Last eight standing at Amateur

BY Anthony Powter | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2009 Australian Amateur Championship | Matchplay Round Two | 23 Mar 2009

As anticipated, the casualties came thick and fast during the first day of the Australian Amateur at Royal Queensland. With some of Australia’s best emerging players making the top 32, including Bryden Macpherson, Daniel Nisbet, Jason Scrivener, Daniel Beckmann, Michael Smyth, Jordan Sherratt and Scott Arnold, the opening day was sure to be be one of the most closely fought contests for some time in the championship.

First day causalities included Australian Amateur Stroke Champion and number-one seed, Bryden Macpherson, who was defeated in the first round on the 19th by former Australian Junior Champion, Daniel Nisbet.

Nisbet’s joy was relatively short lived when he was knocked out in the second round by New Zealand’s Ryan Fox, 1-up.

Fox, who plays out of Auckland Golf Club has exhibited stellar form this championship. The New Zealander’s recent achievements include a top-10 finish at the New Zealand Under 23 Championships and strong performances this year at the Lake Macquarie Amateur and the Riversdale Cup. Fox is one of three New Zealanders remaining in the draw along with Ben Wallace and Blake McGrory, winner of the Lake Macquarie Amateur back in 2007.

Jordan Sherratt was unable to continue his fine run since winning the Riversdale Cup, the South Australian falling victim in the first round to Scotland’s Fraser Fotheringham, 2&1. Fotheringham was then eliminated in the next round by Blake McGrory, 5&4.

McGrory will face National Squad member, Brendan Smith in tomorrow’s quarter-final, after Smith disposed of Tim Hart, 3&2, in their opening match and Kalem Richardson, 5&4, in the second round. Afterwards Smith expressed surprise as to his progression in the championship.

“To make the top-8 at the Australian Amateur is something special,” said Smith, runner up to Scott Arnold at the Lake Macquarie Amateur in January.

“Royal Queensland is well suited to match play, as there are many options you can take off the tee. I’m playing and striking it pure. I’ve never played against Blake [McGrory] before, so there a little unknown quantity about the match. I’m looking forward to it.”

Daniel Beckmann put aside technicalities associated with a ruling, that resulted in the Victorian incurring a 2 stroke penalty which ultimately cost him the Australian Amateur Stroke Championship yesterday, by accounting for Michael Smyth, 2&1, in their opening match and later Craig Hasthorpe, 1up, in the second round.

“I’m teeing up with the driver as often as I can,” says Beckmann, who will play Jason Scrivener in tomorrow’s quarter final.

“This is not stroke and it pays to drive it hard so as to get the advantage during match play. My game getting better and my timing is there. I’ve not played Jason before in match play, but we’ve travelled together. It will make for an interesting match that’s for sure and Scriv in obviously playing well.”

Scrivener in contrast intends to continue to play strategic golf, like he’s done all week at Royal Queensland. It’s an approach that has worked, with the former Australian Junior Champion accounting for Brady Watt, 1-up, in the first round and later Chris Brown on the 19th in their second round duel.

“It’s not my game to just bomb the driver,” says Scrivener.

“I’ll play conservative and focus upon my own game and not that of Daniel’s. It will be a tough match and the match after will not be easy either with the two New Zealanders playing well. I like this course as it plays fair and is well suited to match play.”

One of the championship favourites, Scott Arnold, remains in blistering form. Arnold was the third qualifier following the stroke rounds and accounted for England’s Adam Wainwright, 7&6, in the first round, to then dispose of Daniel McGraw, 5&4, to set up his quarter final against Kieran Pratt. Arnold has fond memories of the 2008 Riversdale Cup where he defeated Pratt on the first play-off hole with a birdie to claim his first National Trial event title.

“Today was one of those days where everything went right,” said Arnold, playing in his fourth Australian Amateur.

“With each match my game gets better. I’m putting and driving the ball well. I will not be holding back tomorrow. This is the furthest that I’ve been in this event, so I’m keen to take it as far as I can. Sure I’ll be thinking about the play-off at Riversdale last year, but only for the first hole and then it’s down to business.”

Arnold arguably has one of the best golfing minds around and Australian’s top ranked amateur at 12th in the world and a winner both locally and on the international stage, he has the game and experience to take this championship. Positioned in the bottom half of the draw, should he dispose of Pratt, he’ll set up an encounter with either McGrory or good mate, Brendan Smith.

It’s down to the final eight with a mix of Australian and New Zealanders doing battle for the afternoon’s semi-final berths. The match up of Ryan Fox and Ben Wallace, two of New Zealand’s emerging players will be a match to follow, as will the Scrivener and Beckmann encounter.

Arnold’s consistency in big events of late is very convincing and he’ll clearly take some stopping in this championship. With the nature of match play anything can and usually does happen. That aside, the stage is set for what is shaping up to be a truly exciting Australian Amateur of what’s evolved into a Trans-Tasman affair.

With All-Black blood in his veins, Ryan Fox presents an ever present danger at this championship. Ryan is positioned in the top half of the draw and if he makes it through his two matches tomorrow, could set up a possible final encounter on Wednesday with Arnold. Given the number of New Zealanders remaining in the Australian Amateur, there’s every chance that a “haka” will also be played out on the fairways of Royal Queensland; now that will be a site to see.