Nisbet set for SA Amateur Classic title

BY Anthony Powter | Australian Mens Amateur Tour | 2009 Golf SA Amateur Classic | Round Three | 18 Apr 2009

Daniel Nisbet has held the lead at the South Australian Amateur Classic since Thursday’s opening round and he’s unlikely to let his position slide without a fight.

Nisbet has fired rounds of 68-70-70 to be at 11-under-par and takes a three stroke lead over Bryden Macpherson, who is at 8-under-par, going into tomorrow’s final round at Royal Adelaide.

Craig Hancock is three further back at 5-under followed by Max McCardle at 4-under.

Earlier in the week Nisbet commented that his goal was simply to record four sub-par rounds at Royal Adelaide. Lately he’s been struggling to post a solid four round score and it’s been an issue worrying him.

“To be honest, I’ve struggled a little of late with my scoring at National Trial events,” remarked Nisbet who in the last twelve months has experienced the transition from the junior ranks to the main amateur stage.

“I’ll be happy with another round tomorrow in the 60’s and if that gets me a win, that will be a bonus.”

Nisbet, 18, is chasing his first National Trial win following a stellar junior career where he won the 2008 Australian Junior and was a dual Queensland Junior Champion.

A win tomorrow for Nisbet will not only be timely but fitting for one of Australia’s emerging talents.

For the last three years, Nisbet has qualified for the Australian Open. In 2007 he made it through to the semi-finals of the Australian Amateur at NSW Golf Club, only to be stopped by eventual winner and local Rohan Blizard.

“My games certainly more rounded than what it was in 2007,” he now says.

“I’ve being working hard with my coach to focus upon minimising mistakes on the course. This week I’ve kept bogeys to a minimum. I keep struggling with the 18th here at Royal Adelaide, so tomorrow I probably take a three wood and keep those bunkers out of play.”

Nisbet’s biggest challenge during tomorrow’s final round other than the final hole at Royal Adelaide is likely to come from Macpherson who’s capable of pulling low round numbers like he did at the Dunes Medal last December with a course record 63 to win there.

“I need to simply putt well early to apply some pressure,” says Macpherson.

“I’ve differently got some room to improve and if I can contain some errors that’s hampered my score this week, I feel there’s still a chance here.”

With the way Nisbet is playing it will certainly be a challenge to catch him. He continues to score extremely well on the Royal Adelaide layout where the majority of the field has struggled.

Last year the event was combined with the Australian Amateur Stroke title where England’s Daniel Willett fired a closing 3-under-par, 70, at Royal Adelaide to win the championship.

In contrast, Nisbet currently sits at 11-under with three sub-par rounds of 70 or better and another round left.

That gives a reflection as to how well Nisbet is playing as he strives to be amongst former champions of the title that include Stuart Appleby (1992), Paul Sheehan (1997), Brett Rumford (1996), Greg Chalmers (1994) and more recently, Rick Kulacz (2005 & 2007).