Keperra Bowl: The Last Chance
BY Anthony Powter | Queensland Mens Tour | 2009 Keperra Bowl | Preview | 11 May 2009
For our top amateurs, the Keperra Bowl represents their last chance to claim a National Trial event title for the Australian season before many head overseas to compete on the UK and US amateur circuit.
The four round stroke championship starts this Tuesday at Keperra Golf & Country Club on Brisbane’s outskirts. The tournament has attracted a strong field with the inclusion of members of the National Squad, the AIS and many of Queensland’s emerging amateurs.
Matt Griffin won the title last year with a one stroke victory at 15-under-par, to pip local Rat Beafuils, who stormed home with a closing 64. Griffin has since progressed to the paid ranks, however, Beafuils has returned and is seeking to capture a title that has eluded him so far on two previous occasions.
Beaufils has been within a whisker of holding the Keperra Bowl twice in three years, only to be denied the honour by the vagaries of golf. In 2007, Andrew Tampion drained a monster eighty-foot putt on the third play-off hole against Beaufils to snatch that title. Last year Matt Griffin need to dig deep to sink a tricky eight-footer on the 18th, and deny both Beaufils and Ryan McCarthy a chance to play off for the championship.
Beaufils has returned following an extended break, hungry to perform well on a layout that holds fond memories for the 22-year-old.
“Keperra is a track that suits my game plan,” says Beaufils, who for the last five months has focused on university studies.
“It’s playing a little easier this year than in previous years, so scoring should be low. I’ve had some great experiences here, even being close a few times, so hopefully this year will be another great event for me.”
There are plenty of challengers competing this week at Keperra, eager to prevent Beaufils from having his way.
Daniel Nisbet is coming off a winning streak with three wins from three starts, with the South Australian Amateur Classic, the Queensland Men’s Amateur Stroke title and the Queensland Men’s Amateur Championship already in his bag. Nisbet’s game continues to improve and with his confidence high, the 18-year-old will take some stopping this week.
“I’m quietly confident, without being overly confident,” said Nisbet earlier in the week.
Nisbet has been the in-form player over the last few months, carding together consistent four rounds in every tournament that he’s entered.
“My consistency has been there and hopefully I can keep it going this week. Sure I’ll be going for four from four, you take as many wins as you can, but there’s a lot of fine players to compete against.”
Matt Jager is another that should seriously challenge for the Keperra trophy.
Jager is coming off his win in the New Zealand Amateur Championship, his first national title and one that gained him a start at next year’s New Zealand Open at Queenstown.
“My game is there and I’m striking the ball as good as I was in New Zealand,” said Jager, whose world ranking has jumped to 14 following his win.
“If I can keep my putting going like I did in New Zealand, I feel that I’ll be in for a showing. The course is playing a little easier, so scoring will be low.”
Bryden Macpherson is one to follow this week as well. This season Macpherson has won the Australian Amateur Stroke Championship, the New Zealand Amateur Stroke Championship and last November claimed the Dunes Medal. Macpherson is developing into a strong stroke-play specialist and should be in the hunt come this Friday.
Whilst more suited to playing exposed links, Macpherson sees plenty of opportunity with the way the Keperra layout has shaped up.
“You can take advantage of the par 5’s here and really post a low number,” said Macpherson.
“It’s tough to say what will win here, as there’s so many good players competing. This is my first time at Keperra, the conditions are great and it sets for an interesting tournament.”
In the last few months Jason Scrivener has quietly been going about his business with wins at the NSW Amateur Stroke Championship and also claiming the Western Australian Amateur Stroke title. Scrivener’s consistency has been there with seven top-10 finishes from seven starts, which sees the Western Australian’s world ranking climbing to 26th.
Given it’s a known fact that Scott Arnold will turn professional in Europe any day now, relinquishing Australia’s top world ranking slot, Scrivener will move to be our second highest world ranked player behind Jager and his climb up the rankings has been impressive.
“I’ve enjoyed a rest since Adelaide and feel refreshed coming into this week,” says Scrivener.
With a fourth place finish last year at Keperra, after leading the tournament during the early stages, Scrivener is eager to attack the course knowing that a low score is needed to win.
“All the par 5’s at Keperra are birdie opportunities,” he says.
“I’ll play the same way as I did last year, nothing will change in that respect, but I feel my game has improved and I know a little more out there.”
Daniel Beckmann, runner-up to Scott Arnold at the Australian Amateur last month, is also competing at Keperra, as is Brendan Smith, Michael Smyth, Jordan Sherratt, Ryan McCarthy and Luke Bleumink.
It’s also worth following Kyle Grant from Mona Vale in Sydney. Grant had a solid performance during the Queensland Amateur finishing 4th in the Stroke event and has played well during the Sydney Pennant season and will spearhead Mona Vale in this Sunday’s Sydney Major Pennant final.
Another young gun to keep an eye on this week is Michael Williams from St Michaels, also in Sydney. Williams is a strong driver of the ball and his game is well suited to the Keperra layout. It would not surprise me if either of the two are in with a showing come Friday afternoon.
The field will be cut to the leading 70 players plus ties and National Squad members following the 36 holes on Wednesday.
