Hoag wins, Beaufils 29th at Monroe
BY Anthony Powter | US Mens Amateur Tour | 2009 Monroe Invitational Championship | Round Four | 21 Jun 2009
Ray Beaufils knows top flight amateur golf is never easy. The 22-year-old has walked many a fairway in a top amateur tournaments and has had his shares of ups and downs along the way.
On three occasions in amateur events back in Australia, Beaufils has finished runner-up at the 2006 Queensland Amateur Championship, the 2006 Keperra Bowl and 2006 Gary Player Classic. A major amateur title has eluded him so far, but it’s not from a lack of trying.
This week at the Monroe Invitational in Pittsford, New York, Beaufils had entered the tournament with no real expectations as to his game or what he might achieve. That’s the way he’s presently approaching his game since returning to major amateur golf.
At this event last year Beaufils achieved his best result in a US tournament to date, finishing a creditable 11th. This year things finished a little different, yet the signs are there with his game and despite an absence of some eight months from major amateur tournament play, Beaufils can still mix it with the best.
Beaufils would fire a final round 75, the same number he shot the day before in a round which he described at “his worst nightmare”.
After opening solidly with rounds of 70-71 to be in a tie for 6th position at 1-over-par and within six strokes of the leader, Beaufils would end the Monroe the best of the three Australians in a tie for 29th position with an 11-over-par total.
“The course is great, I’m hitting some great shots, but my putting is killing my score,” said Beaufils.
“The trip so far has been up and down to say the least. I’m feeling a lot more comfortable with this trip than in other years.”
“I pride myself on doing the best that I can in every event that I enter. This week was just one of those weeks, the third round did damage for me, but I’m starting to hit the ball really well.”
American Bo Hoag shot a 1-under-par 69 in the rain-soaked final round at Monroe Golf Club to claim the title. The rising junior, who entered Saturday in fourth place, finished with rounds of 70-71-67-69 for a 3-under-par total and a stroke ahead of Brad Wright and Phillip Mollica.
Mollica, the overnight leader, was attempting to become the first player at Monroe to win three times in as many starts. A final round of 4-over-par put claim to the American’s attempt to create history.
Keeping in perspective the Monroe Invitational was just Beaufils’ second main amateur event since returning to competitive golf, the positive signs are returning with his game. With starts in the Rice Planters and Dogwood over the next few weeks, there’s plenty of opportunity for Beaufils to prove his mark.
The other Australians playing at Monroe had mixed results. Michael Smyth fired rounds of 75-72-73-81 to be at 21-over-par and in a tie for 48th position, whilst Jin Jeong moved up the leaderboard after being in a tie for 51st position following the third round, to finish in a tie for 39th position at 17-over-par with rounds of 74-77-73-73.
