Beaufils best Aussie at Sunnehanna
BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2009 Sunnehanna Amateur | Round Three | 14 Jun 2009
He is arguably one of our most seasoned amateurs and on occasion Ray Beaufils has shot the lights out of a golf course to seriously challenge for major amateur titles, only to see them eventually slip away.
Following a third round 1-under-par, 69, at the Sunnehanna Amateur the likeable Queenslander has jumped ten places to sit in a tie for 31st place at 4-over-par and be the best placed Australian moving into the final round in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
Whilst Beaufils finds himself fifteen strokes behind the leader, his efforts this week must be seen as rewarding following a six month forced layoff from major amateur golf.
The Sunnehanna is Beaufils’ first main event since taking break to concentrate on completing studies back in Australia and his results this week set the scene for a successful US summer where he will hopefully clinch the major title that has eluded the 22-year-old so far.
With runner-up finishes at the 2006 Queensland Amateur Championship, the 2006 Keperra Bowl and 2006 Gary Player Classic, Beaufils is due for a win. He is eager to regain the competitive juices and again play top flight amateur golf.
American Kevin Foley has fired rounds of 61-68-70 to sit atop the third round leaderboard at 11-under, giving him a three-stroke cushion over Brian Harmon. Two time champion at Sunnehanna and world number 1, Rickie Fowler, fired rounds of 67-71-67 to be in outright 3rd and within six strokes of Foley.
Fowler recently qualified for the second time in as many years for the US Open Championship and remains dangerous at this event, eager to get his amateur season in the US off with a win at Sunnehanna.
Mitch Krywulycz, currently based at Augusta State, is a stroke behind Beaufils following rounds of 73-71-71, to be 5-over for the tournament and in a tie for 34th position. The remaining two Australians are well placed back in the field, with Michael Smyth at 6-over-par and in a tie for 38th, whilst Jin Jeong is 55th at 10-over-par.
Foley, ranked 69th in the World, is yet to secure a major amateur title although has claimed a number of state events most recently the 2008 Metropolitan Stroke “IKE” title. His best finish to date in a major US amateur titles was in 2007, where he finished in 5th position at the Monroe Invitational.
