Beaufils in contention at Monroe
BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2009 Monroe Invitational Championship | Round Two | 19 Jun 2009
It’s often remarked that a change can be as good as a holiday and for Ray Beaufils this could not be truer.
Eight months ago Beaufils walked away from the game. The 22-year-old’s energy levels were waning, as was his commitment towards top amateur competition. Golf momentarily took a back seat and Beaufils went onto finish his studies.
This week in Pittsford, New York, Beaufils is reclaiming the form which has seen the likeable Queenslander finish runner-up three times in major amateur events back in Australia with the 2006 Queensland Amateur Championship, the 2006 Keperra Bowl and 2006 Gary Player Classic.
After the completion of the second round at the Monroe Invitation, Beaufils is in a tie for 6th position at 1-over-par with rounds of 70-71. He is within six strokes of the leader Mitchell Gregson, after the American fired opening rounds of 67-68 to have a stroke advantage over fellow American, Phill Mollica.
The two other Australians playing at Pittsford are in the middle of the field.
Michael Smyth has fired rounds of 75-72 to be in a tie for 33rd position at 7-over-par, whilst Jin Jeong is struggling after rounds of 74-77 to be in a tie for 51st position at 11-over-par.
Last year, Beaufils was the top Australian performer at the Monroe, finishing a creditable T11 at 4-over-par, with rounds of 73-71-68-72. A week ago at the Sunnehanna Amateur, Beaufils finished in a tie for 35th in his first real hit out since returning to competitive golf.
The change has obviously done Beaufils, a former National Squad member, the world of good. He is back playing some solid golf and positing impressive scores against some of the best players in the US.
