Nisbet stands alone at St Andrews Trophy

BY Anthony Powter | World Amateur Mens Tour | 2009 St. Andrews Links Trophy | Round Two | 07 Jun 2009

Daniel Nisbet is the sole remaining Australian following the second round of the St Andrews Links Trophy in Scotland.

Nisbet fired rounds of 74-71 to be at 2-over-par and in a tie for 7th, five strokes behind the second round leader, Paul O’Hara, from Motherwell south east of Glasgow, after the Scottish international opened with rounds of 68-72, to be at 3-under-par and two strokes ahead of Rhys Enoch in second position.

Nisbet’s second round 1-under-par on The Old Course included two birdies and a single bogey and was in contrast to yesterday’s opening round on The New Course, which was spotted with signs of brilliance including five birdies, only to be punctuated with six bogeys and a double bogey.

A four time winner back home in Australia this season with the Golf SA Amateur Classic, the Queensland Men’s Amateur Stroke, Queensland Amateur and the Keperra Bowl, Nisbet was pleased overall with his 1-under-par second round. It had moved the world number 39 up the leaderboard from a tie for 65th position to be inside the top-10 moving into tomorrow’s final 36 holes.

“Overall, I felt that I played solid out there today,” remarked Nisbet.

“The only mistake that I made was the bogey on the 4th hole. Other than that, I was able to hit plenty of greens and that took the pressure off a bit.”

Throughout the Australian season Nisbet’s putter was able to get him across the line on numerous occasions and the 18-year-old is realising the importance of keeping his putting in check on the large wind exposed greens of The Old Course, many of which are double greens.

“It’s hard to hole putt out there with the cold and the wind,” he says.

“Playing into the field’s top-10 and to be only five from the leader going into a final day of 36 holes, means I’m still up there with a chance. You just have to play smart and keep the bogeys off you card.”

Overnight leader Ross Kellett was unable to capitalised on his opening round of a 4-under-par, 67, around the New Course and slipped back to be in tied 5th position after a second round 5-over-par 77 on The Old Course.

Matt Jager, Brendan Smith, Bryden Macpherson, Jason Scrivener and Lilcon Tighe all failed to make the top-40 plus ties cut which came in at 6-over-par.

Brendan Smith carded rounds of 75-76, to finish along with Bryden Macpherson at 8-over-par and in a tie for 54th position. Matt Jager finished with rounds of 75-77, to be in a share of 72nd position at 9-over, whilst Jason Scrivener finished in a tie for 97th position with rounds of 82-73. Lilcon Tighe rounded out the last of the Australians, finishing well down the field in a tie of 113th position at 14-over-par.

The St Andrews Links Trophy has become a truly international affair in recent years although only one foreigner, Australian Stuart Bouvier in 1990, has claimed the trophy since the competition was inaugurated in 1998.

Nisbet presently is the top international in the field after today’s second round and with his confidence still high after his stellar Australian season, he’s poised to give the St Andrews Links Trophy a solid shot at the title.

“If I can keep the mistakes to a minimum like I managed out there today, I feel I can make a challenge,” says Nisbet.

“The conditions are tough and you have to compensate for that, but I’m hitting it solid off the tee and getting in close on the greens. I’m really excited to be where I am and that will certainly rub off hopefully with my game.”

On two occasions an Australian has finished runner-up at St Andrews, with Stephen Dartnell one short of claiming the title in 2006 and Scott Arnold storming in the final 36 holes in 2007 with 69-68, to finish 12 under-par and three behind eventual winner, Scotland’s Llewellyn Matthews.

Keir McNicoll, from Carnoustie, won the championship last year finishing at 5-under-par.