said.
“It was just one of those days you sometimes have in golf. Nothing really went my way, I had a few lip outs and got myself short-sided on some greens. It’s still great to be holding the lead, but with the way the field has turned out, there are ten or so guys behind me that can easily win. It will make for an exciting finish in the stroke play, that’s for sure.”
Thirteen players are within six shots of Beckmann in a packed leaderboard.
Jason Scrivener’s third round 68 elevated the talented Western Australian to outright 3rd position at 208, two behind Beckmann. Whilst Australia’s highest ranked world amateur Scott Arnold lurks dangerously a stroke behind Scrivener in tied 4th position, along with local Brett Rankin.
“To be honest, I’ve been struggling a little this week,” said Arnold, winner of the 2006 Hong Kong Amateur, 2008 Riversdale Cup and the 2009 Lake Macquarie Amateur.
Arnold lost in a play-off to Andrew Dodt for the Australian Amateur Stroke Championship at New South Wales Golf Club two years ago and is keen to claim an Australian Amateur crown before progressing to the professional ranks.
“The pressure is off a little knowing that barring a major implosion, you will be playing in the match play on Monday. Tomorrow, I’m going out aggressively, yet there are many players close to the leaders, the stroke crown could fall into any ones hands.”
Bryden MacPherson is one player who could seriously challenge for the stroke title. The 2008 Dunes Champion is in tied 6th position, just four behind Beckmann. Playing in his third Australian Amateur, MacPherson finished strongly last year making through to the second round of the match play, to be defeated by eventual winner Norway’s Anders Kristiansen.
“I’m planning to be reasonably aggressive off the tee tomorrow,” remarked MacPherson.
“Realistically, I need to so as to have a chance. I’ll have to score between six and seven under to overtake the current leaders because you know they will probably come in with a sub-par round. It’s great to be experiencing the thrill of the chase and tournaments like these tend to bring the best out of you.”
Keep an eye on Daniel Nisbet, currently five strokes behind Beckmann in tied 10th position. Nisbet knows the Royal Queensland layout better than anyone in the field, having grown up in the area and he can read the grainy greens associated with northern courses better than most. Nisbet will need a super low round to make up the difference, however, the 2008 Australian Junior has the game to complete such an assignment.
The stage is set for one of the most thrilling finishes in an Australian Amateur Stroke Championship. The script could not have been written better with the next wave of young Australian talent all moving into contention at this championship.
Beckmann, Sherratt, Scrivener, Arnold, MacPherson, not to mention Brett Rankin and Scotland’s Fraser Fotheringham are set to battle for the Australian Amateur Stroke title and have their name alongside former winners Jason Day (2006), Andrew Buckle (2002) and Steven Bowditch (2001).
It’s too close to call and all of the players within six strokes of Beckmann have the game to win.
Should Sherratt continue with his form and fire another final round like he did at Riversdale, you have to favour his chances at Royal Queensland. Then again, Beckmann has held the lead since the first round and he’s due for a win, as is Jason Scrivener. That’s not to discount Arnold who’s a tenacious competitor, already with a National Trial win this year to his credit and numerous top-10 finishes.
Toss a coin, it’s going to be close as to who will be crowned the new Australian Amateur Stroke Champion following Sunday’s round. I also cannot wait for the match play to commence on Monday as it promises to be even more of a contest, if that’s at all possible.
