Macpherson wins Men's Stroke Play

BY Anthony Powter | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2009 Australian Amateur Championship | Strokeplay Wrap | 22 Mar 2009

Bryden Macpherson has added to his rapidly growing list of victories taking out the Australian Stroke Play Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club today.

Playing in his third Australian Amateur Championship, Macpherson posted rounds of 70-72-68-70 to finish equal with Jin Jeong at 7-under-par. A birdie on the first play-off hole handed the Stroke title to the Victorian.

“I had no expectations that I would take the title out this morning as I though I was too far back,” said Macpherson, winner of the Dunes Medal last November.

“It’s my biggest win and I’m wrapped. The problem is I’ve now got to face off Daniel [Nisbet] in the first round of the match play tomorrow and that’s going to be a tough encounter.”

The Macpherson/Nisbet match off is more reflective of a final tournament pairing than a first round encounter. Both are two of Australia’s best emerging talents, Nisbet himself a former Australian Junior Champion, whilst Macpherson’s game continues to go from strength to strength since winning the Dunes Medal.

“It’s a tough one,” said Macpherson about his first round encounter.

“In some ways you like to have a tough match early, it makes you more competitive and sharper. I’ll approach the match like a final. I have to as Daniel is a tough competitor and we both know each others game, so it will be interesting.”

Macpherson’s win was not without earlier controversy during the final round of the Stoke championship.

Daniel Beckmann had held the lead since the opening round and looked certain to take the Stroke title, only to be informed by Golf Australia Officials that he’d incurred a two-stroke penalty for practice putting on the 12th after finishing the hole.

Beckmann was informed of the penalty whilst hitting his approach into the 15th. A bogey resulted and he went onto miss the play-off, finishing one stroke short at 6-under-par. It was a massive blow for Beckmann, arguably one of the most inform players at present. A new ruling introduced earlier in the year effectively costing him the Australian Amateur Stroke title.

Closer reading of the “tournament rules” revealed the dangerous small print about practice on the course during a round, yet Beckmann, as well as many others, remained unaware of the possible infringement. Whilst ultimately it’s the players responsibility to familiarise themselves with the rules with each tournament, tournament organisers also must be concerned with how many competitors were unaware of the newly introduced rule.

“I had no idea of the ruling,” said Beckmann.

“It’s something they [Golf Australia] brought in apparently earlier in the year. I was obviously not aware of it and would never intentionally breach a ruling. In some ways I’m not losing sleep over it either. I’d hate to be facing Daniel [Nisbet] in the first round. You learn from it and obviously you need to take more care at these events and read the fine print before going out there.”

For Beckmann the past is the past and irrespective of the obvious breakdown in communications between championship organisers and competitors, he moves on, confident that his game will hold up over the next rounds of match play.

“I’m swinging strongly and I am placed in a good part of the draw,” says Beckmann.

“I’ve moved on and it’s now a new tournament and in some respects, the Amateur title is what we are all after.”

Jason Scrivener and Scott Arnold finished equal with Beckmann in tied 3rd position at 6-under-par. Jordan Sherratt had another fine tournament finishing in tied 6th position at 5-under, along with Kieran Pratt, who was runner up to Arnold at the 2008 Riversdale Cup.

With the match play rounds determined, there are numerous matches worth following aside from the Macpherson/Nisbet encounter.

Daniel Beckmann faces off Michael Smyth, the 2009 NSW Amateur Champion, in the upper half of the draw, whilst Tim Hart is to play Brendan Smith in the bottom half. Scott Arnold will also have his work cut out for him as he faces England’s Adam Wainwright, whilst Jin Jeong will play Tasmania’s Kalem Richardson.

Macpherson admits there is no pressure to go back to back and win the Australia Amateur title.

“This is the biggest Australian stroke tournament there is and to win it, is in itself an achievement,” he says.

“Tomorrow is another tournament, but to already have one to your name on one trophy is a great feeling. I’ll go out there with plenty of confidence and hopefully keep the winning form going. A lot is happening and you thrive on these matches to elevate your game.”

The Victorian certainly has done his chances of National Squad selection no damage either and irrespective of the way the Australian Amateur Stroke title fell to him, it’s richly deserved for one of Australia’s best emerging talents.