Strong finish for Nisbet at St Andrews

BY Anthony Powter | World Amateur Mens Tour | 2009 St. Andrews Links Trophy | Round Four | 08 Jun 2009

Three bogeys over the last nine holes at the St Andrews Links Trophy potentially cost Daniel Nisbet a shot at claiming the championship title, as he finished in a tie for 4th position at 1-over-par and three behind eventual winner, Ireland’s Alan Dunbar.

Dunbar from the Rathmore club in Portrush, who has been mentored by Ryder Cup player Darren Clarke, hit closing day rounds of 71 and 70 over the Old Course, for a two-under-par total 285 and a one-shot victory over England’s Matt Haines.

Dunbar had entered the final two rounds in a tie for 5th position, four strokes behind co-leaders, Rhys Enoch and Paul O’Hara.

Birdies at the long 14th and the 16th made Dunbar level with with Enoch, who then dropped another shot at the 15th to give the 19-year-old Irishman the led for the first time in the championship.

A birdie on the 18th then sealed the championship for Dunbar who is the first Irishman to take arguably one of the most important amateur stroke play tournaments in Europe.

Daniel Nisbet was the only Australian to make the final 36-holes at St Andrews after falling inside the 6-over-par cut mark, which unfortunately resulted in Matt Jager, Bryden Macpherson, Brendan Smith, Jason Scrivener and Lichon Tighe all spending time on the range.

Entering the final day in a tie for 7th position, Nisbet carded a total of seven birdies and six bogeys for his two rounds, finishing in style on the majestic 18th green at St Andrews with a closing birdie.

“It’s my first time at St Andrews and it’s been pretty special,” remarked Nisbet this evening.

“We played some brutal courses since arriving last month, particularly at the Scottish Stroke Championship at Murcar Links in Aberdeen, so it’s not been a bad introduction to Scottish golf for me.”

With two cuts from two starts in Scotland, Nisbet’s preparation for The Amateur Championship to be played 15 June to 20 June at Formby and West Lancashire remains on track.

“We’ve been having a great time over here, the courses are tough, amazing and just play pure. You really get penalised for hitting a bad shot. I have never played out of bunkers so deep,” says Nisbet.

Nisbet’s tied 4th finish at St Andrews after rounds of 72-71-72-71 sees in his world amateur ranking continue to climb to have the 18-year-old currently 25th in the world.

Earlier in the week following the Scottish Stroke Play Championship where Nisbet recorded a top-30 finish following rounds of 79-68-73-75, he was ranked 39th in the world. The upward movement in his ranking reflective of his not only his talent, but consistency in main amateur events.

“I’m still trying to stick to my game plan, four rounds under par at each event,” he says.

This week at St Andrews Nisbet managed that and despite falling three short, the form that resulted in him claiming four wins this season back in Australia still remains.

“St Andrews wasn’t too bad, three over on the first day and I was still happy with that score, it was almost zero degrees when we teed off and I’ve never experienced golf as brutal as that.”

All the Australians presently touring the UK know that getting acclimatised to the uniqueness of links golf comes with time.

They continue to focus upon The Amateur Championship the week after next and head to Royal Birkdale this week for the aptly named “The Ashes”, a warm-up tournament that Golf Australia has revitalised after the event vaporised off the tournament schedule last year.

Irrespective of the outcome at Royal Birkdale, in what really is no more than a get together with players from the old “mother country”, only five Australians will start The Amateur Championship this year.

This has to be considered a disappointing showing by the Australians, especially when compared to recent years and a reflection of the present funding situation within amateur golf in this country.

Irrespective of the small Australian showing competing at The Amateur, the likes of Nisbet, Jager, Scrivener, Smith and Macpherson should compete well and after three weeks in the UK, their respective games should be ready for one of the true majors of amateur golf.