Amateur guns prepare for Mandurah Open
BY Anthony Powter | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2009 Mandurah Easter Amateur Championship | Preview | 10 Apr 2009
The Australian amateur circuit moves to Western Australia for the Mandurah Easter Amateur Open starting tomorrow at Mandurah Country Club south of Perth.
The tournament is another national selection trial event and the 161 field includes the majority of Australia’s top ranked amateurs. Jason Scrivener, the winner last week at the Western Australian Amateur, heads the field at his home club, along with fellow Western Australian, Matt Jager.
Jager is seeking to go one better than last year where he was denied victory by Matt Griffin, after Griffin secured his first of two National Trial Events for that season with a 8-under-par finish, a stroke from Jager who stormed home with a closing 4-under-par 68. Scrivener finish 3rd at last year’s event with a 3-under-par.
Last week at the Western Australian Amateur at Cottesloe Golf Club, Jager produced a peerless display of golf in tough conditions with a final round 65 to take Medalist honours at 9-under-par, three strokes ahead of Scrivener.
“My game is slowly getting back to the form I was exhibiting towards the end of last year,” said Jager earlier in the week.
By his own admission, Jager’s 2009 season has yet to show the form that had him Australia’s top ranked world amateur during 2008, on the back of numerous top-10 finishes in major US amateur events including a runner-up finish at the prestigious Players Amateur in July and a tied 4th finish at the Sahalee Amateur.
“I’m working on getting my game ready for when I return to the US in a few months,” he says.
“I know the layout at Mandurah well and have practice here alot with Scriv. I’m driving the ball better now after some changes to my swing and are confident that I can do well here.”
The home course advantage, as well as confidence levels on a high after his win last week at the Western Australian Amateur, will see Jason Scrivener being extremely competitive at this event.
“It’s an event that I feel ’literally’ at home with,” he says of the Mandurah layout where Scrivener, 19, first honed his playing skills with his dad, David.
“I would say that my overall game is the strongest it has been for some time and to come off a win going into the Mandurah Easter Amateur gives you a real thrill. I hope to keep the momentum going over the weekend and hopefully win back-to-back victories in as many weeks.”
The Manurah Easter Amateur not only carries the sought after world R&A ranking points, but also for the winner a start in the British Amateur at Formby and West Lancashire in June. There’s also the opportunity to put your name alongside the likes of many prominent Australian professionals who are previous winners, including Geoff Ogilvy and Matt Griffin.
Australia’s number one ranked world amateur, Scott Arnold, will miss the event. The Australian Amateur Champion was given a reprieve from Golf Australia as he prepares for the Southern Cross Cup, starting 16 April in Auckland, New Zealand.
Whilst there is a notable absence of internationals the field at Mandurah remains strong. Jordan Sherratt, winner of this year’s Riversdale Cup is playing as is Daniel Beckmann, runner-up to Arnold at the Australian Amateur a fortnight ago.
This will be Beckmann’s third Mandurah Easter Amateur with his best result a 7th in 2007. This season has seen a return to form for Beckmann, the type of form that resulted in the Victorian winning the Federal Amateur back in 2007.
“There’s still plenty of positive feelings around since the Australian Amateur,” says Beckmann who also this season has accounted for two course records at Riversdale and Launceston during National Trial events.
“You have to drive it straight around Mandurah and the greens can be set up very difficult with flag positions. If you short side your approach, you’ll be in trouble. I’m confident and looking forward to another tournament.”
Bryden Macpherson is another to follow this week. Competing in his first Mandurah Easter Amateur, the 2008 Dunes Champion has formulated a punishing three week schedule with starts at Mandurah, the Men’s Golf SA Amateur Classic and cumulating in the New Zealand Amateur in Auckland later in the month.
“It’s going to be long couple of weeks, but I’m looking forward to the challenge,” says Macpherson, Australia’s 8th ranked amateur.
Ryan McCarthy is straight off a win at the Tasmanian Amateur last weekend and is another to follow as is Michael Smyth, winner of the NSW Amateur title back in February. Keep an eye also on Daniel Nisbet and Kalem Richardson. Richardson performed well with a third place finish at the Tasmanian Amateur Stroke last week and is an emerging player hunting his first major amateur win.
The cut will come in with the top 70 plus ties following the opening two rounds, with final 36 holes being played on Monday.
